Close by within the forest was a group of seven monks.
Out of the seven monks, four of them were young adults or middle aged while two appeared to be children, timid, and nervous. Leading them was a monk wearing white robes, his face obscured by a mask.
A lady, dressed in an elegant yet peculiar attire, approached the masked monk. Her presence was enchanting, her demeanor joyful yet calm, a breath of fresh air amidst the dense foliage. "Greetings Lord Zenith. The celestial palace is close by," she said, her voice melodic and soothing, "I can feel its aura. Moving any closer will be risky."
The masked monk, known as Lord Zenith, responded with a serene composure. "We will make camp here. Once Kaiser initiates his world transfer, we can assist the young apprentices in entering Reverie." His voice was steady, each word measured and thoughtful, reflecting a lifetime of patience and experience.
Two young monks that looked no more than ten years of age, stood nervously nearby, their eyes darting between the elders.
"As expected of the followers of King Echidnaeus," a middle-aged monk sneered, his tone bitter. "They would rather recklessly transport humans into Reverie via the wastelands to save Lithos. Those poor individuals have no control over where they end up."
"Plus, they damage the world barrier in the process," another monk scolded, his voice filled with disdain.
The lady’s eyes sparkled with an understanding that belied her youthful appearance. "Their method may only require one Litho to safely transfer someone into their respective wastelands, but ours takes a hundred to safely transport them to Reverie. They are willing to take the risk and transport a hundred people into the wastelands, leaving their survival up to chance, hoping at least one would survive. The lack of empathy from their king is reflected in his followers," she spoke, her tone gentle yet firm.
The young monks' nervousness grew as they listened to the elders speak. But Lord Zenith’s presence seemed to wrap around them like a warm blanket. "Do not be afraid," he said, his voice a calming balm. "We are all here to ensure your safety." His words were like a soothing melody, and one could easily imagine a kind and wise smile behind his mask.
A young monk, his voice quivering slightly, spoke up. "Who is King Echidnaeus?"
The lady’s smile was radiant, filled with patience and warmth as she answered, "Reverie is divided into five major Divinora, similar to countries on Earth. Each one has a ruling king. King Echidnaeus reigns over Nyxium Divinora."
The other young monk asked, curiosity lighting up his eyes, "Which Divinora do we enter? And what language will we speak there, master?"
"In Reverie, language is universal, a gift from the realm itself. You will communicate in the language that your heart understands best," Lord Zenith replied, his voice like a river flowing smoothly. "As for your destination, you will be journeying to the Divinora known as Sukhavati. The experiences awaiting you there will teach you much more than any words I can share."
Suddenly, the lady's serene demeanor shifted, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "My lord, someone is approaching. A single man, I sense intense fear and feelings of injustice within him," she warned, her voice soft yet urgent.
Before long, they saw Arnold stumbling towards them, gasping for air. His clothes were torn, and his face was etched with desperation. As soon as he noticed the group of people, he tried to run in the opposite direction but collapsed from exhaustion.
"Fate is a strange thing," Lord Zenith mused as he rose from his seat, his movements graceful and deliberate. With each step he took, the plants and grass seemed to flutter, almost as if rejoicing in his presence. "Kaiser may have chosen him as a scapegoat, but his destiny was always entwined with Reverie." The eyes behind his mask glowed with a soothing yellow light as he held a peculiarly shaped stone that emitted the same glow.
Eyes wide with wonder, the young monks stared at the glowing stone cradled in Lord Zenith's hands. Their expressions, a mix of fascination and reverence, reflected the mystique of the Litho before them.
"That is a Litho from our Divinora. It is the currency used in Reverie," the lady explained, her voice filled with an almost motherly warmth.
"His fate is tied to Reverie; prepare more Lithos. We shall aid his entry," Lord Zenith declared, his voice steady and resolute. As he finished speaking, the glowing Litho in his hand lost its luster and crumbled into dust. Arnold's body, now emitting a soft yellow light, seemed to relax, his breathing becoming steady and peaceful as he slipped into a deep, restful sleep.
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"Lieutenant, have the three subjects been further sedated and placed in the collider pods?" Lord Kaiser's masked face turned to address his subordinate.
"Yes, sir. All preparations have been completed," Dan responded dutifully. However, there was a look of utter fear and anxiety he tried his best to mask as he answered the question. Beads of sweat trickled down his brows as he tried his best to calm down.
"Is something wrong?" Kaiser asked as he looked at Lieutenant Dan with suspicion.
"No my lord" Dan responded calmly, hiding the inner turmoil. 'They still haven't found that girl Calista...' He thought to himself. He recalled the warnings of his superiors, of how any failure in adhering to Lord Kaiser's command might just end up in him never being able to meet his daughter again.
'Lying to a Domain Lord of Nyxium huh...' Kaiser's lips curled behind the mask as he said, "Good. Begin the evacuation of the celestial palace immediately. You have fifty minutes," his voice as cold and commanding as ever.
"Understood, sir." Dan saluted before walking away to out his orders.
