Now begins Vol 6: Vices & Viscera

Alister Kim was an honorless man. If there were ever a sense of morals within the man, they’d been traded for sharpened survival instincts and food long ago.

Within his lavish penthouse, he watched as the seeds of his plans bore fruit. His spy had successfully infiltrated the cocky group of orphans, disrupting whatever plan the Black Hole Conglomerate had devised to aid Maelstrom. Not that Alister was against his homeland, he just wasn’t for it either. So now that his field had a true competitor, he engaged outright.

He’d originally thought the boy known as Arson to be just that, a boy that came from nothing, only to become nothing. But matters changed overnight for Alister as every hole in his foundation was stretched wide by plans developed by a seven season old child.

Plans that Mr Kim still fought to that day. Arson’s instructions even before he’d left to Endless still growing in momentum as they dug at every weakness Arson had found in his younger days. Yet while Mr Kim watched as Arson fell from the sky, holograms displaying everything held within his spies sight, he found himself hoping that the brat survived.

“Look now I’m only just getting started trying to kill you, child. You better survive this, I still want to do the beast horde experiment…” Those gathered around him heard the words and were confused, many of his followers filled with enmity toward the young man they watched falling toward his doom. Then the robot leapt into the air and punched. Punched not only Arson but the massive wolf above the young man.

“If you survive, I know you're that same brat that destroyed my nightclub; if you die, I’ll be glad to have taken out my newest rival in stride,” said Alister. This comment drew even more confused looks, but Mr Kim ignored them all. As only he was convinced that Carter Gestalt was Sovereign Arson Omni. He didn’t know what Jade had done to make his rapid growth occur but he was convinced.

The punch sent Arson and the wolf in separate directions. Both beings sent flying like corpses heaved from high places, dropped plummeting into unseen distances.

The operative's view panned back and forward to show both Arson and the wolf land in opposing distances. One disappearing inside a mountainous trash heap, and the other created a rather large crater. Motion coming from neither area shown on screen.

“Should I retreat, sir?” Mr Kim ignored the question the first few times addressing his spy only after being tapped on his shoulder by his wife.

“Ali, address him at least, he cannot read your mind,” spoke his wife. Mr Kim nodded, glancing in her direction with a small smile.

“Keep an eye on the area, satellite protocol,” directed Mr Kim. The Spy who began his ascent to offer Alister a perfect view of the entire area was able to maximize the view on any area below.

Alister Kim was shocked to see what occurred next as it seemed neither the young man nor the demon would rise. Motion coming from neither area as a transference of power occurred. Not a few moments later a scattering of ravens went unnoticed to all watching, both close and abroad.

“Let's see how Jade reacts to this. I’ll have my answer then…”

…

Prologue: Reasoning with insanity:

“What?”

Almarine had just been put in an awkward position. She felt that Tempest’s interest was growing in a way that filled her heart with a fear that hadn’t been felt since she lost her daughter.

“If we can get the tournament to be hosted here rather than anywhere else, the power I will receive will be incredible, and I will need that power to test if Arson is a suitable candidate for me,” said Tempest, pulling Almarine’s mind into the moment. Her core began to swell with a cold anger that she’d forgotten, pain dulled by time, but not forgotten.

“You cannot have him…” The words slipped free of her lips unbidden.

“Why, whatever do you mean? I can have anyone I deem worthy. You know I don’t intend to stay within this realm, I want to experience the heavens and beyond, and who would be more—“

“You cannot have him!” The ancient snapped and the mana in the room thrummed as a storm brewed in her chest.

A mixture of fear and fury built to a level of volatility that could be felt by many powerful Cultivators in the realm. Monstrous beings able to destroy the entire realm woke, the senses of godlike beings pointed in their direction, taking note of the swell of mana shifting about wildly.

“I can, and I will—“ Almarine clenched her fists and twin sonic booms rustled the air in the room, interrupting the living cores speech.

“What is making you act so irrational, Almarine? This boy is nothing but a distant relative to you, I cannot see what is making you feel such to make you cry?” Almarine didn’t even know she was crying until the core spoke up then, tears so hot rolled free of her face, evaporating before they even made it a hand span from her cheeks.

“I have felt loss, I have felt turmoil, I have felt the injustice of burying my own offspring as a repercussion of your choices to try and merge with Cultivators far too young to experience your power, and now you have the same expectation of me to stand by and experience the same once more!”

The realm shook, not in a way that could be felt physically, but a distortion of mana so violent rose that only Cultivators with the innate ability, or skills that could perceive a realm’s soul were aware. Almarine was a being a mere step away from godhood. An entity who’d in fact attempted to become a godly being and lacked a key piece to take the final step, leaving her stuck in an in-between. Immortal, but not all powerful, strong and invulnerable to the weaknesses of mortals, but still able to be killed by her equals.

