I left the workers behind and took an hour to get myself cleaned up. After that, I went and found Saanite. They were floating in the middle of the boardroom and I wasn't sure if they were asleep or even if they had to sleep. "Uh, you available to talk?" The slowly rotating ball of space dust brightened and I could feel it looking at me. I still wasn't sure how that worked nor did I want to ask.

"There you are I have just been given a minor reward for you. Please check your updated Status Screen at your leisure."

I raised an eyebrow and did as I was instructed. I didn't see anything different and was just about to point that out when I found it. The line about my affiliation had changed. It now said my affiliation was to Earth but specifically Amara. It also had the word ruler next to it. "So this means the System officially considers me a ruler?" As if to answer my question I received a new title. One that wasn't anything to look down at.

Prime Fore bearer: Become the First Recognized Ruler in a New World. Reward: All Attributes +10.

This was the first improvement to my luck attribute in a while which only served to put the bow on an otherwise wonderful day. I reviewed my attributes for a minute before I closed the screen and got back to what I came for. "Perfect. I am going to be leaving for the expedition in a week or so. I am providing ten 2nd realm stones to power the arrays while I am gone." I had to resist the urge to flinch when I summoned the smile pile of cultivation batteries. A small voice in the back of my mind encouraged me not to do it. That it would be better for me to keep the stones. I ignored it. I had no way of knowing what would happen while I was gone and couldn't guarantee I would get back fast enough to help them if they got attacked.

"Very well, do you want us to run the array as soon as you leave or ration for the most time?"

"Start as soon as I am gone. I don't want to risk anyone getting inside so make sure that the guard patrols are picked up as well. If something happens bring everyone into the building and defend. I will try to return as quickly as possible. Would the System notify me if this place came under attack?"

"No, not unless the attackers were a threat to your hub. You would then be warned that you were in danger of losing control of the city."

I nodded. It was a bit better than I expected which made me feel better. If I assumed that the continent wasn't too far away I might be able to get back my opening portals. It would require the timing to be just right which made it less than ideal but possible. "Is there anything you can do? Are you able to defend yourself? Will the System protect you?"

"No, I do not have any combat abilities. It is generally frowned upon to attempt to harm any System-sanctioned person. It is a part of our agreement to work for the System. I will be unable to provide any additional help. Should I try I would lose said protection."

"I guess that works. Do whatever you can for as long as you can." We went over a few more things related to the day-to-day running of the city. Between my council and Saanite, there wasn't much for me to do. My role was more nuke than administrator which wasn't bad necessarily. I didn't like the idea of being a figurehead but it would help me leave whenever I wanted. I could also come back and undo any decisions I didn't like so that was a benefit.

"What do you want us to do about refugees?" Saanite's question brought me back to the current moment.

"Oh ah if people come here in need of help you are free to let them in at the agreement of the council. If you have reason to believe they are dangerous then provide them what you can but leave them outside. I don't want to risk our people."

"What about refugees from other worlds?"

I stared back at my administrator in complete confusion. "What? Wait people can join worlds like ours?"

"Yes, the refugee system is a sub-routine of the mercantile system. There are restrictions such as no one can be stronger than the person granting them safe passage nor can they hurt said factions. They would form a contract with you while the System acts as an enforcer."

"Do we have any offers right now?"

"No, you have just gained the right as a recognized ruler so it will likely be some time before anyone considers your world. On top of that, your world is relatively weak so it likely won't draw much interest."

"It also won't make me popular here." I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how people would react to dwarves and elves coming out of Amara. "Either way if something comes up save it for when I get back. If for some reason you can't let the council know. I want us to be welcoming to everyone but I am not naive enough to believe that everyone else will agree." After that, we spent another hour going over the final details. Mainly things about the day-to-day activities and how the system generated quests for other people. It turned out I couldn't give out quests yet but I could aim the way my people developed. I could buy a merit system that would let me arrange rewards for development. Ultimately I couldn't do it right now, most of my money was tied up with Azariah so hiring people to take care of that would be difficult.

