475 An Imperial Checkup

I sighed.

"Ok, I deserve a bit of heat for that, but my point still stands."

I gazed at the runic sculpture with a smile.

"I'm taking another step towards my endgame."

"To face the Old Ones?"

My smile turned fierce.

"No. To kill them."

Chapter Begin

After we discussed a few more theories, Amara's nose dripped more blood. She wiped the red stream from her face.

"I will need rest after experiencing that resonance. It carries whispers into my head, and...They're hard to ignore."

I leaned over her.

"Do you think you need to be checked out by a mentalist?"

Amara took a breath.

"No, I shall be fine. The voices were loud enough to overwhelm my senses and render me unconscious. Now, they merely whimper at the edges of my mind like stricken hounds."

She trembled. I winced.

"That sounds like a pleasant lie. I can help. If I'm not welcome too, we can find someone who is."

She snarled.

"I'm not letting anyone enter my mind again. I will lick my wounds and be better for it."

I frowned.

"Some wounds need a healer or we die."

She massaged her temples.

"Then I will die."

I shook my head.

"To save the eldritch, you must survive. Dying for your pride proves it's stronger than your desire for change."

Her head twitched.

"That...Fine. I will see one of the Eltari's shamans. They understand corruption, and they may offer a solution. As I am healed, I will try to devise better uses of the ciphers and fractals, perhaps some that suit your armor far better than some abstruse creation."

Relief washed over me before I nodded at her.

"Good. We've both gained a lot from this, so you deserve any rest you take."

She stumbled over to the guardian golem and rested. It was worse than I feared, but the golem caught her in a gentle hold. Amara's jaw slackened, and veins along her temple pulsed. No matter how I sliced it, Amara was affected by this cube more than she let on. Still, she accepted help from someone, and I only hoped she'd get the respite she needed.

Turning back to the object, I gazed at the interlocking patterns, and it carried a deep, ominous energy within. It would be our salvation or pave our way to hell. Interrupting my thoughts, the guardian golem walked closer. It held Amara like a baby and cradled her back and forth.

The golem spoke aloud.

"I do wish I could do more for her. She does seem to enjoy lamb as a dish. I'll have a shipment of it sent out to the city so that she can enjoy a few of her favorite meals. Ooh, we'll need sage, rosemary, and copper for that."

I blinked.

"Copper?"

The guardian golem let out a laugh.

"It's the most important ingredient. She says it makes the meal taste more like blood. She's just adorable like that."

I blinked away my concern. It was something that always surprised me about the guardian golems - their warmth. They carried a welcoming aura that placated people's unease, even monsters. It made it all too easy to forget their apocalyptic abilities. They'd be perfect for defending a school or playground, and those possibilities tumbled in my head before I received another update from my guild.

I read a series of messages, finding that three weeks had passed since Amara and I started this project. It was nothing compared to my enormous hiatus, but it wasn't too short, either. Time magic stretched our actual, experienced time to around a month and a half, which was quite the study session for just about anybody.

After taking a deep breath, I considered my options. I wanted to clear the rest of Rebirth, but my other imperial holdings beckoned for my assistance. While nothing major had happened, many local leaders called in city construction, and that meant a bit of tedious building for several weeks or months.

Once I finished this last bit of fine-tuning, Earth wouldn't need an update for a while, but Blegara and the moon surely would. Taking a deep breath, I made the responsible decision and hauled ass back to the guild. Stepping out of the warp drive, I walked out onto Springfield as a metal titan. Citizens gasped from the streets and windows above.

Windows above? I didn't worry about their responses as I inspected a growing metropolis that loomed around me. Skyscrapers and other large buildings stretched far into the sky. Like silent titans, they gazed down from above, a few even taller than presystem buildings. From afar, a humming ushered from glowing enchantments along the corners and edges of the buildings' reinforcements.

A few held icons of the guild, imagery mirroring the wealthier sections of the city. There were symbols for each follower of my guild. Each incorporated our magic, like umbral flames encompassing Hod. His emblem was that of duality, one half immersed in shadow and the other in light, but both gazed at a starry sky.

Altheas showed her beauty as she aimed a rifle, but it also captured her brutality as one of her arms had transformed into a muscular, clawed limb.

Those icons dotted the capital in different places. My icon was an image of me standing over Yawm, Lehesion, and even Valgus. I faced a mechanized construct that represented Schema. My fist was raised up in defiance.

I smiled at it, thanking whichever artist took their time with its design. As I observed the city, so too did the city observe me. I gave my guildmates a quick wave before I flew up and out of there. After all, I'd long given up on being treated as anything other than the guild leader unless I hid myself.

