We set out at first light the next day. The group was a bit slower to form up but when I reminded them that they weren't safe they got it together. I decided not to go down to talk this time. Between the trio, my presence was probably more of a distraction than anything else. We settled into a rhythm as I passed overhead. The journey itself was rather dull. Not only did no monsters attack, I didn't even sense any in the area. I wasn't sure if that was due to the amount of monsters I had been killing or if they had somehow sensed me. I was sure my aura was under control, so that shouldn't have been a problem.

We traveled like that for a few hours before we stopped to rest. We settled into an old strip mall that had either been destroyed when the System arrived or was looted and destroyed in the process. I leaped down and joined the others just as four people were directed into one of the stores.

"We decided to see if there is any food or other useful items inside," Christopher said when he saw the look on my face. "Mainly we need the technology. The cooks are struggling to get by with fire and sticks."

"Fine with me. Have you finished with the map?"

"I map out three paths, but I want to keep it a bit longer. The cultivators that came with Keshaun knew of a few more areas that might be useful for us."

I nodded. "So, what do you think? Can we pick up the pace in the latter half of the day, or should I search for a safe place for us to stop?"

He sighed and rubbed his temples. "I would start searching sooner rather than later. Most of these people are still level one. Even the fighters are sub-level 5. They don't have the stamina to keep going."

I stared at him for a beat and then chuckled. "It wasn't that long ago that you all were the slow movers besides, you're all pretty slow to me. I could try to open a portal, but if I was honest, everyone would have to move quickly. I doubt I could hold it for long."

"I don't know. Do you think you could fight properly afterward? I am not ashamed to admit that without you, we might all end up in the belly of some monster. It's not worth it to just speed up the trip."

"That's what I was thinking, but staying out here longer will make it worse."

He sighed and made the sign of the cross over his body. He ended it by shooting a glare at me. "Don't speak that into existence. If it's anywhere near as bad as what you described, we might as well roll over now."

I chuckled and shook my head. I am a bit stronger than back then, so it should be fine. If that happened, I would open a portal and at least try to get as many of you as I could on top of a building." I looked around until I found Keshaun talking with his squad of cultivators. When I was sure he wouldn't just walk up on me, I leaned in a bit closer to Christopher. "So, what do you think of him?"

"Overall, I think we can trust him. He doesn't seem to want you dead. If anything, he is more interested in getting close to you. I think he just isn't super trusting."

"From what I remember, the Panthers weren't exactly getting along too well at the end. Though I can't say for sure how much of that was real."

"Don't know, but his people seem to like him. I am not sure how much of that has to do with his charm and how much of it has to do with you now, though."

I nodded and then shrugged. "I am thinking of forming a proper council when we get back. Do you have any reason he shouldn't be on it?"

He shook his head. "Not really. Are we moving into the time where you consider yourself king of the world?"

I rubbed my chin as if deep in thought and grinned. "Well, it does have a nice ring to it." I stood up straight and went into a faux salute. "All hail King Amari. All hail King Amari." A second later, I burst out into a laugh. I gave it a minute before I got control over myself. "I do think I should take it seriously, though. Amara is one of the world's cities or city-states now so people are relying on me."

"It's good to see that you are taking it at least somewhat seriously."

"I was thinking of heading back to the university library and searching for books on government and history. You know, learn the things that will keep the pitchforks away from my door. At least for the first year."

He nodded. "For now, just avoid the ides of march and long-winded speeches, and I think you will be fine. I am going to make sure everyone is ready to head out in an hour. Can you double-check that no one has snuck off? I would hate for you to have to run back here."

"Yeah, no problem." I watched him leave before making a quick round through the camp. The majority of people were in good spirits and the few that weren't were more upset at the walk itself. More than a few people were complaining about being tired or their feet hurting, which weirdly was reassuring. It meant that none of them were worried. None of them thought they would die or lose someone on the march. I wasn't sure if I could attribute that solely to me, but I played a large role. Despite the few remaining protestors Christopher had everyone ready to move out exactly one hour later. I was more than a little impressed by how well he was able to get everyone in line. I wasn't sure how having a genuine army would work, but he might make a good leader. I took up my position and we set off once again.

