SCC Chapter 38 Culmination(8)

The leaves encapsulating the bud opened, one by one, exposing something different from what everyone had expected, going by the flicker of both Nikolai and Livia's eyes. What was exposed was a red pot-like object, whose mouth was pointed straight at the dark sphere. From within the mouth, something was shot out, fast enough for even Reed to barely capture its form, yet he had already known what it was, after all he was its creator.

The moment it vanished into one of the earlier holes created by a wooden log, nothing happened at first, but then, the dark hull started dissolving, as if being eaten by something, exposing more of the object's inner layout to the outside world.

Rooms arranged in the honeycomb structure, each having housed some sort of device before being destroyed by the growing trees, were exposed to the outside world. Even just a cursory glimpse was enough to make Reed understand what an undertaking the project had been. Even from this far out, through the sense of touch shared by the trees within, he could feel the rarity and value of the materials used. These were in quantities that shouldn't have been collected in just a single instance, but through a lifetime.

(This thing might have solar essence stored somewhere. I don't need to remind you of its volatility, right?)

The President's transmission served to drag some of his logical thinking from the corner of his mind. He had forgotten that particular detail. Before he could address it though, a powerful aura was released from within the dark sphere, suffocating his chest, and snuffing out his spiritual energy, while collapsing his domain with brute force.

His hair, at the back of the nape and his head, stood on end as he felt the powerful aura that gave the impression that it could snuff him out of existence in a heartbeat.

His attacks, maintained by spiritual energy, within the dark sphere crumbled into emerald motes of light that vanished into the ether. And his movements had essentially been frozen, like a deer in headlights. This... Was power beyond any that he had ever felt. Even the auras of the president and the Golden Merchant were akin to fireflies in front of a sun.

Then, as Reed looked on, the dark sphere started disintegrating into particles. It was bizarre, as even though his other senses were hindered, his eyesight was not. And he couldn't even begin to fathom how someone was doing that, until the particle ocean dispersed, exposing two things, a sleek dark vessel, and a human, one he was familiar with.

Even though he had discarded his previous outdated attire in favor of a simple white shirt and a pair of jeans, his blue hair and eyes, coupled with a face he would never be able to wipe from his memories, gave up the fact that it was Zeus, yet, there was something unfamiliar within his gaze. The unmistakable arrogance had vanished, replaced with a hunger for something.

"Now, here is something you don't get to see every day, a welcome party!"

The voice that left the man's lips was as shocking as the fact that it had managed to be propagated through space, reaching Reed's ears. That was something that should have been impossible!

"I only want to talk my dear, welcome party. Violence isn't always the answer to problems. And it would be better if you take that piece of advice seriously, as I have no patience for clamoring ants."

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After those words, his suffocating aura was retracted back into his body, even as his feet stayed upon the sleek dark vessel's hull.

He was standing in space with his physical body... That was a fact that was as shocking as his voice reaching his ears with just physical speech, within this void.

(He has reached a higher life level.) Nikolai's shaken voice transmission entered Reed's ears, causing a frown to etch itself into his features.

(Who are you exactly? That is Zeus' body, but I don't think you are him.) The president asked the question even as his form appeared right beside Reed.

He was clad in a crimson armor that appeared to be something that needed to be arranged piece by piece. It was metallic, and was emanating a faint bloody aura, which was also translating into a bloody scent impacting Reed's nostrils.

(That man is dangerous! Make sure to stay within a kilometer of me.) the President transmitted.

"I must say, during my time, those that had truly arrived at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage had been so rare, that even the sects had lacked such an existence. Yet here, there are two of them! It looks like the Era has been kind to your so-called Federation."

(Who are you, blue-eyed?) an irritated voice echoed within Reed's mind, one which came from the Golden Merchant, who also materialized beside him, yet a ways off to the side.

"Is that really the most important question right now? I suppose I could humor you. The so-called third generation Zeus is effectively dead from now on. I devoured his soul and everything that was his, making them mine."

That caused everyone, Reed included, immense shock. Zeus had been a strong powerhouse whose lightning rod was capable of allowing him the capability of going toe to toe with those at the very peak of the Nascent Soul stage! How could he have lost his body to another so easily? And most of all, how had this body surpassed his limits, skipping the peak of his stage to directly enter the next one?

These questions were important ones that needed to be answered.

"There is no need to act that taken aback. It was simple, really. From his birth to me devouring everything about him. Everything had been destined to happen. There were a few hiccups here and there, but ultimately, the grand plot spanning over a thousand years culminated into great results."

(A thousand year plot? Who are you?!) asked a bewildered Golden Merchant. Reed couldn't even comprehend someone living beyond a thousand years!

(Are you playing with us? We would have known of someone who had transcended the Nascent Soul realm. How could you have lived for that long, otherwise?) scoffed the Golden Merchant.

"Heh! That's what frogs at the bottom of a well would think. I was once like you and the rest of humanity. Thinking myself to be an unparalleled genius, having made such considerable contributions to the path of arrays that I had become more than smug..."

Everyone was hooked on his tale, even Reed. It seems that this man wasn't going to be giving straight answers.

"... But an encounter with the relics of an extraterrestrial civilization humbled me. It taught me that what I had invented was merely child's play compared to the heights they had reached. And that, my friends, exhilarated me. It gave me a goal, one where I wanted to see for myself the heights, civilisations greater than ours had reached. But, I had already exhausted half my lifespan, with the chances of getting to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage even slimmer. "

"Yet the heavens never abandon the diligent. Through a certain artifact, I managed to preserve my soul, while laying out a plot for my revival, also making certain that I would be surpassing my previous heights."

(And that plot included sacrificing the innocent for your goals? Do you even have a conscience?!) transmitted Reed. He had heard enough.

"hmmm!? Why should I care about them? Ah! I see... The Federation has done well to support everyone, but I will say this once, young boy. The Path of immortality and progress is mostly paved upon many bodies and sacrifices. If you had access to what I know, you wouldn't be saying such naive things. Do you know that Deity Transformation cultivators can start entire wars just for a flimsy chance to advance a minor stage in their cultivation? From the Nascent Soul and below, cultivation is easy. All you just have to do is absorb spiritual energy to make progress. Even the complicated Nascent Soul is merely child's play. In order to advance within the stage I am in, you will either have to hunt down resources, or create yours. And trust me on this. Both those solutions come with their own hardships."

(Hardships?! You... Bastard! All those lives... Don't they weigh upon your conscience?!)

" Conscience... Guilt... Are such things going to make me strong? That brat Taylor beside you. Do you know how many sect cultivators he slaughtered? Even those that were innocents? His past is one of endless slaughter. Why? Because his wife was killed by the sects! Even you, brat! What right do you have to speak about such things when you haven't experienced the brutality of the world? To me, anything that could aid in my advancement, whether through slaughter or peace, is welcome. I will say this to you, dear boy. You haven't lived long enough. When you do experience the loss of those so-called loved ones when their lifespans come to a natural end, without you being able to do anything, you will finally understand that only the pursuit of the peak is eternal. Wow! I never thought I'd get the chance to lecture someone! This is a novel experience!"