POV Evelina
Inside the barrier that protected us from eavesdropping, I informed Morena that I found Tanatos and he possesses a very strong power that makes Spica serious.
I behaved as compliant and passive as possible, displaying complete psychological submission. Naturally, I pretended to be submissive to later provoke Morena.
I knew one important rule: if the interlocutor is emotionally unstable, the chances of winning a verbal argument are always higher.
My report lasted for about ten minutes during which the Queen of the Undead asked several clarifying questions.
At one point, Morena yelled angrily through the communication device, — STOP LYING! He broke through Spica's defensive wall of spikes? You must be mistaken!
— Please, don't be angry, you're so scary, — I said with a double meaning, and then began to justify myself, — I'm not mistaken. I met Spica immediately after you. She knows you and is not afraid. She also informed someone important about your presence here.
Morena fell silent for a couple of seconds, and then I heard someone's head exploding on the other end of the line. The Empress asked incredulously, — Are you mocking me? This is a serious problem, little girl. Why did you tell Spica about me? You disappoint me greatly, and I don't know if I should continue to tolerate your pathetic and despicable existence...
Playing the role of a frightened little girl, I screamed, — I didn't know who she was! Please, don't end my existence... I can be very useful to you, I promise.
Tapping her nails on a hard surface, Morena sighed, — Hm, I'll think about it. You let me down, but the information about Tanatos's primal power was somewhat useful. What color was his energy?
— It was a dark crimson color. And in the center, there was a black dot resembling a very dense singularity.
— Plasma or blood energy? Hooey... Could it be the energy of a true phoenix? Hm, unlikely... Could it be the forces of Chaos? Then the chaotic energy must be of excellent quality! — Morena muttered to herself, — If this is true, then Tanatos is much more promising than my main ally! It's some silly nonsense...
— What are you talking about, Morena? — I genuinely became interested.
Main ally? Is there really a faction opposing Tanatos? It's definitely related to Spica! Should I tell her? Or perhaps I should confess everything to Tanatos sooner...
NO! It's too early. First, I'll put my cunning plan into action, and then I'll think about confessing to my beloved.
Meanwhile, the Empress realized that she had slipped and revealed unnecessary information. Morena decided to abruptly change the subject, so she growled angrily, — Shut up. I won't forget those terrible words you said about my Dark Liches. You're indeed a troublesome little puppet.
Realizing that it was time for my plan, I began to complain and shout back at Morena, — They attacked me and provoked me! They wanted to kill me! You have idiots under your command, not slaves, you ugly bitch.
— Watch your language, child. But you're right, they're idiots as slaves, including you. Don't forget that you belong to me...
I became furious and decided that now was the perfect moment to issue an ultimatum to the Empress, — I belong to Tanatos, you dumb bitch! We will make a new agreement, or else I will tell Spica that I'm a spy and informant. Then those who are above her will definitely deal with you!
— Ha-ha-ha, the dirty brat is threatening me... This is some surrealism! Damn... — I heard Morena swallow saliva through the receiver. She got real nervous, but after a couple moments Morena started threatening me while in an unstable emotional state, — Listen, you insignificant piece of meat! I will tear you into thousands of small pieces! Your soul will suffer for millennia, vile trash! How dare you blackmail me and issue ultimatums to EMPRESS OF THE GRAND GALAXY! You're a pathetic grain of sand in the face of an indifferent universe! I will crush you and everyone you care about into dust, then burn you in the phoenix fire, and finally defecate on the remaining ashes...
I provoked Morena's emotions. Feeling in control of the situation, I waited for the Queen of the Undead to unleash all the profanity stored in her vocabulary. It became obvious to me that absolutely no one knew that I had become a spy. Otherwise, this trick wouldn't have worked so splendidly.
— Ah... ah... — Morena began to breathe heavily through the receiver after a myriad of offensive words.
— Have you finished smearing me with dirt, you frightened little girl? Oh, right! You forgot to cry on my shoulder. Since you're done complaining about the injustice of the world, does that mean I can go to Spica and Tanatos? — I finished speaking with a smile on my face.
— NO! — Morena screamed in panic.
