“As you progress in your paths of ascension, you will begin to see changes in the archailect” Moyo started,

The ten ascenders were arraigned in front of him, each having seen just what sort of horrors awaited them and currently were fragile like unmolded clay. He intended to continue the forging process with them, till not even the thought of fighting monsters two ranks above them or an ascender one rank above them fazed them. He continued his speech,

“At the upper ranks, battles are less about utilizing the skills of your paths and more about using your fighting styles and command of reality, so those fancy skills of yours, while powerful now could turn up useless in a fight” he said,

“Not to discount skills, what I’m saying is that at those stages, skills are more of an instinctual buff you use rather than actual abilities you depend on”

Moyo drew dominion as the ascenders winced, its power subtly battering at them despite Moyo making an effort to tone it down,

“I intend for you all to realize that expert ranks are a stage for the survival of the fittest, where every card you have would come to play in an intricate manner, your enemy must not know your next move for all they need is that one chance and you would be dead” he said,

He glanced upwards, the screech of the flying creatures filling the air,

“This training would see me train five of you and my companion here who is also a master, Ashira Kairos train the remaining five of you” he said,

The ascenders glanced at her with wide eyes, the thought of another master on Gaia shocking them,

“Lucina, Amiya, marcel, Vaughn and Yemi, with me” he said,

The five of them moved close to Moyo, he waved at the rest of them,

“The rest of you are with her, good luck” he said,

With a snap, he opened a pathway deeper into the mountain, packing his team in with him in front,

“Where are we going?” Yemi asked,

“The issue I first observed as an expert was the absurd weakness of the auras of fellow experts which in turn affected their realms” he started, ignoring Yemi who wisely kept shut,

“you want to have an idea of how strong fellow experts realm are?, you can get it through their auras. Auras fuse with mantles to evolve them, something I see you all haven’t learned to do, I thought this was public information by now?” he asked,

“”it isn’t, I’m guessing the leaders of the factions would have a reason for keeping it quiet” marcel devil touch said,

Moyo gave a grunt in acknowledgement, the ascenders of the clan mostly had evolved mantles, the exceptions being the iron rankers, the other world factions it seemed didn’t deem it fit to inform their subjects. If that was how they wanted to run their domains, then fine by him, sooner or later they would see just how much would widen the power level between the clan and them. The room they entered was a large circular space, the ascenders immediately crashing to their knees as Moyo activated the runes in the room and his aura, gold ranked crashed into them with an unforgiving force.

Moyo stared stoically at them,

“Second rule of the archailect, it doesn’t play nice” he started,

“Half if not most of all my battles during my time away were mostly against ascenders a rank or two above me, I never had what you would call a fair fight. It was always ascenders ganging up on me, with their realms combined crashing on me” he said, crouching down to stare at them as they struggled under the power,

“that feeling of helplessness you are feeling right now?, that’s the first step to losing a fight, this aura?, it’s nothing compared to what my realm could do to you” he whispered as they groaned,

“Now I want you to picture your auras as something intimate to you, mine is the wind and the glue that holds my path together, malleable and unbreakable whenever I want it to be. It is to be something that resonates with you” he said,

Standing straight and moving to the end of the room where a throne somehow appeared, Moyo sitting on it,

“I don’t have all day, get to it and make your way over to me” he ordered,

Closing his eyes, Moyo delved into his core realm, appearing right in front of his throne above the mountain and sitting on it, feeling the titan aspect coalesce around him. He had literally devoured the command and authority of Akriel,

Not broken it, devoured it,

Was that something primordials could do, or was that something his path had developed personally?

Glancing at the gates of the titan that had expanded, growing bigger, he studied the titan aspect flowing through it, the rush of power pouring directly into his core realm and grabbed a handful of the aspect. With a thought he appeared in front of his forge, placing dominion on the forge and staring at his blade intently, ideas running through his head but wondering if the blade could withstand the power he wanted to infuse into it.

Having been forged from the metal found on Ajax’s world and the crushed bones of the level 50 wyrm he had killed back when he was an acolyte, it had served him well, but every weapon had a limit. contemplating the thought, he produced an essence, one of the numerous ones he had and swiftly made a short sword from it. Then he began the process of fusing the titan aspect into it, in a flash of power however, the blade shriveled up like flames eating at a piece of dry paper.

Frowning, he produced another essence, but this time even as he forged the blade, he fused the titan aspect into it. The same result came about also, the blade shriveling up on itself. Shaking his head, he dispersed the titan aspect, such volatile power needed something just as powerful to contain it and Moyo knew deep down that dominion would face the same fate the blades did should he so much as try to infuse the titan aspect into it.