Lord Kaiser strode towards an altar at the highest level of the palace, situated squarely in the center. It was a circular altar with an equilateral triangle etched into its surface. Each corner of the triangle held a glowing purple stone. Below each stone on the lower level were futuristic-looking metal casings, resembling sci-fi pods. Inside these pods were three humans, suspended in a liquid substance. One of them was Lorian, peacefully sleeping within his pod.
Kaiser stood still as he listened to the men escaping from the castle, deep in meditation.
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The palace grounds buzzed with urgency as the commanders shouted orders, the air thick with tension. "Get moving, quick!" one of them barked, spurring the military personnel into action. The once-stately halls were now filled with the frantic rush of soldiers on a mission.
Nelson moved with purpose, his steps brisk as he addressed his younger brother. "Our job here is done. Let's go," he said, his voice firm. He glanced around, trying to convince himself of the plan's success. "The military will find her eventually," he muttered, more to reassure himself than Neal.
Neal trailed behind, a picture of unsettling calm. His face was devoid of emotion, his eyes cold and detached, as if the chaos around them was just background noise. "I know you're worried about Alex, but look at it this way..." he started, a slow, eerie grin spreading across his face. Nelson stiffened, his fists clenching involuntarily.
"If she survives the Wastelands and makes it to Reverie, she could gain godly powers... " Neal's voice dripped with a twisted delight, his grin widening as he watched Nelson's reaction, "Too bad she's always been incompetent. You two honestly made a great incompetent couple"
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Nelson's eyes darkened, a storm brewing within him. "...Then why didn't you," he muttered, barely audible.
Neal's grin never faltered. He turned innocent, wide-eyed. "Huh...? Did big brother say something?" His voice was light, almost playful.
Nelson's restraint snapped. "Since you're so fucking competent why didn't you get in that pod instead of her, you bastard!" he shouted, his voice raw with anger.
Neal chuckled, a dark, mirthless sound. "Because it's not the safest way," he replied nonchalantly. "The Reverie folks need loyal operatives here on Earth. That's where Divisions B and C come in..." He paused, enjoying the tension. "But once the quota of workers needed on Earth is fulfilled, some of us get chosen for Division Ascendence, Division A. That's the safest path to becoming a god."
Nelson stared at him, bewildered. "How do you know all this?"
Neal smiled, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes. "I have my sources," he said, patting Nelson's shoulder. His tone was casual, almost dismissive. They continued walking, the tension between them palpable.
As they passed a row of stalls, Neal's gaze locked onto a fainted woman, stripped down to her underwear. A disturbing glint flickered in his eyes. "Nelson, check this out," he called, his voice tinged with a perverse excitement.
Nelson turned, a frown already forming. He quickly assessed the situation. "She's military. Calista must've stolen her clothes to blend in with the evacuees," he said, a mix of frustration and concern in his voice.
Neal laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "She really thinks that will work? The military will count heads soon enough." He shrugged, a hint of regret in his eyes. "If I'd caught her, we could've had some fun."
Nelson's face hardened. "We should alert the military. They'll find her faster," he said, urgency creeping into his tone. He knew his brother too well and feared what Neal might do.
Neal's expression shifted, becoming stern. "No," he said firmly. "Let Lord Kaiser see how incompetent Lieutenant Dan and his crew are."
"And what good will that do?" Nelson asked, frustration edging his voice.
Neal's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. "If we catch her, great. If not, we can go after a few monks." He paused, his smile widening with a cruel intent. "The real threat isn't the girl. Now's our chance to prove our worth to Lord Kaiser and get promoted to Division A."
Suddenly Neal began licking his lips as he looked at the woman's limp body. Slowly he started walking towards her.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Nelson screamed, a mix of fear and anger surging through him.
As though prompted by his brother's words Neal's expression twisted all of a sudden into a mask of rage. Without any warning he charged toward the unconscious woman pouncing on her like a beast.
"Since she's already stripped, I might as well have some fun with her," Neal responded, a sadistic grin spreading across his face.
Nelson shivered, his brother's smile always managing to pierce through his criminal bravado, reminding him of the true psychopath he was dealing with.
"Will that... be a problem for you?" Neal asked, his eyes locking onto Nelson's with a chilling intensity as he began to strip the fainted woman further. His face then morphed into a disturbingly timid appearance, a blush spreading across his cheeks and ears as he shyly smiled at Nelson. "I-I... if big brother has a problem, Neal will gladly stop..."
Nelson clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "Tsk," he hissed in disgust, turning his back on the scene. He couldn't bear to watch but knew he couldn't interfere either. Fear and self-preservation warred within him as he made his way out, leaving Neal to his twisted devices.
"Fine," he muttered, turning away in disgust. "Do what you want. Just make it quick."
Neal's laugh echoed through the bathroom, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Nelson's spine. Neal's eyes gleamed with a twisted delight, his lips curling into a grin that was more sinister than joyful. "That's my good big brother," he sneered, his voice dripping with dark amusement. He turned back to the unconscious woman, his fingers twitching with a disturbing eagerness. "Don't worry," he murmured to her still form, a mockery of reassurance in his tone. "This won't take long. I'll kill her quickly," he added, a cruel chuckle escaping his lips. He glanced back at Nelson receding figure, his expression gleeful and unhinged. "Remember, we never came across this girl's body," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Let Calista get blamed for this!"
