Chapter 118: Queen_Theory of Rifts

Every major power in the world had their agents located around the sub-boss dominion in the Oriental League. There was little dispute how crucial this dominion was. Getting the Orb of Dominion was one thing, but that could be achieved by killing a local dominion boss. There was another reason why so many ascenders came here.

Killing this boss would grant rewards greater than even the weekly top 1 rank and with this boss gone, they’d be a step closer to get access to the global boss with its myriad of rewards like Level 5 special rifts and rift orbs. Everyone was hungry for gaining an edge over their competitors.

The Solar Council agreed to send the joint military operation to tackle the sub-boss but that was barely a smoke screen. When rewards of such calibre were involved, cooperation was out of question.

The most prominent figure that came to the dominion himself was Siberius Sael, the head of the Sael family and Sael Supreme Holding, the parent holding of many smaller Sael-owned companies, including Sael Elixirs, the direct competitors of Wagner Zimmermann’s potion-selling company (now a branch of Untainted Paradise). Although Sael's poison-focused Talents allowed them to specialise in poisons, with the arrival of the outbreaks, Siberius Sael expanded their portfolio to include all kinds of elixirs.

Siberius and his son Marakus both came to ensure no failures. After Siberius’s granddaughter, Vivena, had created her own dominion instead of delivering the orb to the head of her family as the tradition required, her entire family branch was stripped of executive positions and ostracised. It wouldn’t end there though. Once Siberius was done with this dominion he was going to visit his granddaughter and punish her for the grave insult.

But he didn’t let these thoughts linger in his mind. Preparations to enter the dominion were underway. Siberius would lead a large team consisting of healers, heavy hitters and auxiliaries into the dominion. They were waiting for the scouts to return with their final reports. The initial reconnaissance had revealed many problems awaiting them inside and they had to double check their planned path. They assumed that the boss’ location was in the centre of the dominion as had been the case for all others.

“Father.” Marakus entered the tent. He sounded agitated. “I have news.”

“Our scouts have returned?” Siberius asked, without looking away from the map of this region.

“Not yet but confirmations came that others have entered the dominion.”

This was a premature move. The Solar Council had agreed to not enter before tomorrow. Clearly something had forced their hand.

“Why?”

“BlueSpace has rushed inside.”

Burgard Brenton was a greedy idiot. It had been his idea that the council should wait. Did he think others would not find out? This happened when small minds got lucky. But the mana containers weren’t going to be enough to keep the man in the council.

Or alive.

“Get everyone ready,” Siberius told his son. “We’re moving in.”

Marakus moved to the exit.

“Make sure that our people understand the rules. Everyone inside the dominion, be it a monster or a human, is an enemy and has to be killed.”

“Of course, father.”

***

Since learning about Daiyu Fen’s possible fate, Keynes couldn’t stay still. Torn by conflicting emotions, he meditated hoping to learn how to keep his mind calm and clear as it had been when he’d been affected by that strange personality ailment.

Technique of Meditation helped a lot but he didn’t achieve what he desired. Still he patiently waited for Esopp’s call. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones entering the dominion. The Solar Council and individual parties were having a shot at taking down the sub-boss. Esopp didn’t lie and told Keynes that it all was fuelled by greed. The Orbs of Dominion were worth fortune and on top of that, this dominion was expected to produce even greater rewards.

Yes, these things sounded appealing but the feeling lasted only a fleeting moment before Keynes’s thoughts returned to Daiyu Fen and Tulli. Despite the anger, Keynes wasn’t the same kind of idiot he’d been earlier. Invading Freeman’s lair was a suicide. Worse than that, if others discovered the hiding location of Windsor Freeman, they would be tempted to bomb it into oblivion.

It left Keynes with a few choices. Gaining Level 4 was the utmost priority. It was going to boost his base points to 35 each. Still 12 points short of Freeman if he remained Level 10. Keynes and Alice calculated how much essence he would need to get to Level 11 and figured out that chances of it were very low.

Once Keynes got Level 4 he needed to work on his spiritual stage and aura. His aura control was good but the status of his techniques told him the dire story. If he hadn’t received any new techniques, he didn’t have anything special going. He had much to learn.

Lastly, he needed better items. Esopp had warned him that Freeman had access to the most powerful items and skills from Level 1 and 2 rifts.

Strangely enough, it’d been Alice who stepped in and offered Keynes to create a training plan and a development path. She hadn’t been able to do it earlier because Keynes hadn’t known who he wanted to be but at some point, unconsciously he made up his mind and the option unlocked for her.

Steps outside interrupted Keynes’s meditation. He opened his eyes in time to see Esopp entering his tent.

“Others have entered the dominion.”

“Artefact Exchange?”

“No. They’re waiting for us but everyone else who was stationed around the dominion has.”