He could had simply used his titan aspect infused Ashe into the blades, but that wouldn’t give him what he wanted, it would just be a watered-down version of the power he was looking for, a second-rate weapon, and he was looking to create a legendary weapon, if not mythical from the look of things seeing as it came with his upgraded mythical path. Bringing up the specifications of dominion, his eyes ran through information,

Name: Dominion

Type: Katana (sword)

Tier: Rare

Evolution: Rare (90% to legendary)

Attributes:

Unbreakable (II): this blade has been dipped in draconic blood and bone, nothing short of the full might of a master rank and higher can cause damage to it. Drainer II): dominion can absorb a portion of a foes’ might, authority and willpower to ingest towards its evolution Presence (II): dominion true to its name can channel the realm of the titan to manipulate gravity in the realm to devastating effects as well as passively absorbing the strength of any foe within the realm to replenish the titan, ignores rank.

The last time he had checked the specifications, the blade had been at 5% to legendary, now it was at 90%. No doubt the use of the blade continually had pushed it to that stage and the purple-colored blade was beginning to take on a darker hue so to speak. He had the option of waiting till the weapon got to legendary rank by itself, but by then it might be too late to infuse it with the titan aspect and Moyo would find it annoying if that happened.

He felt a presence within his core realm startling him, appearing right at the spot where the presence was with dominion in hand. Moyo paused as he stared at the angelic being, white wings with a white skin, Moyo instantly recognized where he had seen such a being before,

A messenger,

The same ones that heralded the coming of the archailect, the being turned to Moyo, bowing a bit before speaking,

“Ascender and master Moyosore titan blade, I bring the felicitations of the supreme beings on your ascension to the rank of master” it said,

“How did you gain entry into my realm?” Moyo asked, deadly wariness in his voice,

If the being heard the tone, it gave no inclination,

“By the grace of the supreme beings all messengers are allowed entry into realms made of the archailect” it replied,

“Are you saying there are realms made of the abyss?” Moyo asked,

While he knew little about the abyss and its denizens, he found it odd that the abyss would have something akin to a structured form such as a realm. the gaze of the messenger darkened and Moyo gripped dominion tighter, ready to spring into battle should the messenger so much as twitch in his direction,

“The abyss strives to imitate anything done by the archailect, a most accursed of realm and leading only to nothing but strife and destruction” it spat,

“Okay, clear on that, but I doubt the supreme beings would send one of you to simply congratulate a master, seeing as were a dime a dozen” he said,

“There are approximately 1000 masters in the entire archailect” the messenger replied,

Moyo paused at that,

“In the entirety of the universe, only 1000?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice,

The messenger nodded,

“Humor me, but how many planets are in the archailect?” he asked,

“Approximately with the possibility of a blight infestation, planet destruction and overall galaxies being brought into play, the archailect boasts of 1.5 million galaxies and double the amount in planets” the messenger said,

“oh” Moyo simply said, the numbers stumping him,

For every 3,000 planets, there was only one master, Moyo found that thought bizarre but understandable. He nodded,

“And rulers?” he asked,

“500 more or less, excluding those on the frontlines now known as jades and also those who have ascended the immortal coils of the archailect and are known as primordials” the messenger said,

“Excuse my question, but how many primordials are there?” he asked warily,

“50” the being said then paused,

“51 now” it said,

Moyo nodded,

“that’s why they sent you, isn’t it?’ he asked, realization dawning on him,

The messenger bowed again,

“While a master ranked primordial is unprecedented, the supreme beings are nonetheless pleased with any ascender who has championed the cause of the archailect as well as you did” it said,

Moyo gave a committed grunt, the angelic being cocked its head to one side,

“You have doubts” it said as a matter of fact,

“I’m not sure I like the form the archailect has taken, I mean, if I had lost my path after battling the heir of Dracon, you wouldn’t be here giving me a way to mend my path now, would you?” he replied,

“And yet the being Alastor gave you a way out, the archailect respects talents, it venerates those who overcome calamities even more” the messenger said,

“The supreme beings are however pleased with your progress and would like to have you on their side” the messenger said,

“I don’t understand” Moyo replied,

The messenger nodded,

“The primordials are splintered into two groups, they are known as the celestial and terrestrial factions” it explained,

“The celestials are those on the side of the supreme beings, who acts as their wrath against the abyss, ensuring the converted aspects and essences gathered from each liberated world goes into the archailect proper. For their acts of service, they are given mythical items and weapons”

“Then what are the harbingers for?” Moyo asked, puzzled,

“Harbingers are the personal tools of a single supreme being, their emissaries so to speak whenever they want to converse with the inhabitants of the archailect. They are but flawed individuals compared to the glorious positions of the celestials” the messenger proclaimed,

Moyo nodded along, rubbing his beards as if contemplating what the messenger had said, however he had come to a decision. It didn’t pass his notice that the messenger had addressed the harbingers as tools, meaning they were discardable, a most shocking of realizations considering how the inhabitants of the archailect viewed the harbingers. It also explained to him the reality of what it meant to submit to the authority of the supreme beings, true, their aspects and authorities were the greatest in the archailect, but it also meant that your path would be cut short, unless they willed it to advance.

