Under the wide branches of the Grandfather Willow, a great many individuals from both the upper and lower realms gathered. It was both a reunion, and an opportunity. While the realms had been able to keep in contact, and indeed continued to iterate on their communications increasing the speed and other factors… it still took months for any information to reach between the core planets. That was better than the years it took to travel in person- now that it was even possible- but it did not make for any sort of convenient back and forth.
Looking at the composition of members and considering how many were related to Anton directly made clear how different the future could have been. If he hadn’t been drawn into the world of cultivation when he was, their family scattered… what would have come? Anton himself certainly would have perished. Catarina, from the extended family that had ended up away from Dungannon, would likely have been the only one to take up cultivation. Anton would have died of old age, happily moving on, not knowing that an invasion was coming from the upper realms.
Based on what had been seen from other planets, they might have developed alternatives to Ascension without Anton. Rutera and Weos would have come into contact with Ceretos- potentially diminished or even ‘reset’ to an earlier stage of development.
The further one went, the more history would diverge. It was an interesting thought exercise now and again, but they’d come to their current history… and all were quite satisfied with the results.
They were in an age of prosperity, despite the invasion. It seemed that the majority of people of lower cultivation were also happy with their lives as well. Everyone had great opportunity available, and the natural energy of every system in the Lower Realms Alliance was still building up- though there were diminishing returns on the results.
The gathering allowed for people to finally meet in person, or to renew old connections. It also provided for an exchange of insights about cultivation, something that could not be accomplished to nearly the same extent with the loss of instant feedback and the personal touch.
Core to their discussions was the stage of Domination, and what that meant for both the upper and lower realms. They’d had only a few clashes- though it wasn’t likely that they would have survived many more. Anton slaying one was not something he was eager to attempt again in the near future.
Rather than ask how long it would potentially take Catarina or others of similar training to reach Domination, Anton had another angle to come from. “Is Domination the correct path?” He looked at those from the upper realms. “Perhaps that is a matter for individuals to decide, but it must be asked. In the lower realms, we have alternatives for Ascension. Chidi has managed an alternative for Augmentation. Could or should there be alternative routes to Domination?”
It was a manyfold question. But it brought about interesting discussion.
“For the sake of pure power,” Catarina began. “It appears to be the most achievable. Once the necessary factors are achieved, at least. That requires a very high level of devotion. Or… alternatives. Like Everheart uses.”
Timothy nodded. “Consciousness feeds into people heavily.”
“Speaking of devotion,” Alva said. “Has yours increased significantly, Anton?”
Anton took some time to comprehend the incoming strands of energy. “It’s improving at approximately the same rate as before. Why?”
“Maybe that means not enough people in the upper realms know who you are. Especially those who were near Sudin’s death.”
“I’m fairly content with the amount of people who know me,” Anton said. “I never did anything to be famous or adored by all.”
“It might still be necessary for whatever is beyond Enrichment,” Alva pointed out. “I can’t believe that shot wasn’t enough to do something, though. I’d expect a great surge.”
“Not everyone would come into awareness of it at the same time,” Catarina said. “And the connection to Anton may not be obvious to them.”
Anton didn’t particularly care. Devotion was useful, but he never had plans to use it. Nor was he aiming for something like Domination.
“On the topic of devotion,” Devon took the chance to speak. “Its power is taken advantage of more directly for the Confluence cultivators I have been living among. Including the hive mind. Though it is interesting to note that even though the hivemind is connected, not everyone higher in cultivation actually receives a large amount of devotion. Even though people are aware of each other, they still have to stand out somehow.”
Catarina nodded. “Interesting. If only we had detailed notes on Domination. Couldn’t you have killed Sudin within friendly borders… and not annihilated whatever he carried on him?”
Anton chuckled. “I wish I had so much leeway. But I imagine he would have been careful to have no clues… just in case. They seem quite secretive.”
“In general, but we’ve still gotten some information,” Timothy agreed. “The matter of anchors was an important connection. It may not be the only way, but it’s the safest. And for the Scarlet Alliance, it’s not a terribly large concern. Based on the Citadel of Exalted Light, anchors aren’t exactly fragile. If we only intend to defend our own territory, it works wonders- and we’d still have great strength beyond.”
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“About that,” Lev finally found a topic he wanted to jump in on. “What about Everheart? Based on the details I heard, he might have… multiple anchors? Or decoys?”
Catarina shook her head. “We haven’t been crazy enough to send people into his systems to try to learn details there. Either option is viable. Or something else entirely that merely appears to line up with what we know of Domination.”
After Domination, the topic split to alternative paths. Only Chidi’s was clearly different, forgoing the use of energy to reduce its effects. Though Nthanda had suggestions of her own.
“Advanced body tempering could work just as well in the upper realms as it does here.” She gestured to herself, “The amount of natural energy I have is even less than Chidi. And from what I heard, various people have had success in the upper realms.”
“To some extent, yes,” Alva said. “The Hardened Crown, among other things. And Durff.”