The next day passed by in an uneventful blur. There was one monster attack composed of a single bipedal lizard. Only this one was weaker than the one Trey dealt with. I didn't even need to get down from the top of my building to take it out. Despite that, we weren't able to reach Amara before nightfall. I couldn't help the sense of annoyance that was building in my chest. It felt like I was wasting days that could have been spent getting stronger. Intellectually, I knew it wasn't their fault and if I wanted to be a solo cultivator, I could have just left. I could have refused to found a city, I could have followed Tyrone and Ajani off into the sunset. I wondered if they had found their family and if so would they come back this way to find me or not.

"Think fast," Christopher called out as I walked up. I raised my head just as my map flew toward me. I deactivated my tao field and caught the stone in a single fluid move. I couldn't help but feel like some kind of action star. I managed to stop myself from saying a goofy one-liner. Just barely.

"I take it you're done with the map?" I asked.

"Yeah, I would love to get one of those for myself, though. I created five paths and then shared them. When we get back, I think we should place some guards at all of them. Just in case someone gets lost or someone tries to sneak in."

"Of course. Do we have enough people?"

He sighed and nodded. "Yes, and no. We don't have enough cultivators, which might become an issue if you keep pissing people off. Most of our non-cultivators lose a straight-up fight with any cultivator all else being equal."

"Can we get some spars in? I don't think it will make a large difference, but it might do them some good to practice fighting cultivators."

"Possibly, but I don't think you would be good for that. The weird invisible shield thing you do would make most fights useless. Even without it, I don't think it would help too much unless you just focused on movement. That could help group dynamics against a faster opponent."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Maybe we should get them fighting with each other first, though. I don't plan on just hanging out after the auction. I want to get to level 50 as fast as I can." I was just about to say something else when a new screen popped up in front of me. A glance told me that I wasn't the only one who received it.

World Leader System initiated. Enter an alias or use your real name.

The choice was a no-brainer for me. There was no way I was going to waste time with the bullshit of a fake name. I could come up with dozens of reasons for why I should or shouldn't do it but none of that mattered. I had no interest in hiding, nor did I want to risk some asshole taking credit for what I do. I selected "real name". For a second, nothing happened. The prompt box disappeared, and then nothing. I was about to check with the others when a larger box appeared. This one reminded me a bit of the one from the tutorial. When I read it, I smiled, and then that smile turned into a raucous laugh. I was with him.

World Standings Position Name Level 1st Amari Jackson 29 2nd Amahle Umzawi 23 3rd The System's Herald 22 4th Masquerade 19 5th Romulus 18 6th Ebony Rose 18 7th Phantom 17 8th Dark Knight 17 9th The Monkey King 17 10th Enkidu 16 ...100 James Jones 14

I was number one, and it wasn't close. Amahle and whoever the System's Herald was were kind of close, but the gap between us would require fights with very dangerous monsters. Even if they did that, there was no promise that they would be anywhere near me in actual attributes. That wasn't the only one either. There were two more leaderboards. One was for the Tao and once again I was at the top. The third was for overall wealth and I took the 8th spot. That part was enough to irritate me but it didn't ruin the truth. I was the motherfucking best.

"You are the strongest," Christopher spoke up and reminded me that he was still here. "I can't believe it. Well, I've seen all the crazy shit you can do so I guess I believe it but still."

I chuckled at him and closed the standings. I would go through and memorize all three hundred positions later. Assuming that they weren't all spoken for they could make valuable recruits. "You don't recognize any of the top ten, right?"

He shook his head. "I guess that number 5 was named after the founder of Rome, so they might be a member of the tutorial. No one in my group was named that, though. I think the 9th spot is based on that one story. As for the others, I have no idea. How the fuck do you have a six-level gap on 2nd place?" He mumbled the last part, which only made me grin larger.

"Because I am just that great. On a more serious note, I am betting that these people are going to be at the auction."

