“Lia, Alia, Rose, Heather wants to talk to you.” Connie said. “She said it’s important she does before you send out that video. I know Alia and Rose just got back, but do you have ti right now?”
“Yeah.” Lia and Rose said simultaneously.
“And I’m not tired either.” Alia said. “How long is this going to take?”
“She said it’ll just be a few minutes.” Connie replied. “I’ll teleport you in front of her door, if you’re ready.”
“That would be great, thank you, Connie.” Lia said, giving her a smile.
“Of course.” Connie said, smiling back. “Alia, Rose, anything you need before I send you over?”
When they confird that there wasn’t, Connie snapped her fingers, and Lia suddenly found herself in front of the door to Heather’s room. Not sure what else to do, Lia gave a gentle knock.
“Co in!” Heather called out.
Lia opened the door and stepped inside the room, Alia and Rose close behind. Heather was standing next to a small table, a stormy expression on her face. “I know Connie’s told you about my decision to endorse the swarm,” she said, “and I have a proposition for you.”
Lia nodded hesitantly. “We’re listening, but…do you need to get anything off of your chest, first? You seem upset.”
Heather let out a mirthless chuckle. “Upset is a word for it, yes. I’m just deeply wounded by how the other gods betrayed my trust, and that emotion’s just been brought back to the surface as I’ve been making my announcents.”
“Would you like to vent to us?” Lia offered. “I know it’s probably a bit strange to hear from, well, us, but I just get the feeling that it might help.”
Heather sighed. “I can’t get too deep into the matter, but the other gods used video of in the past to misrepresent my current stance. I was trying to stay neutral at the ti, so I hadn’t checked any of what they were doing, trusting that they would act in good faith and not use any of that.
“That really got thinking. I’ve been working with these people for millennia, and yet they were willing to pull that stunt. I understand why, having shared their viewpoint once, but it once again made realize that emotions are running extrely high, and I had to review my stance again. Upon review, I decided that this was best; morally speaking, the way you’re going about things is sothing I wholeheartedly disapprove of, but the result is sothing we can’t get otherwise, and it saves people from other future atrocities.
“But, enough of that. I recognize that you’re back from doing your work and are likely tired, so I’ll get to the point. I just made a bold move to correct misinformation on other planes, one that will likely have significant consequences for , so I feel it appropriate that I do the sa here. I’d like to add a short foreword to your video, using my position to legitimize a few of your claims.
“I’d like to confirm that Rose was the Ruby Emperor. That’s easily confird by people reading her status, provided they understand that using her Blessing to legitimize a fake Title would be grounds for a smiting, so I’d like to make sure that people don’t have to look at her status themselves to know for sure.
“I’d also like to confirm that the rest of the video is not propaganda, that their governnts really did try to do sapient experintation, and the raid was essentially divine punishnt. And, since I am already going this far, I will confirm for them that they won’t be treated as slaves under your rule, nor will they experience any of the bad things their governnts have been telling them. I want to stress that this is a choice between whether they consider what is likely a better life worthy of having their body transford and their loyalties changed. Is that acceptable to you?”
“I’d love that.” Rose said. “But, just to confirm, you won’t get in trouble for this, right? I know Jerry likes to make sure we’re not helped too much.”
“I cleared it with him first.” Heather replied. “After what happened with Liza, most of us have been. Ratha is all but yours anyway at this point, and he thinks this still falls under acceptable punishnt for trying sapient experintation.”
“I’m…sorry, by the way.” Alia said. “I apologized to Sif for it yesterday, but I figured I should make it clear that I won’t do it again. You only let it slide because I couldn’t understand why I was doing sothing wrong, right? But I know better now, and I won’t stoop that low again.”
Heather gave Alia a surprised look. “Us gods should really be the one apologizing to you, for the Urge.” Heather said. “Yes, we looked the other way because, in many ways, it was directly our fault, and to punish you for it would feel absurd and unfair. These people, on the other hand, had been warned against it, and knew what they were doing was morally wrong.”
“I…I’m not fine with what you did, I hated the Urge with every fiber of my being that could hate it, but it led to this point, and I’m very happy now, so…I’ll accept the apology.” Alia said. “Anyway, I interrupted, please continue.”
“That’s all, really.” Heather said, grabbing a small disc from the table and handing it to Alia. “I already recorded that segnt, have Connie help you integrate this into the spell you’ll be casting, and it should co through fine.”
