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CHAPTER 140

All across the Luminian theocracy, the fires of rebellion were dying. Without the aspect of Rieus holding sway over the ascenders of the theocracy, those who had sworn allegiance to the bright scourge suddenly found themselves weak beyond comprehension, their paths close to shattering and their powers a shadow of what it once was. Those loyal to the pontiff had swept across the realm in only the way ascenders could, putting down those who still resisted and taking those who surrendered hostage; the average citizens of the theocracy breaking out in jubilations.

The barrier put up by the overseer went down and the titan watched as ships belonging to the explorer society began to pour in, bringing along with it relief items and medical personnel to see to those who would need it. The core realm of the titan still held sway where it was located, Moyo, Ashira and the teams led by the ten who had brought down the powers of Akriel within the walls of the mountain, waiting on the orders of the titan himself. Moyo however had taken Matthew into a pool of his Ashe, gently letting its restorative abilities heal him, wrath of Oya healing the pontiff who was wide awake now.

With a few legendary grade elixirs of healing which Matthew protested the use of, the pontiff was slowly getting back to his full strength, for more than just his vitality had been leeched, his mana and power of his path as well. Moyo sat next to him, a golden book in his hand as he thumbed through the pages, face scrunched up. It had belonged to Akriel and had been found in the wreckage of the citadel of light, Matthew glancing at him,

“I hope you burn that book after” he said, jarring Moyo from his thoughts,

“what?, oh, of course, not one bit of the taint will remain on Gaia, that, I will make sure of” Moyo replied firmly,

Matthew nodded weakly and rested his back on the stones behind him, sighing,

“The last time we saw you, you were an iron ranker, now, it’s safe to say you’re an existence higher than whatever a mere mortal can reach, aren’t you?” Matthew asked, cracking one eye open and staring at Moyo,

The titan shrugged,

“power level wise?, yes, but I still consider myself human in all that matters” he replied,

Matthew gave a weak chuckle,

“Nice way to say I’m all powerful but choose not to say so” he said,

Moyo gave a light smile, the question dancing on his lips,

“I can hear the words unspoken titan blade, or should I say lord titan blade?” Matthew asked,

“None of that, I get enough from my own people with that” he said firmly,

“And yet you gain more venerations day by day” Matthew replied,

“I’m not sure you’re meant to even know what those are” Moyo said with a hint of caution in his voice,

Matthew waved his hands,

“Too late for that, besides, I think there’s a waiver for those who serve under primordials like you” he said,

“I’m not like them” Moyo said, a hard glint in his voice,

“No, you’re not, there’s something about your aspect, it doesn’t feel like that of that being” Matthew said with bitterness in his voice,

“You can say his name, none may come for Gaia now, besides, he has bigger things to bother about” Moyo said calmly,

Matthew nodded mutely,

“I was a fool you know” he started, Moyo keeping quiet,

“I so desperately wanted guidance from above, from a higher being” he said with a chuckle,

“So when I went into deep meditation, hoping to feel the source of my path, why I was given the path of Lumia and why others close to me could gain such path, I felt awe when I was approached by Akriel” he said,

“where did you meet him?, how did he approach you?” Moyo asked,

“Somehow I got transferred to some sort of dimension, a dark place, but his light illuminated the area, as harsh as that light was” Matthew replied,

“It sent alarm bells into my mind, warning me of this being who spoke, claiming to be the herald of the this higher being named Rieus, the source of the path of Lumia”

“and is he?, the source I mean” Moyo asked,

Matthew shook his head lightly,

“No, he isn’t, it’s called the path of Lumia, not the path of Rieus, although now that I think of it, maybe there is some primordial out there who’s the source of the path of Lumia after all” Matthew said contemplatively,

“If there is, they are doing a pretty bad job at protecting their followers” Moyo replied,

Matthew chuckled,

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you primordials are not all seeing and all knowing, are you?” Matthew asked,

“Not that I know of, no” Moyo said,

“Then maybe, somehow, they had no idea we existed, it’s too late now though” Matthew said wistfully,

“What do you mean?” he asked,

My path, it’s broken, whatever makes up the aspect of Rieus totally shattered the paths of those it came across” he said,

