Master of Time

Chapter 162: Deluxe Breakfast at Maccas

And I do mean childlike mind, for Zephyr does not always act like a child.

She can be very matured but only when she wants to be.

That much is obvious from my own observation of her.

"What do you mean that Zephyr is 10 right now, Zeus?"

I question curiously when I return my attention to the only other adult in the car. I am really thankful to be able to hold a meaningful conversation with Zeus.

In fact, I am thankful for having Zeus here. If he is not, I would feel like a freaking babysitter for Zephyr, and I suppose that my initial assumption of the relationship between Zeus and Zephyr is incorrect.

Well, it is not entirely incorrect, just not with any sexual implications.

Speaking of babysitter, I should really get a fulltime one for Antigone. My daughter desperately needs one since I am pretty much all over the world in a single day.

I just can't take Antigone along with me on my adventure beyond this reality, at least until she is more older.

Wait. Is that even possible, considering Antigone is the Avatar of Time like Adria?

Adria couldn't leave her reality because she is part of that reality for a reason.

It really makes me think.

Zeus looks thoughtful for a moment, trying to put his own thoughts into words, no doubt.

I allow him to do so while the car begins to be on the move again.

I am actually holding up the traffic behind, but I pay very little attention to the angry people shouting and honking at me. If they want a fight, I am sure I will be more than a challenge for them.

"It is a long story, but since you like pop culture so much, Max, I will use it to explain to you as quickly as possible. Just think of Zephyr as Haku from Naruto. It is exactly the same."

I nearly throw up.

Zeus smiles in amusement, seemingly confirming something from my reaction.

Is he checking if I am an anime fan?

I am, but he could have asked about it.

But I guess he is also an anime fan, considering he had watched or read enough Naruto to know Haku, a girl, who is really not a girl.

Haku is a trap!

And this is a trap!

"Not that part, Max, since you should have seen it already. I mean to say the same background story as Haku. Zephyr here accidently kills her parents when her power first manifested. In fact, she freezes everyone in her village, so to cope with the trauma of her own actions, her mind fractures itself."

Zeus corrects.

I ignore the part of Zeus accusing me of being a perv.

The mind fracturing part actually makes sense, considering what I have known of Zephyr.

And the promise that I have given her in exchange for her subordination makes sense as well, not that it didn't make sense before.

To think that I had thought I had it worst when my power first manifested.

Honestly, a thousand nukes straight to the face seem somewhat insignificant in comparison to having to endure the trauma of killing everyone who you ever loved.

In an instant, everything and everyone that you have ever known is gone.

No wonder her mind is fractured.

It is a mechanism to cope with the tragic loss, especially when she has never wanted her power in the first place.

Her power chooses her as its wielder in the first place, unlike Zeus with his power.

But if her mind is split, it does make her less of an effective asset. She is still more effective than most people under my command, however.

To be honest, I actually want to use Zephyr to get to Zeus in the first place, as he seems to care quite a bit for his teammates.

That is still true even now despite what they both are, a temporal clone of their original selves.

"So, you are telling me that Zephyr has multiple personalities?"

I question while wondering to myself how many personalities Zephyr has.

From what I have seen thus far, I certain that she has three, but that didn't mean she couldn't really have more. How many more though?

"You could say that, Max. She is in control of them, and she can switch between them when needed, but most of the time, her childlike nature is in control. Just think of Split. That 2016 movie about a guy with multiple personalities, including one with superpower. You have seen it, haven't you?"

Zeus points out.

And I smile faintly at that.

Of course, I have seen the said movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It is actually one of those better movies that Mr. Shyamalan produces, even though I don't really want to be reminded of him.

He literally shoves a sexual innuendo in his movie in the form of a cock-hair.

How bizarre is that!?

In any case, I am not worry about how Mr. Shyamalan fucks up The Last Airbender as I will make sure that franchise get the proper live-action on the big screen it deserves.

I am more worry about Zeus since every single response he gives me seems to have a hidden agenda, and it is not always one hidden agenda either.

Zeus is also using this part of the conversation to try and figure out which year or maybe era I am from.

Zeus obviously knows that I am not from this timeline. It isn't that difficult to see, considering all those technologies that I have used.

As that is the case, should I or should I not come out with my own background story already?

Since I am building trust at the moment, I suppose that revealing my background story couldn't really hurt my standing in his mind, especially when he seems to be more than interested in what motivates me to do all the things that I do.

I am sure Zeus isn't the only one.

And telling him my background story actually improves my standing in his mind, especially when it is in combination with the importance of teammates in his mind.

Besides, Zeus is not in awe of my advance technology. He seems to find technology rather redundant in contrasts to the powers that he wielded.

This is the difference between me and Zeus, for I honestly believe that science has its own greatness, and I should use whatever advantageous at my disposal.

Didn't I blast him into atoms with the might of an exploding stars?

That should at least give him a better opinion of technology.

It probably did, all things considered.

"If you're curious about where I am from, Zeus, I am from the 31st century. I have returned to the past to change the future of the human race. I want to make sure that mankind doesn't kill themselves out of some stupid reasons."

Zeus chuckles in amusement.

"Humanity will always destroy themselves, Max. It is by their very nature that they are destructive and so much more. But I do not think that you are that selfless. If you are, this world should have changed greatly already."

Zeus points out.

It is my turn to laugh.

