The Projections of the Emperor were played around the world, his presence once again shook the population to its knees. Like they were Phantoms with the Emperor's will, Espers ran amok on the Earth. The Internet had collapsed, power around the world had been disrupted and communications were almost non-existent.
The Emperor's image was visible from almost all points on Earth, his face was solemn and spanned the skies. "People of Earth, Treasure this memory, today, I take the Earth into the Heavens."
There were only a few Steeles remaining, the ring was nearly complete. Zao pressed his shoulder again, activating a communication stone. "Qu. I'm ready when you are."
Qu's core, which had been powering the City, was not nearly powerful enough to power the formation but he was able to interface with it and control every Steele. "Thirty seconds, your Grace." There was another spirit guiding the inner operations of the Formation, splintered into more than a million parts.
The Espers who were futzing around Earth were a capable bunch, the Empire had plans beyond plans readied for the next step.
Vivid tracts of Violet and Silver light filled the Formation belt. A great noise sounded, it was like a horn to those on Earth and a piercing wail in space.
The Steeles were revolving in opposite directions.
Lightning traveled between the two rings, millimeters apart. The grinding noise from the occasional collision sent waves of noise into the void.
The Emperor had channeled his power, disappearing from the projections and reappearing on the Moon. He put on his space suit and walked outside of the shield. Then, he put his hand on that first Steele that stood outside of the City's main gate. Bright silver light flashed from his hand, it took a moment to fill the formation with its glow. The silver streaks grew in intensity and wormed across the formation rings.
Another bright flash covered all of the Earth and Moon. Everything, including the space between the celestial bodies was taken away.
The Earth had gone from the Milky Way.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
A man with many wives, the Dragon King was discussing about them with the World leaders who'd come to Shiyan. He laughed over the Earth Representatives that had been selected in each zone. They were not elected, they were chosen by the Truthers, people who were innocent that harbored no hate for the events that transpired, people that cared and seemed to give a shit.
They became liaisons to do the back and forth with Earth, each of them willingly signed a Bloodoath Contract to secure their position. For all of them, they would never betray the Empire in such a delicate moment in the history of Mankind. It was a movement that transcended races and political lines, though brutal in its inaction, had unified the people of Earth into a single population of prisoners.
Sitting at the Two World Summit, those representatives were given a section to the side, as they were merely present to be informed. Across from them in the newly constructed theater, the representatives from the Empire and the Demon Region once again held a meeting.
"What have you done!" Haaster and his brood were devotees to the Moons. The new arrival of Earth in orbit of Shiyan had literally changed the balance of power for them and those that carried their Bloodlines.
"I have brought billions of humans, they sit in my protective grasp." Wu Hai's footsteps sounded like thunder as he traveled around the room. The stone echoed with his every word.
"Nonsense, Billions? You dare bring such calamity, to be overrun?" Kobuchero, the Poisoner stood up with outrage.
Great Sage Titan had gotten his hands dirty, he knew that what they had done would forever change the face of Shiyan in the future. Billions were just too many humans, still, he gathered the courage to speak in defense of their actions, the resolve they had to commit to already had been a testament. "The World of Shiyan is boundless and they are not free either. The people of Earth are a corrupt generation that will no doubt be hostile. Only those who are good natured will be allowed to enter Shiyan for the next seven generations."
"And what of after? We demons live more than ten times longer than Humans?" Goast's replacement, Siniha, a large female of his Harem spoke up. She was unwilling to watch their territory being swallowed up while he was away.
"What are these measures in place to keep the Humans on their moon?" Kobuchero was equally curious. If nothing else, there were billions of test subjects for the future.
The Kinky Farmer sat on the edge of the middle of the table, "Bwahaha, a Moon.. Look, it doesn't matter what you think about it. The fact that its happened is enough. We didn't bring you all here to discuss the new moons and their arrival."
"Speak then, or face me in battle for your disrespect, either way, stop wasting our time." Goohenamon, The Shadow Demon Family Head slammed his fists down on top of each other, signaling his intent to hurry the discussion along.
Empress Vira, the former Demon Queen, stood beside Prince Tero as the Emperor spoke. "Silence, I will have no yelling besides my own in these chambers, test my patience at your peril. Today, I bring you here to inform you of a change. This changes how things in this world will work in the future, as distance is a large factor in decision making or trade of any sort."
He took another deep breath, as he was exhaling, he saw Titan light a joint and start to speak. "There are currently millions of teleportation pads 'literally' hovering over our heads. I intend to spread a great many of them throughout Shiyan, to be placed as free to use transportation around the planet. They are controlled by an intelligence you cannot manipulate, because the consequences of pissing it off are beyond what you can tolerate as a species."
When he used the word species, it annoyed the Demons greatly. There were very few things that terrified all the bloodlines, like Elemental Light and Sacred Waters. "I've even made arrangements to have some of these placed in Space, the great vacuum overhead and Hell, there's one in the second Sun right now, sitting there, just waiting for you to screw up." Titan pointed his finger when one of the Demon Families, the Fire Demon's seemed like they wanted to speak. "Don't piss me off, I don't have time to answer your stupid questions. Listen to what we're telling you."
