A week has passed since Kyros and his team left the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.
With the successful defeat and retreat of the Cardinal, news of the Golem Cities' powers was reported and struck amazement everyone.
All the kingdoms were plotting how to take control of Golem City. But none had the capabilities to fight off a Celestial. And so, the wars raged between the East and West. The lizardman kingdom focused its efforts on attacking the areas beyond and had a small portion of its forces guarding the Golem City.
But even the forces that were left behind were stronger than the armies that stood to guard the Lowlands.
The world of Middle had surpassed the very limits of what the Low lands could create.
But Mezal's show and his knowledge in accessing the golems naturally made him the nominal leader.
His connections with the princess and the other Commander warriors have allowed him to take control and command the defense in Airom. His teachings and imparted knowledge had caused him to be treated like a king among the forces.
The many families and kingdoms that once hated the Steele family were now offering gifts to him.
The power of Charm that Mezal had allowed him to become very favorable in the eyes of many. And those that still harbored caution, had no choice in the matter as several important deals that allow him to teach and bestow secret arts made those who were afraid to still proceed with forming alliances.
Because of that, he was able to persuade the Commanders to leave the defense to him. There were Crown battles happening in the Low Lands and that became the priority of the forces there. The Midlands all decided to move back as the threat above was far more important.
Mezal took command and told made immediate changes in the world.
One of the strange things that Mezal did, was allowed a pathway for delegates of Middle to move out to the Low lands!
But he argued that if the people of Middle could see the actions of what was going on beyond their lands, then they would ignore them.
And so, the Undying Lands, the Wild Lands, and the Lizardman kingdom all received an invitation and a few spies were sent.
Many saw the power inside the Golem City and many powerful Golems stood and guarded the area and gave their reports of what they saw and many explored the Airom regions.
The strange move had many people question the act, but in a few days, the number of forces guarding the sides had moved back.
The Middle folk saw what numbers were left in the fortress and the Golems that guarded it. And with them having the ability to explore the areas beyond it, it gave confidence that the people of Planes World were not a threat at least yet.
The information of Crowns battling was also relayed and this caused the Middle Folk to fear. The battlefield that remained after the clash was also advertised to those who passed on to confirm what had happened.
With the confirmation that Crowns were there, and how they could easily enter Middle, most of Middle decided to stop their advances and let bygones be bygones.
Mezal left Golem City when he saw that all was settled and left it to his harem to guard the place.
In the guise of spying into the land of Middle, Mezal left for Nephilim Fortress.
WARP!
"Lord Mezal?" Ressi appeared as she portaled right at the entrance of the cave.
"Oh? Amazing! You didn't even make an energy formation circle!"
"We created a giant one inside the Alchemy chamber. This allows us to portal anywhere within the Fortress, or at a distance of fifty meters from the exit. What brings you here?"
"Here to check on you guys and see the progress. And to make sure that none of your crazy experiments are going overboard."
"Hahaha... It's not that bad..." Ressi gave a suspiciously nervous laugh.
WARP!
"Ressi?! Why are you here!? We did it! A sentient man hybrid! We did it! Behold!" Demerus suddenly portaled out of the fortress and carried a strange wolf. He held the wolf to Ressi.
"It can talk!"
"Ed...ward..." The wolf spoke.
"Hahahaha! That's a good joke, Demerus! Way to make an entertaining entrance for the VISITING LORD MEZAL!" Ressi suddenly spoke louder and used her head to point to Mezal.
"Lo-Lord Mezal! You're here?!"
"... You taught the dog how to say, Edward?"
"...Oni-Chan..." The wolf muttered as it turned to Mezal.
Mezal glanced at the wolf and decided to ignore it.
"Anyway... We still have a lot to do. With the attention out of us... Demerus, you, Ressi, and Triona must infiltrate the Undying Lands. Reveal your Lich form. It should give you guys a good way to see things on their side. And... you might familiarize yourself with the dark magics of Necromancy. With our foundation, it should be possible. The Fortress has devoured Heralcus and should have that power somewhere within." Mezal explained.
"Yes, Lord Mezal!" Demerus bowed.
"Good. Any updates from Gojirrah, Reptilia, and Hunter?"
"No. They have already found their way back to the world from which they came."
"Alright... Time to get working. With so many worlds moving in here, we can kill and offer a lot to the Fortress! We will need to also complete the missions of the Fortress. What's the update on the Fortress Missions?"
"More good news from the worlds that were opened in Middle. The portals give us access to so many different worlds. Many of the items that we have learned could not exist within the Planeworld are now accessible! Just now, a few of the lizardmen that went with Hunter have arrived back and reported that there is a mine in their world with the soil that the Farmlands need to level up. But, it's guarded by a kingdom which they are certain to be an ally of Destiny. The three are working to weaken that kingdom as it is in the middle of war."
"What's their plan?"
"Gojirrah plans to lure the strongest cultivators of that kingdom. They have Cardinals but it's not anything that they can't handle. Once out, the rest will burn the food supplies and sabotage the kingdom from within using Triona's weaponized [Fat Boy] bomb."
"That sounds impressive. A bomb like that, deployed at the heart of the kingdom right in the middle of war will create chaos. No doubt Reptilia is now using his beauty and power to make the enemy kingdom prepare an attack. But if this kingdom is right in the middle of a war, how will Gojirrah lure all the strongest cultivators out?"
"Erm... He said this was Kyros's old idea. He plans to either sleep or abduct the most beautiful princesses in the realm. They would most likely belong to the strongest cultivators, either in marriage, or that these cultivators have their eyes on these women."
"...Yeah that sounds like something my grandson will scheme. I guess Gojirrah is tired of seeing Hunter and Reptilia being all lovey-dovey!" Mezal laughed.
WARP!
Suddenly, Faye appeared.
"Oh! Lord Mezal! You're here! Everyone! Our device worked!"
"Which one?"
"The Destiny Marker." Faye smiled.
"Destiny Marker?" Mezal asked.
"Using the soul of the Darkness Aspect, we were able to create a device that detects beings with great ties with Destiny! And a few just popped up in Middle!"
"Ah... So they're here. Good! Are they in the Undying Lands?"
"Yes!"
"Good! Demerus. I'll leave this mission to you. You gather the rest and leave immediately. Bring me to this device! I wish to see the device that can detect Destiny!" Mezal ordered.
Faye waved her hand and all of them were teleported directly into the Alchemy room.
"Lord Mezal!" Triona was surprised at Mezal.
"Show me the device." Mezal spoke and Triona bowed.
A massive orb that held a dark soul was at the center. The soul inside was acting like a compass and it was pointing towards the east.
"So this device can point it. And I'm guessing the more of this dark soul is pointing towards the direction, the greater the blessing of Destiny?"
"Yes." Faye explained.
"Then we have work to do. Demerus. Win their trust and take advantage of their resource! Explore and use them and even send your forces to attack our men! How can they grow if they do not overcome? Help them to attack the forces we deploy in Middle. You should also even try to find our other bases! After all, how can they overcome Destiny if we don't test our men?" Mezal laughed.
Demerus smiled.
"I understand, Lord Mezal. I will help Destiny find us, but in doing this, I will hide us!"
"Exactly! We cannot be an invisible mystery. We have to give Destiny a false idea as to who or what we are! Remember, our plan is to be a faint speck of trouble in the plans of Destiny. Annoying, but unimportant! And then... boom! We blossom and conquer worlds!"
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