"Enemies?"
"Nine."
"An ironic number. The same as the Primevals. Or the Gods as some call them."
"Fire. Earth. Water Air. Lightning. Gravity. Force. Space. Time."
"Nine exactly. Each more difficult to sway than the last."
"Nine worlds is a lot to fight."
"Ten if you count us. When the worlds collide, the Empire collapses. Sides are joined."
"Who is the strongest?"
"Strength? Ice Giants, no question. That is just pure muscle power, however."
"Can you clarify?"
"Well. If we are talking numbers? It is the Gnolls. Unending. Truly. Terms of firepower? The Earthbound. Technology? The Orlisi."
"Do we win in anything?"
"Potential?"
"I'm being serious."
"So am I. We as a people have access to levels. The others don't get them. You can't mistake an Earthbound human for an Aurelian. Neither can you mistake Gnolls for beastkin."
"Well. Can you give us a general idea of who is the most powerful? Maybe... tell us their strength and weaknesses?"
"Sure. We actually made a list. A few, actually. Here is the best one".
Reiss handed out papers to all present.
"This shows the rankings based on overall strength. I've also listed how many times they have been beaten themselves, to my knowledge. As well as to how many times that faction has killed me."
=
1. Earthbound.
2. Orlisi
3. Gnolls
4. Demons
5. Shifters
6. Elden
7. Aurelia
8. Druids
9. Ice Giants
10. Luddles
=
Reiss posted a larger list on a bulletin board he reeled in, something he found handy and snagged in one of his lives.
"You can check this list specifically if you are interested in all the detail. Just look for World Rankings."
Reiss was melancholic as he watched reactions from those in the war room. Some couldn't hold their papers straight without shaking, having to set them on the table. Reiss wanted to sigh. He was overwhelming them. His unplanned outburst, the movie. They had lost their shit when he proclaimed his level.
They aren't ready.
None of it matters. They will learn; it will just take time. Today they realize the world isn't so small anymore.
The Emperor of Dreams was the first to put down the report; he was lost in thought. The rest finished in the meantime. Some spouting curses while others were eerily silent.
Krom was actually the first to speak.
"Luddles?"
Reiss, contrary to the mood, started laughing.
"Those little furballs? Harmless, the whole lot. The only race not out for themselves. Want to spread love and peace with cuddles and affection. They don't fight, can't fight, actually. Not that they want to. They don't speak, or maybe they can but choose to communicate in gestures."
"Those things at the beginning of the 'movie'?"
"Yup. Big balls of fuzz with weird legs and arms. They come in all different colors, usually stripes, eyes comically large. I haven't figure out if they have mouths or not. They purr when you pet them.
"Who pets them?"
"Practically everyone. Earthbound love them."
"It says here they've been conquered 355 times."
"Peacefully, of course. The other nine was when a faction of Earthbound advocated for their freedom and separation from the war."
Everyone chewed on that for a bit. Could the information be used? The briefing says that the Earthbound are split into many factions and ideologies.
The Emperor of Dreams spoke at last.
"What I don't understand is why have we been the only ones to be conquered all 364 times. Even these Luddles survived more often if what you are saying is correct. How could we have fallen every time?"
Reiss shot a finger at William, making everyone flinch.
"That is a good question. The reason being Aurelia is the staging ground. We are the battlefield. The one place that every world connects to. For a Demon to attack an Orlisi, they need to travel through our world first. It is why we always lose."
Lionel gripped his weapon tightly, comfortable in its presence.
"Why are these... Orlisi, ranked so high?"
"You remember the meeting with William and the Gnolls? The Orlisi was the pear-shaped fella in the wet suit. They are technologically advanced and rarely show themselves. When they do, it is always either during politics, business meetings, or assassinations."
Reiss actually spit. It landed in a metal bucket off to the side. Lima gave him a disapproving look. Spitting didn't mesh with how attractive he was. Reiss didn't care. He was ecstatic inside.
I hit it! I always wanted to do that.
Coughing into a fist, he continued.
"Saboteurs and backstabbers. They form alliances, offer weapons and supplies, and trade in virtually everything. They play all sides. Then when one side is weak, they deliver the finishing blow. Do not trust them under any circumstances."
Quinnerva clenched her fists, remembering what happened to her in the movie. Nelson served the next question.
"Do we have any potential allies?"
"As I said, don't trust the Orilsi. The Earthbound are fickle and almost always go back on their word. No... The Ice Giants are the easiest allies. They are more solitary and enjoy cold weather. I can negotiate with them; I have done it before."
While leaning back on his chair, Charles folded his arms, pieces of his robes billowing calmly in the absent wind.
"What will they ask for?"
Reiss shrugged
"More room. Only in the coldest regions. They don't need a lot. They don't like being interrupted and respond violently to fire. Respect their boundaries, and they respect yours."