It was an expected outcome, though I never enjoyed the slack-jawed staring. It made me into a force of nature or alien rather than a human, and I felt that enough these days. It didn't help that the crowds grew to thousands below me. There were so, so very many people. As I darted into the sky, I found more skyscrapers stretching out into the distance and, well, scraping the sky.

By now, Mt. Verner had grown into a sprawling metro that served a large portion of my Empire's needs. It received trade from multiple planets, and taxes rolled in by the hundreds of millions of credits. I hovered over the expanse and observed everything. To avoid too much scrutiny, I shifted into the shape of a guardian golem.

Those golems still protected this area, and they were a familiar sight to my guildmates. While I searched to and fro, I read my many updates, and I found a world changed by wealth. It turned out that the albony took their reconnaissance seriously. They began an aggressive payment plan for the rest of their expansion into Luna, their chosen name for the moon.

It was in honor of our world's Roman Empire, and to my surprise, they loved its history, culture, and aesthetic. Florence kept me up to date on all the trends, and I scrolled through images of albony wearing wreaths, reinforced togas, and polished bronze to accentuate their attire. Even before their annexation into my empire, their architecture already echoed a Roman-inspired look.

They built fountains, sculptures, and Greek pillars of marble on any residence they owned. It made their spaces stick out like sore thumbs. I wondered for a while before catching up with Joshua. His bar stayed still, a silent reminder of the city's beginnings. Surrounding it, gentrified businesses drove property values sky high. After putting on my stealth cloak, I paced in.

The barkeeper handled six customers even at midday. At the sight of me, Joshua smiled before excusing himself from his customers. We sat down at one of the booths before he slid down two glasses of minted pine soda. He gave me a grin.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

I grinned back.

"It has. How have you been?"

Joshua peered outside.

"I've been well. How could I not be? Even if all I did was keep this place, I'd still have made a fortune from the property value alone."

I leaned forward.

"That sounds lucrative, but you don't seem too happy about it."

"I've definitely made more money than I ever imagined I could. But, hm...How do I say this? It's like I'm sitting on a pile of credits, and it's telling me to cash in."

"Why not? You can always buy another bar."

"Well, that's the thing, son. I keep asking myself what would all that money get me? Anything I'd buy would be bought to get back what I already have."

I took a sip from the pine soda. It was as refreshing as mountain wind.

"And what's that?"

"Happiness. They say money can't buy happiness, and they're right. It sure as hell gets you started, though. Well, I've got plenty of money. That aura you left on your way out really helped my business kick off. It's still lingering here, as intense as a horse kick to the chest, I tell yah."

I smirked.

"Someone had to get this place off the ground. Your three regulars still aren't back."

Joshua peered at his glass, the liquid reflecting a gaze full of memories.

"Those freeloaders never bought anything anyway. The bars been smoother lately."

I sighed.

"And a lot quieter too, right?"

Joshua shook his head.

"Real quiet. I can hear myself think sometimes, and I don't like what comes out of there. Still, it's good to see another freeloader after all this time. Speaking of, you mind telling me where that little lady friend of yours went?"

I leaned back.

"She's in Seattle. She's creating another educational branch for the guild."

Joshua nodded.

"She's out there making the world worth living. Well, I'll be. I wish we'd met when you first brought her."

I peered off, a bit sheepish.

"She kind of warped in out of nowhere."

Joshua crossed his arms.

"Ah, ashamed of your barkeep, I see?"

I leaned my head back.

"What, no."

Joshua went to answer before I continued.

"I'm ashamed that I brought an undue surprise to your doorstep. I know I stopped by earlier to catch up, but I never apologized for that. I kind of tiptoed around it."

He took a sip of the pine soda.

"I'm just glad you kept the city safe."

I shook my head.

"We were attacked. I'm surprised people aren't more terrified."

"It's the opposite. It made them even more secure."

I gawked at him. Joshua swirled the ice by spinning his glass,

"Living in Springfield is like living in a dream. The city provides a security you can't really understand coming from the outside. Once you're here, it's hard as hell to go back. Still, people remember the monsters and dark times."

He raised the glass, looking at me through it.

"That's why seeing them come back and be swatted down made us all the more certain we would be alright."

I scoffed.

"I guess people were waiting for a loaded gun to blow?"

"Bingo, and when it did, we didn't feel a thing."

He smiled, a glint in his eyes.

"And, hm...I'll just go right out and say it. You did good, son. Real good."

