As Junichiro looked around the laboratory, he saw that it took a lot of damage. The building was grounded at the moment for repairs. Za'Fia had caught them off guard by radiating with enough heat to affect even them. Then, she blasted a large hole in the wall from which she escaped.
Junichiro had wanted to pursue her, but his father insisted he stays put and protect the assets within the lab.
He was no fool, however. It was plain as day that his father was enjoying this unexpected turn of events. After millennia of everything going his way, his father was overjoyed to experience resistance for once.
Junichiro sighed in frustration. Everything his father found amusing, he saw as unacceptable. Revolting, disloyalty, defiance – he wanted nothing more than to drive his blade through the guilty and rid the world of those transgressions.
If this world was to be his father's domain, should the inferior – Primordials included – not follow their God's will as though it were law?
It's only natural, after all.
Things like this shouldn't happen, Junichiro thought as he reviewed the events that led to the current outcome. Father most likely doesn't mind, but their rebellious nature will not stand. I'll enforce compliance amongst the Primordials even if it means ruining Father's fun.
He wasn't concerned about his father somehow being defeated. After all, at full strength, his father was more powerful than he, his siblings, Verin, and the Primordials were combined.
This was about order. Respect. Strength.
With his father's hatred of boredom, he's developed a lenient disposition towards betrayal and being challenged. So long as it doesn't affect his bigger agenda, he won't take it seriously and will instead view it as a game.
That's why Junichiro has dedicated himself to being the one to inform everyone of their place. And remove those who forget it.
He looked over at the hole Za'Fia had created.
Standing there at the hole's edge was Trevor. His expression appeared worrisome.
Junichiro silently walked over and stood next to him.
Looking at Trevor's face, it was clear to Junichiro what was going on in Trevor's head.
"Thinking about Tymon?" he said.
Trevor sighed, seemingly disappointed.
"I'm not usually as uptight as you, but don't you think Tymon's gonna be a problem? I mean, yeah, I get we weren't using our full strength, but it still took effort from both of us to keep him from transforming. And had it been Michael instead, we would've had to get serious just to subdue him," Trevor stated.
"That's why Father warned us not to face either of them alone," Junichiro replied as he looked toward the afternoon horizon. "Not only are they immortal, but they're also extremely powerful."
"And our cintracies don't work on Tymon? What's up with that?" Trevor exclaimed, expressing his frustration. He was shooting tiny blasts of energy at the ants marching by.
"Indeed, that wasn't something we expected. It was truly an unwelcome surprise," Junichiro concurred.
"And Za'Fia...her strength was ridiculous," Trevor continued. "I get why my cintracy doesn't affect her, but I can't believe she completely overpowered me....I've now gone up against each Supreme Primordial – beings we're supposed to be comparable to – and each has proven to be difficult to handle alone....So I guess that means I need to get innovative."
Trevor's sudden perk-up didn't surprise Junichiro. When Trevor sees a flaw, he likes to improve it with technology. That's why he's their Head of Engineering.
"You have something in mind?" Junichiro asked.
"Yeah...and if it works, it'll give us an edge when we go after them," Trevor responded.
"And I have something planned for Michael and Tymon," Avarice voiced as he approached them. "As for Za'Fia, initially, all you'll have to worry about is her raw strength. As the fifth fastest, her speed isn't anything amazing, and she doesn't have as much spirit energy as the other two. The trick to fighting her is outmaneuvering and defeating her quickly. Let the fight go on too long, and she'll evolve, growing stronger, faster, and more powerful as you anger her."
"We'll keep that in mind," Trevor said, acknowledging Avarice's insight.
"Father, we know the girl's planning to gather the Primordials. What are we going to do about that?" Junichiro questioned.
He knew it wasn't time to go after them all yet, but he hoped Verin would be allowed to intervene and keep them apart by manipulating their emotions.
"We won't do anything," Avarice stated.
This confused Junichiro.
"With all due respect, Father, I don't think it's wise to let our enemies gather," he said, voicing his objection.
"This 20-year-old human wants to gather six powerful beings, each having lived almost two centuries already, and then she expects them to accept her as their leader," Avarice said, bringing attention to Alissia's naivety.
"The other Primordials will have difficulty accepting her," Junichiro realized.
"Right, and after inspecting the human's character and knowing how the others are, I'm certain that getting them all together and keeping them together will be impossible for her. If it's not the overlapping and conflicting personalities that split them, it'll be her lack of experience that does. So, if it goes the way I suspect, we won't need to play instigator. However, should it fail...then before too many of them gather, we'll make our approach to either recruit, capture, or kill them."
Junichiro knew his father preferred to wait until certain things were in motion before fully confronting the Primordials.
For one, the two in the tanks still hadn't emerged, though Avarice informed them they should very soon.
Given their history, there was no doubt those two would be troublesome, so they'd first have to train them and probably force them into submission.
Then there was the issue of fighting the Primordials before distributing the JANUS. Should they have to resort to capturing or killing them, the battle was sure to alert everyone of their existence. Depending on the circumstances, that could risk the humans turning on them instead of seeing them as their salvation.
"For now, though," Avarice said, changing the subject, "I have some Sub Deities coming to help fix the laboratory. Junichiro, I also want the inside walls insulated."
"Why," Junichiro asked.
"I don't want anyone spying on us," Avarice answered as he tapped his ear.
Trevor smacked Junichiro on the arm and laughed about him having to help rebuild.
"Trevor, you can help him."
"Why," Trevor complained, "I didn't do anything this time."
Avarice stepped aside and motioned to all the damage Trevor's blasts created during the fight.
"You can either help Junichiro or take Wren's place, giving me an inventory report of the bases," Avarice offered.
Trevor looked skeptical about the decision.
"...Is it a full inventory?" he asked.
"You can see while you go pick up the insulation materials we need from Base N," Junichiro stated as he tossed a stack of rolled-up papers at Trevor.
Trevor starts to float, leaving the building through the hole in the wall. Before he takes off, he turns around.
"Which insulation coating should I get: the one that blocks sound from entering and leaving or the one that only traps sound from within?" he asked.
"You're an idiot," Junichiro remarked.
"The one that only traps," Avarice replied patiently. "I need to be able to hear them without them hearing us."
"Gotcha," Trevor said before jetting off.
Avarice looked at Junichiro.
"I'll be back later. I want the repairs and insulation completed before nightfall."
"Yes, Father," Junichiro responded.
------
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