His life was becoming quite busy. Yet in a way, he thought, it all aligned. Akhenamen reviewed his plans: travel to Cygislax and obtain the Primal Moon Essence, then activate the factory, but wait before awakening the Cygilites. He would learn the Intents located in Cygislax, finish his World Quest, then rush back to the Great Desert of Oleron.
Through this, he would contact Dean and Sofya’s mother to ask them a favor in helping convince the Northern Alliance to let his people pass through unharmed. The Cygilites, located in the Pyrax Empire, would also be safe. It only left a few in the Covenant’s territory.
And that one single Cygilite facility in the middle of Zenthia’s sea, but the merfolk kingdoms were too far for now. So, unless he could miraculously obtain a guarantee that the merfolk would not attack his people, he preferred to let them in their facility for now.
The Covenant would be his main priority for the time being. He couldn't rely on finding another Fate Chosen who miraculously had one of the most influential Transcendents of her nation with him.
Once this was done, he would meet with Orikon and at least think about his proposition and whether he would accept. But for now, it was too risky. Orikon survived for thousands of years for a reason. His skills had to be absolutely amazing.
“You seem troubled, Akhenamen.”
“Don’t worry, Valencia. Just thinking about someone. Do you know of Orikon the Gale Glaive?”
“Him? I do. Most Transcendents do. He’s an incredibly powerful Authority. He’s been alive for so long that no one really remembers his story. It’s like... he was always there. But no one knows much more than that.”
“I see. No matter then. How are you recuperating?”
“My body is almost back to full strength. I only need a day or two before being able to take the kids back to Pyrax.”
“Will you be safe? They got the better of you once.”
“True, but I was weakened; if they hadn’t poisoned me, they wouldn’t have stood a chance. Their faction is actually just one of the many living in the Imperial Court. They might carry a bit more strength than the others as they have two Beyonders backing them, but they wouldn’t expose themselves so easily.”
“The Emperor might be far less scary than the story would make people believe, but he is ruthless with those who harm his family. Once we’re back, he’ll be ramping through the Radical Faction’s headquarters with his guards.”
Akhenamen nodded. It made sense, as useful as the Radical Faction could be, they had directly attacked his family. Even he would have been furious, and he was pretty sure he had a better temper than the Emperor of Pyrax.
Behind Akhenamen and Valencia, Sofya, Aelion, and Moira were already making plans about where they should visit and what guilds to join. Akhenamen felt relieved that Sofya got along with people her age. He had assumed she was one of those slightly socially inept and awkward teens, but he realized he had been completely wrong.
“Thanks again for saving us, Akhenamen. I don’t know what would have happened. If I had died alongside Moira to protect Aelion, I don’t doubt the kid would have become hellbent on revenge.”
“And it would have been hard for him to get access to the palace if even a single Radical Transcendent was waiting for him. My death wouldn't have caused the Empire’s fall, but definitely would have allowed the Radicals to sink their claws deeper into the Imperial Court.”
“Don’t worry, Valencia.”
Akhenamen stopped, staring into the distance, making Valencia follow his gaze. Her eyes widened at the sight before her. The three teens soon had the same reaction as the two Transcendants. Moire couldn’t help herself.
“What is that?”
{We have arrived, Hierarch. Welcome to Cygislax.}
A massive building stood before them, the great desert had been replaced by a floor made from black crystal, towering and massive cubes of black crystal floating above pyramids acting like a pedestal.
The cubes seemed to be made from four smaller cubes, each tightly linked by glowing green lines of energy coursing through them. Massive rivers of Liquid Silver seemed to fall from those cubes into a huge hole in the middle of Cygislax.
Those cubes and pyramids weren’t the only structures, though. The main and most eye-catching feature of Cygislax was the enormous assembly of cogs forming a sphere, where each cog moved in seemingly random directions and at random intervals with loud humming sounds.
