?
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He was now truly a Throne. An aspect being even greater than a Divine Law and with his full mastery over it, honed from the memories he had obtained from his future self, he did not feel any shame to call himself a Throne now.
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Reflecting on those memories, he had received a great deal of new information. All would be of great help in his quest for power and to protect those he loved. Firstly, he now knew of the coming war.
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The System’s preparations weren’t for nothing. War was coming, and he had to be ready so that his mere existence would deter any fighting spirit in the enemy. He had acquired the locations of the most interesting treasures, dungeons, legacies, or even Intents, Laws, and Aspects that could be of use.
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Many of those would one day be claimed by players or people who weren’t even born yet. But Akhenamen already had a few of them as priority targets for him to claim.
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He was also given knowledge and blueprints for weapons, armors, and new Cygilites constructs that would become immensely helpful to have so early and would allow his people to reach new heights of power before the war.
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As he stared at Valencia, a few kilometers away from Cygislax, sitting down while drinking from her mug, Akhenamen smiled. He was glad his future self had spared him the knowledge of their future travel.
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He wished to experience all this truly by himself. However, he did know when and where he had missed an opportunity through his travel. This time, he could make sure they weren’t missed.
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He waved his hand at her, showing her he was alright and awake. She answered with a thumb up, showing she saw him. However, Akhenamen was still not ready to allow Sofya and the others to enter Cygislax.
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He looked at the massive hole in the center of Cygislax. Where the four waterfalls of Liquid Silver unleashed their torrents. Standing up, he appeared standing at the edge of the deep well. His new blueprints would be useful for the coming exploration of Cygislax as he now knew all the valuable treasures inside the factory.
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He took one step forward, one that was almost familiar. After all, he had once taken a similar step to fall down to his death; now he was falling down to the first step of his plan to save those he loved.
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His body fell down at high speed, slamming down into the pool of Liquid Silver at the bottom, his feet slamming into the silver he had hardened a few seconds before impact, a loud boom spreading through the newly revealed underground complex.
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This room looked massive, as big as the city above. From his memories, this was where the Cygilites would one day build all their machines, weapons, armors, and more. It would one day be the heart of the great factory of Cygislax. But for now, it was just a giant, extensive plain of liquid silver.
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The path split into three hallways. Akhenamen went directly into the hallway on the right.
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[Where are we going, Dad?]
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“To get you your new body. There is no need to wait.”
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[YEAH! When do we arrive? (* °ヮ° *) ]
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Akhenamen almost felt like he was back on Earth, hearing his daughter and son constantly ask for when they would arrive. This made him smile as he stepped inside a towering room. One where even his huge body looked tiny.
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Inside, numerous machines of Liquid Silver and Aethereal Bronze (another type of material used by the Cygilites) seemed to all link to each other, and in the center of the room stood a black shape of pure Karadium.
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On the ceiling, a huge cylinder surrounded a thinner-looking piece of Aethereal Bronze covered in magi-tech runes. This was the “hammer”. A huge industrial press, a giant piston which, despite its size, could concentrate all its impact into a single point, a material made exclusively to increase the property of anything it struck.
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This was also called the Silver Forge. Where every Cygilite at the Transcendent level had come to refine their bodies, craft their weapons, and armors.
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He went to the consoles at the end of the room, his hands reaching toward the floating Control Spheres, allowing him to, as their names implied, control and use the forge. He was not a Forger; only they could effectively craft weapons and armors.
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But to shape a body, he only needed to use the blueprints inside his mind. The Forge could craft a Cygilite's body on its own.
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He stared at the Liquid Silver distribution control node and activated it, using the most advanced and refined version of Living Silver, refined from the Liquid Silver stored inside the Forge’s reserves.
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He watched it heat up, melting despite its already liquid state, and dunking it all inside a mold.
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The molten glowing lava-like metal started to fill up a humanoid mold that had been placed on the anvil, which, a few seconds later, was suddenly struck by the giant press. A loud CLANG that would have most likely pierced all defenses.
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Every slam made the complex shake, showing the sheer power contained within the forge.
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CLANG CLANG CLANG… This kept going for a good five minutes.
