Alistair took a deep breath as he relaxed; he had been tense most of the conversation and would seek to clear some of his worries.
"You seem to be quite willing to help me out; how come? I would have expected you to be mad at me for fleeing the planet," Alistair asked, furrowing his brows.
"Oh, I don't think you realize just how much I benefit from you being the head of a successful clan. Of course, it's a shame that you plan to leave Earth. I would love to make you the chief of my peacekeeping force or the leader of an order, but leaving is a very sensible response," Sol said with some casual mirth in his voice, waving his hand dismissively.
"Becoming the chief of a peacekeeping force during the equivalent of a superpowered purge must be the shittiest job offer I have ever received," Alistair said jokingly, eliciting loud melodic laughter from Sol.
"You'd be surprised how many covet this position, oblivious to the weight of responsibility it carries. I anticipate a significant portion of the world's population will reject me outright, labeling me a false god crying heresy or viewing me as an obstacle to their own agendas. With the loss of numerous political figures, countries will struggle to reestablish control, particularly since human society often adheres to the principle that might make right. Those who have the power to enforce their will often dictate the laws, and Earth is no different. I also expect many public figures will face threats on their lives and seek sanctuary from the inevitable mob that will form," Sol stated sagely, his smile unwavering as he addressed Alistair.
Alistair considered it, most of the world could not even get along with their neighbours. Following a seemingly self-proclaimed God grabbing for power and taking on aspects of their and other deities would elicit a violent response from many. Hell, Alistair himself would not follow such a figure, although he would not oppose Sol unless pressured. He would be surprised if countries even managed to reestablish themselves. He doubted the military and police had enough cohesion after the trial to enforce the old laws. Alistair envisioned a phase of pure chaos before warlords and similar groups would rise to power, claiming their own territories. He would not out himself as a former police officer either if only to avoid conflict and aggression from super-powered individuals, as the attitude towards law enforcement across the globe was complex at best.
After a long pause, Alistair spoke up again. "So what do you plan to do about it? Besides gathering followers and making friends with your neighbors?" Alistair asked curiously, taking another small sip from Ambrosia before placing the cup back on the table.
"With the contribution points accumulated by you and the rest of Earth, I instigated some changes. I understand you're already aware, so I'll highlight a few. Firstly, I've confiscated all the nuclear weapons. They'll be repurposed to defend against invaders in space rather than threatening ourselves. Secondly, I've acquired all the military equipment, which I will have my followers retrofit with magic to serve as force multipliers. Although I could have saved a lot of points just by acquiring Western equipment, much of the other equipment looked like I ordered military gear off of Wish," Sol lamented, eliciting a chuckle from Alistair.
"First, let me invite you to the [Sol Network] in my presence during the trial. Once outside of the trial, you will have generous access to most functionality and be able to see the goings-on of my domain, which is incidentally the Sol solar system. I will consider you an ally until proven otherwise and kick you out if I find it necessary, but for now, I'd like to show you some things," Sol announced.
A Hologram and many screens appeared above them; Alistair looked up to see images of a planet depicting mountain chains with massive white temple structures very similar in architecture to the one he was inside right now, although much more defensively minded as they made full use of the mountainous terrain, sectioning off whole swaths of land with thick stone walls covered in runes. The windows kept changing location after a few seconds, showing both mostly intact cities and collapsed, aged, and overgrown ones. Monsters littered much of the wild landscape, and Alistair even noticed a dragon on a lonely mountain, many dog and cat like creatures were fighting with more hostile looking monsters giving Alistair pause.
"Wait, you have control of the planet. What of my family's pets?" Alistair hurriedly asked, looking at Sol.
"I am sorry to say that many died. I can't trap them against their will, even when it is for their own safety. I already ensured that no pets and animals would be trapped within houses and zoos and starve despite the damage to the infrastructure. Your cat is alive and thriving, but she and many others refuse the shelter I provide them. You can leave a message with me telling her to stay put, but I would not worry; she is quite smart and doing well for herself, and Teddy and many of the other family pets make use of the shelter I offer," Sol said with a compassionate gaze toward Alistair.
Alistair was conflicted about what he had just heard, hearing that Melissa's dog and his cat were fine was a great relieve but the fact that Sol had mentioned many of them dying was gutwrenching. Alistair took a deep breath to keep his cool. Sol was quite forthcoming to the point that Alistair thought of it suspicious, though Nessyra's contract magic was still inert, and his armor was not warping even a little.
"Saving so many pets will get you a lot of favor with a lot of people, thank you for telling me, please tell our pets we love them and we will come for them," Alistair requested a little teary eyed.
"I did not do it for the gratitude though I appreciate it, I am no monster who would let a good chunk of the animals of this world die for no good reason at all. Also you might not need to go look for them I can influence where people appear after the trial by spending some points and their consent. I could be convinced to ensure your pets and loved ones would not be scattered upon your return," Sol said with a smile.
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Alistair raised an eyebrow, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Ah, so you're not completely altruistic," Alistair remarked, probing for further insight. "What can I do to convince you, then?"
Sol eyed Alistair with a weak smile on his face before answering.
"I know of an upcoming event at the end of the trial. I would ask you to represent me as one of my champions during it. Of course, this arrangement would only last for that challenge within the trial; there is no risk of death, but your success under my name would benefit me. Feel free to think about and discuss it with your demon ladies first," Sol said with a smug smirk.
Alistair considered it. The request itself was fine, but the reward could be a trap as he did not specify where he would spawn. He could have his followers spawn at the same location to catch them all at once. It was good that he did not need to answer right now. However, the smug smirk on Sol's face was bothering him. "What with that smirk?"