Sending Moyo his HUD, anger began to well up from within him at the broken status written in red at the edge of the screen. All Matthew had worked for, all his power, gone because some megalomaniac from another part of the galaxy sought power. Moyo sighed,

“so all those who were under his power?, even those below expert rank” he asked. Dreading the reply,

“Shattered as well I’m guessing, having to start afresh, hopefully they get paths unique to them, I doubt anyone would want to follow the path of Lumia any longer” Matthew replied,

“I’m so sorry” Moyo said,

If he knew it was this bad, he would had stormed the theocracy immediately, now over a million people were left pathless. Mathew turned to him with confusion,

“What for?” he asked,

“Your path gone, having to start afresh” Moyo said,

Matthew stared at him dumbly,

“you’re not aware, are you?” he asked slowly,

“Aware about what?” Moyo asked,

“The archailect sent me a message, I was hoping you were aware and had given your blessings” Matthew said,

“I literally have no idea what you’re talking about” Moyo replied,

Matthew sent the notification as Moyo stared confused,

Notice: for your unflinching faith in the primordial titan blade, you have been given the choice to switch sub paths to the path of the titan, Y/N?

“Wait a minute, path of the titan?” Moyo asked incredulously,

Matthew raised an eyebrow,

“I’m guessing you don’t like the sound of that” Matthew cautiously said,

“Hell no I don’t, it’s bad enough I have people venerating me and my own personal champion, now I get to have people straight up worshiping me?” he growled,

Matthew shook his head,

“Not worship, I doubt anyone would want to worship anything again, not after the horror show that was Akriel and the bright scourge” Matthew said,

“Venerators, as you can see, it says a sub path, meaning if I’m right, people can get their own paths but still owe veneration to you”

“Still don’t want it, everyone has to choose their own path, do not fall for the system of the archailect that dictates you- “Moyo said, pausing as Matthew clicked yes,

Sighing, he stared at Matthew who shook his head,

“You overthink things too much” the former pontiff said,

“I would prefer you not spread this…path to others, I will not be a deity, in fact, a few months from now I’ll be leaving the galaxy to fight in a war I have no idea how long or far away it’ll take me” he said,

“All the better, that way you won’t have any guilt about controlling those who venerate you, and the majority of the two continents would be safe from the influence of other primordials” Matthew argued,

“Moyo, the people need someone to look up to, not everyone wants a life full of hardship and trials by combat or death on a daily basis, some simply want to believe that some higher existence that protects them from the lurking horrors and right now, you fit that bill”

Moyo reclined on the chair he was sitting, eyeing the man who seemed to be aging backwards as the pool healed him rapidly. Matthew sighed, closing his eyes and snapping his fingers,

“Oh, and I have about a hundred former bishops who have switched paths too, realizing what they meant now when they said you were benevolent, heh” he said,

Moyo raised an eyebrow, groaning and staring into the distance,

“This will destabilize the fragile peace of the world” he warned,

“Anyone stupid enough to think a master as strong as you who went out of his way to save millions simply for the sake of it as evil deserves whatever they get” Matthew replied calmly,

“I think it’s time I hands off the affairs of Gaia, my influence tends to attract the wrong attention” Moyo said,

“Even your clan?” Matthew asked surprised,

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Moyo gave a sad smile,

“they’re strong now, they can handle the clan for a while, at least until they need my help again” he replied,

Matthew stared at him for a minute before shaking his head,

“What?” Moyo asked,

“Nothing, just surprising how much power you wield and how little you intend to use it, my best guess is that you’re looking forward to your next battle wherever it might take you” Matthew said as Moyo chuckled,

“The titan blade keeps advancing” he replied,

“there’s pretty much nothing after primordial, or is there?” Matthew asked,

“You forget I’m still a master” Moyo said,

The pontiff chuckled,

“technicalities dear friend, so what say you?, anoint me as your archbishop?, cardinal?, whatever suits your fancy?” Matthew asked,

“Which do you prefer?” Moyo asked,

“I did like the sound of pontiff” Matthew said wistfully,

“I’m not sure how this works, but pontiff it is” Moyo replied, stretching a hand to Matthew who shook it,

“Glad to be of service my lord” he replied as a loud gong echoed,

Global notice: pontiff Matthew has switched allegiance to the primordial titan blade, hail the pontiff of the titan faith!.