It also begged the troubling thought of why any sane primordial who had managed to climb their way up to the top would want to submit to the supreme beings. Then he glanced at dominion and understood, at the primordial stage, finding materials and items suitable for that stage were little or close to nonexistent, therefore the supreme beings were the only source of such precious materials or items. He turned back to the messenger,

“And the terrestrials?” he asked,

“These are the primordials who think themselves equal to the supreme beings, preferring to plunder worlds gotten from the abyss or new galaxies discovered. They take the veneration of worlds for themselves, divine power that belonged to only the supreme beings, heresy” it spat,

While Moyo detested the veneration of primordials, the independence of said faction appealed to him than the bondage of the celestials. He glanced at the messenger as a thought popped into his head,

“I’m guessing the bright scourge belongs to the terrestrial faction?” he asked,

The messenger shifted uncomfortably,

“Actually, Rieus belongs to the celestial faction” he said,

“oh?, do tell” Moyo said, the deadly edge returning into his voice,

“The bright scourge had been of recent, been coming up short on his required quota of veneration and aspects to be passed over to the supreme beings and therefore resorted to taking over worlds and forcefully passing on the venerations to the supreme beings” it explained,

“And the supreme beings are fine with that?” Moyo asked,

“So long as he doesn’t causes the planets to fall to abyss or blight infestations, the supreme beings were willing to put up with his antics” the messenger said,

“Were?” Moyo asked, one eyebrow raised,

“The supreme beings have noted that the bright scourge has impeded into your planet and domain, they are willing to cut ties with Rieus and if you so wish, eradicate him from existence” the messenger said,

“And all I have to do is swear my allegiance to them” he completed.

The messenger nodded,

Moyo shook his head,

“This is all surprising to be honest, and I thank the supreme beings for their offer, but I would like to explore my options within the archailect first, see the sights, that kind of thing” he said with a smile matching the messengers,

He saw the messengers eye twitch imperceptibly for a fraction of a second, no doubt somewhat infuriated by Moyo turning down the offer. Moyo wondered if the messenger got an employee bonus for every primordial it could convert, the messenger however bowed again with the same grace it had started with,

“The supreme beings are fine with such arrangement, they are however asking you to put great thoughts into such a proposition” it said,

Moyo nodded and bowed in response,

“I will put it into serious consideration” he replied,

The messenger brought out a slap of glowing silver metal that immediately drew Moyo’s attention,

“This is Divinum, the purest and strongest of any metal in existence, it is from the forge of Alastor himself, shavings from the discarded metals he uses in forging divine weapons” the messenger said,

Moyo tried bringing up the description of the metal with his HUD but the system scrambled, the messenger shook his head,

“Such divine items ascend the power of the archailect young primordial, this is but one of the numerous benefits you could gain from joining the celestials” the messenger said smugly,

He glanced up at the primordial,

“Why show me this?” he asked,

“The supreme beings knew that as you ascended and finally stepped into the realm of the primordials, you would need a weapon that could match up to your capabilities, and dominion might be falling just short of that, irrespective of the tremendous strength it now possesses” the messenger said,

“This metal is an incentive with no clause to it, no terms nor conditions along with it, merely as a gesture of goodwill from the supreme beings to you” it said,

Tossing the metal to Moyo who caught it and fought to contain the surprise he felt from his contact with the metal. It reeked of pure energy, power that transcended the powers of primordials, however that was not what had made him surprised. Moyo was beginning to understand just how tricky and slippery the supreme beings were, for just below the pure arcane power was the pure authority of intent that Moyo knew belonged to Alastor. He schooled his features however and glanced at the messenger,

“Extend my gratefulness to them for this gift” he said,

The messenger nodded and bowed,

“Till we meet again, master titan blade” the messenger said as he disappeared in a ball of light,

Moyo glanced at the Divinum in his hands before tossing it into his ocean of Ashe, letting his titan aspect infused authority submerge the metal. He had a devious idea about what he intended to do with the metal and would come back to it later, after he had let it become ‘marinated’ with his Ashe.

***********************************************

Snapping out of his realm and back into the room where the ascenders were, he saw the last of them make it to his position, hands trembling as they shook from intimidating aura of the titan.

