The Systemic Lands

Chapter XXXVII – Day (1,565) – The United City States

Chapter XXXVII – Day (1,565) – The United City States

I looked at the man before me as he gave a deep bow. “Greetings your majesty-“

“Insolent dog! That is Divine Empress you stand in front of,” my Envoy said as I sat on my throne overlooking the proceedings with distain.

Our respective clearing groups were at the boarder between our nations. There were conflicts and disagreements about the boarder. I was tempted to act personally, but the United City States had several cities under their banner, and I suspected a few people with divinity.

I was entertaining an envoy from their nation. “My apologies Divine Empress. I am Ambassador Charles Kennedy. I was hoping we could open a dialogue regarding the boarders between our nations-“

“Are you the strongest?” I asked calmly while observing the man.

“I have some strength Divine Empress, but I am nowhere near the strongest.”

“Then why are you speaking to me? Your people requested this meeting. Now you waste my time. Remove his arms and legs. Make sure he surrives. Then send him back safely and in comfort. When they are ready to have a proper discussion then I will be waiting. Otherwise, stay on your side of the boarder. No exceptions, no excuses. Anyone crossing, well, I will come visit personally to complain.”

The Ambassador tried to object but he was quickly subdued and taken away screaming. I tapped my fingers against my obsidian throne contemplating my next course of action. I had several cities left to subdue. The South was vexing me. Like rats running about.

“Your Divine Majesty, an audience is requested.” I waved my hand and an older man stepped forward. He was wearing a tight fitting dark red robe. He kow-towed before my throne and remained there in silence. At least he knew his manners.

“Rise and speak your petition,” I said. He rose up and got to his feet.

“Your Divine Majesty, I have come before you to request funding and imperial patronage for my research. Specifically, the research into energy and its properties in relation to the physical. The United City States pursue the math of machines, but I feel the path of flesh is much stronger.”

“How so? I have seen their innovations. They are quite clever. Yet my Empire remains lacking,” I questioned this man. If he was angling to be my chief researcher and take away some of my crystals, then he would have to present something truly impressive.

“The fact that energy is bound to the flesh. This is represented in the Spirit stat. Energy exists out phase in various layers. The lower layers are more chaotic, but allow me to demonstrate something with a skill.” I nodded. If he dared to try anything he would die horribly. The man cut off a finger with a knife. He tossed it into the air and made a hand sign with his remaining hand.

“Astral Projection.” A copy of the man formed around the thrown finger. I was aware of the skill. “Imbue Force.” The projection then disappeared and reappeared a short distance away before popping. A burnt and crumbling finger fell to the floor of my throne room.

“A weak trick, but the flesh contains the sense of self to survive a transition through the layers. My forcing my energy into the finger, I am able to maintain the construct despite going out of range and through a layer.”

“Could a person survive that?” I asked.

“No. At least not currently. My tests in that direction appear to futile. What I am interested in, is the fact that physical body contains energy and that energy is here in this layer. Not another layer being accessed. A lot of skills pull from other energy layers. But the flesh. The person, is present here.”

“I want to explore this possibility and the scope of regeneration. My hope is to build a battery of sorts to contain energy. Imagine a deeper well one could draw from and passively gather energy from. A counter to the mechanical contraptions that the United City States is developing. And more secure.”

“What about resonance? The link between energy. I have read about that,” I asked. The books of the previous ruler had been most enlightening. Leaving one’s energy scattered about was a big risk.

“Ah, that is part of the issue I need to look into and investigate. But it will take time, funding, equipment, and test subjects to craft the flesh I need.” I looked over to my Envoy.

“Your thoughts?” I asked.

“It has potential, but like everything else testing and results are needed. The weakness of summons and resonance are too great to ignore,” my Envoy said and I nodded at this.

We were falling behind in research. My constant purges and forced taxes were limiting research and development. For this man to come before me, was an oppuprtunity I could not afford to squander. “Very well, submit your request to my Envoy. I will want to see results. How long will you require?” I asked.

“At least a year. Most likely two your Divine Majesty. I know it is a long time period and I will be happy to provide updates, but I plan to create something stable and realized. Not a half baked invention.”

I considered the request on his timeframe for a minute. “Very well. You will submit to a report every three months. I expect results within two years. If not, then you will repay every resource of mine you have used tenfold,” I decreed.

“Thank you your Divine Majesty,” the man kowtowed and was quickly escorted away. That was all the drama for the day. It was time to go back to grinding and possibly another pass through that cursed city to kill people to relieve my frustrations at their antics. A constant thorn in my side.

Even with my knowledge and the Mandate of Heaven, running an Empire was tiring. “Envoy, see to the Ambassador and make sure my message is conveyed properly. I don’t want a war, but feel free to rile them up a bit. Cursed Yankees,” I commanded.

“Yes, your Majesty.” He left and I was by myself on my throne. I let out a soft sigh. There were headaches, but the constant stream of crystals flowing towards me was sizable. I already had seven and a half cities under my control. Curse the South. It was probably the skinning alive of the new arrivals that caused rebellion, but they deserved it.

No one would be spared. Still, a few had escaped as rebels and were quite good at hiding. I had no doubt that the cursed UCS was funding them. The couple of assassination attempts had been futile. My Lords were managing things well enough, and if not, I would have their successor skin and wear them. Wearing their flesh as a cloak was a good reminder to not disappoint me, ever.

Too many people were disappointments or thought they could be clever. Now only the loyal remained, even if they were dim. My Envoy was the smartest of them all. And perhaps this new researcher if he proved useful.

It was time to go grinding again and disappear for a while. Then come back and kill everyone who had thoughts. Especially my Lords running my cities. It kept people on their toes to be out of sight and then suddenly show up. That way they stayed orderly like the dogs they were.

I patted my outfit. It had taken quite a few crystals to craft, but it was worthwhile. The Raiment of the Divine Empress that had reflection type properties at level 5 with 5 stacked enchantments. It never got dirty, so I always looked impressive.

I found it was important to have a sense of style and image. That way people would know their Divine Empress stood before them and there would be no confusion. I stood up from my throne and slowly made my way to my personal apartments. I entered and swept the room. No traps, but I could never be too careful.

I sat down at my dining table and rang a small bell. I would have a nice meal before leaving. A visit to the South and then some more monster hunting. The level 4 monsters were always so entertaining with their tricks and traps. I couldn’t wait to test myself against the next one I came across.