For a moment, Joshua reminded me of a father I never had. I peered down at my drink, a wave of catharsis coming over me.

"Thank you. For the drink, that is."

Joshua gave me a knowing look.

"Anytime."

We caught up after that, and we ended up talking a piece of the day away. After night faded, I packed up and headed out. I wanted to offer more, but Joshua told me to bring friends next time. I promised I would. After having lunch with a friend, I planned a dinner with another, my most knowledgeable, in fact.

Florence. The guy scooped out his schedule and forced reservations at a restaurant he frequented. I found the spot amongst one of Springfield's many high rises. I arrived at a glass overhang, one designed for people who could levitate and land here. It was a test of sorts as it required a certain level of proficiency to land here and not crack the glass below.

Exercising said mastery, I walked onto the overhang and waited. Moments later, Florence walked out in full Roman attire, though he wore baggy pants under his toga. A laurel wreath rested atop his head, and he brushed his fur around it. A set of belts locked everything in place, and immaculate bronze accents finished the look.

Florence was a beacon of Roman style as he walked up with outstretched arms. We embraced, and after a quick hold, he kept his hands on my shoulders.

"It's so good to see you. Even from a cursory glance at your level, you haven't been idle from the looks of it."

I waved my hand.

"I got these levels before I dove into research."

Florence lowered his hands and put them on his hips.

"While I knew you were a man of many talents, I never thought I'd hear the day you'd become one of your empire's lead researchers. And yet here we are, are we not?"

I smirked.

"Look who's talking? You're wearing fashion from an empire that fell two thousand years ago and from my world, no less. Life's full of surprises."

Florence took a step back and flourished a hand.

"And looking good in it, might I add?"

I rolled my eyes. His sharpened as did his smile.

"Ah, doubtful, are we? Let's test."

He winked at a passing businesswoman who blushed. I scoffed.

"Come on, let's get lunch before you cancel because of an unexpected opportunity."

He raised his brow.

"You never know when luck will strike, so I do try to be ready for it. That's how I had this opening for dinner. Speaking off-"

He stepped through a window-facing outlook that held an immaculate view of Springfield. We stepped further inside, the floor of glass supporting us with thin struts of metal and tiny gravitational enchantments. It showed a solid level of control and detail, something our mages had developed while I was away.

Over the lights of a burgeoning city, a host sat us down, handed us menus, and let us speak. Before walking off, he offered a silencing enchantment if we needed privacy. Florence took the offer, and a bubble of magic encompassed us. I poked at it.

"I can't believe how much the city has changed while I was away. This kind of progress is faster than I ever imagined it could be."

Florence laughed.

"You've been putting the pieces in place for years to make all of this happen. If anything, it's amazing how little progress was made here before you left."

"What sparked the sudden expansion?"

Florence held up a clawed hand.

"It's a mixture of factors, but there are actually quite a few that are relatively obvious. Firstly, I'll mention our contributions. You remember those emperors you saved from L-7?"

I nodded. Florence shook his hand.

"As was expected of me, those imperial contacts have borne fruit. It wasn't easy either. You'd be amazed at how difficult it is to create relationships with individuals who believe we're only a backwater, backward world on the edges of Schema-owned space."

I furrowed my brow.

"I lack perspective. Is that how other factions still perceive us after all we've done?"

"Hm, I believe so. To most, we are militarily powerful but economically stagnant. We're viewed as the opposite of the albony Empire in that regard. That's what made the trade agreements so arduous. Anytime I attempted to establish a relationship, they only wanted to meet you."

I leaned back.

"I'm guessing it's not for my dashing good looks?"

"Actually, no, if you can believe it. To my astonishment, there are not as many steel titans looking for partners as you'd first think. However, I met more than my fair share of generals who would bed you if it meant getting you on their battlefield."

"Yeah. No thanks. I've had more than my fair share of being a proxy for other people's wars."

Florence looked at me for a moment before it clicked. He snapped his fingers.

"Ah, like with Elysium and Schema? Ooh, or the albony and Elysium as well?"

"Exactly. It's exhausting, and somehow I never end up ahead after fighting the actual battles. It's from my own independent efforts afterwards. Anyways, go ahead."

"To elaborate and enlighten you further, these empires think that you're a progenitor of your world and some kind of leveling freak. In some ways, that's true, but it's far from the only truth this little empire of ours holds."

He dragged his claw in a circle on the glass table.

"Your golems and constant assimilation of different species have turned your planet into a haven for cultures, skills, and products. Every planet has begun turning a tidy profit at this point, aside from Earth, actually. For instance, Blegara has established a massive tourism sector. The skeptiles' spirits and a gialgathen island initiative spurred that to action."

