[A/N: First Chapter guys. The second chapter is being edited and would be released in a few minutes. Please continue to vote for this book! I've found the spark I was looking for so it's time for more Ace!]
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[Ace POV]
"Have you ever wondered what a settlement looks like?" When I first heard this question from the emperor, I was slightly taken aback. It was not something I had contemplated before. However, as I pondered on it further, my curiosity grew. I genuinely wondered what a settlement in the true world would look like. These settlements were akin to the homes of humans in this new and unfamiliar realm.
The sheer number of humans present in the true world baffled me. How did they all manage to exist here? Nevertheless, the existence of settlements seemed like a positive development. I could not help but wonder if my mother and sister were residing in one of these settlements. It would provide them with a level of safety and security that venturing alone in this perilous world would not.
Perhaps I should focus on acquiring more coins, so I can at least send them a message. As my thoughts meandered down this path, the voice of the emperor snapped me out of my trance. "Lad?" he called out, bringing my attention back to the present.
"Huh?" I replied, still dazed from my brief reverie, before realising that I owed the emperor a response. "Yes, I've always been curious about what a settlement would look like in the true world," I stated, a smile forming on the emperor's face. Then, I added, "But I wonder why you would ask this?"
While it was true that I was intrigued by human settlements, my curiosity extended beyond them. I was equally fascinated by the settlements of the other races inhabiting this realm. However, the circumstances of my journey had not yet allowed me to encounter any settlements in the true world. The vastness of this realm, though apparent, made me believe that it was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon one.
My curiosity piqued further when the emperor expressed his desire to take me to a settlement, most likely the one he ruled. I could not help but wonder why. The emperor wasted no time in responding to my query. "Apart from wanting to talk to you more about your services, I desire to take a closer look at my men and assess how much I truly need your assistance. Rather than giving you a rough estimate, it's better to evaluate the situation on the ground," he explained calmly.
His explanation made sense to me. If he provided me with a number of pill bottles he required, there was a chance it would be either too small or too large for his actual needs. In either case, it would result in wastage, be it of resources or money. The latter was particularly risky, considering the imminent conflict between the emperor's settlement and another.
I would cool with either side as long as I could profit from it.
I also could not help but imagine what a war in this world would look like.
In any case, this matter was a little too big to put my hand in.
Perhaps, this might be through for the past me that hadn't evolved but the me now is way stronger than my past self by far.
I was among the top 50 most powerful humans from planet spe after all.
Apparently, my combat sessions with blue deepened the understanding of my abilities to make me enter the top 50.
Amazing how a support job like mine could have so much combat power and this was not even its main forte.
Lost in these musings, I was startled as the emperor rose from the ground, stretching his body before turning to face me. "Since you are interested, why do not we head over to my settlement?" he proposed, and I nodded in agreement, indicating my readiness to accompany him.
As I contemplated his words, I realised that we were indeed heading toward the territory he ruled. This realisation only heightened my curiosity. I yearned to witness the foundation of an empire in this unfamiliar environment, to see how it had adapted and flourished in the true world.
With both of us now on our feet, Blue, my loyal companion, stood on all fours and stretched his body, emitting a little screech. Seeing his readiness, the emperor nodded and his two massive wings emerged from his back. It was the first time I had seen them up close. Each wing, if extended and placed upright, surpassed my height. They even appeared slightly larger than Blue's wings.
I could not help but wonder if the emperor could transform into a dragon, considering his ability to sprout wings from his back. If he possessed such a power, it left me awestruck to imagine the size his wings could attain, given their already substantial dimensions in his human form.
As the emperor unfurled his wings, his aura intensified, exerting a slight pressure on me. Just as I prepared myself to adapt to this overwhelming force, I felt a stirring within me, and the pressure he emitted dissipated. I could still perceive his formidable presence, but it no longer seemed significant or imposing. It was as if I had grown accustomed to it, almost considering it normal.
I could not help but ponder if this reaction was a manifestation of my newfound connection to my other race. However, before I could delve further into these thoughts, Blue's aggressive noises brought me back to reality. Observing his agitation, I deduced that the emperor's aura must have triggered this response in my pet. To calm him down, I stroked Blue gently until he settled.
The emperor maintained his stoic expression throughout this episode. Once Blue had calmed down, the emperor uttered nothing more, merely flapped his wings powerfully and took to the sky.
Witnessing this, I immediately hopped onto Blue's back, and together we swiftly caught up with the emperor soaring above us.
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