In a bedroom with a more modern design than the rest of the castle, Arslan wore a black battle suit that fitted his figure and waited for Derin to get ready. After the Divine Red Sun’s gaze, it was time for the rest of the Empire to know what was coming. Some would likely be happy, but he also expected riots. He planned to embrace those who were happy and let them join in defending their home, gaining endless benefits. As for those who rioted and hid behind the Empire, they could mind their own business. Spies and traitors would meet an unpleasant end. The Abyss missed fresh food, and he would gladly deliver.
Arslan repeatedly watched the woman who dared to snatch benefits from a Divine. He guessed that she knew the Empire would allow the protectors of the competition to receive the same benefit. He still didn’t know why the Divine would give benefits when it didn’t earn him anything in return. The only record as to why was the first Emperor, who had left some records about it.
"Fear it, respect it, and Divine Red Sun will not mind your existence." It wasn’t much, but at least it gave a sense of security.
He decided not to think much about it since he felt The Eye focused a little too much on him. It knew about his situation. However, the attention was so little, he wondered what would make that existence take a longer glance. He internally shook his head. If he reached the same level as it, he would likely have a similar outlook towards his current situation.
He closed his eyes and peeked into his Existence. He focused on the obscured parts, as if it was on a higher level of Existence, which was true. Lines with particles that were bigger than the rest connected to smaller particles, attaching and connecting. However, there were multiple particles that shared special particles. They looked beautiful to his eyes, especially the red one, the same as his eyes. It connected to every particle as if it was an integral part of his Existence. He felt like it was gazing into his very being so that they would perform at their peak.
He focused on the external forces that ran through every part of the world. He released his Mind Energy, attaching it to as much external force as possible. He attached and analyzed. He long sensed the momentum, making it gather around him as an aura with the color of rich royal blue. Unfortunately, it was clear there was no divine presence, making him consider two possibilities. Either some power made it exclusive, thus it was not acquirable by others, or it was under another force in the universe. Whatever the case might be, it would not change the fact that Arslan needed to traverse this path on his own. However, he felt like there would be a surprise coming when he became an Eternal.
He pulled his gaze and focused on other external forces. He felt gravity and reduced its influence on him by half, removing a few tons from his physical weight. Then he pushed mortal air from every part of his body into his surroundings, removing nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and every other gas that mortals need within a two-meter diameter surrounding him, including his own body. Due to the force he used, his skin blackened and morphed before he used his Innate Energy to nullify his need for any gas a mortal needs. He started with gas, then the variant turned into liquid. It was very gradual; he did it with great care and patience. After a minute of stabilizing, he stopped the isolation and focused on blood, bones, and organs as he isolated them and used his Innate Energy to do their work. He stopped when he couldn’t do most of his body and DNA. He didn’t want to perish just because of training.
He tapped onto the floor and rose from the ground. He started moving in circles with a particular pattern that raised his momentum. Then, he started reducing his handle on gravity, returning to his normal weight, and focused on flying with momentum alone. After he noticed he could do this forever, he started using other momentum applications that he developed.
He first used Inertia Infusion by pulling the momentum of the world and applying it to himself to power himself. After he used it, he stopped manually controlling his speed as it stayed unchanged as long as this ability was used.
Arslan thought about what to do before Derin came from the wardrobe. After spending the night together, his thoughts and feelings regarding their future were back to their original state before the Galactic Competition, firm and steady.
Derin took the name that the Empire had given upon marriage which was due to traditions of the royal family for a long time. That’s why Derin loses only to Arslan when it comes to power in the Empire. However, this resulted in her leaving her family behind, becoming their Empress. Hence, Derin and her birth family had a distant relationship ever since. But he still decided to contact his in-laws throughout their marriage, even though he didn’t need to as the Emperor. Thus, he called upon her birth father. While waiting, he kept his powers in check and took on a more casual look. He was still the Emperor, even though he expected his rule not to last for long. With his legs pulled in while his hand rested on the air, he looked like he was sitting on a throne made of air. It might have been a ridiculous look on someone else, however, he knew this was perfect for the current situation.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
In a few moments, a cold voice stated that the call had been answered, and he granted permission for visual and audio to be provided. The wall in front shimmered and was replaced by an office with a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes. He greeted him as he looked towards the floor and bent his back. “Your Majesty.”
