The sudden, unnatural spike in Theresa’s aura did not alarm Sol alone. The aura of an unknown King was a cause of concern for practically everyone who could sense it and necessitated identification.

Lilin, Isis, and a few others gazed at the distance, wondering if someone had become daring enough to attack Lustburg again. However, feeling Sol’s aura that he was intentionally emitting to affirm his presence, they calmed themselves down almost immediately.

They knew that since Sol was there, there was nothing to worry about. Everyone lost all interest in the matter and focused on their own tasks.

“It seems like this happened in the direction Miss Theresa was located in.” Isis mused, causing Lilin’s eyes to narrow.

“I guess this means we need to accelerate our training as well.” After the recent war, everyone noticed a substantial boost in their powers. Thus all of them were racing to reach the next realm of power.

Isis and Lilin were no different as they were meditating on the names and concepts of their King state.

“To be honest. I knew that I would become a King eventually. But I thought it would take me years if not decades to reach the realm.” Lilin clenched her fist as she felt the raw power coursing through her veins.

The power of War filled her body and mind at all times, propelling her to the next level. Not only was she becoming incredibly stronger but killing techniques appeared one after another in her head.

Different types of war existed and the one Lilin chose to embody was the primal destructive nature of war. A primal concept that relied on pure martial power, brutality, and absolute might.

The more she focused on this feeling the more concrete the name in her mind felt.

“You have Sol to thank for this. Thanks to the contract relying on us, Sol’s growth and power affect ours and vice versa. Furthermore, we were partly integral to his contract and got many benefits in return.” Isis was not as excited as Lilin for obvious reasons.

She could have already become a King a year ago if not for her desire to not follow the same concept as her father which would have ultimately caused a clash in their road to the pinnacle.

However, since Sol promised her that no such thing would occur, she was able to rest easy. She could simply focus on building her new name.

It’s quite the pain.

She had used the name Erishkigal for years on end already and had gotten used to it. Having to build up and control a new name was something she would have liked to avoid. However, thinking about such matters was pointless now.

“Speaking of that, I am surprised that Aunt Theresa is becoming a King. She did not seem very talented in the way of cultivation.” Lilin spoke about her doubts regarding Theresa. She was pretty close to the genius dwarf since the two of them fought together during the invasion of Lustburg enacted by the Wings of Freedom.

From what she remembered, Theresa herself had admitted that she was not particularly talented in cultivation which was one of the reasons she was so enthusiastic about machinery.

“My Father likes to say that all the roads eventually converge on the same destination. At the end of the day, as long as she finds her own Truth, nurtures a True Name, and finally obtains her concept, she will carve herself a road towards Ascension.”

Lilin readily accepted Isis’ reasoning. Remembering Arachne Milaris as a great example. That woman became a Duke by virtue of her own excessive talent in arts. Thinking that way, it was strange that someone as monstrously talented as Theresa never managed to become a Duke until now.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Well. We should focus on our own problems for now,” A bitter smile was etched on Lilith’s face as she mentioned the troubles they were going through. But Isis only giggled when she saw her being so bitter.

“Heh… What is going on?” On Isis’ head was a small fairy. Scheherazade had been sleeping for a long period since the end of the war. She had intervened despite being told not to but everyone appreciated the devotion the loveable small fairy had shown.

Isis was not too worried about her friend's current state. She could feel that the small fairy was also growing stronger at an accelerated rate.

She had a feeling that soon, the Tower of Babel would be filled with King-ranked warriors and magicians.

***

While Lilin and Isis were relatively indifferent to the changes happening to Theresa, there was a certain someone who could hardly ignore it.

“Oh. I thought you would continue to avoid me.” Sol, who had been waiting above and making sure that no one would disturb Theresa, smiled at the newcomer.

“Well… I have been busy. Training, fighting Wukong, and some other important matters that needed my undivided attention.” A feminine voice answered him as the newcomer stopped in front of him.

Lilith Luxuria. Once the Regent Queen of Lustburg, she was one of the few with the power to truly ascend as a demigod. In more ways than one, she could be considered a Demigod even now. All she lacked was the creation of a Territory to complete the process and receive a substantial boost to all of her abilities.

“Other matters huh…” Sol gave an amused glance at Lilith who simply looked away from him, too embarrassed to hold his gaze. Neither of them had forgotten the promise she had given in the heat of the moment and while Sol was not one to pressure someone, he sure as hell intended to cash out on the wish.

“No matter. This is not the place to talk about such things.” Once he made her a little embarrassed, Sol decided to not tease Lilith too much for the moment. “At first I thought that Theresa was simply building her name. But it seems like she is ready to become a King in one go.”

“This is…” Lilith was speechless when she heard Sol’s account of Theresa’s current state. “People sure are different.”

She still remembered how she only managed to become a King after losing her brother and Blaze during the war. Now, Theresa was about to go from nothing to King rank in one night?

“You shouldn’t be surprised. Honestly, Theresa should have already become at least a Duke long ago. What you are witnessing is the results of decades of accumulation, all ignited by one spark of inspiration.”

Theresa had created a divine weapon and dozens of high-ranked weapons throughout her lifetime. She was the leader of a project that allowed mortals to match Dukes through the usage of armor and now she was working on an even more grandiose subject.

“It’s possible that she never managed to grow until now because of her lack of confidence or some other psychological reasoning. What matters now is that soon, I will have another King under my banner.”

“I doubt she will be much of a fighter, even as a King,” Lilith interjected but Sol merely shrugged.

“True. But her mind alone is worth more than anything. Don’t you want to know for yourself? The kind of wonders a King-level Theresa can create.”

“The kind of monstrosities you mean.” Lilith shuddered just imagining what would happen when that crazy lunatic ascended to the King realm.

Theresa had always been a daredevil. She was the woman who did not hesitate to steal an egg from Echidna while being chased by a Chimera.

The only limitation Theresa had until now was her realm. Now that limitation was about to vanish. The more she thought about this, the more she paled with fright.

Theresa was truly someone who could easily change the landscape of power. What made her even scarier was that her increase in power did not just affect herself alone.

She would be affecting everyone around her with her change.

What if she was able to create an armor that would allow the Rangers to fight toe-to-toe with a King rank? What if such a weapon could be mass-produced?

“You seem scared.” Sol couldn’t help but chuckle at Lilith’s reactions, “Well, you have every right to be. If I am not wrong… what Theresa is designing is truly outrageous.”

Sol’s memories of his past life on Earth may be cloudy after all this time… but he knew that he definitely had never worked as a physicist. Even so, it was not hard to guess one of the things she was working on.

“Trust me, Lilith, history will be changed forever starting now. The new era of warfare is about to begin.”

Sol’s eyes twinkled as he watched Theresa as if he were watching some supreme treasure he could absolutely not part with.

Clearly, after this, he would make sure to increase the protection surrounding the crazy dwarf. She was now no different from a national treasure.

As he thought, Theresa's aura seemed to reach a crescendo before it finally stabilized after breaching the last obstacle.

“Success.” Despite all her worries, a smile filled with warmth bloomed on Lilith’s face. Theresa was her friend and an old companion. Seeing the crazy small woman become stronger may be scary but it also made her incredibly happy.

Arachne is going to be so pissed once she learns about this.

Lilith giggled internally. After all, with Theresa in such a situation, it means that out of all the people in their past team. The only non-King was Arachne.