Titan was interrupted by Kink but he didn't care, he had made his point.
"You're all on a probationary period, you're not being punished or even excluded, but you will be held to a higher standard. Know that if you use your power or abilities to harm the Empire, you'll never be able to use the network of teleportation arrays, you'll be hunted by our people and your entire bloodline will be treated as traitors to be skinned alive." Kink scanned the faces of the Demon family heads, their expressions betrayed them easily. "This is a good thing though, if you aren't a total piece of shit, you no longer have to remain in the Demon Region. Its the same measure that's already been in place, if your people are screw ups, contain them or bare the consequences. Destroying a kingdom is much easier than you think."
They had just stolen a Planet and billions of its inhabitants as prisoners, the Demon Race did not wish to call their bluff. Zao Hanahaksu, the Crimson Queen, was already the ruler of Hell.
"So, you've come to rub our noses in your temporary superiority?" Facce, the Water Demon Tribe's Self Proclaimed King wanted to know just how far the Empire would push its position.
Wu Hai wanted to push, when it came to demons, an inch was a mile. "Temporary? Perhaps.. only fate and destiny will decide. To answer your pitiful question, no one is laying claim to superiority besides you. My Empire will stand, and the Demon Region will be absorbed into the fold. My heir, Tero and the Empress Vira will be handling the transition, to disobey either of them is to disobey me." He stood and fire glinted in each of his eyes.
The meeting continued as such for nearly two days, the representatives from each region reconvened to settle smaller issues and then, the meeting ended as quickly as it had begun.
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Wu Hai took the Sage Titan to the furthest reaches he had traveled and they split the teleportation steeles between the two of them. "Are you sure you're going to be okay doing this alone? Its going to take a lifetime."
"I want something that I did to last forever, this might be my chance.. No, I won't back down. Besides, I can use them to come back whenever I choose." Titan spread his wings, "Emperor Zao, I hated you..." He flew a bit higher and stopped to look down. "but that was in the past, don't live with regrets, live like its your last day, until it is." His wings flapped and sent him into the air, after a few minutes, he was gone from sight.
The land around the place where they had just had a conversation turned into a Garden, hundreds of spirit herbs and vibrant auras filled the area.
Wu Hai put down one of the steeles near where they had been, laying it flat at the edge of the Garden. Placing his hand on it, he could hear the Array's Spirit speaking to him.
"Where would you like to go? Master." The words came into the Emperor's mind. "Greensong, Dragon Kingdom."
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"Teacher.." Emperor Zao was hunched over an Anvil, with each breath, he circulated his energy, brought the hammer into the air and remembered his teachings. He had questions for the Old Forge Master.
'Big Hammer, Small Hammer, Long Hammer, Short Hammer.. the Hammer Falls.'
'The Hammer Falls.'
He worked tirelessly beside Gefést, working on his latest project. Without interrupting his work, he spoke to his Teacher, "Master, exactly what else should I be preparing on this road to Godhood? I know that there is plenty I still need to know but what else can I do besides ask."
'The Hammer Falls'
Gefést had been in hiding, he really didn't want to reveal his past but the Emperor had pried open Pandora's box, going back was impossible, there were things that couldn't be unlearned. "What can I tell you about that realm, Hmmph, I could tell you lots but what good would it do? Its somewhat ever changing, its a world of cultivation. Its actually pretty close to what Earth has written in many old books.. in a way."
'The Hammer Falls,' Gefést took the time to measure his next strike, Wu Hai and him were trading blows on the Galaxium Plate on the Anvil. It was in the shape of a Shield and it was smooth.
"Stoke the Fire." Directing Wu Hai to the fire, Gefést dropped the Hammer again. 'The Hammer Falls' ".. in a way. Truthfully, its really easy to tell once I started reading them. Your world's books are eerily close to fact. The cultivation system is basically broken apart into six levels, five really. Each part has different levels of intensity and they all progressively increase in difficulty." He swung his hammer and readied for Wu Hai to swing.
"First, there are the Descendants and Ancestors, then household Deities, The Worshiped, Quasi-God, God, and then finally True God. Ancestors and their Descendants are the normal folk that live in towns and quibble over the rain. Its not much different than a bunch of powerful people who've given up." Gefést seemed pained to talk about it. "A lot of people lost their nerve after a few centuries on the path to power, only making it so far. Those they left behind died or forgot of their existences, they lost their power, their capability and ambition."
Zao looked over at Gefést, he had a notebook in his hands. "What's this? Are we done with the shield?" It was abnormal for Gefést to stop his work, he was blinded by it always.
"Shut it." Gefést kneaded his hands, "I was never going to let this leave my hands, it was my legacy to leave. You have much better methods to remember and collect information but nothing beats a good book." He passed it over, reluctant to let go. "I've carried this for more than half my lifetime, in it, I wrote many things. I've sealed it, when your power is greater than mine, it will unlock."
"Why so Cryptic?" Wu Hai took the book and stored it away.
"Mysterious ways young disciple, you still need more than a hundred years to reach my level. Remember, I came from the Land of the Gods." Gefést laughed.