"Whatever it is that's currently running on your mind, perhaps you're not wrong. I'm possibly evolving. My thoughts have started to be muddled like how you people sometimes decide illogically. Also, I am observing you and I am thinking the same thing you just thought before coming here."
The silver-haired World's Will opened her mouth after reading my thoughts.
I can't help thinking about it so… it's inevitable. Either way, for her to admit to it… Is this a process which every World's Will will go under at one point or is this a unique state of hers?
"I have an inkling about what is happening to me but I won't tell you about it. You have a lot on your mind. Telling you about it will just add to that."
Huh? When does a World's Will be this considerate? This is really new and confusing as well.
"No. Really. Like you said, I already have a lot on my mind. Adding another will not really matter. What if I can confirm that suspicion of yours?"
"You will not be able to confirm it and most likely, you'll just add another question."
"If you don't tell me, I will just keep on making guesses."
"You're a persistent man, huh?"
"I guess I am. You're considered the manager of this world. Who knows? What if you've already been swayed by the enemies and allow them to assimilate this world in your own volition?"
Of course, that's a far-fetched guess. It's just to make her worked up. I already have a few guesses that were probably closer if I considered the information I collected.
"Are you insulting me, Daisuke? That will never happen. No sane World's WIll is willing to be assimilated. I will vanish if that happens."
Are World's Wills sane at all? Apart from her, the two I managed to interact with were all at the two ends of an extreme. One was too paranoid while the other one was too reclusive.
"Am I really talking to a World's Will or a real person?"
"Believe what you will."
"Since you won't tell me… Let me put out a guess. Is it because of the rise of the native Transcendents?"
If she acknowledged this, it could mean one thing. This World is on its way to becoming a Transcendent World which means… This is a Natural World. The World's Will or to be accurate, the World itself is benefiting whenever someone becomes a Transcendent.
"Is that a guess or is that what you really think?"
"Both?"
"I can't really be sure. However, you're close."
"I see. The Energy here appeared denser than before…"
"And that's the result of the successful Transcendence. Every time someone else manages to pass the Transcendent Trials, this world is benefiting from it. My denizens who are lower a lot weaker than the strongest native will have an easier time to go up the ranks due to the denser Elemental Energy they brought upon this World."
Now that I think of it… 'The World' at the World of Systems enhanced every denizen when Yuko became a Transcendent. That could be related to this. It got stronger because of Yuko. When it was Zerina's turn, it didn't give out any more stats. However, I haven't checked if the energy became denser than how I remembered it.
She's right. I got another thing to think about…
"Enough about that. During the week, two of their Transcendents descended again. The two were among their current level, however, as you have witnessed my Incarnation's state before, the traps they placed are deadly. It's deadly enough even for a Rank 2 Transcendent like your Luxian woman."
Since I was left overthinking about the things she just said. The silver-haired woman continued speaking.
"If you already observed and arrived at this conclusion then good... However, if you still haven't then I'll tell you about it now."
"The enemies… You can see through the halting of their activities that they don't really care about their Mortal Ranks or the Noxians who became subservient to them. That's the reason why those who wanted to switch sides can move that freely. They thought they're cleverly bypassing their notice but the truth is… the Dark World Transcendents don't really care about their lives."
She waved her hand and a screen appeared overlaying the background of this space. In it could be seen some familiar Transcendents. There's Benedict who seemed to still be bandaged from head to toe. Marina at his side who's tending to his wounds, the Dark Soldier who blocked me before, and lastly, the Dark Beastmaster who seemed to be angry at something. Apart from the four familiar Transcendents, there's another one that was calmly sitting in the middle while tapping the table with his finger. One look and it's fairly easy to discern that he's someone directing them now and not the Dark Beastmaster.
The moving image inside the screen was an aerial view of the Central Area of the Noxian Capital. A few moments later, the one in the middle looked up followed by the familiar four inside the image. They all stared straight at whatever was recording them from up above. The one in the middle turned his head to the Dark Soldier. Without words of command, he flew up and brandished his sword towards it. The screen shook for a little before it turned all black, ending the scene that was playing.
"They don't care so they're also not aware that there's a faction that's jumping ship to your side. They are just sending their Mortal Ranks to keep you all occupied while they wait for more reinforcements. The damage you dealt upon killing a lot of them a week ago made them rethink their plan."
The silver-haired woman waved her hand once more and the background was restored to the same setting sun.
It's not that I haven't thought about that but yeah, without that kind of affirmation from a third party, it's hard to confirm it. We've been too cautious to go out of the territories. Considering it only showed those five, the other Transcendents' whereabouts are currently unknown.
"Stop overthinking. This is why I called you here. Apart from those five that were holed up inside the Central Area, the others were sent to set up more of those zones. They're now slowly turning the lands and any space to accommodate their Source Energy."
Once more, she waved her hand and another screen appeared. This time, it's depicting a map of the World. It has a proper legend for which is which.
Further down that map, almost situated in the middle are the three territories. Serenia, Aves and the Elemental's Forest.
Then further at the north of it was the Noxian Territory. The Capital and Central Area was situated at the back of their whole territory.
Then from the northwest of the Noxian Territory was the former Luxian territory. There's nothing there anymore but a huge crater from where Aves was situated before.
Surrounding it were small craters that were most likely the other small territories of the Luxians which merged with Aves to create its current floating landmass.
At the area further north of both the Noxians and the former Luxian territory were black spots which possibly depicted those Dark World Zones that she was trying to close.
And in the middle of all of it was a question mark.
"For now, I suspected that place to be the possible Portal location. I couldn't look into it and even if I used the same aerial observer, it wouldn't get past the Dark World Zones."
"But the first time a Dark World Transcendent showed up was behind the three territories. What could that mean?"
Rael was chased by that Dark Elven guy and we lured him into an ambush behind the valley where Hikari and Boris summoned the Door of Transcendence. The place she suspected to be the Portal location was too far from their first appearance.
"The place behind your three territories was scoured by me and there's nothing of note there. If you still suspect that there's something. My Incarnation was already on its way to check it once again."
Did I overthink that again? But if there's nothing, how did that guy appear from there? Teleportation Spell? That's a possibility. However, without confirming it again, I would just feel restless.
"Thank you. I will await the result then. By the way… The reason for you showing this map… Do you now intend to employ my help?"
"You also arrived at that same notion, correct? It's not that I underestimated them. Someone prepared a countermeasure for a pure Energy Incarnation. They managed to cut its connection to me. If not for its autonomous decision, a part of this World's Source Energy would've been lost and became nutrition for their Zones."
"Huh? Then does that mean…?"
"Yes. What I sent down was not an ordinary Incarnation. It's a part of me. Compared to the Clones you can make or the Incarnation you sent here before, it has my full capabilities. Her strength reflected my own strength. The reason why I can dominate you back in our little contest is because of my magnified Energy Control in this space."
"Why are you telling me this? Isn't this supposed to be your most guarded secret?"
"It's my show of trust in you. And on top of that, here…"
The silver-haired woman shot a ball of energy towards me. It didn't have any harmful or destructive properties so I didn't dodge. As soon as it hit me, a notification rang inside my head.
[A new location has been added to your Dimensional Skill: Portal Creation.]
[Current Portal Destinations: World of Meta, World of Spirits, World of Elements.]
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