Shadow of the Abyss

The return to the throne had been something Altair desperately sought. It felt natural. Calming the mind of unwavering convictions.

Presently, in his court stood Athena and Aurora, both locked in a sort of debate.

"No God will simply agree to lose their land even if Altair is the Ruler. To suggest that any sort of property without reason could simply be taken away is inconceivable."

Aurora remained impassive. "Land that isn't beneath the Emperor's Reign is subject to be conquered. We've little time to care about the morality of action. Not when—"

"Aurora," Altair interrupted. "Why are you debating Athena? Thaan is the chancellor."

Aurora lowered her head respectfully. "Forgive his absence. He wanted to review the three-day event we had planned—the coalition party."

'Ah, I see. Athena is trying to change Thanatos' mind through Aurora. Cute.' He thought, 'So that's his intent.'

"Athena," Altair said. "Thanatos is right, but neither are you wrong. So how about you take over diplomacy between the various secular kingdoms on this new world coming into being? I've no interest in waging war, but I will without hesitation. Unlike the previous rulers, I already instructed Genesis to send agents. Ninth circles.

Aurora, what's their ETA?"

"Two days," Athena said. The two looked at her strongly, and she explained, "I can sense everything that occurs in this entire quadrant in space. Based on their speed. Two days."

Altair, while surprised, didn't show it. "Yes. They'll probably use these…agents to broker new deals and so on, especially now that we have a bit of funding from the GCA. Although, I don't like that they're late. We called them months ago."

"We acquired A few Arcane Suits. Giving them to a few shadows could drastically aid us." Aurora said, padding something into her datapad. She looked up, a frown nearly visible. "Oh, and… Syris just sent me an invoice for…"

"Give her whatever she pleases. Have you seen her in person today?" Altair asked, wondering what sort of Authority Syris might have over his Shadows.

"Not yet."

After a moment, Aurora padded away, nodding to herself.

"Ah, and do start giving out salaries. God knows how dull life is without money." God and Shadow chuckled, beginning to discuss the empire's current state for the next hour and a half.

By the time his court was out of session. Altair returned to his study to catch up on all the work he'd missed. Glaring at the paperwork stacked on each side of his desk, nearly half the length of a sword, he nearly cried.

"Screw the Upper Moons for messing with me." He told himself as Aurora laughed behind him.

"I've got to go soon, master, but don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm just a call away."

As Aurora left, Altair eyed the hellish work before digging in. He spent the next eighteen hours there, working tirelessly, skipping lunch and dinner, before calling it a day at midnight. Aurora and Talia returned every hour to deliver him a stack of documents. And any sort of reprieve was well worth the effort.

Altair had changed into a mundane tunic for a night on the town back on Earth. He left, attended by Raven, who sensed his intent. She joined him with an eagerness that left him powerless to refuse. So, he brought Atelia, whom he'd not seen in weeks.

Leaving the Palace beneath a cover of night, they wondered about the city of Zampris to get a grip on how accurate it had become. It was a strange sight to observe men and women with various cyberware attached to their bodies. Some seemed more machine than human. It had all seemed as if their augmentations were more like tattoos than actual machinery based on how they wore them.

Compared to nobles, who kept their bodies intact if they could, commoners did otherwise. Of course, there were benefits. Some allowed others to perceive mana without actually being able to sense it. At the same time, others carried weapons that enabled them to kill those of a higher circle if they managed to surprise them.

The more he saw, the more out of touch he felt with the culture Earth had cultivated over the years. It had all seemed so hidden within the Aros Estate. Even in the military, he didn't see many people with cybernetics.

"Papa… these people are weird," Atelia said, flaring her chubby cheeks. "They look weird."

"I agree… But Humans are weak. There are exceptions, but Cybernetics is a great way to increase one's worth, especially if you've no natural talent." Altair shook his head, lifting the Kitsune onto his back as they toured as much as they could.

As Altair, Raven, and Atelia toured Zampis, they began to perceive a subtle yet distinct change in the air around them. Gradually, the Mana that permeated the environment began to gather and coalesce, almost as if it were taking on a tangible form. It was slowly becoming more and more noticeable as the hours ebbed.

