Chapter 104: Foundations

Stepping through the portal, leaving Barrond behind, the group eagerly entered the Vault.

As soon as Crelos's vision cleared, he blinked several times, his gaze darting around the room. "I... I must be seeing things..." he muttered, rubbing his eyes before his lips began to tremble. "An All-Room..."

Haku snickered as he casually strolled past. "Don’t get too excited. This is just the first room."

"First room...?" Crelos whispered in disbelief, his eyes widening further.

Neko darted from Darius’s shoulder, claws scratching at the door leading to the farm. 'Big sister!'

Darius winced, stepping forward and opening the door to the Beast-Farm. He instantly spread his Arcane Gaze, ignoring the shocked gasp from Crelos behind him.

"A Beast-Farm?! This... this is impossible!"

As Darius's perception stretched across the farm, his gaze immediately locked onto Ursie's blue aura, steady and lazily swimming in the hatchery waters. "That's a relief," he muttered under his breath.

Haku and Neko sprinted ahead, each reveling in their natural element. Haku's flames roared to life as his body expanded, his laughter booming through the air as his horns grew longer. "Damn, this is good! The fire mana feels incredible!"

Crelos's aura flared, his flames finally igniting into a pulsing, vibrant bonfire. "The mana here... it’s dense." He took a deep breath, a smile tugging at his lips. "You truly are full of endless mysteries, my friend."

Darius raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping him. Placing his hands behind his back, "look up."

Crelos’s brows furrowed in confusion for a moment, but as he lifted his eyes, they widened in shock. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the vast, towering structures in the distance. "What... is this place? You have a tower?!"

"Pagoda!" Haku corrected as he bounded farther into the distance, his excitement uncontained.

Darius clapped Crelos on the back with a laugh before walking toward the Hatchery. "Just follow along. You’ll learn everything in time."

Neko’s lightning form zipped through the forest like a streak of purple, darting toward the hatchery’s edge. 'Home! Big sister!'

Darius chuckled softly, feeling a sense of calm settle over him as he watched Ursie’s aura surge. Moments later, her massive form broke through the water’s surface. Haku soon arrived, his fiery aura blazing as he joined the others near the hatchery, offering Darius a striking view of his strange new family.

"I'm sorry for the delay, Ursie," bowing his head slightly, his tone sincere. "I should be able to get you some bones by end of day. Please accept my apology."

Ursie’s large mandibles clicked repeatedly, her antennas twitching as her aura flared. Slowly, she calmed, her voice rumbling with warmth. "I welcome the First—big brother—home. I have no need for your apology. It is only natural to watch over those who come after."

Haku’s ears drooped slightly as he stepped forward, his usual playful demeanor softening. "How are the children? Have they been worried?"

Ursie hesitated briefly, her tone dry as she finally answered, "They are fine. Go see them yourself."

"That's enough!"

Everyone froze, including Darius, who looked over, slightly surprised at the outburst.

Crelos's aura flickered wildly as he pointed accusingly at Ursie. "You have a Swamp-Roach?! Darius, seriously... you're raising a damn world-ender?"

Darius turned calmly, his voice steady but with a hint of warning. "I would appreciate it if you showed her the same respect you've shown me. Strange or not, she's family. And as for her being a world-ender? I don’t see any point in raising weaklings." He smiled, winking at Ursie before turning toward the Pagoda. "I'll be back later with your rewards, little sister. We’ll discuss everything then."

"Of course, big brother. The children will be glad to see you," Ursie replied, splashing her tail toward Crelos just as she disappeared beneath the water.

Crelos jumped back, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I—I'm sorry. It's just... my first time seeing one up close." Scratching the back of his head, he quickly followed after Darius while Neko and Haku dashed ahead of them. "This is insane... a separate dimension, an all-room, a beast-farm, and a Swamp-Roach? What else are you hiding?"

"I wouldn't get too impressed yet," Darius said, his eyes scanning the towering structures that dominated the landscape. "Those are just buildings for now. They've yet to fulfill their true purpose." A sense of pride flickered in his gaze as they neared the massive forms of the Pagoda, the lodge, and the pavilion. 'Once I break through, I’ll spend time getting things properly established here before moving on to Barrond's trials.'

The distant shouts of Haku and the excited laughter of the children drew his attention. A smile tugged at his lips. 'These children... they are part of my foundation, too.'

As they broke through the treeline, the cleared area spread out before them, revealing the impressive scale of the structures. Darius chuckled softly when he heard Crelos gasp in awe behind him. Up ahead, the children were already racing toward him, their excited energy contagious. Neko darted between them, his lightning-fast movements a blur, while Glabe trailed behind, his broad smile lighting up his face as he jogged to catch up.

