The world seemed to freeze as he locked eyes with his mother. Now that he had found her he found himself unable to move. A weight that he hadn't known he was carrying fell off his shoulders as the world shifted around him. "I am glad to see you are safe." She said as she stepped forward. Her voice cracked for just a moment. She glanced at the cultivators at his feet before nodding to the men behind her. Maximilian had pushed the group out of his as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He wasn't sure if he wanted to confirm that she was really there or if it was to steady himself. Either way it didn't matter.

  "Is father with you?" He asked though he already knew the answer. With the chaos here there was no chance that the two of them would choose not to be together. Since most of the city was missing it wasn't a hard conclusion to draw either.

  "No, he was not there when I woke up. I wasn't sure what happened but we've gathered some information. Based on your new appearance am I too assume you are one of those cultivators?" She gestured toward the settlement and the pair started walking.

  Maximilian nodded and then explained everything that happened since the party. A party that felt like a life time ago now. It wasn't until he had finished his story that he got his emotions under control. He still hadn't found his father but that was fine. His mother was here now. He could relax. When he finished his story it was his mother's turn. He had assumed he had the most interesting time but his mother's story was no less impressive. She found a few survivors during the initial chaos and together they reached a sporting goods store. One of the few that sold both guns and ammunition. It was enough for them to survive the early days. From there they ran across a few soldiers and several members of the government. As expected his mother had taken on a bit of a leadership role. She was responsible for organization and administration. When she finished her explanation Maximilian wasn't sure what to do.

  "You named your city Nubia?" She half laughed. "Your grandmother would've appreciated the thought."

  Maximilian grinned and looked up at the sky. He was hardly a religious man but now that everything had happened he wasn't sure what to believe. He possessed more power than any human in history and he wasn't even at level 20. Further there were many more realms after this one. Was it possible that all the deities existed? That they were all just cultivators? If that was the case than what happened to them and why hadn't we figured it out? He was pulled out a his thoughts when his mother snapped her fingers.

  "How many times do I need to remind you not to get so distracted? You need to stay focused." Maximilian had to resist shaking his head. He could almost recite what she would say from memory. Though this time he had to admit he didn't mind it anywhere near as much.

  "You have yet to tell me what you will do next. I have our information network compiling data on the supposed cultivator groups. If your father turns up in one we should know. From what we know our planet is at least as big as Jupiter with your stated speed it would take months if not years to explore the whole thing."

  Maximilian nodded and was about to respond when someone walked into the courtyard they were using. The person was dressed like a general though he couldn't tell from which military. The man was shorter than Maximilian but almost half again as wide. He had the silver fox thing going on. "Excuse me Mrs. Croft I hope I am not interrupting."

  His mother shook her head and stepped toward the man. "I told you to call me Ashanti. I hold no rank here." The general nodded though Maximilian was sure that this was a conversation they had many times already. "This here is my son, Maximilian." She turned to Maximilian. "And this is General Wells. He is or rather was retired.

  "Based on those clothes you are a cultivator is that correct?" He asked as he looked him up and down. The look in the man's eye made Maximilian feel like he was being assessed like a precious stone or prized animal. He glanced over at his mother and shrugged.

  "That's correct."

  "I want to thank you for averting the crisis at the gate. We have elected to let the group go. We lack the facilities to hold people like that and the last thing we want are people that may take us out from the inside. We felt it was best to let you know in case you encounter each other."

  Maximilian nodded his understanding but didn't care either way. He had already seen the problem and he doubted they would be able to afford that many arrays. Even if they could those credits would be better off on many other things. Regardless he wasn't going to get involved in the way they ran things. Not as long as they didn't do anything crazy. He had more than enough on his plate without adding things.

  "Mrs. Croft will you join us for the meeting or will you spend that time with your son?"

  "I believe it would be best to have him there with us. We still have to deal with that quest and we are short on manpower as it is." Ashanti responded.