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About an hour after Kaiser commanded for the Celestial Palace to be evacuated,
All was silent, not even a whisper to be heard within the Celestial Palace.
Lord Kaiser pulled out two Lithos from a pouch placed on the altar. His eyes glinted purple as the two stones turned to dust in his grasp.
"Domain," he whispered, pressing his palm against the center of the Altar. A purple ethereal sphere materialized from his head and expanded until it completely covered the altar. The three Lithos at each corner began to emit a matching hue, but their energy seemed to flow downwards towards the pods on the lower level. Symbols appeared on the surface of each pod, glowing with a purple light.
The air around the Celestial Palace stirred and shifted, as if different dimensions were merging and time was folding in on itself. The ethereal sphere surrounding the altar seemed like Earth's greatest enemy as a powerful windstorm raged around it.
Suddenly, a powerful force pulled at the Celestial Palace, as if gravity itself had been reversed. A massive earthquake shook the ground as the palace began to be lifted from its foundation. Spectral beings could be spotted causing chaos around the fortress, their unified chanting of the word "Deceit" echoing through the air.
"Please have mercy on this earthly structure and its inhabitants. They are not meant for your domain. Oh great King Echidnaeus, let me be a vessel for your domain. Please allow what belongs on Earth to remain here, and let Reverie reclaim what does not." As Kaiser chanted his prayers to his sovereign, his clothes began disintegrating. A blinding purple light shone from a large sigil tattooed on his back. The strange symbols adorning the walls of the room began to emit a blinding violet light, making it seem as though the room was the core of a violet star.
A deep purple sphere formed around the palace, slowly shrinking in size as it forced the building back down to the ground.
However, the three pods inside were unaffected by this force; they simply floated through the floor as if they were ethereal. They passed through the altar, through the roof of the castle, and vanished into thin air.
The palace shook violently as if it were on the brink of collapsing. The air was thick with tension, every molecule vibrating with the raw power being harnessed. Kaiser fell to his knees, the violet light from his back pulsing in time with the symbols on the walls. The specters' chanting grew louder, more insistent, their presence a dark, oppressive force.
Just as it seemed the palace might be torn apart, the purple sphere contracted with a final, shuddering pulse and vanished. The palace settled back onto its foundation, the windstorm ceased, and an eerie silence fell over the scene.
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"Lord Zenith, I can feel the influence of King Echidnaeus' Domain seeping into this world," the elegantly dressed woman said, her voice trembling despite her composed demeanor. Her eyes, usually bright with joy, were shadowed with concern as she glanced at the masked monk.
Zenith's masked face turned towards her, his calm eyes showing understanding. "The barriers between our worlds are breaking down, causing chaos and confusion," he said, his voice steady and soothing. "The liar Archetypes of Echidnaeus are taking advantage of this by casting deceit on everything." He sighed deeply. "He is truly worthy of being one of the five kings. Even against the will of this Universe, his domain stands strong."
"Everybody, help me set up the Altar" said the Lady elegantly, yet her voice carried a sense of haste.
The monks worked quickly, setting up an altar at the center of their camp. They carefully placed one hundred and eighty yellow Lithos around the circumference of the circular altar. Lord Zenith sat at the center, with Arnold and two young monks lying motionless around him.
The lady's composure returned as she watched the preparations. "Good," she said, her voice carrying a hopeful note.
"I will use this opportunity while the two worlds are closed in together to send these three inside," replied Lord Zenith with a calm smile.
"Domain," he intoned.
The one hundred and eighty Lithos glowed in unison, a brilliant yellow sphere materializing from the center of Zenith's head, enveloping the altar. In a sudden flash, all the Lithos crumbled to dust and dispersed into the air. "This altar now belongs to Sukhavati, as does a similar one to Earth. Can you sense the presence of Sukhavati within my domain, oh Reverie?" the monk questioned, his voice calm yet commanding.
As moments passed, the stone altar began to flicker, wavering between existence and nothingness. The bodies of Arnold and the others lying within the altar shimmered, their forms intermittently appearing ghost-like.
Another altar, eerily similar to the one Arnold and the rest were in, started to materialize nearby, as though it was gradually pushing the original altar out of reality. Within this emerging altar, the silhouette of a muscular man became increasingly defined.
Eventually, the transformation was complete. The old altar vanished entirely, replaced by the new one, now fully solid and real. At its center stood the muscular figure, his presence commanding and resolute. The previous masked monk, Arnold, and the two young monks had disappeared without a trace.
The muscular monk surveyed the scene, satisfaction evident in his posture. His voice, rich with a sense of accomplishment, broke the silence. "It was challenging to remove the aura of Reverie from this altar and make it appear as if it belonged in this realm, but we managed."
The rest of the monks and the lady turned towards him, bowing their heads respectfully. "Greetings, Master Seer," they said in unison.
"Do not worry, we were successful. Lord Zenith, along with the three new apprentices, have safely entered Reverie," the muscular monk replied, his voice as calming as Lord Zenith's.
He took a moment to gaze around at the breathtaking forest they were in before exclaiming, "So this, is Earth."