Chapter 30 Alicia in sight
Alden who was quietly watching Kreeds reaction, suddenly smiled.
Truth be told k, I was quite confident in the fact that I possessed the highest ranked relic in existence currently. Well of course untill you revealed that you possess a divine ranked relic.
Now am not so sure about the details anymore. However since you were lucky enough to meet me, u can rest assured that your secret is kept safe.
Kreed who was still contemplating over the thought of being scammed by the father of all, let out a small sigh. And asked are u going to tell me what it's abilities are?
Alden chuckled am afraid not, although I don't have anything to lose, you'll come to find that I like to leave things up to interpretation. However since you revealed the abilities of your divine ranked relic to me am willing to give u a little hint, since I suspect your a member of the erudition lane, solving this little puzzle should help u greatly. Of course once we get to Alicia you can ask anyone and they'll most likely tell you the answer. But I hope your willing to figure it out on your own. It'd be a massive surprise if u could figure out some other things as well. .
Kreed considered Alden’s words, a small spark of intrigue igniting in him. He understood that in Alden’s world, knowledge was as valuable as the power it conferred. Alden’s challenge wasn’t just about the relic’s abilities—it was a test of Kreed’s mind, of his ability to piece together fragments of truth in a world where nothing was as it seemed.
“Well, Alden, I’ll take you up on that. I’d rather figure it out myself, anyway." Kreed replied with a grin, though his mind lingered on the relic’s unsettling power.
The two of them stood at opposite ends of The Grape, the small boat drifting steadily through the afternoon waves. The sky was wide and clear, sunlight sparkling on the water’s surface as if each wave carried a hidden current of energy guiding them forward. A light breeze brushed past, carrying a hint of salt, and in the distance, a gray mass began to rise over the horizon.
They could just make out Alicia—the city covered in a vast, dome-like shell, its stone ridges resembling the back of an enormous turtle. The dome seemed to shimmer faintly in the sunlight, a colossal structure that dominated the skyline and cast long shadows over the coast beneath it.
As The Grape drew closer, Alden broke the silence. “K, let me ask you something. Why are you so willing to risk everything for these relics? For the powers they give?”
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Kreed paused, his eyes narrowing. He hadn’t expected Alden to question his motives, especially not now, under the open sky. "Isn’t it obvious?” he finally replied. “Power means freedom. When you’re strong enough, nobody tells you what you can or can’t do. And in a world like this, you’re either powerful or you’re prey.”
Alden chuckled softly, a sound tinged with something Kreed couldn’t place—sympathy, perhaps? Or maybe a quiet understanding. “Freedom,” Alden mused, his voice low. “You’re right, of course. But let me offer you a thought. Power has a tendency to attract others with power, and not all of them will be as reasonable as I am.”
Kreed scoffed. “Then let them come. I’ve learned to handle threats.”
“Ah, but have you?” Alden’s tone was gentle, almost amused. “You’re driven, K, that much is clear. But there are forces at play far older and more cunning than either of us. Divine-ranked relics, powerful though they are, are mere toys compared to the minds that shaped the fabric of this world.”
Kreed met his gaze, brow furrowed. “And you know that how, exactly?”
Alden shrugged, a vague smile on his face. “Let’s just say I’ve seen things. Things that would shatter most people’s understanding of power and purpose. But those are stories for another time.”
The conversation left Kreed uneasy, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. Alden’s calm, almost dismissive demeanor was unsettling, as though he were looking down from some greater height, privy to mysteries Kreed couldn’t yet comprehend.
As the boat drifted closer, the dome loomed high above them, casting a shadow that stretched out over the sea, cooling the air. The stone surface, crisscrossed with intricate patterns and reinforced by unseen forces, was both imposing and beautiful—a fortress meant to withstand the worst the world could offer.
Finally, as the faint hum of the city life grew audible, Alden glanced at Kreed, his eyes glinting. “Welcome to Alicia." Soon an uncontrollably smile grew across his face.
Kreed had learned quite a lot form Alden in the past couple of hours, including why Alicia was covered in a gigantic stone dome, and to his surprise he found himself paying very close attention to every detail. Apparently within the last ten years Alicia faced the threat of being obliterated by a neighbouring city. The two cities governing bodies were at odds and Alicia was the ones at fault.
So when the war was approaching it's climax, Alden made his move. Subjugating the leaders of Alicia and standing with it's people, being an upcoming newbie at the time the world was shocked to know that with his strength and the help of a few other powerhouses he took over a nation, and forced another to retreat. The icing on the cake, being that he spent an entire year building the now enormous dome that protected Alicia from the outside threats.
Alden really was something special, from one move, he secured a position in the worlds top 100, and later on he would grow even stronger. To the point where even the major clans wouldn't dare provoke him recklessly. The reason? Because Alden was the leader of an organization called the Unchanging Odium, and the members were all power houses that could cause massive issues.
Kreed didn't know how much of that he believed but, from seeing Alden defeat a Stulified Mammoth, he couldn't doubt it.
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Author's Note- Hey guys! ;) were at another milestone.... I feel honored to have made it this far, truth be told I never expected the introduction arc to span 30 chapters. But nonetheless it was an amazing and wonderful time. Now as we officially begin the story I hope u put ur buckles on for what's about to come, you'll finally meet the main characters in a few chapters and understand where Kreed plans to take us.
Other than that, I might have an increase in the word count of each chapter just to accommodate the many revelations and themes that will be presented.
Anyways it's been me the greatest and smartest au
thor.
AverageFrog
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