“How exactly does this whole thing work?” Sam asked, not entirely satisfied with the brief explanation that he had been given.

“If enough elemental energy of a specific element is concentrated into a single point, it will open up a portal to that element’s respective plane,” Talnor said. “This came as a surprise to your allies too. They had never seen such a thing before.”

“How much energy are we talking about here?”

“Enough to punch a hole in reality. About the combined resources of fifty to a hundred mages of the correct Tier. We opened portals to the F Rank section of the elemental plane. Anything higher would have flooded the city. Because we are returning the water to where it came from, the upkeep costs are low.”

“Was this something that you use on your home planet?” Sam asked.

“Indeed it was. That was why we created one here. Your city has a good thing going with crop exports, and anything that can increase that will increase our overall resources. F Rank crops sell for fifty times more than G Rank ones, because of the essence that is contained within them. It can transform the lives of lower rank beings, cure diseases, restore youth, and even bring the dying back from the brink of death. Of course, few can afford crops above their Rank.”

“How much money is coming in from the crops?”

“About ten million credits every day,” Lao said. “Not much compared to the wealth that Talnor brought to the table, but certainly welcome. Much of that money is placed back into the farming apparatus. Buying F Rank seeds is just as expensive as the plants sell for, if not more so. However, we can grow more plants from the current generation, which keeps the profits rising.”

Satisfied, Sam kept walking, heading into the district. Farmers walked along pathways that stretched between the fields, keeping an eye on their crops. Sam would have expected for such processes to be automated, but then remembered that these people had classes that increased the efficiency of their professions. Likely, they had access to elemental abilities that would make their crops grow faster and larger.

There were few buildings out here, save for massive warehouses that stored crops. Until the wall, most of the remaining city was covered in fields. Sam quickly made his way through them, able to see them all from a distance already. By the time he and his small party reached the wall, he was slightly bored of the whole thing. Although the farmers were incredibly valuable to his city, they were not the most engaging of things to look at. However, the weapon studded walls were a different story.

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The wall bristled with artillery and guards were stationed every few dozen feet. No longer was the wall some massive fortification that was impossible to guard. With the number of people now living in the city, it was possible to station guards all along its length. Although its actual defensive merits were diminished in comparison to the shield that surrounded the city, it was a source of elevation that allowed the defenders to monitor the surrounding land.

Sam teleported to the top of the wall, taking in the land outside. Beyond the walls, the force field dropped down a few miles away, the glowing blue wall meeting the earth. All around it, the land was covered in runways and other military endeavors, the work of Thomas Aquinas. His spaceport idea had taken root, and dozens of planes were stationed all around the city. Every now and again, one would take off. This was likely how the faction gained information about the rest of the world.

Sam felt a burning ember of pride settle in his core at the sight of the wondrous city that his followers had created. The purpose of a faction leader was to be the final bulwark against invaders, and a proper faction would need to be capable of independent progression. As far as he could tell, his faction was.

Turning around, he caught a glimpse of the city, perfectly lit up by the sun. The towers of the city center glittered, and the Icon that hovered high above seemed to shine with an inner light, casting its beneficence across the area. It was perfect. It was his faction. No, it was the faction of everyone that was part of it. The Arbiters of Justice, standing tall against the perils of the Multiverse. One day, when all was said and done, Earth would be a beacon of light and power across this universe, and this city would be its center.

Sam clenched his fists and vowed that he would see this happen. The Titans, and all the other threats be damned. He would fight until he could fight no more to defend his people. That was his calling. As the moment of confluence vanished, and the city was no longer illuminated by the sun, Sam let out a deep breath and teleported to the ground. It was time to prepare for the fights to come. Seeing how far his city had grown only reminded him of how much there was to lose.

Some time later, Sam was standing in the city hall, ringed with his captains. All of them had answered his call, coming from various corners of the city to meet him. His original human faction officers stood around him, with the aliens that had come with Talnor joining them. Lao, Eduardo, Jeffrey and Talnor ringed Sam, having earned their place in terms of experience and power. Sam had not yet had the chance to speak with Jeffrey, but he could tell that the alien had gained not inconsiderable power. After all, he possessed the second highest rarity class in the city, one of the Legendary rarity. He was at least as powerful as Lao and Eduardo, but still lagging a bit behind Talnor.

As Sam stood there, he could feel Jeffrey’s curious gaze on his back. Thousands of people sat in silence in the auditorium, waiting for Sam to speak. He had embarked on a journey that had taken him from his people for the last month. It was time for him to explain the benefits of such a choice to the townspeople.