Global Gods : Skill-Resonance Awakened Chapter 374 374: Ch 374 : Fascinated by The Kidnapper

For a long, stifling moment, the Jade Empress remained utterly still, her mind a chaotic storm of shattered thoughts.

The words spoken by Anohara seemed to cling to the pavilion's cool, mystical air like a tangible burden.

Something more valuable than my territory? The question reverberated within the emptiness of her chest, igniting a frantic inner debate.

'Is he referring to me? My physical being? My very soul?' she pondered, her breaths catching in shallow gasps. 'Does he intend to keep me as a mere trophy, a living testament to his conquest of the Jade Empire? Or perhaps some arcane, forbidden ritual demands the essence of a defeated Empress?'

The vast dominion she had diligently nurtured over years, encompassing a hundred thousand worlds, prosperous emerald trade routes, and billions of devoted subjects, had been her profound pride, the very core of her identity.

To hear it casually dismissed as secondary to some personal pursuit was an assault on her ego that inflicted a sharper sting than any physical injury. Finally, mustering the last vestiges of her resolve, she managed to articulate the question.

"What could possibly hold greater value than my dominion? I preside over the entirety of the Jade Empire. I command the very flow of magical essence across numerous galaxies. What is it you truly desire, Anohara?"

Anohara responded with a light, almost musical laugh, devoid of the menacing undertone she had anticipated. It sounded more like a scholar discussing a subject of profound interest.

"In all strictness, that is a private affair," he stated, leaning back in his ornate chair and crossing one leg over the other. "However, since your departure is not an option until my objective is met, there is little point in maintaining pretense. You are owed an understanding of the consequence of your arrogance."

The Jade Empress seized upon the phrase, 'not going anywhere until he gets it done.' A spark of desperate hope ignited within her emerald eyes. 'Until he gets it done? Does this imply a set timeframe? A conclusion in sight? Will he grant me freedom once his aim is achieved, or is 'done' merely a veiled reference to my demise?'

"The entity surpassing your territory in value," Anohara declared, his voice descending into an unnervingly casual tone of assessment, "is your sight."

He did not falter as he spoke, his intense gaze fixed upon hers with a detached, analytical precision.

Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs. For a fleeting, terror-stricken instant, her mind drifted toward a romantic notion.

'Is this a declaration of affection? Is he so enthralled by my appearance that he has lost all reason?' But the chilling, discerning gleam in Anohara's eyes swiftly shattered this delusion. This was not the look of an admirer; it was the keen gaze of a collector.

"Bewilderment suits you far better than haughtiness," Anohara observed, noting her silence. "What I mean to convey is that your innate talent outshines the worth of your dominion. My sole aspiration in this existence, the very goal I divulged to my attendants, is to cultivate a pair of eyes that eclipse all other ocular abilities known. I pursue the 'Perfect Vision,' the sight capable of penetrating the very fabric of the Void and the Real alike."

As he articulated his ambition, Anohara's aura began to emit a gentle, golden radiance. The ambient temperature within the chamber ascended noticeably, the air itself seemingly vibrating with the sheer intensity of his aspiration.

"Will you take them?" she whispered, her voice quivering. "Will you tear them from my head? Do you intend for me to endure the remainder of my days in perpetual darkness, awaiting death solely to glimpse the world again through a respawn?"

Anohara let out a sigh, a subtle expression of mild displeasure crossing his features.

"Empress Esmira... I believe you mistake me for a common ruffian. Had surgical extraction been my objective, I would have completed it hours ago while you were incapacitated. No, I am an architect of abilities, not a butcher of flesh. My intention is to integrate your talent with my own."

He leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers. "I have been performing such integrations for a considerable period. Presently, my eyes have successfully absorbed eight distinct S-Grade and SS-Grade talents."

"My aim is to continue this acquisition until I achieve the 'Ultimate Eye,' embodying every visual law throughout the multiverse and even the forbidden truths that lie beyond. Your Jade Gaze of Bewitchment is an indispensable component for the ninth stratum."

"Integration?" Esmira stammered, her mind reeling from the sheer incredulity of his assertion.

"That... that is merely a legend. The sole documented method for integrating talents is through the Cauldron of the First Spark, located within the City of Gods—a unique artifact vigilantly guarded by the deities themselves. And even then, the probability of success is notoriously low. Should the compatibility falter, both talents are utterly annihilated. You would gamble your own vision on such a precarious chance?"

She was acutely aware of the inherent dangers. She had once consulted with a Demigod from her own empire, who had spoken of the artifact in hushed, fearful tones.

To safeguard one's talent during such a precarious undertaking, it was necessary to entrust it to Demigod Mire for safekeeping, a price that countless individuals willingly paid without hesitation.

"The City of Gods operates by its own rules," Anohara stated with a dismissive air. "And I have my own methods for merging talents."

"And my name?" she inquired, her voice catching. "How do you ascertain my true name? Even my ministers address me solely as the Empress."

"My gaze is capable of perceiving the Description of any mortal," Anohara replied, his tone suggesting utter boredom. "Names are simply identifiers affixed to the soul. Yours is rather conspicuous. Now, shall we deliberate on the condition of your empire? Or perhaps you would prefer to continue indulging in your outrage?"

