…!!!
Chapter 134 - Home
Words filled with conviction and strength continued to come out of the mouth of the System as the planetary core talked with me for the first time in a while. Much of the topic this time around revolved around the memories that allowed us to see the grander picture all around us, and the different ways to move forward from now.
I still had a few events to finish in the Frozen Kingdom before I began moving to another phase of this adventure. There were two paths for me to take after this, and I was pondering on just which one to take.
"The memories from the hundreds of years old Demon Kings were actually the biggest prize to receive so far, and they're showing two very clear ways to move forward, but I can't decide on the path to choose."
I was weighing the risks and rewards, and maybe I just needed a push from someone else before taking the leap.
[Yes. The two best possibilities are heading to the Demon World, or to the Lost World of Atlantis where powerful demons and other beings are congregating to look for a supreme treasure. Atlantis will be much riskier, as the levels of power are extremely high, but the rewards are that much higher.]
From the memories of the Demon Kings, I knew many of the hidden secrets, especially the recently plundered Orias who had even more spectacular ones. One of the main objectives of the Rulers of the Demon World currently was to obtain the Supreme Treasure in the Lost World of Atlantis, the Trident of Neptune.
This meant many powerful Demon Kings and Demon Lords would be running rampant in that large world, and their power levels were nothing to scoff at. It would be much riskier, but as long as I clashed with the demons and killed them, I would continue to obtain the [Ruler's Medals] from them that gave me direct authority over the Demon World even without having gone there.
As long as I continue collecting these medals, along with the possibility of obtaining something even more spectacular in this large world, Atlantis was the better path to take for now. The Lost World of Atlantis...a dangerous light passed through my eyes as I pondered the time when I would descend in that world and disrupt the plans of demons yet again.
Some time passed as ideas were thrown back and forth, and I asked about how the world I left behind some time ago was doing. Hunters from all over the Blessed Empire and United Federation were doing their best to advance through the ranks by combining their skills.
Kazuhiko and Steel Mikhail had already obtained their first EPIC skill from combination allowing them to lead the world forward in strength once more. Other hunters were closing in as time passed, but there was a slight delay as a few days back, many dungeons the hunters had been diving in became permanently destroyed as the demons stopped providing any more essence to replenish the origins of the beasts in the dungeons.
This caused the slow process across the world where the dungeons that were always shining orange or red gradually became light blue until they exploded. A new set of system to increase the hunter's strength needed to be introduced.
[The hunter's rise in power will only get faster, as I will be instituting dungeons similarly to the ones in the Beast World. I have absorbed enough essence from beasts and demons that you've killed to recreate versions of them into these new dungeons. The beings in the Beast World would also benefit from the same system of skills that you've been used to after the new connection is established successfully.]
There were many things being looked at ahead of time as the planetary core continued to strategize and introduce new ways to bolster the strength of everything it was connected to.
I thought about going back myself just to see some of the faces I had been around briefly when I began this adventure, but shook my head with a smile as I looked forward to moving in the next direction. The most powerful hunters in my homeworld were already at EPIC rank, and I was only touching the bounds of LEGENDARY. We still had a long way to go before we could be considered somewhat strong in this wide universe. I would go back and look at everyone else after I've accomplished something even more spectacular.
The day after all of these events finished spectacularly, having taken down another Demon King and even starting with grander plans that involved multiple worlds. Tomorrow would be another eventful day where the coronation of a certain princess was occurring.
I had already begun leaving my footprint behind in the Frozen Kingdom, and still wanted to see just how far the calculating princess could go in expanding the kingdom. Someone of her caliber wasn't too bad to have at the helm as one of the people leading the masses of people in the future.
My homeworld and the Beast World still needed competent leaders, and acting as the individual to choose them was an exciting role, to say the least.
---
As things continued to occur in the background, the morning of the next day was celebratory as masses of people gathered around the kingdom and especially so around the Snowy Peak, where a grand coronation was taking place.
The coronation came with the news of the retreat of demons, confirming the actions I thought would occur after the true death of yet another Ruler of the Demon World. There were too many things they didn't know, and could not continue to risk the lives of more of their people to an enemy they had no information about. I smiled as I found the success of my plans while I watched the ceremony taking place.
Adelaide chose to stay in the peak she had been occupying, leaving her father to remain on the King's Crown. All she wanted was authority, and now she was receiving it. After this, one can only imagine how rapidly the Frozen Kingdom can develop.
Important figures were standing in a large hall in the manor located in the middle of Snowy Peak as they watched King Roark pass down a symbolic crown on Adelaide's head.
The moment the crown touched her head, a boisterous voice from one of the EPIC commanders rang out.
"RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN!"
"Respects to the Queen!"
WOOOO!
Cheers and exclamations rose out from all beings in the Frozen Kingdom as they watched their old king move to the back and prop up the new Queen. Even with the old king not making it an option for the people, almost everyone unanimously went along with the anointment, as the person being made ruler was the one to rescue them miraculously from a famine, cutting it off before it could even spread.
