B5 | Chapter 57
Alexia
“We’ve dealt with those rumors about you,” Astrid says with a smile while standing in front of the council table where the rest of the council is seated. Surprising me in the process. “While there are still people who are afraid of you, most people don’t assume you’re some crazy person going around killing everyone she sees anymore.”
I blink at that as her words sink in.
Wait, people thought I was a crazy person going around killing everyone I saw?
Why?
I knew people were utterly terrified of me, but that’s why? That’s rather unpleasant.
More importantly…
“You cleared the rumors?” I ask, apparently with my surprise showing on my face judging by her own face.
“Yes,” Astrid says, her smile growing both wider and wryer. “I could tell they were bothering you.”
I feel slightly awkward and embarrassed, especially when I see the other members of the council behind her all looking at me in a completely different manner than they ever have before. Like they’re understanding me for the first time or something.
And seeing them act like this… honestly makes me feel embarrassed enough that some warmth spreads through my cheeks, as I think I blush while turning away from them.
It didn’t bother me… that much…
I shake my head at the thought before asking, “How is The Retreat doing?”
They all look surprised at the fact that I care enough to ask. Especially Astrid, who literally walks up to me and puts her hand on my forehead before frowning.
“You don’t seem sick…” Astrid mutters, making me feel rather insulted in the process.
I roll my eyes before looking back at Alara, following which she answers my question. We all then talk about everything that’s happened in The Retreat over the past months.
And I learn that quite a few things I never knew about happened in this time.
A conflict with a neighboring Dimensional Block that ended in the other block going after The Retreat economically for a while before giving up after failing miserably. A trade partnership with several other Dimensional Blocks, including but not limited to our father’s Block and the Ancestral Dragon’s Block. And the formation of some sort of Ascendant Gathering where all of the Ascendants gather yearly.
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Although that last thing isn’t quite as important anymore. Not after I wiped out a fourth of the Ascendants across the Dimensional Blocks.
There were around ninety-something Ascendants in the Dimensional Blocks. But now, after my conflict wiped out twenty-four of them, that number has dropped significantly.
So their latest meeting has been a lot quieter apparently.
Speaking of Ascendants, The Retreat has several Ascendants as well. A total of five.
Which is a lot for one nation.
I still think they should change their name from The Retreat at this point though. But that’s a different matter.
After talking about important matters, the others begin sharing other details about The Retreat. Like how the nation has expanded to have hundreds of different cities, with at least one major city per Dimensional Block that’s a part of Dimensional Block #108.
And there are quite a few Dimensional Blocks that are now a part of Dimensional Block #108.
With most of them joining Dimensional Block #108 because of me. Thanks to my killing of numerous Dimensional Champions over the years.
Just my latest little killing spree of those Ascendants alone added nearly two dozen Dimensional Blocks to Dimensional Block #108.
So The Retreat is already busy preparing to send parties to settle new cities in each of the territories of these Dimensional Blocks. Once again significantly expanding the overall territory of The Retreat.
And, thanks to me, no one ever rejects The Retreat when they go to settle in new territory. Since it makes them feel like they’re also under my protection. Or at least that they have some sort of connection to me, no matter how minor of a connection it is.
The Retreat really has grown to be one of, if not the most powerful, force in the entire Dimensional Grid.
Which, again, makes its name ironic.
Putting that aside though, I’m glad they’ve grown so much. And Alara herself is starting to approach Ascendant Tier. Which is rather surprising.
She’s had a rather large surge in power recently.
And she’s not the only one. The other council members are all a lot stronger now too than the last time I saw them.
As for Astrid?
She’s already Ascendant Tier. She made it to Ascendant Tier before me.
Albeit not long before me.
I can’t help but smile after seeing how much The Retreat has grown. Afterwards we chat for a little longer with me having a casual conversation for the first time in ages. One where I just chat with and hear some of the council members joke around.
Which wouldn’t have been possible before, considering how nervous and afraid of me they used to be.
Things really have changed.
And I can’t help but notice Astrid looking very happy as she watches and occasionally joins in.
Eventually the conversation returns to official business again though. With the topic turning to the business with the System glitching. Specifically when one of the council members tries to open their status and finds it still glitchy.
So I go ahead and explain what’s happening. Or what I know of what’s happening, at least.
Telling them about how the Universe’s Will is currently being attacked and may very well be destroyed.
While also mentioning that I don’t actually know what’s going on exactly.
All I know is that the Corrupted One is most likely attacking the Universe’s Will, and that the Quantum Architect is out of contact right now.
But mere moments after I finish explaining everything, the very reality around us suddenly has a minor crack appearing. With a loud cracking sound echoing along with it.
Then another crack appears, and another.
All the way until everything shatters and the very universe around us looks slightly paler for some reason.
Before I can say anything, a System Notification appears in my vision, along with the visions of every person here.