When I left Saanite I decided to call it a day. I wanted to speak with Keshaun to see how they were doing but it was pretty late and I was a bit tired. I decided to spend the rest of the night divided between sleep, cultivation, and meditation until the sun rose. I got dressed and made my way down to the floor where Keshaun and his group of former prisoners lived. I wasn't sure how I felt about his group isolating themselves into a mini neighborhood but it was their choice. I knocked on the door and waited for it to open. When it did Keshaun's smiling face stared at me.

He gestured for me to enter and then closed the door behind me once I did. "Hello, I hope you are here on good news."

"Well, it depends have you done something I should get mad at you for? No, I am here to go over things with you before I leave. Is there anything your people need?"

"No, we are doing rather well though I do have some questions if you don't mind?" I nodded for him to continue. "Some of our non-combatants are starting to worry. They are worried that their growth will stagnate." I raised an eyebrow at that but let him continue explaining. "There are no complaints about your academy, the problem is the lack of resources. There is limited material outside of the stuff from the old world. Unfortunately working with that provides minimal spirit energy which increases the need for cultivation time. Since many of the people who came with me aren't cultivators..."

"They would have to go out and fight to gain the levels. Either that or spend all their money on spirit stones." I ran my hand across my face and sighed. "So the non-cultivators are going to struggle to keep up even if they are building things I will see what I can do. I should be able to get more materials easily enough. I don't think that would be too hard. I am not sure what I can do about the energy."

"Of course, the System has made it very obvious that we aren't all equal in its eyes. Our fear is more focused on the city itself. How long until people start to feel that the non-cultivators aren't working as hard or providing as much?"

"All will be treated the same under the law anyway. I can't make people like you nor can I make people appreciate them."

"Of course, many of us have joined the army which has also raised questions related to benefits?"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"You like if they get hurt or something. I don't have endless money but I can look into it. I imagine that there has to be something like that in the multiverse. Especially if the primal battlefield can provide an income. I want to do better than what the United States had before. Something like a stipend paid out over some time. Perhaps a set of cultivation resources?"

"With your permission, I could set something up with a few of the veterans. We would bring it before the council for approval of course."

I decided to ignore the gleam in his eyes as I gave my approval for the idea. I didn't think he would hurt me with this but it felt like giving him power wasn't the best idea. Either way, I didn't have the time to do it myself and I didn't know much about it. "See to it that it gets done. Don't implement it until I come back. Anyone injured during that time is to be treated as if nothing happened minus their duties while they recover."

"Of course, as for the battlefield if we can stabilize the entrance before you get back do you want us to do so or wait to activate the array for your return?"

That was a good question. If they activate and then lose control over it the corpses inside might kill everyone. If one of the strong ones got out then it might be over for everyone on the planet. "No, wait to activate it until I get back. We can't afford those things getting out." We spent an hour going over a few other things though most of it was idle conversation. I learned a bit more about the Panthers and how they ended. The story was fascinating but was also bittersweet. How a group of people tried to do good but slowly transformed. I couldn't help but wonder if I was going down that same path. What would people write about me in future history books? I left his apartment and wandered around for a bit.

The next two weeks went by in a bit of a blur. I divided my time between developing Amara and personal cultivation. Together we made startling progress. More than a fourth of the citizens had been moved out of the main building which caused the System to acknowledge me as the controller of everything within 82 square miles of the building. It was staggering to look at just how much land belonged to me. Despite that, there were some issues. In short, not everyone wanted to leave. It was mostly those who were around level 10 who set off into the neighborhoods while people lower than that stayed put. For now, it wasn't an issue but I was a bit worried that we would get a servant class inside the building. Desbera and Azariah tried to convince me that it wasn't a bad thing. Just like in Earth's feudal history rulers needed servants to do things. To take care of the cleaning and other menial tasks. Intellectually I agreed but there was something about it that made me hesitant.

Either way, I made sure that they received pay equivalent to the other workers. Despite my hours and hours of cultivation I still hadn't reached level 37. I considered heading deep within the earth to fight but since the expedition was rapidly approaching I figured it wasn't important. I would have all the battles I could want. The day of the expedition was oddly dull. I gathered the last of my things including the various healing pills and tonics Azariah got together for me. I wasn't sure why but there was a pervasive sense of anxiety in the air. A feeling that just wouldn't go away. It caused me to stock up on a variety pack of wandering cultivator essentials. Pills that fought poisons, pills that would protect against disease as well as just about everything else. There was even one that would help defend against mental attacks. It wasn't so much a healing pill as it was a poison that forced you to hallucinate. Those hallucinations would overpower lesser mental attacks.