- The Luminian theocracy has become the titan theocracy,

- The continents of titan and Asa will now begin a period of fusing between seven days,

- All those who venerate the titan blade will now have the chance to add a sub-path: path of the titan as a show of faith along with its benefit.

- Those faithful to the titan or swear veneration to the titan blade will have a +100 added to all their attributes.

- The continents of Asa and titan will have a one-month exclusion from dungeon breaks from the moment they fuse.

- All strongholds, towns, cities and domain within the continents are now protected for the duration of one week from attacks by dungeon monsters.

Moyo stared dumbly at the message, Matthew as well as they realized what it meant. Ashira walked into the room where they were, her eyes wide,

“how?, you know what?, never mind, nothing will shock me till you have an entire planet to yourself” she said,

They both glanced at her as she nodded,

“Yes, Tartarus, wait, should he be privy to this?” she asked,

“Well, the whole world knows I’m a primordial now so” Moyo said shrugging,

“Plus, I’m the head of his…ah…let’s call it order, yes, order of the titan, has a nice ring to it” Matthew said,

“You have a sort of purple glow around you, is that my aura?” Moyo asked surprised,

“it’s called the blessings of the titan, no aspect may hurt me as long as I remain true to my faith, same with those who venerate you” Matthew said smugly as Moyo groaned,

“That explains how everyone on Tartarus loves my parents” Ashira muttered,

“Tartarus?, as in the literal maximum prison of the underworld in Greek mythology?” Matthew asked,

Ashira shrugged,

“In your world it is explained as such, you don’t want to know who my parents are, I assure you” she said,

Matthew glanced at Moyo who nodded,

“Pontiff, may I introduce you to Ashira chimera, master on the path of chimera, and my.... ah.... well, what are we?” Moyo asked,

Ashira’s light brown skin became red at the cheeks, sputtering as she stared daggers at him,

“Companions!” she blurted out,

“Ah, everyone needs a companion, in lonely times best of all” Matthew said, feigning ignorance,

“Indeed, cold times as well” Moyo replied,

“My lord is wise, these are cold times indeed, the warmth of a companion goes a long way” Matthew continued,

Ashira huffed and stomped to a chair,

“Your primordial is petty” she said,

Moyo gasped,

“Pontiff!, she just called your lord petty, quickly, smite her” Moyo said,

“I think you forgot to add smiting powers to my subscription package, all I can see here are protect this and protect that” Matthew said, shooting a look of accusation at Moyo,

“don’t blame me, your faith isn’t strong enough” Moyo bit back as Matthew shook his head laughing,

“The message said you had unflinching faith in me” Moyo asked,

“How and why?”

Matthew stared at Moyo,

“After Akriel turned those below my archbishops to his side and took control, killing them off, I was imprisoned, left to act as a funnel for the veneration being gathered, no idea why” Matthew started,

“I have no idea how long passed in that hell, but Akriel came down one day and gloated about how you were back on Gaia and how he would end you, taking over our planet to suck the very life force from it”

“I had faith you would come, that fate would lead you to do what was right and come save us, I had no idea how strong you were, but out of all the factions of the world, I knew you wouldn’t see those suffering and remove your gaze” Matthew said,

“Your trust in the titan blade was well rewarded it seems” Ashira said as she dipped her hand through a spatial bag she produced, bringing out a large glass bottle filled with blue substance along with wine glasses,

“What drink is that?” Moyo asked as pontiff Matthew cracked one eye open at the sight of it,

“It has no name in conventional tongue, not in my language or yours, let’s just call it bubble as that’s the closes thing to its name” she replied, pouring three glasses full for each of them,

Matthew gave gratitude as he took his,

“Careful there pontiff, that thing is strong enough to knock out diamonds if they take too much” she warned,

Matthew raised an eyebrow and sipped it, his spine going ramrod straight as Ashira chuckled and Moyo stared at the pontiff in alarm. A few seconds later he was released,

“that’s one kicker” he coughed,

Moyo glanced at his glass, then at Ashira and drank everything in one gulp, waiting for the effects as both Ashira and Matthew both stared at him in anticipation. Moyo blinked awkwardly at them, then at his empty glass,