Nthanda grinned. “Don’t you mean the Harder Crown? I’d be quite interested in meeting Sly. And Durff as well. They would be able to confirm better if my thoughts are viable. Though they are likely too far along the path of energy themselves to choose something solely focused on body tempering. It would likely require giving up some of what they already have. Though even that I don’t know for certain.”
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Eventually the discussion shifted into individual smaller conversations. Anton found himself speaking with Yuval on the concepts of fire. “What drew you to fire?” Anton asked.
Yuval frowned. “It’s a basic part of the One Hundred Stars. But as for focusing on fire exclusively, I can’t really say. It just felt right. Is that bad?”
“I don’t think that’s the case at all. As long as you are in tune with the truth, your feelings are relevant,” Anton said. “No doubt something about it stuck out to you, be it the concept of pure power, or how it combines destruction and creation.”
Yuval nodded. “I think that’s a good way to explain it. Fire is cozy… but also had destructive capabilities. Cultivators need that.”
Anton nodded. “You should speak to Anishka. She will have much to say… even though she also cultivates ice.”
“That sounds difficult,” Yuval said.
“It sounds more difficult than it is.” They turned to see Anishka approaching. “I heard my name, didn’t I?”
“Indeed you did,” Anton commented. “What drew you to fire?”
“It was everywhere around when I was growing up, like ice. I knew it was the power my father used. I also nearly killed myself with it early on but…” Anishka shrugged. “It was still comfortable. But ice can be comforting as well. And while fire and ice seem contradictory, they both involve the concept of temperature. Adding or removing energy from a system… at least from a certain view. Ice is more solid, but fire is fluid. But in its simplest form, taking heat from one area and putting it in another is more efficient than trying to create it from nothing, or to drain it away to nowhere. Once I realized that, my efficiency skyrocketed. I’m glad the Sergeant kept me alive to reach that point.”
“Is she here?” Yuval asked. “I mean like,” he gestured immediately around them, “Here. I presume she came along with you.”
Anishka shook her head. “I left her with the Great Queen. Last I saw, she was wrestling some of the royal guard and winning.”
“... isn’t she still tiny? Like a few millimeters?”
“Yes. It’s quite fascinating to watch. She’s denser than she looks, but still fairly insignificant. But some level of insight and determination ended up with her being strong.” Anisha shrugged. “Honestly even though I’m constantly with a void ant, that doesn’t mean I get how they work. They’re like tiny little cultivators who can eat energy but not release it. Except with the power of insight and concepts, I suppose. Not that they’re usually good enough without energy.”
The three continued to discuss for a while. Anishka contrasted ice and fire. Yuval had focused solely on fire, which he used to fight directly, using it to turn his body into a weapon. And Anton used fire only when it made sense. Otherwise, he was just as comfortable using energy without attributes, light, or even spectral energy.
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Later, Anton spoke with the Great Queen. She was quite interested in the potential the cross pollination of the realms brought. “There is great potential here,” she said. “Crossed Antennae was quite interested in the proposal to reach the Chaotic Conglomeration, as well. I find that her strength improved greatly, to Fearsome Mandible’s consternation. She tries to make her battles with her sister appear effortless, but it is not so. I wonder if it merely the consumption of ascension energy… or some benefit of transition. Should void ants follow the path of ascension?”
“I can’t really answer that,” Anton admitted. “Clearly, ascension energy has been good for you and for her. But you might get the same results from consuming natural energy, if you don’t limit yourselves.”
“We would devour the whole energy of a planet and leave it bare. Which would be a waste,” the Great Queen said. “Humans were right to fear us, I believe. If we move thoughtlessly, we could wipe out whole worlds.”
“But you’d have to have some way to move between worlds. And as far as I know, the void ants have never developed their own ships,” Anton pointed out. “Which means that if you were living among humans for some time, you must have done so… in relative peace. Otherwise you could have never required a realms-wide extermination.”
“... You speak the truth,” she agreed. “Perhaps there is information we could extract from the upper realms. Though it would come at great risk to us to retrieve it.”
Anton held up a hand, “I would leave that to human cultivators. The Scarlet Alliance could at least look for such information first… without risking any lives. They’ve been finding quite a few people willing to hand over information.”
“How careless!” the Great Queen said. “We would never do such a thing. We would die first. Even the most divergent among us.”
“Humans are quite a bit more individually divergent,” Anton agreed. “And… not all were raised by individuals of moral character. Whereas all the remaining void ants we are aware of come from you and your own daughters. Besides, if they don’t believe they owe any loyalty to the Exalted Quadrant or Trigold Cluster or their particular sects, I don’t exactly disagree with such spies.”
The Great Queen nodded. “I forgot to consider their situations. Perhaps it makes sense. And… I am in no rush to search for this information. We have been content to not know for the rest of our history. But I must say I am intrigued.”
“I’m sure it can be added to the subjects of inquiry,” Anton said. “You are owed far more than that.”