Darius had a sad smile as he looked around at his posh living quarters. As he walked into the main foyer, he saw a table set up for enhance pill creation. He checked the void compartment built into the table and saw that there was a void pocket with space the size of a warehouse, filled with the highest-level ingredients. He was sure he could mass produce many purple enhance pills with the amount of ingredients, as well as rainbow pills. He slid his finger along the surface of the table as he walked into the connecting kitchen.
Here, he even found a rad-lantern on the azurite kitchen table counter. This was the newest technology, which infused radiation into food. Eating such radiation infused food allowed someone to develop an irradiated core quicker, if they were in the Genji-tier.
As Darius approached the kitchen counter, sets of holographic videos emerged floating above the counter. Each was a recipe to create the optimal radiation-infused foods for maximal growth of the irradiated core. Darius waved his hand in the air and the holograms disappeared. He continued walking toward his azurite refrigerator.
When Darius opened his fridge, he saw radiation infused produce and foods arrayed on the shelves inside. Along the inside of the fridge door, he saw vials of a blue liquid, which were the newest creations of the Lavaris faction. They were the latest attempt to create a substance to allow the imbiber temporary immunity to mind control techniques. It was the result of the Council's initiative to create a safeguard against the zombie king. Though the vials did not give permanent resistance, it was tested against genji with mind influence powers. It was found to be effective, but it was yet to be tested against mind control powers.
Darius closed the fridge door without any expression on his face. He then moved on from the kitchen to the living room. As he walked in, a pale green light was emitted from lighting fixtures all around the room. Such light gave passive improvements to powers and strength over time. It was minimal improvement, but it was definitely better than none.
He walked over to the sofas arrayed around a central pillar like structure. Upon his approach, holographic feeds appeared around the pillar like structure. A variety of channels popped up with miniaturized tabs showcasing previews of what was on the channel. Darius selected a random news feed and tapped on it with his finger. A reporter was shown on the screen and she said,
"Millionaire Dantos admitted to the crime of creating an illegal slush fund for the Lenaris faction to further their political agendas on the Council. He has relinquished control over 90% of his assets in return for his release. We have with us a clip of an interview conducted an hour earlier with councilwoman Aleria. Please watch."
The feed changed to a clip of a reporter interviewing Aleria. Aleria was a beautiful woman with pale blue hair and she had a frosty look on her face.
"What are your thoughts on the claims made by the Lavaris faction regarding Dantos?" asked the reporter.
"This is simply outrageous as Dantos never created that fund! He was never given due process and was forced to hand over his assets under duress! It is a blatant robbery and I will demand an explanation from the Lavaris faction!" yelled out an angry Aleria.
It looked like Alders had taken off the gloves and the factional infighting was getting out into the open. Darius sighed as he switched channels by swiping left. Another news channel appeared and a reporter was shown wearing protective gear and standing on the infamous wall. The reporter pointed to a stockpile of mines arrayed all along a platform behind him as he said,
"Take a look behind me at the excess mines that haven't been used. This is just one section of the wall and there are other platforms overfilled with mines. A strange phenomenon has been occurring where barely any zombies or monsters are walking into the minefields. The defenders have been celebrating instead of manning their posts and a few have been jailed for drinking while defending. Word is also going around that the zombie king may have fallen."
Darius looked over toward a transparent wall of glass separating the inside from the outside. The glass was made from high end material known as gradius glass. It was pressurized repeatedly from azurite and was made transparent by someone's ability. It was tested and it withstood up to 3 to 4 blows from the juggernaut. The glass took the place of two entire sections of the living room, to allow for a panoramic view of the lower district, as well as parts of the upper district.
The apartment was part of a tower and Darius was pretty high up. Night had settled in, and he was able to look clear across the city towards where the wall was. Indeed, there were none of the usual lights that flashed into existence before disappearing, indicating exploding mines.
Darius turned back to the hologram, but didn't continue watching and swiped once more. On the new hologram that appeared, a sexy blonde woman who was barely dressed was lounging on a bed. Her ample breasts were bare and she wore a bikini that barely covered her lower body, hinting at a seductive outline of her lower lips. On the top of the screen were the words Penta girl Brittney. The woman noticed Darius and said in a sensual voice,
"Hello, Darius. I can be at your door in minutes to fulfill your wildest fantasies. Do you prefer blowjobs? Or want to fuck me from behind? Hmm, I think you might be a boob lover. How about I oil these tits up so you can ride in between them? If you want all three, that is also on the table. I can stay the entire night and you can have your way with me. Whatever you desire, as long as the price is right, I will fulfill your every request."
Darius became thoughtful and then said, "Yes, come visit me. I wish to complete a…transaction with you."
Before Brittney could reply, a shadowy figure walked out of a shadow created by the couch and said, "Darius will be busy tonight and will not be needing your services. Goodnight."
The shadow then turned off the holographic pillar and then formed into the figure of Gerris as he turned to Darius.
"Darius, did you really think I would let you have someone visit you so you could send out a message? Although, if you really did need to release some frustrations, I can have a girl come visit you. Unfortunately, Penta girls are affiliated with the Lenaris faction, so there is no way you will have a visit from them. Looks like I have to remove that channel from your feed." said Gerris.
"Gerris, why are you doing this? Breitgaard faction must remain neutral to maintain the balance on the Council. If we join your side, chaos and destruction will be the only result." said Darius.
"That is the point. I want to weaken the Council so that I can institute a monarchy. After the council proves their incompetency to the public, I will declare myself as Bastion's first king. I have already selected a queen to rule by my side, as well as a first concubine. My future generations will be strong beyond measure and I will sweep aside all opposition to my dream. Join me, and you will have a place among my advisors in the future royal court." said Gerris.
"Gerris! You have become mad and drunk with power! Please open your eyes and stop this madness. Remember the times we spent on the walls of Trebz. We defended each other's backs at that time. For old time's sake, consider this request from your friend!" cried out Darius.
"Let me remind you Darius, the only reason you are not in chains in a dungeon is because you once saved my life during the fall of Trebz. You were not there when I saw my lover and my family torn apart. If I had power back then, do you think that would have happened? I despise the person I was back then. He was weak and pathetic, only able to cry for his loss. That is no longer me. I have killed off compassion and kindness, for those things are worth less than drivel. From now on, I will just take what I want, to prove that power is all that matters! I will await your cooperation…until then you shall remain here in your quarters. Don't disappoint me…friend." said Gerris, as he faded into the walls.
Darius fell onto his knees in despair. He realized that Gerris was no longer the person that he used to know. He took one more look around the opulence of his quarters, and he couldn't help but despise everything around him.
This place was no different than a prison.