“huh” he said,

“Huh what?” Ashira asked, eyes narrowed,

“can’t feel a thing” he replied shrugging,

Matthew stared at his glass,

“Here, have mine” he said,

Moyo took it, finishing it in one gulp and dropped the glass, shrugging,

“Perhaps it doesn’t work for the second drinker?” he asked,

“Very funny, here, take the bottle, have at it” Ashira said, passing the bottle to him,

Moyo narrowed his eyes at her,

“Ashira chimera Kairos, why are you trying to get me drunk?” he asked suspiciously,

“So I can have my way with you” she said,

Moyo’s eyes bulged, Matthew as well,

“Really?” they both asked, Ashira shaking her head with a sigh,

“of course not!, men!, I’m simply curious about your limit” she said as Moyo deflated,

“Oh, okay” he said sadly as she smiled, rolling her eyes,

Opening the bottle, he drank it all and belched, dropping it and waiting, swaying a bit,

“Did it work?” Ashira asked, eyes alight,

“Nah, not a thing” he said, cutting off his act as she groaned and Matthew nodded his head,

“a good advert policy, anti-intoxication primordial, add it to your list of boons and I assure you, we’ll have more than half the majority of males in Gaia signing up to venerate you” he said as Moyo chuckled,

“I’ll take it into consideration” he replied,

Sighing, he reclined on his chair,

“Where do I even begin?” he asked,

“With what?” Ashira asked,

“This whole mess of a double continent, people willing to venerate me, I’m no good with things like that, there are diamond dungeons on continents that need to be dispelled, time is running out” he said,

“Sometimes I think you purposely play dumb” Ashira said as Matthew nodded in support,

“In what way?” he asked,

“Moyo, you have an entire clan, you now have a pontiff or spiritual leader or whatever Matthew decided to call himself, plus you have your own emissary, champion, I’m a bit confused” Ashira stated,

“let them handle it, you handle the bigger picture, you want to step away from the political games of Gaia?, well this is your chance to show the world” she said,

Moyo glanced at Matthew who nodded,

“she’s right, as of right now there is no theocracy again, those remaining few who want to follow the path of Lumia can do so, but they face shunning and the likes from the populace. Let me handle the people, let the clan handle the running of the continents and let your champion handle any attack if such is possible” he said,

Moyo sighed, rubbing his face,

“How did I go from one lone ascender to a figure millions will begin to look up to?’ he asked,

“Power Moyo, power draws both the strong and weak, the oppressor and the oppressed” Matthew said,

“Crush the oppressors, let the oppressed follow behind you” Ashira said softly,

He nodded and the three of them maintained a delicate silence, thoughts on what was to come.

******************************

The next few days saw the former continent of Lumia finally merge with the continent of Asa, both continent formally called Asa with its sprawling landscape. Immediately refugees began making their way to the domains of each of the main sects and some all the way to what was now being called holy bastion itself. As promised, the titan blade was nowhere to be found on the continent, promising his oath to the other factions of the world by helping them clear their diamond ranked dungeons while at the same time helping their best ascenders break through to silver rank.

After an entire month, all factions of Gaia could boast of having no diamond or high-ranking gold dungeons in their domains, and with that, the titan blade retreated back to bastion where his core realm had completed its manifestation, turning bastion itself into a mountain domain fortress, filled with the aura of the titan and his pure aspect. The average citizens who made a living formerly in bastion now had to be relocated to nearby kingdoms built as close to bastion as possible without the oppressive power of the titan crushing down on them.

Bastion nonetheless was filled with silver ranked ascenders who could to an extent, withstand the power of the titan. The sect leaders who ruled from their domains as much as they did from Ife itself, and pontiff Matthew of the newly established order of the titan as well. While the temple the titan had seized from Rieus still stood, an entire kingdom built around it and served as the headquarters of the order with pontiff Matthew and those who wished to somehow serve in any capability staying there.

The black zone had expanded, more gold ranked dungeons popping up from low strength to mid rank, the citadel of endurance stood as a wall between the monsters and civilization. Moyo had shook his head repeatedly at the name titan guard, stating there weren’t supposed to have ties to him. Idris however stated he would like to have them serve as part of a force he was building, whose loyalties were to the titan blade, the ten agreeing as well.

