The King was enroute to the escort point with Jay by his side and Phoenix making preparations with zero to no contact with Roy Williams or Mcelroy . The tracking device Roy takes with him everywhere has gone silent and the last location was in the middle of the forest.
So a tracking party has been put together and sent into the wilderness . While the King instructs Jay on his predictions .
At first the King and Jay were sitting silently in their seats. To break the awkward silence the King finally spoke.
King :
The Gods will try everything to start a divine war . We must not give them any reason . Once they even find a sliver of reason then there is war .
Jay was very nervous . As he was already infamous for his conducts. So he had to be on his best behaviour today.
King :
Relax , just be yourself .
Kay's eyes peeled into his cold eyes .
Jay :
Aren't you afraid of the war .
King :
I have been for centuries. But not today . Every unit of mana consumed will lessen the load on the mana eradicator .
Jay :
What is this mana eradicator exactly .
King :
Just as its name . It expends mana at an astronomical rate.
And if the gods don't have mana to spend they will be just humans .
Jay ;
What about humans .
King :
Don't you think this is the first question I must have pondered ?
Humans themselves generate mana by consuming their own lifeforce . This becoming old and dying. So even if the mana is gone the humans will be able to use mana .
But not you . You don't belong to this world . You don't create mana .
There is a chance you will be rendered completely powerless .
Jay looks at a small fire he created within his palms.
Jay :
Once someone asked me , why do I take up my sword for .Some do it to dominate, some to protect , some to provide justice . I asked myself the same.
And I had my answer already beforehand . I take up my sword to leave this world. And once I do I will never take the weapon in my hand .
King :
That's quite a weak conviction . But atleast you're realistic .
I've seen many take up dreams and give up on them soon after .
Jay :
Living a millenium doesn't it get tiring.
King :
It does . But it's hectic so it doesn't get boring that often .
There must have been countless times I have built the city from the ground up . And I love science, I've studied and made contribution to every field. So in my free time I do what I love.
Jay :
So how close are you to cracking the secrets of the world .
King :
Ever since you told us the purpose of this world . I haven't been able to give it my all . A thought always comes into my mind.
"If the world is fake , then is this really necessary " .
Even now the King is thinking that is the war really necessary. But he already knew the answer which lied in an analogy . If we are going to die one day . Then why do we live .
But there's something In his mind that has kept him going for a millenium . An obsession for science. As long as science hadn't stalled he kept going. And now with the rise of the Abyss . Every scientific is booming more than ever .
Physics , chemistry, biology everyone is itching to get the essence of the Abyss in their hands.
Jay :
Let's say if we win this war , what then ?
King :
Let's talk the rest
King :
Even if we win the war , unless we make it in time for the MEP plan . It will be all for naught. After this plan I haven't thought much . I take a long deserved vacation. And name someone my successor someday. Finally free to cling to my obsessions all day long .
Jay :
When I first met you , you were ferocious and serious looking.
King :
At that time I wanted to find out , if you're friend or foe.
King left Jay on hanging .
Jay :
What about now
King :
Well i dont see you beheaded by Roy.
Jay :
When I was in the past . I saw two of the heads , so where were you during that time .
King :
I was a inventor , i used to create new artifacts , and study old ones unearthed . And I loved what I used to do then . I didn't used to roam outside much .
Jay :
So from an artificer to a leader for a straight millenium .
King :
Before you stumbled onto these lands , how was your life .
Beyond this figment of an existence.
Jay :
For myself , I was a college student going for my master's .
In{ $+$($!_!# } , working the entire day for my own upkeep .
At night talking with my parents. Searching for more jobs then going to sleep.
King :
Comparing both of your lives which one is better .
Jay :
In my old life i atleast was safe . Here every moment something can happen . I enjoy the thrill of this life .
What an odd feeling .
King :
These are the previous moments in your life cherish them well .
Jay:
I heard you have a time machine here .
King cut him off here .
King :
I think we've been over this conversation.
And then there was silence for a while . Jay stared at the view outside and so did King. The vehicle was very fast it felt like it was zooming through the lands at an incredible speed . It didn't even required any roads . This the natural environment could be preserved.
They were driving through the foundation protected areas . This fauna could repopulate safely . And not be in danger of being eaten by the apex predators or the creatures of the Abyss .
Jay :
What's your relation with the gods .
King :
During the war , we were allies . With bonds forged against a great enemy . Once they fell . There was an era of peace .
Where everyone was content. But eventually our relations broke down . And we grew apart over the years .
Our goals were always different.
Jay :
And what are we going up against .
King :
All the battles you've fought were just your stepping stone for this moment. You will be going against not just angels .
But bibical abominations like the four thrones and the archangels. But even above them there are the regional gods , the apostle of the gods and finally the gods themselves .
Jay :
Regional gods won't be able to leave their territory ,right ?
King :
The gods are no fools they will try to reassign their territory to wherever the war may be . But they can only do so , one at a time.
Jay :
Can't we do the same.
King :
Who said we wouldn't. Giving them and edge would just crush our chances even further.
And then there was again a wave of silence in the vehicle until it finally reached the bordering region where the tensions were high . The angels had kept their bows aimed towards the soldiers as well as the soldiers had their guns aimed towards the angels.
The humans engaged in trash talking . And the angels had to hold their bows in their hands . For this was not a good reason to start a war.
It just shows you have no tolerance .
There were the apostles of gods waiting for them . The apostle of Chaos. The blackened one ,Apostle of Kindness and Compassion , Apostle of Steam . The sanctuary keeper . The Jury . The soul harvester .
These apostles while maintaining a human stature were more than human . Their forms were different .
The celestial wargod Arkos had four astral arms with different weapons .
The blackened one has such dark skin that only her eyes
are white but only just the cornea . Even so she wears a black gown which blends into her . On the gown there are white spots which represent the night sky with different constellation belonging solely to the lands . She wears gold earrings and gold bangles as an attempt on distinguishing herself . She keeps her black hair tied up
The apostle of steam was a person who belonged to an steampunk era. Where everything worked on cogs ,crude and steam to power everything . A steampunker . A gentleman belonging in the 18th century . Pioneer of the steam engine in this world .
The apostle of kindness and compassion resembled the God of Love . Bearing pink and green hair her beauty matches the goddess of Love herself .
The sanctuary keeper is the apostle of Goddess of Peace .
She is also known as the Guardian of Peace . Unlike the God her mind is quite stable . And she often handles the tantrums of the goddess . Just like Arkos an astral tree levitates behind her back . It resembles the mother tree quite a bit .
The jury is the apostle of the the God of Order . Just like the jury his mission is to help the judge take his ultimate.
He plays two more roles depending on the situation . The Lawyer and when the courtroom is in peril . The Guard .
The soul harvester is a apostle of the God of Death . He just like the God of Death collects the souls of those who have recently departed from the mortal coil. He has a massively tanky and mechanical body just like a diving suit. On his belly there is a window made of glass where the souls of the departed could be seen. Roaming inside the body .
And his head is also a blazing skull which shines blue .while being contained inside a diving suit.
These apostles might be different but they have one single thing in common . All of the apostles are Otherworlders . Just like Jay.
Compassion :
I hope your journey has been a very comfortable one , dear guest .Please climb the chariot and let us proceed to the heavens.
Jay and the Thunder King climbed the gold embroided chariot and the Pegasi tied to the chariot flee to the heavens.