“I suspect energy manipulation knowledge. With her second one and what she could do, it is the most likely option. She has progressed to altering her skills much more fluidly and dynamically boosting them,” the Protector explained.
“What does that an, dynamically boosting?” I asked.
“I suppose another word would be channel. She is no longer constrained by the amount of energy a skill requires, but can put as much as she desires. Massive blasts, wide area of effect.”
I frowned at this. “Then that is good. She would run out of energy more quickly. And the Body stat as high as hers will burn through energy.”
“Perhaps, but it would not be easy to close the distance and deal sufficient damage to take her down,” the Protector said.
“Hmm, well we can hold off on a team-up for now. There are still more preparations I need to make,” I said and sipped my juice.
“She will be looking for you. I cannot offer you sanctuary here, my people suffered enough.”
“Just a night is fine. Be nice to sleep on a bed,” I said and he nodded.
“One night is acceptable.”
“Also, I am looking for a skill Force Shot, you know where it might be?” I asked.
“No, I do not. I only know of the dungeons near by city and we do not have that skill.” Cai Fan shook his head.
“So, the Avatar and the Astrologer? Any backstory you would be willing to share?” I asked.
“The Astrologer was a scientist and explorer for the United City States. A prominent one. Over ti he grew more powerful. I know he t to negotiate the first peace treaty with the Divine Empress along with other representatives. She only respected him because he had a ta-point or god point.”
“He also built up his collection of warrior won, the Valkyries. I know one perished in the second war with the Divine Empress. But the other four went missing when he did.” I nodded at this. “Many ca from Normandy and he spent a lot of ti there perfecting his research before the fall of the UCS.”
“When the UCS leadership perished, he was the only person strong enough to take charge of the war effort against the Divine Empress. He even plead for to intervene, but I refused. Perhaps it was foolish, but I wanted to protect my people and I had promised to stay out of the conflict.” I nodded at this. The Protector was clearly soone who valued a person keeping their word, or at least keeping his word.
“How did the leadership die?” I asked.
“Foolishness. They attacked the power that controls this world. They tead up with a Lord from the Dragon Empire to break all the city pillars. The city was wiped out by a golden light and everyone was killed. Even the people who were far away. If they were involved, then they perished. I heard a rumor it might have been an anti-point. A direct intervention from the power itself,” the Protector said.
“He did sothing similar,” I said.
“Oh,” the Protector appeared interested and I decided to share to build up trust. This man would be the perfect teammate for . I explained what happened in Purgatory. How the Divine Empress and the Astrologer’s proxy had fought and then the golden light.
“Then he caused it and has probably died or lost a ta-point. I would guess the second if he was so brazen to attempt sothing like this. It would be his word of power Shatter. But his other ta-point. I have no information on.”
That was annoying. If he was still alive but lost that special ability, he might not even be able to remove the bomb from inside of . “That is unfortunate, I had been hoping for him to handle a problem for . His fake body claid it had put a living bomb inside of ,” I said.
“That is sothing he enjoyed doing. I know he did it to the Divine Empress, but she recovered.”
I waited until the Protector was sipping his tea before I said the next line. “He impregnated her.” He paused and drippled a couple drops of tea. He set his cup down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. I had gotten him.
“That was well tid Champion Michael. Is it true?” he asked.
“Yes. I stole her kid while I was stealing her treasury. I also pissed on her bed, left a ssage calling her an old hag. Oh, and left her city a complete ss,” I said.
“I had heard of so of that. But to do all of that. How…daring? I think that is the right word. I try with my English, but it isn’t always the best,” the Protector said.
“I didn’t even notice the accent. But yes. I stole her kid. So, she is probably super pissed at . If she cos by, well you can point her in my direction. Just say I went to visit the Avatar,” I replied.
“While I know that is probably not true, I will not question you. The Avatar can deal with the Divine Empress after getting everything stirred up. He impregnated her, how?!” Even the Protector and his laid back attitude took a hit at that news. I smiled at that.
“Apparently the Astrologer with his word of power and other skills, got her pregnant. The Avatar also claid that the Almighty System wanted the kid left alive, but I don’t know how true that is,” I replied.
“She would not dare lie about what her god has commanded her to do. That is one aspect of the Avatar you cant trust, but nothing else. If she swears by it, or says it has commanded her, then you can accept that, but otherwise she should never be trusted.”