Without this piece, she would never be able to take that step. As gods without living cores within could not exist.

“Your daughter wasn’t the same and I see that now. I also believe that maybe if we would have tried with her at a younger age, before she began to form the same mental limitations you Cultivators all seem to gain in time, that maybe I’d already be in the heavens, exploring places untouched by mortals and lesser beings, but her inner doubts led to her death, and my Arson has no such fears, in fact—“

“You cannot—“

“You will not tell me what will be done in my realm, nor will you tell me who I will and will not test, as a Cultivator within the System built by the Maker Arkanous Fury you fall within the same confines of the system as any other, and my decision is final!” The ambient mana in the room turned even more violent. The two beings within the center of the CityNation of Maelstrom battled for supremacy without the need for physical blows. Mana pushed and pulled violently between them as Almarine’s sense of control was lost.

“You dare speak my son’s name as if his sacrifice doesn’t still haunt us all, as if he didn’t give himself for a brighter future, a future that you now thrive in, carelessly killing the youth to ascend beyond your own limitations. Maybe it is you that is too weak to be taken to the heavens, maybe it is your taint that needs to be washed from this realm and a new power take your place as the potential future core of a god, rather than you now trying to insert yourself in a mere child, who might I add already has a core, three cores, in fact. Your intrusion within his soul would already be a blasphemy that would result in his death!”

“Four cores…”

“What, what are you talking about?”

“Arson has four cores already, he in my eyes has already proven himself to be far more worthy than any other candidate I have ever tried to bond with, yourself included.”

“That is impossible,” Almarine said, her mind raced. Trying to think of any and everything that would allow for her to dissuade the living core of Maelstrom from pursuing the young man she’d taught even though she wasn’t supposed to. She had shown things seen as illegal, immoral even, regardless of how small a thing learning to speak, and training one's body was in all reality. She wasn’t supposed to have done so, and now the results of her actions were once again being twisted by the powerful for ends and means potentially devastating.

“Why would I need to lie? That is beneath a being of my status, Almarine. Arson has proven to have more potential than any other I’ve ever experienced within the realm. If you do not believe me, speak with your brother about this, he knows what I am saying to be true, and may even be the reason why my union with your grandchild will be successful,” Tempest said. Almarine’s furious gaze flickered back toward Tempest and she tried to control her breathing, a sense of impending doom rushing like river rapids through her veins. Her thoughts so powerful that she felt time itself being distorted around her. Space bending like trees caught in the wind made the atoms split in the air between her and Tempest, only for the core in front of her to eat the energy being pulled through black holes trying to spawn into existence through the friction of their manas forcefully interacting.

Almarine knew in that moment if she could destroy the mana core, she would. This wasn’t the first time she’d had this thought, and with the choice being made by the core, the voice in her head of the warrior she’d once been was being reborn. Pulled from the depths of her mind, body, and soul, reforming and becoming whole once more.

Things she’d pushed aside came to the forefront of her mind. Aspects she tried to ignore about herself once more slid silently from the dark and into the light.

“I see…”

Almarine made decisions in that moment that she may have regretted if this was a time before she’d lost her daughter and son. Now, however, the empress that had conquered worlds felt her blood cool.

Even as she stood there and nodded as if coming to terms with what Tempest had required of her, plans to destroy this creature were born, destroyed, and remade even more intricately.

The woman’s brain was more advanced than any super computer or AI could ever become naturally. The suppressed abilities that had once made her feared across existence turned back on, and pushed to new heights.

Almarine knew in that moment, she would even crush Arson’s own Cultivation path to stop him from becoming the target of this being's wants. She’d hidden her grandson from his mother at the drop of a hat to ensure his safety, and inevitably failed due to her heart growing soft, and the want to see their bond grow strong.

Now though, she would use any trick, scheme, plot or heinous plan to achieve her goals, smiling as the evils within her mind were no longer ignored, but invoked. The tools of demons, once more accepted by the orphan mother as acceptable inevitabilities.

“I appreciate your understanding on these matters Almarine. With this the rightful cycle of ascension will continue and a new god will be born, and in my absence the next Living Core will rise as it should.”

“I apologize for my brash reaction. This wasn’t what I expected after being brought here this day,” Almarine said as her tears dried, and the appearance of the gentle mature woman returned.

“It is okay. With what you have lived through, I can understand your aversion to my decision, but with time I believe you will see the righteousness of my choices, and even grow to accept that this is for the best.”

“No, I see the madness in my reaction. I have been a caretaker for far too long. I apologize, you are correct in that the system created by my son must be valued and respected, as without it life as we all know it would have ceased to exist. I must keep this in mind,” said Almarine. The woman turned her back to Tempest and took a few steps before the living core spoke up once more, Almarine not stopping, no longer feeling the need to show any form of respect to the being she’d decided to destroy.