The effect wasn't great but it would let you fight a bit longer. Or activate an escape treasure. I stepped into the teleportation room only to find my council waiting for me. I flashed each of them a smile. "Aww, you all are going to see me off? You all love me."

Aaliyah rolled her eyes and Christopher shook his head. "We are here to make sure there are no issues and to have the array up as soon as you're gone." He replied.

"You sure you don't want to come?" I asked. When no one replied I shrugged and stepped up to the teleporter. "I will keep Ethereal Convocation going for as long as possible. If anything happens let me know immediately and we will come back. If I have a good chance I will claim an area for us to act as a base. Make sure to have people ready to administer it on standby."

"Of course, I will send a group of guards through as well. We can take care of it just try not to piss anyone else off." Aaliyah's reply earned a half smile from me. I pretended to think about it as I focused on the teleporter.

"That doesn't seem like fun." No sooner did I finish my sentence was I pulled into the darkness. I pulled up my status screen to review it one last time.

Name Amari Jackson Level 36 Class [1-Epic]Psionic Paragon Species [2]Human Affiliation Earth:Amara: Ruler Manual [1]Ethereal Codex(22%) Titles Beloved by Tao, Big Game, Chosen, First to Ten, Horde Breaker, Leader of the Pack, Monstersbane, Overlord Slayer, Overpowered, Perfect 100, Prime Forebearer, Prime Hunter, Tutorial, Voyager, Limited Titles Pinnacle, Primal Battlefield Tao Strand of Adamance — Comprehension: Middle, Strand of Lucidity — Comprehension: Middle Agility 155 (Increase:65%. Potency:120%) Constitution 158 (Increase:65%. Potency:120%) Intelligence 236 (Increase:70%. Potency:120%) Luck 154 (Increase:85%. Potency:120%) Perception 175 (Increase:65%. Potency:120%) Strength 129 (Increase:65%. Potency:120%) Wisdom 439 (Increase:75%. Potency:120%) Free Points 0 System Credits [1]10,000

My power had shot through the roof since the tutorial ended. I was faster, stronger, smarter and I suppose luckier than I had ever dreamed of. Despite all the power I had gained I couldn't help but feel like the sky was the limit in how much I could grow. I could increase my power. The sky was the limit. When the world came back into focus I found a familiar group of people waiting for me.

"Hey, how's it going? Do I get another escort?" Chang Yi's smile became slightly more forced as he gestured for me to follow him.

"The expedition has already started to gather. Is there anything you need to purchase? We have a few cultivators offering things for trade."

I settled into position behind him and his three guards. "No thanks. I gathered everything I needed. Are we running to the coast?"

"N-no? We have several cars ready to drive to where the boats are located. From there the ships will take you to the continent and leave you all to take care of things. For now, though we are getting ready to start the information brief."

I raised an eyebrow in silent question. "I wasn't expecting to need more information. Have things changed?"

"No, nothing like that we are dividing up our people to each of you. We want to put you all into decentralized squads."

I considered going against the idea but it didn't matter much. "How are the squads being assigned? What's their makeup?"

Chang Yi chuckled as we arrived at the UN building. "They will explain inside. I am not sure if the groups will function differently or not."

I nodded and was led into the same room as the auction. Only this time the tables were gone and everyone was standing in small groups. The room was divided down the middle where people dressed as cultivators stood on one side and researchers on the other. The whole thing was kind of funny. I searched the sea of faces for anyone I knew. When I found Romulus and Amahle I couldn't help but smile. Before I could make my way over to them I noticed the far away look in several eyes. It wasn't hard to assume that they were checking the Standings which meant they either had my description somewhere or someone had provided information on all the cultivators that would be here.

I settled in just as a world government official stepped into the room. He looked at us all as a TV screen descended from the ceiling. "It's good to see you all. We will leave in four hours. We will now begin assigning you to your groups where you will receive your instructions."