I took a breath. That was good to hear. Florence crossed his arms.

"Albony rates for spirits are doubled, though that makes a lot of sense given historical context. C'est la vie. Luna's doing quite well for itself with the income from our financial services. We even retained a few clients from our old empire due to solid business practices."

My eyes widened.

"And our empire's abilities are holding up even in the context of older regimes?"

Florence leaned back in his chair.

"Unlike most places in the wider universe, you have acquired the skillsets of many cultures and races while fostering each of their developments. This gives your empire a technical intricacy that even older empires oftentimes lack."

Florence steepled his hands.

"I sold that element of expertise to those rulers, along with a few obvious cash cow industries. For example, crystallized mana was one of the easiest businesses to start. I began a company under your guild that organized and sold the mana to the many empires you saved on L-7."

I let out a laugh.

"Did you name it Harbinger Heating? Maybe Cataclysm Currents?"

Florence crossed his legs.

"Ooh, I actually quite like that last one. Cataclysm Currents. You know what? We'll go with that since the Golem Energy Reserve doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Anyway, here's how it works. The mana your golems produce isn't quite as good as your mana, but it's serviceable. They craft generate enormous amounts of energy all on their own."

Florence raised a hand.

"They can also generate a few raw resources, which can also act as a stipend for materially dependent planets. We sell those in mass for a tidy profit. In the meantime, I helped the skeptiles develop their spirit industry. It's a huge hit with worlds that need the terraforming boon. These businesses help elevate nearby worlds that have been recently systemized."

I gawked at him.

"That's amazing. How are we getting in contact with these people?"

Florence smiled.

"The sanctioned invasion events by Schema."

I closed my eyes, swallowed a wellspring of derision, and I sighed.

"Oh yeah. What a grand idea. Have empires invade each other without cause. Truly an idea only for geniuses of the highest order."

Florence scoffed.

"We haven't found all of the invasions, but we've crushed the ones we've found. Most of the insurrections have members between the levels of six and seven thousand. It's nothing we can't handle, given our guild's militarily focused hyper-acceleration. I've taken full advantage of the situation by forming further trade deals, alliances, and embassies. We're even helping to prevent nearby worlds from becoming classified as fringe."

He smiled at me.

"I figured you'd wish to spread the goodwill, given your track record."

I gawked at him. As if waiting for my surprise, Florence sat up with a hand raised.

"But that's not all. I helped the Vagni establish a thriving tourism industry and aquatic goods wholesale. They employ traditional tactics to raise pearls, corals, and other rare commodities that are hard to come by in the wider cosmos. The leylines and whatnot help them create rare and expensive artifacts of the same nature as well."

Florence leaned forward, a pleased grin on his face.

"I helped the luminari expand their territory and solar panel businesses, I assisted the educational faculties here on Mt. Verner so that we'd gain students from other empires, and I even reestablished many of the financial service industries that the albony thrive in."

After a knock on our magical barrier, our waiter stepped up and handed us coffees and a platter covered in pastries. Florence thanked him before the waiter bowed to me.

The waiter pressed his hands together.

"I spoke with the owner of the establishment, and she personally wanted to thank you both for all that you've done for us here. These are free, and please ask for anything else you need. Sorry to interrupt you both."

He walked off, and we acted nonchalant. Once he exited the privacy sphere, Florence and I high-fived.

Florence beamed as he said, "Did you hear that?"

"Hell yeah, I did. Free pastries. Woo."

Florence took a deep breath.

"It feels so good to be getting a gesture of gratitude rather than a bow from forced subservience. Ah, it's a good life."

I leaned back in my chair, one arm draped over the back.

"You know, you've changed a lot since we first met."

Florence stuffed his face and spoke with a full mouth.

"How'f tho?"

I peered at the sprawling metropolis below us.

"There was a time when your family considered you lazy. After hearing all of this, it sounds like you've forgone sleep in service of my guild."

Florence swallowed.

"I am lazy, and they were never wrong about that."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Nothing you've said sounds like something someone lazy would do."

Florence leaned back and waved a hand.

"Are you kidding me? I'm simply handling the lowest-hanging fruit of your guild one by one. I would never have managed all of this under normal circumstances."

I leaned towards him, and my curiosity piqued.

"Then what is driving you this hard?"

Florence met my eye, disbelief splattered across his face.

"Must you ask?"

I answered with silence. He grinned.

"Because we're helping people."