“At least we can agree on that,” I replied. “So what made her earn a favor in the first place?” I asked. The Protector sighed a bit. It was nice chatting with a peer who had been around for a long ti. We could share information and complain about the Avatar. Two of my favorite activities.
“The Divine Empress sent a probing force into my territory. I would not have realized until many people were killed. She alerted to this force and I wiped them out. She did that two more tis, that is why she earned a sizable favor. But that has all been wiped away now,” the Protector said.
We sat there in silence for a bit. “How long have you been around?” I asked.
“About eight years now. The oldest I know is only two years older than . It has been hard, but hopefully I will see the end of this place one day and bring everyone to safety. What about you Champion Michael, what is your dream? What drives you?”
“Well at first it was the desire to control my own fate and be safe. Then I forgot that for a while. Now it is at the forefront of my mind after my confrontation with the Divine Empress,” I replied.
“It is never easy to see your own mortality. I have been lucky to have had people help along my path to reach this point. Now everyone depends on to keep them safe. It is no easy task being in charge.”
“I know, kind of why I make Chief Administrator Clarissa handle everything. I would just murder everyone who didn’t listen.”
“That is what makes you better than the Divine Empress. Also, you are willing to sit and drink and exchange ideas. For that I thank you.”
“Well you aren’t crazy or scheming against . Any idea where the Council of Shadows went?” I asked.
“The Avatar took them with her. She is probably planning to form a group of assassins brainwashed to obey her and carry out her will. That will be annoying to deal with. Also they will claim many cities once the Divine Empress is dead.”
“I have been speculating what the Avatar is planning to do to take her out? Any idea?” I asked.
“No. Her plans are like rotten onions. There are layers upon layers, but they all stink. The person who has to eat it, will not be happy. I suggest you tread carefully since her sights are set on you,” the Protector told .
“Thanks. Team up?” I asked again.
“I will have to decline for right now Champion Michael. I appreciate the offer, but I do not believe we could win. Even with excellent teamwork, the chances of victory are too low.”
“That is unfortunate, but I understand. But there won’t be a deal if I kill her on my own,” I replied.
“That is fine. If you do kill her and co back here, then you will be in a superior position and I will acknowledge that. I believe you know my bottom line and I feel I know what you desire. How do you Aricans put it. I will bend the knee?”
“That is very surprising. I thought you would have refused.”
“As long as my people are safe, that is all that matters. Everything else are just details that need to be worked out. Also if you kill the Divine Empress, then I would stand no chance against you. Well, there is always a chance, but I do not like gambling.” I smiled at that, another thing we had in common. Join Protector, you should join . I was ntally sending him thoughts like that, but they weren’t working.
“I have to admit, your attitude is impressive for soone of your strength, even if you give credit to others, you are the one sitting here talking with ,” I told him.
“That is true. But bragging is quite rude. I worked hard, but even now it is not enough. The Divine Empress, I truly do not understand that woman. I have spoken to her before, but she refuses to see reason.”
“All that ca from her were demands and threats. It is like she wanted the world to fight her. And the use of babies and her throne, her mind is twisted and sick. But it also allowed her to persevere through everything.” We sat in silence so more both of us thinking about the future.
It was nice to have soone who understood everything. “Technical knowledge, would you be willing to share?” I asked.
“We barely do any research here in this city. We are more focused on managing our zones and keeping things stable. What you seek, I do not have. I was never privy to the research of the UCS.”
“Anything you can tell about the Astrologer’s fighting style or the technology they used?” I asked.
“He liked using enchanted equipnt. Astrolabes were also quite prominent to disrupt focused sensing at long distances. But I suspect that the Divine Empress was using the Avatar and the Diviners were a misdirection for people to focus on.”
“They were rumored to be working on an orbital super cannon.” I paused sipping my juice at that.
“An orbital super cannon?” I asked.
“A massive levitating cannon that would blow stuff up from a high altitude. But they were just rumors. But it would have allowed a powerful counter to the Divine Empress’s forces. Just sweeping the battle lines clear and advancing. With air superiority it would be hard to overco such an advantage. The main limitation would be energy and crystals, but the Astrologer was quite clever, or still is, wherever he is,” the Protector said.
“That is both concerning and quite interesting. An orbital beam cannon. Any sign of sothing surviving the calamity?” I asked.
“No. Nothing as far as I know, but we kept to our boarders. I am the Protector, not the Adventurer,” he said with a slight smile. I had a feeling he liked using that line.
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