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Almost like a rhythm, if Akhenaten had been a true blacksmith, he would even have used a melody to rhythm his strike with the song. However, he was neither a good singer nor a blacksmith.
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A loud and abundant amount of steam was expelled from the mold, which finally opened itself, revealing the perfect silver frame inside. It had been successfully forged. And for the next part, Akhenamen did not need the forge.
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Staring down at the silver body in the middle of the anvil, he raised his hand as hundreds of nanites started to rush out of his palm and went straight into his daughter’s future body. Already busy multiplying and quickly starting the silver frame’s own nanites.
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Literally birthing the recently forged nanites to life.
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“So Syllena… tell me, what do you want your body to look like?”
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[It’s a surprise! I thought about it, and I’m not spoiling it! Just upload me into my new body, eheh! You’ll be impressed! (?>????) ]
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[Mmmm…. EHEHE!]
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“What do you have behind your head, little minx?”
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[Nuthin! (? ????) ]
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Akhenamen knew she had something planned, but he was sure that even if he had millions of possibilities, he would still fail to guess what his daughter’s idea could be.
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[Upload me into the frame! I’ll show you the new Syllena 10.000!]
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“You’re already at your ten thousand update? My poor daughter’s such a slow learner.”
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[RUDE! I’ll expect a sorry when I’ll whoop your ass with my new body!]
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A warm laugh came from Akhenamen.
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He stayed still and just raised his hand, touching the silver frame’s forehead, allowing his consciousness to enter this new body, waiting for Syllena to take over this body as he finally went back into his own body.
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As he then watched his daughter’s new body start to light up, morphing and transforming before his eyes, her silvery body turning from genderless to a feminine shape, her head’s liquid silver turning into long straight hairs.
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Her skin made a soft rippling effect as it became pale, her hair becoming as black as night, her eyes glowing a dangerous yellow with slitted pupils. Her humanoid arm turned thick, bigger, into big cat-like paws covered in black fur from its thick pads to her elbows. She also obviously had cat ears and a tail.
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“TADA!”
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“Really? Felinid? I was expecting some grand shape! Something totally unexpected!”
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Syllena jumped to her feet, staring at Akhenamen with a proud, smug look.
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“Expect…the EXPECTED!”
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Akhenamen just sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He swore Syllena was gonna be the death of him one day… But watching her happy, smug smile, Akhenamen felt his mind slow down; her face replaced by the bloody, pained, and terrified face she had from the blow that had ended her life during the war.
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His eyes changed, becoming vulnerable, and tears started to run down his cheeks, causing Syllena to panic and suddenly jump and hug Akhenamen’s chest.
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“I..I’m sorry dad. I..I didn’t w..want to…to be mean! I won’t lie to you ever again! I swear! Please don’t cry!”
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“Syllena. My dear daughter. Do not worry, your old father was… thinking.”
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From Akhenamen’s future memories, he didn’t see any moment where Syllena had been able to have a proper childhood. She had stayed at his side and went through everything he did.
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She never had a true childhood. Never acted like a normal teenager.
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Akhenamen, an Aspect, a being that would one day wipe out entire civilisations, kneeled, hugging his daughter tightly.
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“I am so sorry, Syllena.”
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“W…why are you sorry? You d..did nothing wrong! I’m the bad liar! I’m super sorry!”
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He stared into her big, wide, glowing eyes, softly pressing his forehead against hers, connecting their mind and allowing her to see his true thoughts. His very love and care for her.
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“I will make you happy. That is my promise as your father, Syllena. You told me you wished to experience life as a real girl. Then… once the new year starts. You will be sent to The Academy. You will be granted what I kept from you once.”
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Syllena’s eyes widened, not understanding fully what her father was talking about, but she knew…she was happy. She was so happy to be his daughter. She hugged him back, pushing her face into his shoulder.
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Akhenamen’s eyes glowed brighter than ever before. This time… this time, he would not let down his family, his friends. They would be able to enjoy their lives, have fun, and relax.
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He and his legions of Cygilites, he and the other Aspects would take care of this damned war!
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A father loves his children and wife! He does not send them to war!
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A friend does not allow his friends to die “for the good of the universe” when they could be saved.
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He was a father, a husband, a friend, and an Aspect! To protect this universe would be HIS DUTY!