  Maximilian raised an eyebrow in silent question but decided not to ask. He didn't have anything to do right now and if they were in trouble he would do his best to help. He nodded to his mother and the followed the pair as they walked through the settlement. He couldn't help but be stunned by what he saw. Not only had they gotten cars running again but they had found solar panels so some of the buildings had power. It was nothing like before the Network's arrival but compared to the lack of power he had dealt with it was impressive. Part of him wanted to take one of mustangs he saw in a parking lot but he refused. He wasn't sure how property worked now but on the off chance that the car's owner returned he wasn't willing to be a thief. He also had to admit it was disappointing. The people here lived as if the world hadn't ended. They still went around in old earth's clothes. The only hint that things were off were the weapons. They all carried either knife or gun but even that seemed weak. He scolded himself for the thought before he was led into an old museum. Or at least it was one before it had been altered. Now it was the headquarters for whatever group his mother had founded.

  They led him into a room with five others. All looked like they were in their mid to late forties. Two were women and the others were men. They paused what they were about to say when Maximilian entered. He smiled in an attempt to disarm the situation before it got started. Oddly enough it worked. The two women took their seats along with two of the men. The third glanced at Ashanti before shaking his head. "The lack of respect for basic protocol is becoming a problem." He began before Ashanti cleared her throat.

  "Your need for hierarchy is asinine yet here we are." She gestured to Maximilian. "This here is my son. He is also a cultivator of considerable power. I believe he could be of some use to us."

  "I didn't know your son was a governor." One of the older woman said as he looked him up and down. "Technically he is the only government official around. I bet that hurts aye Adams?" She grinned and looked at the man who had spoken up earlier. Who now looked like he was trying to compete with a tomato over who could turn the reddest.

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  "It doesn't matter." He replied and took a calming breath. "Thank you for your help at the gate. Before we begin can you explain how you found us? We've been told that the forests to the West our too dangerous to explore."

  Maximilian nodded and then recounted his story. He decided to leave out most of the monsters he had come across. He considered leaving out the various monsters he had faced but decided against it. If his assumption was right they wanted to range in that direction for resources. If those soldiers were the strongest they had than they wouldn't make it very far. Something he also stressed. When he finished the group looked like he had punched them in the face.

  "I don't suppose you have any more of those skills? If we could get new weapons they would be of great help."

  Maximilian shook his head. "No and based on the question I am going to assume you can't buy any yourselves? The Network Station should have given you access to a shop?" When he saw their confused faces, he explained the Network Station system which brought him to Nubia. The group's expressions shifted from confusion to concern and to something he couldn't process. His mother was the only one who had heard of Nubia and even she was surprised by how easy it was to build things. When he was finished Maximilian took his seat.

  "It appears that this Network really does not like the rest of us." The woman who had appraised him earlier said.

  "I don't think that's the case at all." Ashanti began. "I believe it's more accurate to say it just doesn't care for us. If it disliked us, it would be easy enough to wipe us out. If its the same power that changed the planet and brought the other species here. No it sounds to me like it has washed its hands of the rest of us. If we combine both our information and my son's it seems that youth is correlated with cultivation potential. I am not sure if its a one to one comparison though. As it seems like older people have a chance. If you all recall." She pulled a notebook from underneath the table and flipped through several pages until she found what she sought. She placed it in front of the table with a series of phrases written in large letters. The same words the Network had used when it first descended.

  "It seems that the Network rated our planet. This should impact how many of us are cultivators." Ashanti added with a surety that made it seem like she had already come to the conclusion.

  "Are you saying that because we didn't bother recycling or taking care of the fucking oceans that what more than half of us are left helpless?" The general stated.

  Maximilian shook his head. "No. At least I don't think so. I asked some questions during the tutorial, and I believe that it was possible for Earth to have had spiritual energy before the Network arrived. Or rather the arrival of the Network and Spiritual energy aren't connected." He held up a hand to stop the question he already saw forming. "Yes, in our case the Network provided the energy that got us going but perhaps our planet was just barren? Or weaker for some reason. I believe that there could be planets out there that have spiritual energy but no Network."

  The red faced man shook his head and sat down. The energy that had drove him until this point seemed to desert him as the conversation went on. "If and I really mean if we assume your theory is correct what does that mean for those of us without this energy?"

