The Systemic Lands

Chapter XXXIX – Day (1,139) – The Power Of Flesh

Chapter XXXIX – Day (1,139) – The Power Of Flesh

“Divine Majesty, I have come to present the culmination of my research,” my Master Fleshcrafter said as I sat on my throne. He had been working hard and his results were impressive, but it appeared he finally made a breakthrough.

“My thanks to the Divine Majesty’s Envoy for securing the notes from the United City States. They were quite helpful in working out some key issues,” he said.

“If your research is promising, he will be allocated another 1,000 stats,” I calmly said.

“Oh, it is your Divine Majesty. So, we managed to create an energy battery of sorts, using people. The main issue was converting that energy so others could use it and then the weakness of resonance. Well, your investment paid off.”

“A person can invest their flesh, into a grown construct. Using the flesh of others as a support scaffolding, one can create batteries where the energy is compatible. Since it is their own flesh. But the issue of resonance comes into play. I created a switch.”

“Only when the person wants to, can they draw on the energy that is stored. Otherwise, the energy is offset. Watch, Light Orb, Light Orb, Light Orb, Light Orb.” Four balls of white light hung in the air. I knew of this skill and the constant energy drain needed to maintain it.

“With but a thought, and turning this device,” the Master Fleshcrafter explained as he held up a complex looking instrument. It reminded me of the various rods that the Heavens liked people to use. But it appeared to be made of bone and muscle, wrapped in metal circles.

He twisted the circles and the various symbols on them aligned. The entire rod began to glow a deep red and let out a soft hum. “Now I have access to the stored energy. My Spirit and Regeneration are no longer the limiting factors.”

“The flesh, what risk does it pose?” I asked.

“None. Unless the device is activated. I am working to make it smaller, more compact, but it works. The real risk is a resonance-based attack. A person would be incredibly vulnerable while using such a device,” he explained.

“And what of the link?” I asked.

“Through the lower layers. The interference and the amount of energy there, make it much safer than the upper layers. The range is theoretically infinite, but the further away, there are diminishing returns,” my Master Fleshcrafter explained.

“And resonance based attacks, would they work at the source?” I asked.

“Ah, very insightful your Divine Majesty. They wouldn’t. Or well, they would be limited. Since the connection is where resonance takes place to transmit the energy. But it isn’t adjusted until the very last step. So everything else is just a rechargeable battery. Building up and then funneling energy when it is called for.”

“But this core would be vulnerable?” I asked.

“Technically yes. But once built, no access would be required. So, it could be safely tucked away somewhere. Then the person would control when they drew on the energy themselves. For someone of your stature, Divine Majesty, we would need to invest quite a bit in constructing a very large battery.”

“How easy would it be to maintain?” I asked.

“Ah, now that is the trick. It would self-maintain. That is what is really amazing about some of these UCS devices. There would be some technical things to work out of course, and the raw materials. The consciousness would need to be kept intact so things would not reset, but it would be a massive work. A mega-project to transform an entire city into a living battery.”

“The amount transferred? There has to be a safety limit?” I asked, now quite intrigued by this development.

“The main limitation would be the connection and the person’s spirit. If the battery were too large, it would be like having an incorrect voltage. But get it right, a person’s energy would instantly recover. Or at least over a period of fifteen seconds. Enough to engage in a fight at full intensity and to be ready for the next one,” my Master Fleshcrafter explained.

“Very well, you will have your funding and my approval. I will be quite interested in seeing the finished product.”

“Ah, I don’t mean to be impudent your Divine Majesty, but I would need your-“

“You overstep Master Fleshcrafter. Prepare everything and then come to consult me. I will handle everything myself. There will be no mistakes or else,” I said.

“Ah, yes of course, your Divine Majesty.”

“Resonance, could it be used for other things, like sharing knowledge or possession?” I asked.

“It is possible, but energy would conflict. I considered the possibility, but it just wouldn’t work. Since people develop their own energy after leaving the womb.” I smiled slightly at this. My hunch was right.

“Look into using children from their mother’s wombs. My reach is far to shallow, and more practitioners of the Dragon’s Talon would be quite useful.”

“We would need to get the women separated and pregnant,” my Master Fleshcrafter said.

“It is simple. My workers need entertainment. Just ensure the women become pregnant. Work it out with the Castellan, it isn’t that much to figure out. Must I do everything myself?” I was annoyed at his lack of imagination and understanding.

“No! My apologies your Divine Majesty. I will speak with your Castellan and make the arrangements and start research immediately.”

“Good. My reach is far too short. And your research will correct that, now go,” I waved him away and he quickly kow-towed before scurrying off.

The skirmishes on the boarder were heating up and the UCS was already being pushed back to one of their cities. Their weapons and creations were helping to hold the line, but their people were weak. The Astrologer and his harem were still hanging back.

My Envoy wasn’t sure why he hadn’t come to the front, but I would not be the first to move. My strength was growing faster than his. Time was on my side. Even the rebels had grown quiet. I should have started this war much earlier. It was clear they were just proxies of the UCS.

All the more reason to end its existence. If I could create proxies, and with the unlimited energy, nothing would stop me. I could rule everything myself. No more useless people. No more failures. There would only be me. One Divine Empress under the Heavens, eternal and all powerful.

I got up from my throne and made my way to my vault. I had been away for far too long. I looked over the crystals piled up in chest after chest. Millions upon millions of points from all the people slaving away under my rule. Their only purpose was to get these crystals or die.

There were a lot of deaths. The attrition was horrible. But there were some people who would mindlessly obey. To grind and grind. The slightly better treatment for my soldiers and the bit of authority they had, was enough to pacify them and make them obey. For if they disobeyed, they would be cast down into a slave worker or sent to the Master Fleshcrafter.

Already I heard whispers on the streets of his experiments and horrors. I smiled at that. I had learned well from the government that had condemned me to reeducation. I had been reeducated, in their methods quite thoroughly.

Above my soldiers were the Lords. People of standing who had managed to be competent in some way. They managed my cities and were responsible for handling the rebels and crystal flow in their territory. I had killed many. Others were assassinated or killed by rebels. But slowly, a group had formed.

Paranoid of everything, but paranoid of me most of all. Just as I preferred. If they wanted to live in luxury and comfort, then they needed to keep order. Their grasping and greedy natures, were perfect for keeping people in line. They would rather whip ten people to death, then let one guilty person go free. Exactly how I wanted things.

Collective punishments and public torture were the norm. When the arrivals happened, at least twenty-five of every group were flayed and skinned to death in front of the others. Anyone screaming or crying, had their tongues removed.

Above my Lords, were my named followers. My previous Envoy. Who was my spy and will in my absence. My Castellan, barely competent, but he knew his place and kept the Lords in line. Now my Master Fleshcrafter was elevated to my inner council, a named follower.

The Lord General, in charge of my military forces was another. But he was often away attending to the war front with the UCS. My Inquisitor, a lesser Envoy, rooting out those who stood against me and inspecting the populace for any troublemakers. And my Chief Diviner.

Already he was providing invaluable information to my Lord General at the warfront. Long range energy sensing was as much an art as it was a skill. But the research we had stolen from the UCS had made it possible. The sensory tanks were quite brilliant.

Hmm, it was time to increase my stats. No need to let these crystals sit any longer. The vault was getting quite full.