Keynes frowned at the relevance of the news. The dominion was enormous. What did it matter if others were inside?

Esopp saw Keynes’s confusion and said, “This sudden rush inside of so many ascenders triggered something and the dominion is going to close itself in one hour.”

“An event inside the dominion?”

Esopp nodded.

Events are always handsomely rewarded by the System, Alice commented.

Somehow, he wasn’t entirely convinced. Maybe it was because of his ridiculously easy access to the hidden rewards that skewed his perception of the value of rewards but more likely it were the thoughts that whispered to him that it was going to be a waste of time. That he could achieve more elsewhere.

I disagree, Alice said after reading his mind. First of all, defeating one of the global sub-bosses is going to give special rewards. I cannot say what these rewards are going to be but I feel like you will like it … a lot.

Intrigued by her words Keynes gave Esopp the green light. Technically, they were equals as far as their company went but the other man showed Keynes a substantial amount of respect.

Fifteen minutes later, a contingent of forty-five people stood in front of a large dome, its surface looked like a colourful soap bubble. Behind them lay the nearly depopulated camp. Only a handful of people would remain here and continue communication with Geneva and Emerald City.

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Shortly before Esopp gave an order to enter the dominion one of Artefact Exchange agents approached him and whispered something. It made Esopp pause, then he beckoned Keynes to his side.

“We’re going to be joined by an unlikely ally.”

Keynes frowned.

A Level 6 blonde woman walked out of the camp and joined the group.

She is a mixed ascender. Half-half. It meant that her first three Levels came from human essence and the other three from rift essence. A quick maths revealed her base stats to be at 37 points each. Assuming she hadn’t maxed out any of her attributes.

Her items feel powerful, Keynes noted.

Because they are. And she is close to reaching the Medium stage. That actually meant a lot. Anyone who had started cultivating their essence and was gaining higher spiritual stages shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Esopp Earl,” she said. “I am surprised to find you here. Wagner assured us it will be Tyr Truman who was going to lead this operation.” She didn’t sound surprised though.

“Tyr’s elsewhere,” Esopp replied.

“Delving Level 4 rifts, I presume,” she said with a smirk. She had the pleasant face of a thirty-year-old woman…

Both Keynes and Esopp went stiff. Had Wagner gone mad and revealed her their plans? She noticed the reaction and added. “Don’t worry. It’s just a guess based on Wagner’s comment at the council. He got everyone quite riled up with it.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Esopp said, waving her words away. “Delving higher level rifts is a part of our business model after all.”

She nodded, then her eyes found Keynes and turned to slits.

“I don’t think we have been introduced.” She extended her hand. “Serrata, CEO of Artefact Exchange.”

“Keynes Kid.” Keynes accepted her hand.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, her face becoming a smooth, smiling mask. Her aura was well-controlled and with Keynes’s average aura reading skill, he didn’t sense anything concerning. “However, I have to admit, the dominion is the last place I was expecting to meet you.”

“We could say the same about you.” Esopp smoothly intercepted the conversation, knowing that Keynes had too little experience to handle it. “Why is the owner of a giant like Artefact Exchange here in person?”

Serrata took a moment to reply. Though they were in a rush, neither Keynes nor Esopp hurried her up. In the end they were rewarded with a big revelation.

“I’m not the owner of Artefact Exchange. I’m merely in charge of the company so there is a bit of room for me to add some extracurricular activities. I guess my reasons for being here mirror yours. We all wish to get stronger, which I believe is the ultimate reward of the dominion.”

I like her, Alice admitted. She seems to understand the System better than most.

Keynes agreed with Alice. Serrata reminded him of Pandora only without Pandora’s roughness. He was intrigued by her now. What kind of a powerset did she possess with that kind of attitude?

They were soon going to learn that as the time to enter the dominion arrived. Esopp gave the order, after explaining to Serrata that he was the one in charge of this operation. Serrata didn’t have an issue staying in the back seat.

You are inside the Dominion of Altera.

The Dominion of Monsters

Local Event

Queen’s Edict

The global sub-boss has established its dominion and its power grows uncontrollably. Kill it before it becomes too powerful!

Mission: Kill the sub-boss.

Bonus Mission: Kill all the sub-boss’ champions by yourself.

Bonus Mission: Destroy the dominion spawning ground before killing the sub-boss.

Bonus Mission: Earn the most points out of the survivors upon killing the sub-boss (leaving the dominion prematurely disqualifies from completing this mission).

Additional rules: For the duration of the event, the dominion is closed for anyone from outside. Leaving the dominion is possible but returning is not.

Gain 1 point for every 6 minutes spent inside the dominion.

Monsters grow stronger with each killed contender.

Monsters grow stronger over time.

Gain additional rewards and points for surviving the event and completing additional missions that may become available during the event.

Additional debuffs have been inflicted on you.

Debuff acquired!