With power like this, they saw their lands only heading in the right direction thereafter. The nobles and knights found themselves kneeling down towards the new ruler, as a new chapter began for the Frozen Kingdom.
The new Queen looked at her father with thankfulness as she looked at the people below her. Humans and beastmen were kneeling on the ground submitting themselves to her, and yet she didn't feel any exhilaration. There was just one person she wanted to see and enjoy the company of right now, as her intuition was giving her a foreboding feeling.
She had just given her aid in detecting a Demon King and contributing to her downfall, with the continent receiving the news of a retreat soon after that. She was smart and knew there should have been a link to these two rapid events, realizing the Esteemed Sir had most likely done something even more incredible that she had no idea about.
With the retreat of demons, as well as the plans for the expansion of the kingdom with the bountiful explosion of the agricultural sector, she should be feeling great and looking forward into the future.
So then, why was she experiencing a feeling as if she was about to lose something?
Chapter 135 - A king in the shadows
There were still many things to be done, and I was looking forward to something spectacular tomorrow, where I would get the chance to see the next tier of a Spiritual Land.
The [Snow Vines] had fully matured and ripened yesterday, and there was an abundant amount that many of the beasts could consume because of the effects of [Budding Farmer].
The fruits were specially made to raise the ranks of the beasts on the Spiritual Land, and their effects were apparent. Just on the past d
ay when their consumption and absorption began, the [Emperor Penguin] was the first to successfully advance to LEGENDARY after consuming multiple fruits from the [Snow Vines]. His figure became slightly larger and more compact with the advancement, the sleek fur on his body becoming even glossier as the arrogant air returned.
His origin was injured beforehand, and yet he was still the one to advance towards the next rank first. His attitude aside, I was happy about this as the more talented beasts like him appeared, the faster I could upgrade the Spiritual Land after meeting the requirements.
One of the requirements that was about to be met was the advancement of beasts born in the Spiritual Land to become LEGENDARY. Five beasts had to undergo this transformation before the first condition was met. As for the second condition...I smiled as I thought about it and heard movement from the large hall that was boisterous with celebration.
It was now a few hours after the coronation that I watched in the dark while I was veiled. The celebration would continue throughout the night, but the new Queen rose from the throngs of Nobles and stepped out from the hall while being led by an EPIC guard.
Adelaide's own rank should be raised soon enough as I'd already given her access to an abundant amount of EPIC cores, [Sacred Rye] and even the fruits from the [Snow Vine] that were much less effective on beings not born in the Spiritual Land.
The Queen's face had slight delight showing as I heard her voice ring out silently beside my ear.
"Esteemed Sir, if you would please follow me."
The guards were left behind as the Queen entered her grandiose room with the excuse of resting. The Shadow Guards took their hidden positions as the newly instituted EPIC guard stood in front of the closed doors.
My figure flashed into the grandiose room, being met with the sight of the icy queen who seemed to have a complicated expression on her face.
"I feel like I've achieved something, and yet at the same time I'm feeling something else I cannot explain."
She seemed to be thinking about many things as she spoke, her gaze landing on my calm figure and becoming even troubled. She seemed to have made up her mind as she moved with a brave face and...kneeled down towards me.
"I can't shake this feeling, but there is still something that I can do."
I was about to tell her to rise up for what seemed like the third or fourth time as she had done this before, when her next actions threw me a curveball. Her white hands reached behind her and unclasped the grandiose white dress she wore. It slid down her body as she looked up at me with conviction in her eyes.
"My King."
---
In the Spiritual Land, A powerful [Emperor Penguin] with his beak raised high was overseeing the advancement of his brothers.
The long [White Mamba] was coiling around itself as its body pulsed a white light, its breakthrough imminent after absorbing so many of the blue gold fruits from the [Snow Vines].
These fruits were multiple times better to these beasts born in this Spiritual Land than even cores of the next level. Normally, they would be extremely rare for them to obtain, as close to 8 months were needed before they matured and ripened. Even when they did, their output was extremely low. Yet, [Budding Farmer] had thrown all of this logic down the drain.
There was an abundance of the fruits now growing and glistening blue and gold all over Frozen Plateau Spiritual Land, where the EPIC beasts had their pick with the permission of their master, and even the Leaders that were rank S received their own share. The sleek penguin observed this unbelievable growth that should have never been possible, even with all the possibilities of the Spiritual Land.
He looked at the [White Mamba], [Winged Spider], and many other beasts that were trying their best to put their experience to use and breakthrough to the next rank after absorbing treasures specifically catered to them.
Maybe his master wasn't too bad after all?
---
A scene that would shock many was playing itself out in a grand room where barriers preventing peering eyes were erected.