But other than that, Cygislax was strangely empty. No Cygilites in sight, nothing else other than this great and extensive crystal floor, which was run through by thick glowing green veins pulsating with the same energy animating his nanites.
[That’s Cygislax? It seems, empty..?]
{It is Cygslax, Syllena. The Cygilites are below the city, guarding the mainframe. Cygislax was once a grand city populated by millions of Cygilites. Now it has entered a dormant state, disassembling most of itself to produce better soldiers ready to protect their home.}
“Could it recognise us as enemies?”
{Not us, but the fleshlings will undoubtedly trigger the defense mechanism. It’s better if we go by ourselves until we have control over the factory. Be careful, for a place as important as Cygislax, some of our strongest must guard this place.}
“Thrones and Beyonders?”
{It’s guaranteed… and maybe even an Authority.}
“This might be a lot tougher than we intended. I’m well below the strength of an Authority; if it doesn’t wish for me as a leader, I cannot do anything but retreat.”
[Maybe you should see that weird cog machine first, Dad? It feels weird.]
Akhenamen did not answer; he was indeed intrigued by this strange creation. Unlike the usual Cygilite and prothean technology made of black crystal and liquid silver, this was made from a deep bronze-like color, every cog carved with glowing runes of green energy.
While none of the younger members of the group could see it, his Sight was able to see powerful currents channeling energy into a thick glowing green lightning bolt. Immediately, he knew what he was watching.
The famed [Legendary Intent of Gauss Unmaking]. He knew it in his very body.
“Everyone, stay here. Valencia, I won’t be far. I won’t start my exploration until you are healed. In the meantime, I’ll go and study this place. Do not enter. There are very powerful Cygilites guarding this place. They won’t attack me, but they will definitely be triggered by your presence.”
Everyone nodded, knowing when to argue and when to comply. Even Valencia didn’t say a word; she could also see the Intent concentrated within the cogs, and her instincts made her know that she would undoubtedly die if she stepped into Cygislax.
“We’ll wait here.”
“Thank you.”
Akhenamen started to float toward Cygislax. The closer he got, the bigger everything was getting to a point where even a city like Kork could easily be put inside one of the floating cubes.
The moment his body started to float above the crystal floor, lines of green data streams burst from under him, moving through his body, analyzing all his components. This lasted for three seconds before a notification attracted his eyes. No. Not a notification, an actual message.
[Cygislax has recognised you as a Cygilites. Defensive measures aborted. Welcome home, Cygitek Akhenamen.]
“So… Cygislax’s main frame has some sort of sentience or is currently controlled by another Cygilites. What’s that?”
He had obtained a new trait called [Origin Boost]. A temporary one.
[Origin Boost] [Temporary]: While you stand within Cygislax, you are in the presence of one of the most important places of power of the old Cygilites. You receive a permanent boost doubling all your stats while in Cygislax. Stepping outside will make you lose this trait.
“Is that maybe a homebase boost? I wonder if all beings have access to a similar trait. Sylleba, can you ask the System?”
On it, Dad!]
[Answer received. Yes, all races have a Birth-Point granting them an Origin Boost.]
“So that’s why Cygislax has never fallen. A beyonder gains the stats of an Authority. So an Authority must reach the status of a rank eight Transcendent. It’s pretty much impossible to conquer a Birth Point, I think.”
[So that makes you around the power of an Authority right now! At least in terms of stats!]
“You’re correct, Syllena. Well, time to go see this mechanism. I must obtain this Intent.”
[Yes! Good luck, Dad! I’ll be with you!]
{Good luck, Hierarch. This Intent has been gathering power for too long; it’s time to put it to the good use of our people once more.}
Akhenamen had to admit it felt too… simple. Too easy. He was standing before the cogs, and no one had stopped him. No secret guards or keepers. No enemies. Nothing, just the surprising silence of a sleeping factory. Even the waterfall of Liquid Silver didn’t make a single sound.
“This feels too easy. I don’t like it.”