Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Chapter 704 Avar Limm - ECHO-X

Asmodeus, the infamous Lord of the Nine Hells, I wonder if the name has any relations? He sure looks like a devil from our archives. I will go on that theory for now. Best to be cautious in this time of crisis.

"Admiral," Captain Soral said, approaching me, a precarious one he was. A man blinded by his lust for power, there wasn't much this Soral would not do. I had him join my regime aboard the Horizon Zero for that very reason.

"I see you have found the Holocube," He observed, glancing down at the primitive holocube.

"Obviously. Quite a bit of information it has. It took an entire night to find another way to break through the code. It seems the denizens of Noctem never found the hidden code we placed in all Holocubes." I lightly said, intrigued by the one called Arsene.

He was a star-lord, yet the way he dished out orders seemed to counter the natural order of the strong devouring the weak. Has the cultivation world finally overcome its primal instincts of natural selection? Can such a thing be overcome, or would it not simply take another form?

"Well, we did give technology to those primitive animals on Iluthath, alongside most of the other Realm excluding the Hells and Heaven." Soral added, "Shall I take it onboard for further analysis?"

"No."

"No?" Soral repeated, blinking in surprise.

"It's as I said. Problem? Captain?" I calmly ask, turning to face the grizzled expression of Soral, ravaged by war, and time, carrying a cruel gash over the top of his brow that stretched down to his cheek.

Saluting instantly, the Captain shook his head, " No, Admiral!" he said sharply, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes that lingered a little longer than usual.

"How has your analysis of this world been coming along." I calmly probed, staring off through the trees and bushes where a small hidden cavern resided—having long since traced the closest Holocube. I watched the one call Arsene pacing back and forth. He frowned and peered up. Almost as if sensing my gaze, he turned to me. Tall, with a particular gleam similar to Soral, when a glimmer of force blocked my gaze.

Startled by his senses and strange power, my thoughts were interrupted by Soral.

" —A strange miasma has tainted seventy percent of this forest, and we are breathing it right now. Despite our research, we have not found what it does, nor how to stop it from flowing into our pores, mouths, or souls."

"Head back to Horizon Zero, gather a small squad. I am ready to leave now." I said, needlessly annoyed by his ramblings. This information could have been communicated through a message via our communicators. He was wasting time, trying to probe into my affairs, A mistake that would land this officer under the end of my blade.

"Sir," He said, dismissing himself, as my gaze stared at the veil of darkness, unfolding in such a mysterious manner even I found impossible to grasp.

This child had sensed me, a feat never done before. Undoubtedly it must have been a sixth sense. It has to be the only reason he felt my gaze. Then the supposed daughter of the abyss shares the same surname as this one: family or lovers. It has to be one of the two and based on their looks. I will say they are lovers.

Could he have potential influence through this realm?

Heading back to base, which was progressing through the night, I glanced at the twin suns warming the graceful forest, which was rare in our realm. Billions of Nanomechs, tiny microscopic machines working tirelessly through the night, had successfully crafted a half-complete base of operation.

Still incomplete, its beauty was teeming with grace. Metal structures spanning seven kilometers, a forest of skyscrapers and towers, glistering silver under the twin sun's glare, were already coming into view. Listening to the hum of the Nanomechs turning organic matter into metal, I knew it would only be a week till this temporary base would allow the Horizon Zero to land. It was too menacing to keep afloat. If what this Asmodeus said was true, I should be grateful to Lilith for dropping me here where danger was minimal.

"Admiral!" Soral shouted, racing down aboard an ECHO-X Bike that hummed with a buzz. A smile of anticipation touched my lips. He Landed the ECHO beside me, and my fingers trailed over the slick surface of glossy silver. Carrying a neon blue light over its rotor, alongside its narrow frame, trailing up towards the windscreen. My gaze landed on the throttle where a premium black rubber, crafted by me personally, lay. Made just for my hands, I felt nothing but joy staring at my baby.

Soral hopped off the Echo that hovered on its own but was very well capable of riding on the ground if needed. The Captain glanced up at the squad of Seven, all on ECHOs of my design. Racing down from Horizon Zero, they stopped.

"I will head to the village alone. I want the rest of you to begin exploration. Do NOT touch any wildlife you cannot grasp or interfere with indigenous life; flee if you are seen; I do not want to take chances."

"Yes, Sir," They shouted, and I beckoned for them to leave. WHipping past me one by one, I glanced at Soral, "Send out the drones to watch them; more than one eye is best. You are in charge till I return."

Hopping on over the Echo, my left leg stood over the foot peddle, and my hands gripped over the throttle. Allowing my cybernetics to bond me with my machine, information regarding heat, coolants, and most importantly, the Kestis Crystals, refine Keslor Crystals connected into my mind. I only needed to think, and the Echo-X would follow what I allowed. We had found that the brain was too powerful of a tool not to use to the fullest. Creating a technology that would react instantly with the best of minds had made it so that even mortals could respond immediately to speeds near light speed.

"Oh, and Sorel," I said, sending the ambitious captain a long cold stare, "You are not to interfere with the holocubes of Noctem. I have sent over the data regarding its network. Ignore them. If we pick up on other networks, you have my permission to spy."