— Then what are we going to do? — I asked a logical question, ironically adding, — Oh, this is so unusual! I listen to the great Empress beeping in the ear of insignificant trash, afraid of being unwanted by a human figure like me, heh-heh.
— I shouldn't have agreed to monitor his nephew, — Morena whispered quietly. She called me a derogatory word again, — You creature...
His nephew? Interesting...
Feeling dominant, I continued to taunt Morena, — What-what? I didn't hear that. Are you sending me in all directions?
— No, I-I... Fine. You can dictate a few acceptable conditions for monitoring Tanatos; otherwise, I'll get very angry and find a way to quietly get rid of you, you annoying creature!
Internally, I was delighted that I managed to corner the Queen of the Undead and the Empress. I purposely whimpered through the receiver, and upon hearing Morena's irritated sigh, I said, — First, you promise not to kill me, Agatha, or Tanatos with your own hands or anyone else's, even if it's your undead. Second, I want to become stronger, and you must help me so that I don't fall behind Tanatos in cultivation. Third, calm down your walking dead-whether you're an Empress or whoever the hell you are!
I entered a state of drunken courage, shamelessly listing my demands. I wasn't afraid of Morena at all and even found an advantage in working together with her.
— Bitch, you'll pay for doubting my Imperial authority! — Morena cursed a couple of times as if she were a grown-up child, and then cautiously asked, — Do you need anything else from me?
Oh my, does Morena have bipolar disorder or something? Ha-ha-ha, she tells me to go fuck myself, and then cautiously asks questions and speaks in calm tones.
Feeling like the Hegemon in our quarrel, I declared, — Yes! You will address me as an equal. Treat me as your ally, otherwise, nothing will work. So be kind, Morena, and give me some artifact that will increase the speed of my cultivation. Better yet, two, so I can share them with Agatha. By the way, I still have serious problems with viability in my world. Come up with something to solve this issue: a more advanced mask or suit, it doesn't matter. It's your problem now.
— Shh, fine. Send a message through the communication device with your body's parameters. I'll let you know once I find everything you need. Goodbye, Miss Palmer, — Morena grumbled through gritted teeth.
She quickly said goodbye to me to avoid receiving more offensive conditions.
I managed to turn the whole game on the card table. If it weren't for the chance encounter with Spica, I would have never risked everything for this intrigue!
— Heh-heh-heh, I fucked the Queen of the Undead in her own game! I showed that bitch her place, ah-ha-ha-ha, — I stood in the corner of the corridor, laughing like a sick patient under strong antibiotics.
If it weren't for the protective barrier, Spica or Nemesis would have definitely heard me.
I thought Morena would be a more formidable opponent! Perhaps she is, but Morena fears the wrath of Spica and those who are above her. It can be said that I got lucky with my allies, heh-heh-heh.
Morena must have come from a galaxy with a more technologically advanced world, so having such a *bag of gifts* will be very useful!
— I turned Morena into Mrs. Claus or a wealthy old lady and benefactor who will provide for me and meet my needs, ha-ha-ha!
I was in an excellent mood and with the same positive attitude, I went to my room to start meditating and devouring monster cores.
I need to follow Tanatos' orders to not disappoint my man. Perhaps he will thank me by pressing me against the wall and passionately kissing my lips... Oh, I long for the saccharine romance from hundreds of TV series that I watched for days on end!
...
POV Thanatos
After parting ways with Evelina and the unexpected encounter with Sergeant Brown, I went to Agatha.
I needed to give her some instructions and share the monster cores with her. Luckily, Nemesis had given me a ring with a spatial storage that was filled with various cores.
I met with her and explained what she should be doing instead of sleeping.
— So, I have to continue cultivating every night? What about sleeping in a warm bed? Together with you! — Agatha expressed excessive displeasure about separate sleeping arrangements.
— But you seemed to express a desire to be as strong as me, right?
Agatha principially wanted to be close to me. After our first intimate night, crazy butterflies fluttered in her stomach, so her nature demanded my constant presence in her embrace.
Agatha pouted and exclaimed, — But we can lie together and cultivate!
