The hovercraft moved with great speed as it moved across the land. On the outer layers, Seeker better understood the power struggles between Presiders and the effect on Pioneers and Planteds.
In the ship was a team that could infiltrate a fortress.
Seeker had the Passover. Jake was the one who could move through objects. Rai, the one who could travel in and out of the Void Realm and had the powers that could now alter the Void Realm, and Irvana, the Thief in the Night.
They accompanied Ninalet on their rescue mission.
There was much more to learn about the world of the Pioneers. Seeker had now seen the raw situation beyond the paradise of Pioneers on Earth.
Seeker could now imagine what Pioneers and Planteds would live through in places like Aragar, where they would be like bugs and rats that would scour from one source of food to another.
"In the upper levels, some groups had Pioneers and Planteds see each other as equals due to the lack of society. So we went up here hoping to find Pioneers who had lost everything on the lower levels and fled here just like us." Ninalet explained.
"So this is the place to be if you're on the run from Presiders? I guess living the ol' Mad Max life and catching runaway cars is a cool way to live out a post-apocalyptic war." Seeker chuckled.
The rest was giving Seeker a strange look.
"...Was that... Vender?" Rai asked.
"...A-anyway! Ninalet! Why up here?"
"The upper level is the place where the weakest of Presiders stay."
"Weakest in terms of what? Technology? Or military power?"
"Military power and resources. These are the ones who lost so much that they only have their Throne and a few ships to spare."
"So they are out here recruiting?"
"Yes. That's what we think they are doing... But... It's weird. They could have conquered cities and still won't do it." Ninalet wondered.
"It's simple. If they try to take or attack a city, they would need to expend Universe Energy." Rai answered.
"There's also the problem of having another Presider waiting," Irvana added.
"Yes. That's probably it. They are in a state where they have to be careful with what they spend. They are building up gears using the resources that are being created in this land. But at this stage, everyone is waiting for the rest to move. Your Presider, the Conqueror, has trouble having everyone else target her. Marrho, Renkerdis, who was Enderks, the surviving members of the Devourer Five... These people are watching your Presider like a hungry hawk. Those weaker than this group are building up all the resources and watching the weaker groups. No wonder Principal Dormin got bored of this place. And this should be why Haresha allowed us to move in here without sounding the alarms. She knew we would disrupt this balance and force more to fight and kill. This would make the hunt happen once more."
"So you mean to say that even the stronger Presiders can't attack the weaker ones, even those here, because they would then be attacked? If Presider Haresha moves out here to claim cities, she will face them all?" One of the Pioneers serving Ninalet asked.
"Yes. That's exactly it. If what you say is true and Pioneers are also improving and growing, then the Presiders are waiting for these Pioneers to grow. They left this place in a state of chaos and death to make powerful members or groups surface. But it does beg the question of why you Pioneers won't just offer yourselves to a Presider."
"The battle among Presiders and the deaths of numerous Presiders left a huge problem in balancing what they gained and the upkeep of accepting new Pioneers. As a result, many Presiders refused to accept any more Pioneers." Ninalet explained.
"Ah, of course. So just like you, most Presiders want the best. It seems that a real Presider War is not just a chance for Presiders to grow, it forces the Pioneers and Planteds to fight for their lives and become a conqueror..." Seeker thought.
"Yes. I saw Pioneers develop amazing techs. Killing, stealing, and gaining inspiration over these past months. It made room for many new technologies to rise as the mystery that we Aragarians call the 'Fight of Life'." Ninalet recalled.
"We had a few innovations. We took one technological principle and found a way to make Cold Fusion run this ship. Tech innovations occurred as the desperate Presiders were forced to alter and push even the Pioneers serving under them to extremes." The assistant Pioneer of Ninalet explained.
"So some Pioneers grew to a point where they could even challenge Presiders and wound them, huh?" Irvana chuckled.
"War sure brings out the best of everyone..."
"But it was a terrifying battle where everyone was forced to survive. We had to... make unethical choices. I guess... this is why we fled. We... could not become Conquerors who would toss away friends... I never expected Presider Haresha to just... throw me away like that..."
"Then work for us. If you can't be a Conqueror, be an overcomer. Who knows? You might just get a throne of your own!"
"That's... possible?!" Ninalet was surprised.
"Yes. But, right now, we would need to kill a Presider. So the Nefilus suit becomes a vital necessity to build this." Seeker explained.
"...Save our family first. Your group seems to be more sensible. I don't understand why most of us disagree with this. Despite this very brutal world, the Pioneers won't unite and gather. They would rather fight and kill another Pioneer rather than team up."
"It's not their fault. That is the power of the Primordial."
"What?"
"We've learned of it on Earth as we defeated those Presiders. A strange power forces some of you to be like this. The Primordial's goal is to make everyone fight and war against each other. To do that, he destined many to be Conquerors and many to be conquered. You belong to the conquered group. But let's change that fate." Seeker smiled as he saw the large hole in the ground, and it was as if there was a large tunnel headed down.
The hovercraft flew down and used its magnetic capabilities to keep itself 'floating' over the metals that made the walls of this tunnel.
"I'm detecting several ships outside. It might be the scouts of the nearby fortress which has my family."
"Engage in battle. Slip away from the chaos while I distract them."
"You're fighting?" Irvana asked.
"Don't worry. I'll be playing around instead of actually fighting. Since the tech Ninalet has is Cold Fusion, then I guess I have to use a little bit of this coldness. I'm moving ahead." Seeker smiled as he moved forward and somehow slipped through the ship.
As he appeared out of the ship, a Four Force Accelerator formed from his blood, and he burst forward, harnessing a great frost that turned into a sword.
A nearby hovercraft saw Seeker approach.
SLASH!
The sword did not cut but caused the hovercraft to be sent flying backward as the ice began to spread inside the ship.
"It's Ninalet! She has a new tech! Headquarters! Ninalet is attacking as expected!" The Pioneer piloting another ship quickly retreated as he saw the ship lose the capability to cling to the walls and plummet down.
Many ships retreating downwards entered the many tunnels that spread around numerous stories.
"So this tunnel down is connected to several stories... Looks like the underground world is quite huge. Just how many people are on this ship?" Seeker wondered.
Ninalet and her ship kept moving while many ships emerged from many tunnels.
"It's such a chore pretending to be weak..." Seeker sighed as he flew forward to fight the many enemies.
The reports and news of the battle began to spread.
Within the nearby underground city, hidden deep within the many massive spaces and gaps inside the deep hole, were three damaged thrones on the verge of being repaired.
And beyond them was a Throne, and one seated on it, was an anomaly even among Presiders.
"That power...! That's not something Pioneers could do!" The woman cried.
"Prepare for war! Something unusual approaches! It could be something like me! I want them in the Dome of Secrets! Lead them here as we practiced! That thing is definitely a Presider!" The woman roared.
Though her main body had died, she had a technology that allowed her to create another being born of her flesh and had a Nefilus Suit of a Presider. She was an exact clone of Presider Cecilia of the Devourer Five!
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