Images of the ice titan crushing a mountain with a single finger... That wasn't a normal giant, thank the Nine. The normal ones were only about 50ft tall on average. Quinnerva had no illusions about being able to block the Titan. Maybe a few from the normal ones but no more.
All of them steered away from the subject, not wanting anything to do with the cosmic horror.
"Anyone else we can ally with?"
"Gnolls. I highly recommend we befriend them early on. They take small slights to the extreme but make the staunchest ally. I don't enjoy having to kill them all."
An uneasy silence enveloped the room as they digested that bit. They all seen the video. The ground roiled under their numbers.
The Emperor spoke
"Did you? Kill them all, I mean?"
Flashes of insane Reiss flashed through their minds.
Reiss was downcast, his nose wrinkling.
"Twice."
Shifting feet.
"I didn't enjoy it. And it all could have been avoided. Don't make stupid mistakes. You hear me?"
Reiss glared threateningly at no one in particular. It still made Charles pull back. Krom saved the day, resting a hand on Reiss's shoulder. Calming him.
With an exhalation, Reiss apologized.
"Sorry, I won't beat a dead dog. Just... Please keep in mind that these invaders are people too. It is possible to live in relative peace with most of them. One member of a world may attack while the others wish for peace. I knew a delightful succubus who only wanted to talk and..."
The Emperor cleared his throat.
"About the demons. What is this corruption you listed?"
Reiss got back on track.
"Demons have the ability to convert others to their race—any race from any world. I've seen a demon Luddle. It wasn't nearly as cute anymore."
"Is it different from defecting?"
Reiss nodded in Lionel's direction.
"Yes. An Aurelian may defect to Earth, but they still look the same and gain levels. But if an Aurelian defects to the Demons, they lose their levels and change their form."
"Can the Demons convert others forcibly?"
Lima was tapping her finger on the desk, trying not to chew on another.
"Good question. No. They need the subjects' permission. Although, after anywhere from hours to years of torture, everyone gives their permission. Willingly or not."
More silence. It was a heavy meeting with Reiss dropping more bombshells today than the Earthbound did in WWI.
"The Shifters will infiltrate each race, sowing more chaos. I have prepared countermeasures to stop them. It will be in the next report.
He waved a hand.
"The Elden are magically superior, with the average citizen being equal to a level 20 mage. Their army ranging from level 30-40 in terms of spellcasting ability. They can be reasoned with, but they also get held up in politics. Try to prevent them from declaring outright war. I would rather fight skirmishes or attend one of their festivals than fight openly."
Gideon looked around. Were Elden festivals a bad thing, or was Reiss being facetious?
"Finally, the Druids are a neutral faction. You haven't seen them because I haven't encountered them often. They are a wildcard."
Crickets.
Reiss sighed.
"The Druids are basically each level 50+ spellcasters focusing on nature spells, animal control, and sometimes summoning magic. A single one can topple a city using only rabbits."
Reiss smiled at the "you're shitting me" looks.
"No. It is true. That was my fault, actually. I offended one of the younger druids. She was not happy. That being the case... She didn't kill anyone."
"So they are pacifists?"
Reiss burst out in laughter.
"What? No. Not at all! That was just the young one. She was forbidden from killing intelligent beings until her coming of age ceremony in a couple of centuries. No. An elder once wiped out the Gnolls because one of them sneezed on his robes."
"Is he insane?"
"No. Just grumpy. It was a little more than a sneeze, and the gnolls continued to attack him, designating him their eternal foe... Look! The point is, Druids can appear anywhere, anytime, and they all have quirks. They are neutral. Don't insult them or attack them. But there is no need to bow down before them either."
"Are you sure that they are a separate world and not one native to Aurelia?"
"Yes. I checked. They do not have levels. I couldn't find their homeworld, but I know where they tend to gather."
Reiss took a drink of water. His throat was getting parched even with all his levels.
"That it?"
Krom asked. Putting down the glass of water, Reiss relented.
"For now. We can discuss more specifics later. When you are ready or the time is right, I will give you more detailed reports on a particular faction or individuals to be aware of."
The Emperor gave a nod of acknowledgment, being deferring as an [Emperor] could be.
"What do you suggest we do first?"
"Publicize this data."
Shouts around the room.
"Are you insane?"
"It'll cause a panic."
"The people will riot. There will be civil war."
Reiss waved his hands, motioning for them all to calm down.
"I'll suggest leaving my involvement out entirely, claiming it is the [Emperor of Dreams] who gleaned the information. But otherwise, you need to make the information public."
It was the Emperor's turn to wave down his associates.
"I assume you have a good reason for this, Reiss?"
Reiss smirked. It made Charles scowl.