I shook my head, — I will also go to cultivate, but I am not yet so accustomed to meditation that I won't be distracted by your seductive body. Unfortunately, if I am near you or Nemesis, I will be thinking about finishing meditation quickly and ravaging you both mercilessly through sex. So listen to your Master, it's already evening, go cultivate in your bedroom.
Agatha blushed at my words. Her face turned as red as a tomato. I kissed her on the nose and went to a separate room where no one would bother me.
To my surprise, after absorbing a few cores, I broke through to the Third Star. Although I had absorbed 14 light blue cores before, so it wasn't surprising.
Nemesis said that while I was at a low rank, it would be easy for me to increase my cultivation level. But as the evolution stage progresses, I will have to pay more attention to the concept of my own primal element. And at the highest ranks, I will have to study the understanding of completely unfamiliar energies just to comprehend the fundamental principles of the world.
— Phew, let's continue cultivation, — I muttered, wiping the sweat off my forehead.
The evening slowly turned into night, and the night into morning. I meditated in the lotus position, focused on the one important goal: becoming strong.
I explored the labyrinths of corridors within my soul, unearthing hidden treasures of thoughts, emotions, and dreams dormant inside. These reflections accelerated the absorption of core energy, nourishing Vial of the Soul with what it needed.
Under the sun rays of the approaching morning, a bird landed on my windowsill and started bothering me with its incessant chirping, — H-hello from Spica! Hello from Spica! Hello from Spica! Hello...
Oh my god! My head is going to explode because of her pet.
I opened my eyes and saw a blue parrot greeting me with the sunrise. Clearing my throat, I spoke, — I hear you, little bird. You can tell your owner that I wish she would quickly drop dead in a ditch. Postscript with best regards, an irritated Thanatos. Just convey that.
I spent the morning in my usual routine: washing up, changing clothes, and meeting Nemesis on the way to the small dining room designated for special guests. Agatha, Evelina, Spica, Nemesis, and I gathered there.
I suppose I became the main reason why they have breakfast in this dining room.
— Brother broke through to the Third Star! — Nemesis in a very seductive sports outfit greeted me with a light kiss on the lips.
Spica squinted and looked at my sister suspiciously, but Nemesis stuck her tongue out at her and sat at the table.
— Good morning, Thanatos, — Evelina hugged me and, temporarily removing her black mask from her face, happily said, — I'm almost catching up to you in cultivation! I would like to go beyond the military base today and kill monsters with you.
— Alright, Evelina.
— Hey, I want to be like you too! — Agatha grumbled, feeling jealous. With furrowed brows, she sat next to me and started eating breakfast.
— Just don't start arguments, girls, — I warned them in advance.
I didn't want every breakfast to turn into disputes centered around me.
Spica sat across from me and teasingly added, — Thanatos, are you afraid the girls will start fighting over you? Ha-ha-ha, you should be happy to be surrounded by such beauties.
Nemesis stood up in my defense and said, — No, it's just that my little brother doesn't like listening to senseless arguments. Frequent disputes upset him and ruin his mood.
I agreed with my older sister and began enjoying the prepared dishes.
After the light discussions with the four girls were over, I warned Evelina that I would be waiting for her outside the eastern gates.
She said she would arrive in an hour, but I was ready to leave immediately.
I chose the eastern direction for the simple reason that it was the closest to the spatial teleporter.
Arriving there alone, I met several novice cultivators. Sergeant Brown was there as well, along with a few female cultivators, guarding the wall's boundaries from various types of undead.
One of the soldiers, who was standing on a watchtower with a sniper rifle, warned his comrade, — Sergeant, I see a horde of zombies and zombie animals gathering about half a mile away in the forest (800 meters). There are also a few dark figures that appear to be commanders.
— Hush, that's bad... it's likely there will be a severe attack on the eastern gates tonight! — Brown growled, standing behind the gates. He took out his radio and informed John of the bad news, — Lieutenant Colonel, our situation is becoming more unfavorable...
After listening to some useful information, I passed through the eastern gates and began helping them, awaiting Evelina's arrival.
Without her, it would be pointless to go far, otherwise Evelina wouldn't be able to find me.