Zampis was a lively and bustling metropolis that never seemed to rest. The streets were always filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, children laughing and playing, and the hum of magic in the air. However, as the Mana grew stronger and more prevalent, an insidious threat began to emerge. Humans were falling ill and dying one by one, unable to withstand the effects of Mana Poisoning.

This affliction was caused by unrefined mana that contained impurities, which entered the bloodstream or meridians and caused harm to those who were unable to assimilate it.

Altair watched it with insidious eyes. The death toll would surely begin to rise, but such things were a necessary step in Earth's development. Humans were descendants of the Titans that were created by the Celestials, in turn, the Highborns, commonly known as High Humans.

He needed them to evolve or perish and be replaced. He couldn't afford weakness, not when there was so much he needed to do.

[Ding]

[Merger of Earth and Gaia has commenced.]

Altair's lips stretched upwards just as the morning rays hit his hemisphere. He took the elevator to the thirtieth floor of one of the most luxurious Hotels in Zampis, Sena, up towards the bar. Inside, he saw a few working women and found a few drunk noblemen who held the credits to purchase a night.

Altair carefully studied the women as they sashayed toward unaccompanied men in a skin-tight dress that hugged every curve. Their alluring beauty was only matched by their companions, each of them moving with an effortless grace that held anyone captivated. He found himself drawn to a luxurious leather chair that offered a breathtaking view of the city, his city, below.

From this vantage point, he could see every detail of the bustling metropolis: the dazzling lights, the towering skyscrapers, and the endless stream of people moving along the streets.

"Master—"

"Call me Altair when we are outside the palace," Altair interrupted, glancing at the stunned Raven. She smiled, nodding quite eagerly.

"Then Altair," she said a little awkwardly. "What are we doing here?"

Just then, one of the working women fell, and tendrils of azure veins rose across her throat. Mana poisoning.

"We are observing." Altair narrowed his eyes, perfectly visualizing the world through his mind's eye with the aid of his Spirit Domain. From the slightest movements to the woman counting the Sols they were given in their hotel room, to those enjoying the taste of a woman's touch, to some awaking from the cool embrace of dreams, he smiled.

"Only the rich or the well-off can afford the luxury of this Five-Star Hotel."

Atelia tilted her young head. "Papa, can I have some ice cream?"

Altair revealed some of his presence, signaling to one of the waiters to order three drinks and some ice cream before sending them off, and continued. "This entire trip was to observe the people. I wanted to know if they're happy or at least capable of sustaining themselves." Revealing that Neuolink was giving information about anyone he watched, he patted Raven's surprised expression.

"What did you think? I just did this for fun. Of course, my data is screwed with my limited interaction, but… Seeing the state of my kingdom with my own eyes rather than through numbers makes everything seem real. Plus…"

And he poked Raven's cheek. "I've never got to hang with my favorite guardian."

"More like your only guardian," Raven said, arching her head, pleased with herself.

Altair snickered when the ice cream and drinks arrived. It was one hell of a combination, but no one bothered to call him out about it—not that they could, as it had taken only a few seconds for many to recognize Altair.

No one moved to greet him as more and more began to fall prey to Mana Poisoning. Convulsing over the ground, foaming at the mouth, as a few staff rushed to deliver medical attention.

Soon, many more began to plummet to their knees, gripped by death's sudden embrace; the blistering streets and the entire city became alert. Screams of panic followed, and sirens resounded across the skyscrapers, alarming many to the changes facing their world.

Altair suspected a thirty percent mortality rate—a lower number than he had originally suspected, but Ava had affirmed that percentage.

Those who could not hold would die; those who could become something more, something that rose to the minimal standard the Emperor had set for them, would rise.

The deafening roar of explosions echoed through the skies as numerous flying cruisers burst into flames through crashes and began falling towards the earth. It was a catastrophic scene that left onlookers feeling helpless and afraid. In an instant, emergency services around the world sprang into action, working tirelessly to manage the situation and prevent further damage.

Your next chapter awaits on empire

The global response was swift and resolute, with authorities ordering the immediate grounding of all non-emergency vehicles to ensure the safety of people on the ground. Meanwhile, civilians still conscious were in shock and disbelief as the once-blue sky grew dark with smoke and ash, and the sound of sirens filled the air.

Altair watched it all, lifting the amber whiskey to his lips, "It's starting… Gaia and Earth are beginning one."