“Good, we must take the steps to ensure that Arson is ready for his transition, and when he wins the tournament of scions, I will know for sure that I have no more goals left to achieve in this realm, unless you believe there are threats to Maelstrom I am unaware of,” Tempest asked, causing Almarine to stop, not turning around to show deference, but instead speaking dismissively over her shoulder.

“No,” Almarine said at first, but then a thought occurred to her.

“Other than the potential you take from Arson by making him leave the realm before he has gained all that he can,” Almarine stated, starting to leave once more, dangling the possibility of grander power in front of an insatiable creature that she knew couldn’t ignore what she’d said by any means.

“Why, whatever do you mean by that?” Almarine smiled knowing that the first phase of her plan was already successful. Inwardly she was exhilarated by what she knew was happening, but outwardly she sighed, frowning in visible discomfort.

“Arson, while here in Maelstrom has the ability to build a power base unmatched across the realm layers, as you know a god is only as powerful as the amount of faith being offered willingly by life below the heavens. By taking him from the realms before he even manages to grow his fame and infamy, you steal away his future, you know that Tempest,” said the woman turning around slowly. The living cores colors fluctuated rapidly, showing how Almarine’s words affected the being, even if Tempest’s normally mature and calm demeanor was bolstered by silence in pivotal moments, Almarine knew in that moment the living core had been shaken. Its colors like that of a mood ring worn by a multitude of people all at once, all feeling separate and various emotions.

“Well then what would you suggest I do to ensure that my host receives the absolute most before our ascension,” asked Tempest. The voice of the powerful being unsure for the first time in Almarine’s presence… ever.

“Hmmm, well… I’m not sure that you’d be willing to take the risk,” stated Almarine. The next phase of her plan already being enacted, the living core’s next response showing that it wasn’t infallible, stepping into laid traps like an untrained wild beast. Rather than the mighty being Tempest normally presented itself as, Almarine no longer felt she was having a discussion with an equal. Tempest was no longer anything but a pawn to her, and she no longer felt the need to treat the core as a person or a life, or being of power even.

“What would you have me do?”

Got you…

The core no longer deserved respect. It was never again to be seen as a refined being of will and mana, birthed by creation itself in her eyes. She spoke mere trash, no different than the heaps of garbage in the dump a short distance from her orphanage. Not to be treasured, loved, or respected by anyone like the ruler of prosperity and godly guidance that it was meant to be.

“Let us make a wager,” Almarine said, her newest long con presented with the same flair that brought the smartest intellects she’d ever snuffed out to their knees after the appearance of being brought to new peaks, the same flair that stole all reason and wisdom from their minds. Tempest now being controlled by its own want for more.

“I believe that even you aren’t enough for Arson, and that he will eclipse the need for a living core of your standard in a mere handful of season cycles, but as I have been wrong before, I may be wrong again, so… I challenge you to prove me wrong, maintain your position of power in the ruler rankings within this realm over the next season cycle, and I will bring you Arson myself, but if the young and unexperienced Cultivator can outshine you in anyway... notoriety, fame, wealth, or individual power, and you allow Arson to be pursued by a living core of a higher realm.”

“But—“ Almarine didn’t even let the core speak a full sentence, Turning on her heels and leaving once more.

“I knew you feared being unworthy, I shouldn’t have said a thing,” Almarine said. Yet, she knew she already had the core exactly where she wanted it.

“There is no worthier core than I!” Almarine glanced over her shoulder, waving a hand dismissively in the living cores direction.

“Words are weightless.”

“I agree on one condition,” said the core, Almarine’s brows raised as she turned back for the final time to face Tempest.

“In no way can you help him grow beyond me, it must be of his own skill and talent, otherwise how could I be sure that he is worth my own majesty, I’d rather not be tied to a Cultivator that has been sullied by failed gods such as yourself,” Tempest said jabbing at Almarine, thinking that she’d back out of the wager, as Tempest would be able to know if she assisted the young man, aware of all actions taken within the realm. They may not be able to read her thoughts, but they could at the very least ensure that she didn’t manipulate the situation in her favor. Or so the living core believed was completely within the realm of its own capabilities. Yet Almarine bowed to Tempest surprise.

“As you wish.”

The orphan mother straightened. Her appearance oddly younger than it had been when she was teleported across the CityNation. The aspects of her power once hidden and sealed unlocked once more by the needs of her mind's will to crush her enemy.

“Good luck, I am off to speak with a woman about the destruction of her homeland's own coliseum.” Without another word Almarine walked free of Maelstrom’s town hall. Links of her plan being pulled together through a series of interactions yet to be had, still perfect plans were made even though mortals felt that perfection was that of myth and legend, Almarine would accomplish that and so much more.

Let fools climb to treasureless peaks, only the truly mighty know the journey is the only valuable experience to be had…