"Several. The foremost being you will know who to trust. The panic and hysteria can be controlled by how you deliver the news. But trust me when I tell you that it is a horrendous idea to wait. How will you handle a revolt across your empire while also fending off nine other worlds?"
"Hrm."
Krom grunted, tapping the table with an oversized finger. Reiss noticed the gesture for what it was.
"What is it? Are you wondering about the Earthbound? I can have a separate report for that."
"No."
Silence. Reiss couldn't mind-read his question, so he was forced to interrupt the big guy's thoughts.
"Then what is it?"
Krom looked around the room at all the strangers present. All those present were the highest officials in the Empire. Likely some of the highest leveled as well. Reiss, who could wipe the floor with all of them, was the most unknown element and the strangest of them all. Still, Krom felt a certain camaraderie he didn't feel from the others.
The video had given him many different thoughts that he let pass as soon as they appeared. He couldn't judge someone when he hadn't lived all those lives.
Just because Krom didn't speak much doesn't mean he didn't think. He could imagine how much trial and error would be required to gain this information. If this was just the introduction...
The main thing that worried Krom was this...
"356?"
Everyone else around the room checked their lists. What was that number?
Lima saw how Aurelia had been Reiss's cause of death 172 times. More than three times the number of deaths caused by Earthbound, the runners-up, was at 56. If it was true, it wasn't so far-fetched that Reiss went insane and betrayed Aurelia.
Charles couldn't get past how the Luddles had never killed Reiss. Not even by accident? The little furballs weren't hiding anything? Were they the perpetrators behind it all? Did they end up ruling every world...
Quinnerva was fixated on the Orlisi.
Marcine wasn't too hot with numbers. Cray didn't care, and Gideon was carving his initials into the table. William was waiting for someone else to clarify.
It was Nelson who found the discrepancy.
"The number of deaths. They add up to 356. Not 364. If none of the worlds killed you. But you didn't survive..."
Charles was actually the next to catch on. Then William and Quinnerva. Gideon looked up from his carving, confused.
"What? I don't get it."
Cray slapped Gideon's fat head. In a monotone voice.
"He killed himself."
Krom absently noticed everyone looking at Reiss. No one ever thought of suicide. They had seen the movie and how destructive the other races were. They all focused on the power of such beings. The destruction of the capital. The revelation of Reiss' level.
Even in the last scene, it could be misconstrued that William killed Reiss. The reality was that he killed himself along with Aurelia.
Reiss appeared older than time. His eyes barely held any light. Reiss suddenly came off as incredibly vulnerable. Krom had the feeling that a single shove would fell him. Krom could lean over, push Reiss, and he would then shatter like glass on the marble floor.
Then the feeling was gone. As if it was never there.
Reiss spoke with a measured tone.
"I killed myself. Eight times... Each one after particularly gruesome or tragic iterations. I did it four times in a row once. Respawn and Repeat."
A melancholy chuckle.
"When you try your best and exhaust every option yet still fail? Nothing hurts more. Because the world is saying 'your efforts are not enough' and 'you are inadequate'."
A deep inhalation.
"This iteration is different because I am going to make sure everyone gets along, even if I have to beat them senseless."
Reiss walked over to William and took a knee. Surprise and curiosity were written across the [Emperor]'s face.
"Give me a title, William."
Charles's hands slammed on the table.
"A title? You? From the Emperor? You can't be serious."
William waved a hand as Lima and Nelson had words they wanted to say as well. A title was not something freely given. It took a portion of one's power to grant. The stronger the title, the higher the benefits. It could cause the recipient to level or change one's class entirely. The thing that worried William was whether or not it would work. Could he grant a title to someone more powerful than him? What would the outcome be?
William had the sinking suspicion that he would be the one to level by granting Reiss a title.
"Oh? And what title would you request?"
A title could be something practical like "Champion". Giving it to a combatant will often give them the "Royal" addition to their class. Like [Royal Bulwark]. A title could be something like "Baron" or "Count," which would grant the [Lord] or [Lady] class.
Naming someone his [Advisor] would tie them to him and make them an extension of his authority. A new advisor position was open now that Henrietta had been outed.
Or, the title could be a brand new one.
This option was the least used. Reason being that it seldom granted any bonuses at all. Some [Lords] grant these titles as perfunctory titles to soothe ego without granting power. Rarely though, the brand new title would become active as the recipient performed actions linked to the title.
If a vassal were granted the title [Ruler of Forks] as a jest, it would not do anything. But if the vassal spent every waking minute of every day with forks. Eating. Sleeping. Fighting. Loving? They would gain a legitimate class.
Classes were a way of life. They responded to the will of the people.
Reiss grinned as he kept his gaze on William's polished shoes.
"I would like to be granted the title and position of [Nine Realm Ambassador]."