“Thank you.” Alia said, putting the disc into her storage. “We’ll put it to good use.”
Marcus, the Sapphire Emperor, had his fitful rest interrupted by an urgent knock on the door. Over the few days since the raid, he hadn’t been able to sleep well at night, and it had finally reached a point where his subordinates had noticed an impact on his work. So, he had chosen to try and nap, and had given strict instructions not to wake him unless there was an ergency.
Feeling slightly annoyed and incredibly apprehensive, he walked over to his door and looked through the peephole to find a ssenger shifting from foot to foot, clearly distressed. Sighing, Marcus stood to the side and slid open a small hatch near the top of the door, large enough to let out his voice but small enough to not give an attacker much of an opening. “Yes?” He asked wearily.
“The swarm sent out another broadcast, Your Majesty.” The ssenger said. “It’s…far worse than we could have ever imagined. We have a copy in the war room, and we need your presence to decide what to do about it.”
Marcus suddenly felt much more awake, a trickle of fear running through him. “Tell them I’ll be there montarily.”
He slid the hatch shut and hurried to change into more suitable clothes, not caring that he was still looking slightly disheveled when he left his room. He practically ran to the war room, where most of the high-ranked officials in the empire were waiting. “Start it over.” He demanded. “Let see this for myself.”
Like the copy of the last broadcast, this one was in black and white, but unlike the last copy, it didn’t open with the swarm leadership, it instead opened with soone who was the spitting image of the Goddess of Hearth.
“Hello.” She said, her voice drilling down into Marcus’s soul and leaving him with the undeniable knowledge that it was the Goddess of Hearth herself speaking. “I have chosen to make so remarks before the rest of this broadcast in hopes of clearing up so potential misconceptions.
“First, in the last broadcast, the swarm claid that Rose is the reincarnation of the Ruby Emperor. Many of you have assud that this is an empty boast, but it is the truth. She retains all of her mories, and is doing this of her own free will with no form of ntal alteration, even that usually given to mbers of the swarm. If you were to see her status in person, you would see that she is Blessed by the God of War, and to use a Blessing to fake her a Title as important as proclaiming her the Ruby Emperor would be blasphemy and would see her struck down.
“Likewise, many of you have been told many lies about the swarm by your leadership. You will not be reduced to slaves, you will not be conscripted to fight wars, and, indeed, when converted, you will remain almost entirely yourself, save for new loyalty to the swarm.
“While I used to be in opposition to the swarm, after seeing that they are actually dedicated to their people and improving their lives, I reluctantly decided that I support the swarm in their endeavors so long as they maintain the high standards they have set for themselves. I tell you all of this so that you can make an inford decision; are the potential improvents to your life worth the changes that you will go through to join the swarm? Many gods think so, and many do not, so you can only decide for yourself.
“Normally, the gods would not make a statent on this matter, but the contents of this broadcast make feel that so clarification is needed.” As she spoke, her eyes hardened, seeming to stare disapproving holes through Marcus. “What you are about to watch is truth. Your governnts, against the council of every religious leader who was aware, chose to perform sapient experintation on their own unwilling troops in hopes of learning more about the swarm.
“We consider this a blasphemy and a betrayal of their people. As such, we temporarily allowed the bindings we placed on Alia and Rose to be lifted while they raided the compound where these experints were taking place. Alia is right when she says that this is punishnt for attempting such heinous acts, and even the gods that oppose the swarm reluctantly agreed to allow this. That is the severity of the sin your leadership committed. Farewell.”
Marcus felt like his stomach had beco a bottomless pit of dread. Astrea had been right, and he had ignored her, assuming the gods would forgive this one sin. Yes, it had been extre, but it had been the fastest way to get results, and they needed those results to win…or so he had thought.
The broadcast didn’t care much for his feelings, as it carried on regardless, opening onto a view of Rose and Alia standing so distance away from the lab. It began with Rose lifting her arm, a massive growth of plant life entirely uprooting the lab and enclosing it in an enormous ball in the sky. Then, all of a sudden, they were in the entrance, watching Alia as she broke through the trapdoor leading downwards.
Marcus wasn’t prepared for the ensuing fight. He had heard that Alia seed overwhelming, that she had managed to fend off two max level people while appearing unconcerned by the fight, but hearing about it and seeing it were two entirely different things. It was imdiately apparent that she hadn’t been appearing unconcerned in her previous fight, she was unconcerned; she faced down a squad of five max level people and a few of the best fighters that weren’t max level, but not only did she win effortlessly, she toyed with them.