The titan who at the advice of Mrs Martha, wrote a letter of apology to each of the worlds factions, stating the reason as to why the ten were now incorporated into the power structure of the clan and electing Tomasa as his representative in whatever force they decide to build. With that, Moyo firmly stepped off whatever power he had over the clan, retreating to his mountain itself and sealing it behind him, stating clearly the clan should fix their issues themselves and unless another primordial sought to subjugate the world, he was not to be disturbed.

**********************

The day Ashira decided leave was a rainy day, storms blew in from the east, suspiciously from the direction of titan’s storm, domain of Annika the storm empress. Moyo sat at the edge of his mountain, Ashira at his side as they watched the heavy rain fall all around them. Below stood Idris along with a bunch of trainees wishing to be inducted into the titan’s guard, apparently a requirement was to survive the gruelling passive aura of the titan. Moyo considered it a bit over the top but didn’t interfere, for out of a thousand who had journeyed all the way to holy bastion, only a hundred was left, all iron rankers, another requirement that astonished the titan.

Still, he couldn’t deny the result, for those who would become the numbered warriors were made of tough materials. The sentinels were the only clan sect based with the majority of their members at holy bastion, for some reason the aura seemed to boost their force abilities and made them these mountains of muscles. Suffice to say Asa as large as it was had become one of the most secure continents on Gaia itself, and Moyo was proud to say he had little to do with it.

Ashira sighed as she turned to him, Moyo getting lost in her eyes as she smirked,

“Why lord titan blade, are you attempting to kiss me?” she asked,

Moyo smiled,

“I’m not sure, but I’d do nothing the lady doesn’t want me doing” he replied,

She smiled and tried touching him when she jerked her hands back with a hiss,

“I swear I’ll kill this woman!” she growled,

“Would this woman in question be your mother?” he asked cautiously,

“yes” she seethed,

Moyo nodded,

“Then I bid you good luck in that endeavour” he said with a smile as she huffed,

Again silence reigned,

“I don’t want to go you know” she said,

Moyo nodded, staring into the distance,

“Thank you” he said,

Ashira glanced at him,

“What for?” she asked,

“For being there for me” he replied,

Ashira tried to talk but paused, shaking her head as she tied her hair,

“No Moyo, thank you for being my one true friend” she replied,

Moyo frowned,

“Friend, huh” he replied,

Ashira glanced at him, confused at first before realization etched her features, panic setting in,

“By the supreme beings, Moyo, no, no I l- “she said as her voice hooked,

Screaming into the air and raining curses at her mother as Moyo laughed,

“Relax, I was just pulling your legs” he said as she sighed,

“I do love you though” Moyo said as she froze,

Turning to her, sighing,

“I’m stupidly in love with you I guess, you make me happy, feel relevant, feel safe if that’s possible” he said softly as Ashira’s eyes became misty, turning away as she wiped her eyes,

“stupid” she mumbles as he laughed,

Again silence reigned till Ashira summoned talon, Moyo watching as she cut off one lock of her hair, tying it with a strand and handing it to Moyo, eyes misty,

“Promise me you’ll wait for me” she whispered,

Moyo laughed,

“you’re going for a month or two Ashira, not forever” he said,

The look on her face killed the laugh in his throat,

“Oh, you’re serious” he mumbled,

Squeezing the lock of hair in his hand, he nodded,

“I swear it, by the archailect” he whispered as a loud gong echoed,

She nodded,

“By the time I get back, I’ll probably be a peak master, father wants me on a straight route to ruler” she said,

“How?” he asked, confused,

Master rank was a slow and deary process, possibly taking centuries,

“a family secret, I can’t really tell you, but I doubt it’ll be kept secret from you after a while” she replied,

He nodded,

“it’s going to be boring here you know” he said,

Ashira smiled,

“You deserve a period of rest Moyo” she said,

He frowned,

“Eew” he replied as she laughed.

********************

Ashira Kairos left with her warship the chimera, saying goodbye silently, her lock of hair interwoven with his on his head. He shut his mountain and stayed within, cutting himself off from Gaia as a whole, unintentionally becoming this mysterious figure the world marvelled over.