Moyo frowned and glanced at them,

“How long did it take the first of you to get here?” he asked,

“Three minutes” Yemi croaked,

Moyo glanced at the ascender and saw the sharp nature of his aura, runes dancing all around him in a vortex of power, he stood up,

“Not fast enough” he replied as they stared at him with wide eyes, shocked by his reply,

“Let me show you what I mean” he replied by opening a pathway to the outside of the mountain, a large dungeon creature that looked like a mix of a scorpion and a falcon.

The moment the monster entered the room, he glanced at them,

“Aura suppression, now” he commanded,

All at once five auras flowed through the air, slamming into the silver ranked monster that gave a shrill hiss and shook the aura off, ready to attack them. Moyo slapped its head as it exploded, the body fizzling away to aether and essence, he turned to them,

“Point passed across?’ he asked,

They nodded,

“Good, first of all, we will work on fusing your aura and mantle, then test the strength of your evolved authorities that have been fused with your willpower, then and only then, will I have you fighting monsters nonstop till you reach silver or die trying” he said,

He glanced at them all, seeing their eyes harden to steel, nodding, he continued,

“My plan for this team is a special squad that would take risks for Gaia, go where political ties wouldn’t allow the great factions to go and overall protect the sovereignty of Gaia in the eventuality of my departure or, if possible, my demise” he said,

They froze at that,

“Learn today, nothing is unkillable in the archailect, not me, not my friend and fellow master, no one, maybe except the supreme beings but that remains to be known” he said with a finality,

“Now, sit lotus style and begin” he commanded,

****************************

Moyo appeared in the room Ashira had taken the ascenders and paused, glancing around at the state of the beaten and broken ascenders while Ashira gave off the look of innocence, Moyo chuckling,

“Seriously?” he asked,

“Beating is the best form of training, at least according to master Vardant” she replied, blinking,

“No doubt you’re aware they haven’t fused their auras and mantles?” he said,

“Oh I am aware, I showed them how to do it and promptly began the…...ah…. training” she replied,

He nodded,

“So I had a visitor, in my realm” he said,

It took a few seconds for the statement to resonate with Ashira,

“In your realm?” she said slowly,

Moyo nodded and snapped his fingers, his realm covering only he and Ashira,

“a messenger” he said as her eyes widened,

He nodded at her look of alarm,

“And what did the messenger want?” she asked,

“you know that little club I’m a part of?, the same one your father is a part of?” he said as she nodded,

“Well apparently that club is divided into two other little clubs, one that follow every command of the supreme beings and the other who are free agents” he explained,

“that’s…. wow” she said,

Moyo nodded,

“Wow indeed” he replied,

“So?, what side did you pick?” she asked,

“I bought myself a period of contemplation, my guess is that I won’t be disturbed till I reach ruler, then I have to give my decision and I bet they won’t like no for an answer” he replied,

She nodded,

“Going to speak with my dad about it?” she asked,

“I have a clear line to Kairos?” he asked surprised,

Usually he went through Ashira, seeing as she was his daughter, Ashira nodded,

“My father has decreed you are now equals, as insane as that sounds and as such, you can contact him whenever you like” she replied,

“Equal?, is that a joke or something?” he asked,

He who hadn’t even gotten to thirty compared to an eons old being, perhaps there was an inside joke he had no idea of?. Ashira shrugged,

“Even I have no idea how the mind of my father works, but if he calls you his equal then you are” she said,

Moyo nodded,

“I have to get back to my team, then check in with the clan, lots of planning to do for the master ranked dungeon incursion” he replied,

She nodded and he opened a pathway back to his own area where the ascenders were hard at work, fusing their mantles and aura. He silently sat down and watched, his mind contemplating if they would be ready for the plan he had for them. If he managed to get them to silver, then they would be one rank above the ascenders the herald of Rieus would throw his way, clearing the path for him to go after Akriel himself. His whole plan hinged on that assumption and he was getting a bit impatient.

The moment marcel locked his evolved mantle in place, an oily looking armor that burned of corrosion and power, he clapped, drawing their attentions to him,

“Good, you’ve all gotten the hang of it, now, attack me” he ordered,

They knew by now not to question his orders and all sprang into action, bearing down on him even as he grinned. Moving in between them as they moved at a snail’s pace to him, he flicked his fingers on their mantles, shattering them one by one and blowing them away. In a second they all crashed to the floor, groaning. He sat back down,

“First rule of combat, always activate your core realms, that way you have an edge over your enemies, especially if they’re stronger than you” he said,

Watching as they stood up again, he gestured at them to come again and felt five realms slam into him, feigning his form was frozen, he watched them come again and him and at the last minute, sidestepped their attacks before using his aura to shatter their realms. They fell to the floor with a migraine induced headache. Even at that he went about, kicking them together,

“Your realms shattering isn’t an excuse to lose composure, you do that and you’re dead, now, again” he ordered,