“How have you been, Teacher Alex?” Arslan decided to wait for his answer, but he got none. So, he waited. After a few seconds, Teacher Alex replied, “Not very well. Alana has put distance between us as time went by. We rarely talk, except for the special days.”
“It’s sad to hear,” not that much, Arslan thought. He disliked marriages that ran for the sake of children. If Alana didn’t want to meet her husband because of their daughter and another petty reason that he was aware of, he had no words for such a woman.
“I will talk to Derin and convince her to meet with you before we leave.”
“Where to?” Teacher Alex was just about to rise due to worry before he kept his posture and continued, “Your Majesty?”
Arslan cast a glance towards Teacher Alex, one of the Immortal teachers in the Luvi Academy. He was a senior teacher with a prestigious position. However, he also noticed that he and his wife had some problems because she was the Head of Department in another field, thus senior to her husband. It wasn’t always like that; however, time was cruel towards those who weren’t Eternal. This also applied to this man who has also taught him when he was young. Now, he could only make it up to him, because deep down, he knew Teacher Alex supported Derin even when he abruptly made a marriage proposal to her. Not that he didn’t deserve it. He also wanted to ignore the question as they would announce it to the Empire. He didn’t want to voice the same thing more than once.
“I have reviewed your article about momentum, and it has great prospects. However, I don’t see you finishing this with your current seniority in the academy. After all, the topic of a movement aspect can associate with Quantum Physics, and potentially the whole physical laws would need access to knowledge, resources, and manpower that you don’t have.”
After Teacher Alex heard the first sentence, he was happy, as he knew Arslan had great expectations regarding anything related to Momentum and its future prospects. However, as Arslan continued, he felt regret because he knew someone else would run this.
Arslan didn’t care to wait for him to pity the situation he was in and explained, “That’s why you will have temporary access to the rank of Head of the Physics Department for a year. If you make satisfactory progress, you will be the Co-Head with the current Head of Physics. You are dismissed.”
Arslan raised his head and looked towards the door that led to their wardrobe. Derin emerged, giving a feeling of being a ruler, warrior, unfathomable intent well hidden, and a beauty of creation.
“Beautiful,” Arslan complimented his wife. He ceased his momentum, approached her, and they met in the middle. He grabbed her waist and looked deep into her dark eyes, gray and black, ever shifting. Anyone else would have seen the horrors of reality in those beautiful eyes, but he only saw her. Derin kissed his lips. She knew he liked it more when she got physical instead of compliments, unlike her, who loved both.
They separated, and Arslan said, “It’s time to let our citizens know the current situation. We delayed as much as possible for their safety.”
“They won’t see it that way.”
“I only care about those who see it that way.” Arslan knew that he couldn’t make everyone content with his choices. However, the crown was heavy, and the responsibility weighed down on him even more. He would be risking the whole world for their future.
However, it was time. He couldn’t hope to progress if he didn’t give his all.
He turned towards the balcony and gazed at Ephesus City from a higher vantage point. He couldn’t see the ends of the city, but his focus wasn’t on that. He saw a whole street made in a way that can house billions thanks to Eternal Treasure bending the space of the whole street.
Every time an imperial edict was released, the scene would be the same. A novelty for sure as Arslan and Derin saw this for the first time. Just having a city of billions right before their very eyes was a feeling they will likely never forget because they can see their respect. Not completely towards them as they haven’t accomplished as much as the previous rulers, yet they still had many merits when it came to the betterment of the Empire, whether it was scientific or sociological.