  Maximilian decided not to mention the dwarves' lack of interest in those that were left behind. He not only didn't think it would help but the last thing he wanted was to foster the divide between cultivators and non-cultivators. The last thing the earth needed was a civil war. His encounter with the harpies had gone well but there was no promise that would continue.

  "Alright, so now that we've dealt with the new information. We need to focus on what we can control. It appears that we need to deal with our quest as soon as possible. My assumption is that will be how we access the additional functionalities my son mentioned." Ashanti began as she nodded to the general. Who pulled a screen down from the ceiling. He then clapped his hands, the lights dipped and a series of images were displayed.

  "I am sure your mother gave you a brief overview but allow me to formally invite you and Nubia to join the League of Nations." The General started.

  Maximilian raised an eyebrow at the man and then let his gaze shift across the rest of the group. When he saw that they were serious he had to fight back a grimace. He had half hoped for a real government response but if this was what remained than what chance did they have? Even if he was willing to fight with them he wouldn't be able to be everywhere. He thought about it but he already knew his answer. Especially now that he saw his mother cared for the place. "Tell me how I can help."

  "Glad you offered. We've received a quest to upgrade the status of our station. We have two months to prepare for a beast tide. If we survive one of us will be appointed the ruler of New Philadelphia."

  Maximilian raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his seat. A beast tide sounded simpler than what he had to do but he figured it was no less difficult. He also could tell it wouldn't work. Not unless they recruited more people. He couldn't be sure but his gut told him if he helped the Network would alter the challenge. Even if it didn't he doubted he could fight a tide by himself. His Dao and skills were strong but the hornets proved that he wasn't a god. That he wasn't strong to walk wherever he wanted. "Have you considered giving up? I don't mean to demean your efforts but I am not strong enough to resist a tide on my own. I don't know how many monsters that would be but we should assume the worst. We should assume that my presence will make it harder."

  His words dashed the groups excitement. He glanced at his mother but her expression was indecipherable. He decided not to save them from the discomfort. They were smart enough to understand that there was a second option. If it were just his mother he would've already suggested that she leave with him. He knew her better than that though. She wouldn't leave a project unfinished especially not when she could be of use to the people here. There was also the small manner of his own quest. He wasn't sure how many people lived here but it should be more than the population of Nubia by half at least.

  "So what exactly do you suggest? That we abandon everything we've built and what follow you?" The angry man began. Maximilian was about to respond to the man's anger with his own when he realized that wasn't right. He could see the pain in the man's eyes and understood what he felt. At least in theory. How many of their people had died to get them where they were? It would be the same as giving up on them and what they had accomplished.

  "I suggest that you make the smarter choice. If you want, I will stay and I will fight for as long as I can. It would be a great chance for me to get some levels. There's even the chance that the Network would reward me with a quest. You all should be aware that despite how hard I'd try I couldn't promise safety. It's possible, no its likely there are monsters strong enough to challenge or even beat me. If they came, how would I be able to keep the innocents here safe? You should also know that there is a chance that the Network won't ever give you this chance again. That you won't be able to be a leader if you give up on the quest."

  Maximilian watched the gears on their faces. As they processed what that meant. He knew what some of them would think because he would've assumed it as well. Once they joined Nubia, they would give up any chance at making a society in their image. Of course, that was mostly an assumption on his part so he couldn't say for sure. After all the Network seemed to reward conflict so they might get another chance, but it wasn't a real choice. He flexed his fingers and passed a small amount of spiritual energy into them. These people weren't cultivators. They might never get strong enough to fight someone like him. Let alone the him from a year or a decade from now. He placed a hand on his mother's shoulder. It also went without saying that if it came down to it. That if he couldn't save everyone else he would save his mother. The thought made him feel sick inside. How many people out there had loved ones but lacked the power? He released his mother's shoulder and got to his feet. "I will leave you all to think on it. I am going to see what your city has to offer. After that if you haven't made your choice I am going to fight some beast's in the forest."