"Yes, it would, Zeus, but I have learned that the foundation is only strong with just one brick at a time, and you are right. I am not that selfless in my desire. I want to reap all that benefit in the distant future, where technology is so advance that traversing the infinite universe is merely an afterthought."

I make my intention clear to Zeus.

There is really no need to hide what motivates me to help humanity reaches its true potential.

If humans prosper, I benefit greatly.

"Interesting. If only they allow you to do so, Max. Do you truly know why there are no super advance civilization out there? It is not because they always destroy each other in the end, although that is the very likely scenario, considering all life are innately head towards their own destruction."

Zeus hints something.

I narrow my eyes slightly.

Who are they that Zeus is referring to?

"I don't need to tell you about them, Max, as you will find out why technologically advance civilization do not exist eventually yourself, at least outside fictional reality like Stargate. Seeing is believing after all."

Zeus leaves it at that, and I am curious to what he is implying.

Is there some sort of threats that is scouring the multiverse and destroying any civilizations, human or otherwise, that is highly technological?

That seems like the only reason, and it is a logical reason.

"You seem to know a lot of pop culture, Zeus."

I decide to change the topic since Zeus didn't want to talk about the looming threat.

And from his very expression, I am certain he has run into the threat before, and I can safely assume, he wouldn't want to run into them again.

They are that much of a threat, huh?

"Of course, Max. I have a lot of free time on my hands, now more than ever unless you know of a place on this world, where there is a lot of spiritual energy. A Spiritual Nexus would be great."

Zeus responses, and without me asking what a Spiritual Nexus actually is, he tells me.

A Spiritual Nexus is a spot where the barrier between the spiritual world and the physical world is very weak, thus causing spiritual energy to seep through, making it seems like it is haunted.

"And what if I know of a place where spiritual energy exists?"

I question out of curiosity.

Well. I did have the intention of dumping Zeus and Zephyr at a place similar.

I just might learn a thing or two from them at the haunted house I have recently brought, but I suppose if Zeus is looking for one himself, it works too.

"Depends on what you want, Max. Do you want the coordinates to those fictional realities? They are by no mean fictional even if I am labeling them that. It is more or less to differentiate from this reality in scale of things."

Zeus offers.

"I think that is a good exchange, but I lack the mean to make use of those coordinates like you guys."

I point out.

Having those coordinates would be great since there is so much technology that I can steal off those realities, fictional or not, but those coordinates mean squat if I don't have the mean to use them.

Zeus nods and looks thoughtfully.

"Alright, I will give you an artefact that will help you accomplish pretty much the same thing, but after we have something to eat."

Zeus finally said.

I suppose that is good enough, as long as it accomplishes the same thing I want.

And as I drive us to the closest McDonald, I continue to fish for more information from Zeus as well as Zephyr. The latter is more than happy to give whatever I want since she will have her Happy Meal.

I did learn about the scale of things that Zeus had mentioned earlier.

Realities aren't on the same scale in term of existence. Prime-reality is higher scale than say the reality of Star Wars because that reality exists because of the prime-reality.

In other word, people of this reality are creating a lower-tier reality through their own imagination.

I also learn that prime-reality is not that high on the scale, and that frightens me.

Is this reality a figment of someone's imagination!?

Zeus seems to think so, but he is not worried one way or another.

He exists with his own freewill and goal, and that is good enough for him in the grand scheme of things.

I suppose I shouldn't worry too much about it either and just enjoy a late breakfast like Zephyr.

She is super cheerful when she has what she wanted, especially when I have paid for her. She actually has money on her, billions of dollars, but those notes are from a decade into the future.

I don't want counterfeit bills floating around in the economy.

Zeus is still ordering alongside with me.

"There isn't much options available currently in this era, but I guess it will do."

Zeus mumbles before paying attention to the cashier, who isn't older than Elizabeth. Her name is June.

It is on her name tag, as a welcome to being basically a slave of a giant fast-food chain. It isn't like that a bad thing since doing these kinds of job does teach teenagers a valuable lesson.

It certainly gives taught me a valuable lesson: work hard or you will be flipping burgers for the rest of your life.

Now I secretly own the several giant fast-food chains.

"I will have a set of everything on the menu."

Zeus orders, making the counter girl puzzled.

The absurd order didn't come as a shock to me since Zeus did mention about liking the taste, meaning that he doesn't need to eat at all.

And that isn't because he is a God or anything.

Eating actual foods is a terrible way to sustain an accelerated metabolism. It is the same reason I only eat for enjoyment now. I get most of my energy from popping energy pills.

"I don't understand. You want a set of everything?"

June asks for confirmation.

"Yes. Make it two sets of everything. And he's paying. Thanks, Max."

Zeus assures while pointing at me.

He then left the counter to join Zephyr at the table, who is enjoying her chicken nuggets and whatever toys she gets with her happy meals. Plural. She has multiple happy meals.

"Is your friend okay?"

June asks me while I ponder to myself how will I pay for all of this junk foods.

I obviously don't have enough cash in my pocket, but I could make enough cash in an instant.

That would be injecting counterfeit into the economy, which I don't want to. It will just mess up things in a lot of ways even if the United States Government will be unable to oust my counterfeit bills.

I guess I will be using credit card then. I do have unlimited funds via Chrono Reserves. Well, that is not true. As long as I keep it under a billion dollar per purchase, it will be fine.

"Yes. He's fine. He is just a Saiyan. And I will have whatever he is having."