It just seed like nothing worked against her. She was able to pierce through every single capstone Skill that was thrown at her, the world’s most powerful abilities failing to do more than slow her for a mont.
It was like watching a highly-trained soldier thoroughly dismantle a set of rookies that she was training, and he found that he couldn’t bla the people who had wet themselves for doing so. Alia was correct; were it not for the bindings the gods had placed on her, she would have been capable of singlehandedly ending the war, and a display of such raw power was terrifying to witness even from a distance.
As Alia dealt with the last of the guards at the entrance, the view flickered, changing to Rose near the bottom of the facility. For all intents and purposes, her fight was the sa; through the use of overwhelming power, she made fools of those opposing her.
What was worse, though, was the revelation of her Skill; as she trained others, even if they didn’t want to be trained by her, she received so of the experience they would have received, and was able to make their Skills her own. In essence, the most skilled warrior to ever live now had the capability to learn every single Skill, including capstone Skills. She would be able to have an answer for every situation, and in the hands of soone of her caliber…she would actually be able to make full use of that versatility.
When she had finished her systematic humiliation of the world’s best and brightest, the video changed to them rescuing the captives, Alia asking them about how they got there and what they were subjected to. And, just as the video was winding down and Marcus thought he had enough problems to deal with, it held one last gut punch.
The scene changed to a catkin woman that, after a mont of horror, Marcus recognized as Astrea. “I am Astrea, forr Cardinal of Astrum and current Marchioness of Astrum. A few weeks ago, I was visited by the Goddess of Law and given a list of gods that support the swarm and who oppose it.
“The intention behind this was for to be able to provide people with a list of gods that would be receptive of their prayers. To be frank, I was told that even most of the gods who oppose the swarm have abandoned this plane, assuming the swarm’s conquest of it to be inevitable and focusing their attentions on preparing other planes for its arrival. However, upon review of the list, I ca to the realization that over half of the gods are in support of the swarm, a number that continues to grow.
“After days of agonizing deliberation, I decided to surrender to the swarm, feeling it my religious obligation to follow the will of the majority of the gods. And, I must say that my life since has beco better in ways I scarcely considered possible, as have the lives of my people.
“It is my pleasure to say that, as of recently, Astrum has been completely converted. For those rulers who were told that I was going to stay the course, I apologize for the lie; I had long since surrendered, and needed to keep up appearances. However, I would remind you that even before I surrendered, I warned you not to go through with this foolish experint, and I was correct in saying that it was inviting ruin.
“To the people, I would advise you not to worry. The swarm will treat you well, in many cases better than your own rulers are treating you. Were that not so, there would not be such widespread support amongst the gods. For you rulers, I would advise surrender. It should beco apparent to you that this is a war you have no hope of winning. When told that the swarm would not treat those who resisted any differently from those who had not, Isaac, King of Misthaven, said that there is no point in giving in when struggling loses us nothing.
“I would argue that it does. It loses your ti, it loses the lives of mbers of the swarm and the few soldiers we will be unable to capture peacefully, and it will cause a lot of grief and worry for both yourself and the people who will be unwilling to accept this ssage for what it is. You didn’t heed my advice before and I don’t expect you to now, but you’ll eventually understand that I’m right.”
And then, blessedly, the video shut off. Marcus couldn’t help but sag in his chair, the weight of what he had just watched pushing him ever further down. “Is there anything positive we can take from this?” He croaked. “Any counterasures against Alia or Rose?”
“All that I could think of is that we absolutely cannot do anything that would get them unbound.” One of Marcus’s generals, Octavius, said. “Outside of that, our only hope is to pray we can find one of them alone and gang up on her with every single max level person we can.”
Marcus sighed. “I thought so.” He said. “We’re going to have to try and do a lot of damage control here, and given what happened with Astrea, we’re going to have to convince the other rulers to have so deep scans done to make sure no one else is compromised. Does anyone have any ideas as to how we can discredit this?”
“We can’t contradict the Goddess of Hearth.” One of his advisors said. “So, we’re going to have to try and work around her words. For instance, really emphasizing that staying as yourself is important, so people will be more willing to decide against the swarm.”
“That could work.” Marcus said. “Soone start writing this stuff down; we’re going to need to be as fast as possible so we experience as few defections as possible.”
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