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"Master!" Tem’s voice rang out, causing Darius to flinch. He turned to Crelos, exhaling. "I'm not really their master."

Crelos raised an eyebrow, feigning disbelief with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "Suuuuuure. Hey, whatever makes you happy."

Without hesitation, Darius’s aura flared, shifting to a firm yellow. He stomped his foot. "Terra Pulse." The ground beneath Crelos lifted, suspending him a few feet in the air, his expression turning from smug to startled in an instant.

'Cheeky kid.' Darius smirked as he turned to greet the children. "Glad to see you’re all doing just fine." His gaze shifted to Glabe, who bowed respectfully when their eyes met. "Thank you for looking after them. You’ve done well."

Rising from his bow, Glabe inclined his head slightly. "Master provided everything we needed. We’re just relieved to see you return safely." His eyes flicked to Crelos, his posture stiffening a little. "Greetings, my lord. Welcome to the farm. May this humble one know your—"

"Stop that." Darius cut in, his tone sharp with irritation. "Speak to him as an equal." His eyes swept over the children, his voice growing firm. "All of you. Crelos will be living alongside you. Until further notice, treat him like one of you. Do you understand?"

'Equal?' Crelos’s expression flickered with a brief sneer before he smoothed it out, accepting the directive.

"Yes, Master." The children responded in unison, including Glabe, their voices disciplined and respectful.

Darius led the children back into the lodge, their excitement bubbling over as they eagerly showed him their rooms. As each child took their turn, Darius quietly observed the subtle changes in their behavior. Their movements were less stiff, their speech more fluid. They seemed... free. Almost like ordinary children.

After spending about an hour indulging them, Darius left Crelos and the furry duo to play while he pulled Glabe aside.

"You’ve done a better job than I expected," Darius said, leaning against a large pine tree that served as one of the lodge's central pillars. "They’re starting to seem like normal children."

Glabe bowed slightly, his eyes low. "Even though you did not give direct orders, I sensed this was your intent."

A small smile tugged at Darius’s lips as he watched Glabe carefully. "You do realize I have the same wish for you. I have no desire to be anyone’s master—at least not in anyway you’ve known the word."

Glabe hesitated, frowning as if weighing his response carefully. But seeing Darius’s patient gaze, he finally spoke, "Forgive me for being so direct, but what do you want from us? You say you can teach us your magic, but to what end? What benefit does this bring you?"

Darius’s expression remained unchanged, though his thoughts stirred. 'He’s perceptive, and his temperament is admirable.'

Noticing the slight tremor in Glabe’s posture, and the sheen of sweat forming on his forehead, Darius realized the elf wasn’t going to breathe until he received an answer. He spoke calmly, "I am, and will forever be hunted by the towers and the Knights Union. If I want to live long enough—to grow strong enough to protect myself and those I care about—I need help. You will have a choice in the matter, but I won’t lie to you. I want to use you. I want to train you and the children to be the foundation of what I'm building."

As Darius stepped forward, his words shifted to a private message within Glabe’s mind as he moved to rejoin the children. 'If you choose to follow me, you will fight. You will face the entire human world. But if you’re willing to endure that, if you are prepared to suffer greatly, I promise you this—one day, gods will walk these halls.'

Darius stopped briefly, his gaze meeting Glabe’s. 'Will you choose to be among them?' With a slight smile, he turned, raising his arms and calling for the children, leaving the question lingering in the air.

'Who is this boy?' Glabe thought, his breath catching for a moment as he watched Darius walk away. 'For just an instant... he looked at me the way Grandfather used to.'

'My gut says I should believe him. But can I really trust a human?' Exhaling slowly, Glabe straightened, his steps falling in line behind Darius. His eyes never left him, every move scrutinized, his mind racing.

----

The void was absolute, suffocating in its depth. No light, no form, no detail existed within the space—just emptiness. Silence reigned until a thick, heavy voice shattered it. "He's awake. I apologize for not being there to help with the humans, now that they know he exists, we have to be very careful moving forward."

A young man's voice snarled through the darkness, brimming with frustration. "That damn fool! We told him to come directly to us! All the effort spent hiding him the first time, wasted!"

A softer, more nurturing tone cut in, soothing the heated exchange. "What's done is done. As long as he remains within our regions, they won't be able to touch him."

"Once you're done, send him my way. I've been dying to get my hands on him."

