Torok let out a laugh. He had watched the whole battle for the territory stone. He expected them to be challenged more. It was a good showing of team work, but he wanted his champion to be challenged more. Being the first to claim a territory didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Torok knew without his memories of training they wouldn't know the importance of continuing to claim more.
Norbak entered the Torok's viewing room. "Someone had claimed a territory stone already. This planet will be a fun one to keep an eye on."
Torok "why have you entered my personal space Norbak? I could end your existence with a glance should I wish "
"So touchy Torok always thinking your the best of us. I came to offer a blind bet. I know your faction is the smallest. Yet somehow you believe it to be the best. I know not who your champion is but would like to set forth a challenge." Norbak said with a sneaky grin.
"Always one to play games Norbak. I remember when you were crawling your way up the ladder. You gained most of your Exp off others bravery never your own." Torok replied
"Intelligence is not something to be looked down on. I didn't need to sacrifice like you. A life of constant pain is not the only way to rule. Will you here my challenge, or are you afraid my intellect is more then your might can handle." Norbak said
"I fear nothing. You know this to be true deep in your soul. What is it you bring to the table?" Torok answered
"If my champion takes this planet you must leave the counsel of The Ten. Your an outlier among us. You do nothing to help further the multiverse. You chose a champion only when it suits you. Your small faction means nothing in the face of the odds against us. I should be the leader of The Ten my faction is the largest or all." Norbak said hoping to draw a response from the normally stoic Torok
"I accept your challenge, with only one condition. If my champion should be the first to 100 and claim this planet, you and I will battle to the death. If I win your faction will be divided amongst the rest and a new member will be appointed in your place." Torok said
"Agreed." Norbak said and then as quickly as he entered he left. He believed his plan was falling into place perfectly. Torok couldn't know Norbak knew who his champion was. He would have that fool killed before he was even close to level 100. He would be rid of Torok without having to lift a finger in battle. He always believed it was his place to rule.
Zellia stepped out from the shadows behind the terminal in the rear of Torok's viewing chamber. "So it is as you say. Norbak believes he can gain control of The Ten he will push us to fight the Ascended Ones."
"Yes Zellia, he believes he has the power to challenge, because he has to numbers. Quantity does not make quality. He does not realize I could have ascended decades ago. I have wait to rid us of his schemes, but he has sways Jelen and Huron to his side. He has 6 members who believe in his schemes now. I have something important I must confess Zellia." Torok spoke but the look as face was something Zellia had never seen. There was a gleam in his eyes as if he's been waiting forever to say these words.
" You know I was the first of us to reach level 1000. What you don't know is that my father is an ascended. When I was getting close to level 1000 my father was last of The Ten who had yet to ascend. He waited for me to get close before he told me of The Path to Freedom." Torok spoke in a quite tone
"So we are not the first to rule the multiverse? We are just pawns in the ascended ones plans?" Zellia asked confused. She thought the ascended were being beyond space and time a force trying to destroy the multiverse not beings who had once been a part of it.
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"Champions, The Ten we were not meant to be. The ascended keep the beasts of the void at bay until the true warrior will arise. It was believed that one day a true warrior would rise up in the multiverse. One strong enough to destroy the Void and bring order to the chaos outside the multiverse. I was not arrogant enough to think I would be the one to find him. I started The Ten with the hope one of us would before the ascended could no longer hold back the Void." Torok said
"This new champion, you believe they could be the one? Is this why you have kept there training so secret why we don't know who it is? They will only be level 100 how could they be the one you've been waiting for?" Zellia asked more shocked then confused
"Norbak knows who my champion is. I've let enough be gleaned by him to put the pieces together. With his challenge I have no doubt my champion will be put to the test. A true trail by fire. Something that will ignite his flame of destiny more then any before. When I offer my champion this world I will tell him not that he must join the faction, but that he must train under me personally until I feel he is ready." Torok said still staring straight ahead.
"You're playing a dangerous game we can not appear on a newly integrated world out power is to much it will destroy the world. What if this champion falls? What will happen if the Void wins." Zellia asked
"That's why I'm doing this Zellia the Void is winning. The ascended are not a challenge we are supposed to over come they are the stop gap holding the multiverse together. Every decade we get closer to losing the fight. We have but only 100 years left. If we don't find a way by then, we will all have to ascend and only then we will just be buying more time." Torok finally looked her in her eyes.
"Your saying if this champion is not the one, that if in a only 100 years we will all have to ascend just to take the place of those who have before us. If that is true we have already lost. The time frame is to short, it is not enough time. No one has leveled that fast. You think if you take your champion and train him it will somehow be enough. How can you know all this. How long have you known all this and kept it to yourself?" Zellia was on the verge of breaking down
"My first world is on the edge of the multiverse. The membrane between the void and the multiverse is thin there. My father can send word to me there. It is why I check a new planet for those with the spark of fate and if I find none, I chose no champion and return." Torok kept looking into Zellia's eyes "this time it's different. I've found someone's who's spark is greater then even my own. I believe they are the one. It's taken thousands of years to find them. If they refuse my help to train I have another way to force them to grow strong. It is cruel and a punishment to most but it is something that must be done if we are to save the multiverse itself. Norbak is a fool he believes we grow strong to fight the Ascended, to take their place and rule a realm beyond our own. All he can see is power for the sake of power he does not know the truth."
"Why don't you tell them all? Why are you telling me this now? The Ten could work together we could push back the threats in the Void." Zellia said
"No we cannot we would only do as those before us have done we will be buying time nothing more. I felt my father's power before he ascended it was greater then even my own is now. If they could not do it we cannot." Torok said "This is the multiverses last hope. The system is cruel the balance has always been on a knifes edge. We must finally tip the scales. I tell you this now because if my plan does not work, I must ascended to buy us more time. You will have to see my champion rise to be the bringer of fate to the Void. Can you do this?"
"How can I make sure your champion rises I'm not as strong as you are?" Zellia said
"If he does not except my offer, you will banish him to the Absconda prison dungeon. The time dilation there will see him grow to new heights. It will buy us the time we need and give him the rage he will need to become what he must." Torok said "his fate will be worse then death but his power will be beyond measure. I know you are always caring with your champions, but I need you to do what must be done with mine."
Zellia thought of what Torok was saying to banish a level 100 into Absconda prison was basically a death sentence. The worst and most ruthless of the multiverse were banished there. Only those unfit in the mind who chose chaos over life were sent there. Only one of The Ten could let them out. Zellia knew this was not the way to bring up a champion. This was only the way to see one fall. Yet the look in Torok told her he was speaking the truth. That they truly did not have much time left. That he would have to ascend just to give them a chance. It almost seemed like to much to comprehend. Still Torok was the strongest of them, and if this was his wish she would see it done.
"I will do as you ask Torok. I don't feel as if I have a choice. This is a lot to take in." Zellia said