"Oh, nothing," Sol chuckled, taking another sip from his ambrosia. "I just couldn't help but notice how you found the Bruce and Thor characters amusing when, in truth, you're not much different."
Alistair, taken aback, retorted, "What do you mean? How am I like those guys?"
"Well, for starters, you plan to elope with your succubus and heavily rely on her sister as well," Sol explained, his laughter bubbling up again. "But don't worry, you're not the only one forming relationships with cat girls and other alien beings they fancy."
Alistair took another sip from his ambrosia, feeling a flush of embarrassment.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," Sol continued, his amusement evident. "The System did you dirty by trapping you with her in a dungeon as she was starving," Sol chuckled with glee.
Alistair facepalmed, letting out a groan. He wanted to say, "Screw you, Sol," But Nessyras enchantment clamped down on him, saving him from a diplomatic blunder.
"It's good to be wary, but I don't want you as an enemy or estranged party. I'd rather foster good relations." Sol said with a warm, jovial expression.
Alistair looked up at Sol, who had a wide smile. He then looked back at the projections, wanting to change the topic. The big hologram showed a planet. It took Alistair a moment before he realized it was Earth. He barely recognized it as it had grown in size significantly. Its coastal outlines changed massively to be almost unrecognizable, though the few still recognizable parts gave Alistair a good sense of just how much bigger Earth had become.
"What's the significance of your Sigil depicting Earth's outline if Earth no longer resembles it?" Alistair inquired.
"It's a tribute to our origins, to what came before," Sol explained somberly. "Although I've altered it to be nearly unrecognizable, that does not mean I don't appreciate Earth for what it was,"
Alistair paused and looked at the changed planet. It felt strange seeing Earth like this, and his eyes kept getting caught on the occasional island and landmass he recognized despite the changes, Italy was now a much bigger boot, and Sicily had ballooned in size, Florida was much longer now, and connecting with Cuba enclosing the gulf of Mexico, those were among the most recognizable features left from earth.
"So what's your plan? Use your temple fortresses as staging points and conquer the planet with your stolen military equipment?" Alistair asked as he scanned the screens. He did not recognize most of the locations where the fortresses were placed, though many looked familiar.
Sol regarded him with a curious expression. "Yes, though I prefer to say 'acquired' rather than 'stolen'. I know you are familiar with dragon veins, so I've strategically claimed some of the best real estate, such as the Swiss Alps, Rocky Mountains, and Taiwan Alps, for their strategic positions and the quality of their dragon veins," Sol explained proudly.
"And which one serves as your main base of operations?" Alistair asked, his curiosity piqued by Sol's willingness to share such information.
"That would be Olympus Mons since it harbors by far the most potent natural dragon vein in the entire solar system. It serves as an incredible magical focal point and an unrivaled seat of power. However, my fortress is still partially under construction," Sol said with a smug smile as he displayed a hologram of Mars, which appeared much more lush and verdant. Most of the deserts had vanished, replaced by expansive oceans that dominated large swathes of the northern hemisphere. Alistair suspected that Sol had manipulated the terrain, artificially enlarging Mars in the process.
"How did you manage to enlarge the planets using just contribution points? Is the system really that generous?" Alistair inquired, intrigued by the seemingly miraculous transformation.
"I had to make some sacrifices, quite literally. I sacrificed some moons and other celestial bodies to afford it. The introduction of magic across the universe greatly facilitated the process of revitalizing the planets, so I simply gave it a little push," Sol explained casually before all the holograms and screens disappeared.
"Are you absolutely certain you wouldn't consider aligning yourself with me? I could offer you your choice of fortress, leadership of one of my orders, enhanced rewards like I did with your wyvern, and so much more," Sol entreated, his voice carrying a persuasive charm that seemed to wrap around Alistair like a velvet ribbon. With an overwhelming aura he had held back now fully on display, it was near blinding for a moment, even with the Nurturing Ward shielding him.
Alistair knew the proposition was enticing, one that many would covet without hesitation. Yet, to Alistair, it felt like merely scratching the surface of what he could achieve through patience and perseverance. With an apologetic glance at Sol, he spoke softly, "Sorry, as generous as your offer is, I believe there's a greater path ahead for me and my clan. I am not opposed to cooperating with you, but I doubt I or my clan are destined to be tied down like that."
"The future is not written in stone, but I possess the ability to make well-educated guesses. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to try," Sol conveyed, his expression reflecting a sense of understanding.
Alistair paused and drank the rest of his ambrosia as it overwhelmed his [Senses] for one last time, though he felt empty and even sad at having disappointed Sol. Though Alistair knew it was for the best, he knew their talks were at a close, though he had one last question.
"So you have a good idea who or what is coming for Earth?" Alistair inquired with a severe expression.
"I do," Sol replied cryptically, "But it would serve no purpose to act on mere speculation. Rest assured, I am prepared for every eventuality. My doors remain open to you should you reconsider. However, be mindful that my offer may become less generous with time."
Sol rose from the couch, towering over Alistair. He gestured toward the door, which swung open of its own accord.
"It has been a pleasure meeting you, Alistair. I wish you good fortune, but alas, our meeting must now draw to a close."
Alistair rose from his seat and walked past Sol, giving him a respectful nod.
"Thank you, Sol. I am sorry I can't be what you wish, though I look forward to working with you in the future," Alistair said sincerely before leaving the room as the doors closed behind him.