"You will not bully him. If I find out you're treating him unfairly, I'll—"

"I'm giving him access to Agarttha."

"...."

"......"

"......"

"You're that confident in him?"

"He says he needs a place to break through. Remember that mess the first time we met him? And besides, the others look hopeless compared to him."

"But are you truly confident? Enough to answer for it if something happens?"

"Do you think he would propose this if he wasn’t?"

"Let him in. We can take away our blessing just as easily as we give it. Why hesitate? If he passes the trials, I'll give him whatever he asks of me."

"So, we're agreed?"

"Whatever."

"Agreed."

"Seems pointless, but fine."

"....*clap*...."

"I’ll inform the others of our decision and keep you updated on his progress."

Without responding, the voices left, silence settling back into the void. Slowly, the darkness was replaced by a soft glow of light, revealing a carved-out room deep within a massive tree. Barrond slumped onto the ground with a heavy sigh, stretching his large frame as he lazily gazed up at the ceiling. "I'm bored."

----

Standing in the dimly lit room of the pagoda’s bottom floor, Darius faced the group gathered before him, his hands clasped behind his back. "Once I break through, I’ll return here, and we will begin training. I advise each of you to truly think about what I’ve told you. No one will be judged or treated unfairly if they choose not to join me. I will ensure to set up a safe, comfortable place, wherever you choose, and that you won’t have to worry about crystals. But understand this—whatever choice you make will be final. When I return, there will be no going back from your decision."

His eyes shifted to Haku, who stood tall beside him, with Neko perched on his massive head. "You two will remain here. Haku, I want you to start teaching your little brother."

Neko shot up onto his hind legs, sparks dancing in his fur. 'You teach!' His complaint echoed directly into Darius’s mind.

Darius squinted, his voice sharp as he replied, "It’s time you learned about the world you live in. I don’t have time to teach you the basics. Once you’ve reached a certain point in your studies, I’ll take over. Until then, listen to your big brother. Don’t disappoint me."

Neko flattened himself onto Haku’s head, silent in his rebellion, but the faint flash of purple in his eyes betrayed his determination.

"Crelos, you’ll be relieving Glabe of his duties until I return."

Both the mage and the elf furrowed their brows in confusion. Crelos opened his mouth to protest, but Glabe spoke first. "There’s no need for this. I’m content with my role, and I doubt the young master is suited for such tasks."

"I have my reasons," Darius replied, his tone brooking no argument. His gaze bore into both of them. "Glabe, show him everything he needs to do, then step aside. No interference."

Crelos tried to speak, but Darius cut him off sharply. "You’re here to pull your weight, not to spectate. This is also your chance to understand everyone here. Your efforts while I’m gone will determine how much of my time goes into refining your system. Remember that."

Glabe bowed, resigned. Crelos clenched his jaw but held his tongue. Both accepted Darius’s orders, though their tension lingered.

Satisfied, Darius motioned toward the small, open red barrel tucked in the corner of the room. "Those three will be back by this time tomorrow. I can’t vouch for their behavior when they’re out, so leave them be. And no one touches the barrel."

"We won't," Tem stepped forward, her muddy scales catching the light for a brief moment. "How long will you be gone this time?"

With a warm smile, Darius rested his hand on her head, giving it a gentle pat. "Not long. Do your best to keep things in order while I’m away."

As he turned to leave, his thoughts reached out to Neko and Haku. 'If something happens to me, Neko will know instantly through our connection. If that happens, take everything and everyone and leave. Once you do, you shouldnt be within the lithic bastion, so get the children to safety before moving on.'

'Danger, Big Brother?'

Darius’s response was calm but firm. 'There’s always danger when walking the path of cultivation. I’m also treading unproven ground. Death may be waiting for me, but that’s the reality of this—risk is always there.'

Haku watched his brother’s back as Darius strode out of the Pagoda, his jaw clenched tight. 'Good luck, then,' he thought, his voice grim in Darius’s mind. 'We’ll be waiting for your return.'

Snorting softly, Haku shifted his gaze upward. "Now you," he grumbled, looking at Neko perched on his head. "Let’s start with the alphabet."

Darius chuckled quietly as he blinked out of sight, reappearing at the entrance of the beast-farm, closing the door behind him. Smiling broadly, his fingers brushed against his pouch, summoning the Gaia's Heart Diamond. 'Finally,' his smile faltering for just a moment before he shrugged. "Think I’m addicted to gambling with death... so be it."

Standing at the center of the all-room, Darius tightened his grip around the crystal. "Exit!"