A young woman was laying her head on the chest of a man and tracing the protruding lines from the chest to the abdominal muscles as her crystal eyes seemed clouded.
"You're not staying, are you?"
Instinctively, Adelaide had seemed to understand what the foreboding feeling she continued to have was. Everything seemed to be on the right track, with the invaders retreating and their kingdom headed for extreme growth and expansion.
Yet, when thinking about the man whose hands made all of this possible, where did he fit in all of this right now? Would he stay, enjoy, and revel on the rewards of the things he had accomplished?
Adelaide had been around him for many days these past few weeks, and somewhat understood his mindset, even if it was just a bit. The man in question heard the words as his eyes stared into the ceiling, not knowing exactly what to say.
"I'll still come by. There are just too many things to be done, and even those that retreated from the fight right now did just that, only a retreat. The threat still exists."
There was a period of silence as the girl just continued to trace the lines of muscle.
"You could always just stay. Relax and kickback. Watch as the thing you've just begun creating bloom into something beautiful. I haven't even given you the Empire I promised, much less the world."
Noah gave a mysterious smile at these words as he replied,
"I'm relaxing now, and that's enough for me. I'll see if I can relax like this every now and then when I find the time."
The night was long, with many people spending it thinking about the future while not fully living in the present.
---
Early morning of the next day, something magical was happening in the skies of the Frozen Kingdom. In the middle of the four peaks floating in the sky, a fifth one had appeared!
Those knowledgeable would be able to recognize this peak as the Skypeak Nest that had disappeared mysteriously some time ago, while others just watched in shock at the appearance of it.
It seemed to be glowing in shades of white and blue as boundless essence began congregating in the skies.
In the center of the Spiritual Land, Noah was looking at the fifth beast that was successfully promoted to the LEGENDARY tiers by consuming and absorbing the inordinate amount of fruits from the [Snow Vines]. The process had only taken the span of a few days, but they achieved the stupendous results of the rise of 5 LEGENDARY powerhouses.
This number was shocking, as there were still 10 other EPIC beasts on the Frozen Plateau Spiritual Land that had consumed the same treasures and might have the talent to break through soon enough, not to mention the rank S Leaders that were trying their best to achieve the same result.
If you took into account the strength of someone like Demon King Gremory who was ranked 56 among the rulers of the Demon World, and held the power equivalent to three LEGENDARY beings with his unique skill, you would become even more astounded by the treasure that was the Spiritual Land.
It could give rise to powerhouses like this, but it was normally never as explosive. The unfair skill that was [Budding Farmer] made it possible for this event that defied the norms and created 5 LEGENDARY beings in a few days.
Yes, these were the beasts that had the top talent in their level and just needed the stimulus and energy to breakthrough. Yes, maybe there won't be others as talented that would rise as fast as they did. But, that was still the genuine advancement of five LEGENDARY beasts, it would still give a shock at the speed in which it was achieved.
Beside the suave [Emperor Penguin] and deadly [White Mamba], the [Winged Spider], [Snow Leopard], and a winged [Golden Eagle] that was among the EPIC beasts to not participate in the Trial of Supremacy, all stood proudly as they looked around the Spiritual Land that seemed to be trembling in excitement.
The first requirement in order to upgrade to the next tier of the Spiritual Land was now met, 5 beasts born from the land itself had risen to
the LEGENDARY rank. Now came the second requirement.
This requirement was one that evaded many beasts and caused their Spiritual Lands to be stuck at the second level for many years. It was a requirement dependent on the master of the Spiritual Land, as it was not only the beasts born in it that should be strong, but also its master.
Simply, the second requirement needed the owner of the Spiritual Land to be powerful enough and have a large reserve of mana that many in the LEGENDARY stage struggled to have in order to catalyze the transformation of the next tier.
A light laugh escaped Noah's mouth as he couldn't help but raise his hands into the air and watch the explosion of essence around him. The figure of Sophia could be seen standing serenely by his side as she watched the show in fascination.
Noah looked around him excitedly as he waited to see what surprises this unique treasure of the Beast World would provide for him in the future. It gave him an unscratchable itch of wanting to look for even more unique treasures across the many worlds out there.
He thought of his tremendously risky destination that was The Lost World of Atlantis where he would go to next. It was a world where many powerhouses from multiple origins descended in as they all looked for this Large World's supreme treasure, the Trident of Neptune.
From the memories of the two Demon Kings he had plundered, the one that stood atop all the demons in the Demon World was also in this world searching and bolstering his forces.
At the thought of an oppressively powerful being that was his enemy, Noah's heart palpitated in excitement, many thoughts and ideas passing through his mind as he watched the birth of a third-tier Spiritual Land, and the new functions it would unlock.
Chapter 136 - Tier 3 Spiritual Land
The congregation of essence in the skies of the Frozen Kingdom was palpitating as the old king and many others looked at the appearance of this large floating landmass with caution.
Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse c1-705 Page 58