He nodded. "If the government's goal is to get all of you in one place, then I bet they will."

I pulled up the list and quickly found Aaliyah. She was holding it down at the 25th spot. Which wasn't bad at all. I wasn't sure if she could fight anyone at the top ten, though. "How many people in the top ten do you think I could fight at once?"

Christopher stared at me and then narrowed his eyes. "And why the fuck would you need to know that?"

I chuckled and held up my hands in a mock surrender. "The top ten are the first-round draft picks only instead of trying to form the best basketball we are drafting for the ruler of the world. I have no interest in joining anyone else, but what about the other nine? Taking up a cushy spot while doing what the old governments told them might not be a bad gig. If that happens, I doubt they will just leave me be. I don't think it's too crazy to call myself a walking nuclear weapon, but even if that is too much. I am an army. I can appear damn near anywhere, especially if I can expand a teleporter network."

Christopher visibly went pale and then rubbed at his temples. "So, what are you planning on fighting everyone?"

I laughed and shrugged. "I mean, people used to say it's me against the world all the time. Now it could be real."

"There is something wrong with you. Still, your reason isn't wrong. Unless we get some more people at Aaliyah's level, you might be in trouble. Even if you could defeat the entire list, there is no way you could do it while protecting the city. It's possible to know just how bad it would be until we meet them. Their attribute totals could be half yours or more."

"Yeah, for now, though my goal hasn't changed. We still need to get back to Amara and get everyone settled in."

"I guess I should be offering you my congratulations," Keshaun said as he stepped up next to us. "Did you know this would happen? The standings list I mean."

I nodded as Christopher went to check on our people. Once he was gone, I gave the new arrival my attention. "Not exactly. I expected there to be a quest, though this is much more fun. Did any of your people make the top 100?"

He shook his head no. "Our best cultivators were two levels short of the hundredth spot. Our non-cultivators aren't close enough as well. I have been told that level 20 is the threshold to get a class. Do you think the few people who have crossed that threshold are a threat?"

"Can't say. You do get a class at level 20 and the class provides around four times as many attributes, so it makes a massive difference in power. They shouldn't have gotten their fourth-class skill or spell yet either. I don't think they could fight me or anything. They could deal substantial damage to Amara, though."

He nodded and got a far-away look in his eyes. "So, should we avoid them or embrace them? They could upset any kind of power balance, especially if you aren't around."

"That's a good question. I plan on arranging a council and discussing it when we are safe in the city."

He stared at me as if expecting something. When I didn't give it to him, he spoke up. "Am I invited to this council?"

I chuckled and nodded. "I intended to invite you, but that will be for when we are back. I want to leave at first light and I want us to move this time. I intend to get back to the city by sundown."

"I see. I will let them know to rest plenty tonight. Are you able to see any more details about the list? Things like criteria to be on it? The level list is pretty obvious, but the Tao and wealth ones aren't. I doubt it just killing monsters."

I shook my head. "No, the lists seem to give the same amount of information to everyone. I think the Tao list is based on numbers and comprehension. Without seeing what the number two and three spots have, I can't say for sure."

"Alright, in that case, I will see what I can learn. If there is nothing I can do for you I will leave you now." I gave him a nod. "I hope you find the spotlight as exciting as you had hoped."

Once he left, I checked the room, but there was nothing more for me to do. I thought about finding Aaliyah, but I decided against it. I would discuss things with her later. I activated Apportation and in the next second; I was outside under the stars. I took ten minutes to calm down. My thoughts flitted between the standings, future monsters, and the upcoming auction. Despite the chaos of the future, I couldn't help but be thrilled about it. There was something more than just excitement, though. It's hard to explain, but it was kind of like the sensation of waking up on Christmas morning. When you just knew that the future would bring something amazing. When I had calmed down, I turned my attention to cultivation. It felt like a fresh wind had started to blow at my back. A wind that made me want to run out and fight. A wind that drove me forward to explore every inch of earth. I spent four hours drawing in energy before I decided it was enough. I lay down and was asleep a few minutes later.