"What is the state of affairs beyond these walls?" Esmira questioned, her inflection shifting to one of sharp vexation. "I am unable to even access my system interface. It feels as though you have completely severed my connection to the world."

"Oh? You are eager to ascertain the status of your grand creation?" Anohara’s laughter was a dry, hollow sound. "The smear campaign you so meticulously orchestrated against my family and myself?"

A wave of hot shame washed over Esmira. Seated here, captured and stripped of all power, before the very individual she had attempted to portray as a bloodthirsty tyrant, made her feel utterly childish. The architect of schemes was now a prisoner in an opulent cage.

"Your campaign has... undergone a transformation," Anohara remarked. He reached into the air, drawing forth a glistening system panel and sliding it towards her. With a casual flick of his wrist, he deactivated his privacy safeguards, granting her full access to the global news forum via his system. "You may observe for yourself how the Truth you disseminated is faring in your absence."

Esmira glanced at the panel, anticipating the sight of countless fabricated posts detailing alleged Imperial corruption and Anohara's supposed atrocities. Instead, a profound disappointment settled in her heart as she scanned the top trending headlines:

[THE EMPRESS'S SECRET NUPTIALS: Did the Jade Empress abruptly end her livestream to attend to a clandestine fiancé?]

[THE ECHO OF AN OLD INJURY: Medical experts speculate the Empress's collapse during the broadcast was due to residual harm from a previous encounter with a Demigod Demon.]

[PROSPECTS OF A ROYAL HEIR: Whispers abound that the Jade Empress is expecting; the abrupt cessation of the livestream was reportedly caused by unforeseen medical complications. A son has been born!]

Anohara scrolled languidly, allowing each headline to sear itself into her perception. The narrative Esmira had painstakingly constructed, the image of the defiant revolutionary battling a despot, was being supplanted by a sensationalized saga of personal relationships and petty scandals.

Abruptly, a single headline seized her attention. It was unadorned, stark, and deeply unsettling: [OUR EMPRESS IS UNDER DURESS.]

Esmira's heart surged with a desperate hope. 'Finally,' she thought. 'Someone has picked up the scent. Someone realizes he has abducted me.' She frantically gestured for Anohara to open the post, which he did with a smirk that dripped with mockery.

[EMPRESS DETAINED BY HER OWN PATERNAL FIGURES: Reports indicate the Empress's aged parents have confined her within the Royal Ancestral Hall for voicing dissent against King Anohara. Operating under duress of reprisal, they are allegedly compelling her to relinquish her claim in favor of her brother.]

Esmira's resolve crumbled completely. "You... you have completely reshaped the narrative," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you truly believe anyone will perceive the connection? That anyone will comprehend I am being held captive by you?"

"And why would they?" Anohara chuckled, settling back into his seat. "In their eyes, I am a relic of the past. I have not even lodged a formal objection regarding your livestream. I am simply awaiting your recovery, or perhaps your pregnancy.... whichever you find more suitable."

"How did you accomplish this feat?" Esmira demanded, her verdant eyes now gleaming with a potent mixture of animosity and a grudging admiration.

"My palace is an impenetrable fortress. Thousands of S-Grade mages and warriors maintain vigilance at every entry point. My chambers are enveloped in anti-spatial enchantments. To infiltrate and abduct me amidst a live broadcast, without triggering a single alarm... it is logically impossible. Unless, of course, you managed to bribe my entire High Council."

"I do possess informants," Anohara conceded. "They serve as the eyes and ears of my dominion. However, no, Esmira. No informant could have bypassed your personal protective wards nor transported you across countless dimensions undetected. As for the method employed... consult the official communiqué issued by your own government."

He conjured a new display, prominently featuring the seal of the Jade Empire.

[OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER: Minister Embian hereby declares that Her Imperial Majesty has entered a profound state of Meditative Breakthrough. Having perceived the precipice of the Demigod Realm, she shall undertake solitary cultivation for the ensuing five centuries. All governmental responsibilities are provisionally delegated to the High Council.]

"Embian?" Esmira's heart pounded erratically against her ribs. The sensation of profound betrayal felt like an icy chill coursing through her veins. "Why? Is he merely your pawn? Official pronouncements of this nature cannot be fabricated through standard channels... this represents the ultimate authority of the Jade Empire!"

"He is not my informant, Esmira," Anohara stated, his eyes radiating a chilling amusement. "He is your devoted subordinate. He issued that decree because you, yourself, instructed him to do so."

"I never... I would never..."

"You were under my Mind Control at the moment," Anohara interjected, his tone calm yet unsettling. "Afterwards, I terminated the live stream, and then I communicated through you. You met Embian's gaze, commanded him to undertake a 500-year seclusion, and subsequently fled your empire. You were an exceptionally compliant guest."

The harsh reality of their situation crumbled Esmira's final defenses. She had undeniably fallen into the trap, her own voice uttering the very decree that would lead to her historical erasure.

"So... you exerted control over me during my own broadcast?" she questioned softly, shaking her head. "Our worlds are separated by billions of light-years... this should be impossible."

"Distance is merely a construct," Anohara stated, rising to his feet. "My gaze possesses the ability to traverse any distance it beholds. And at that precise juncture, via the live stream, my eyes were fixed directly upon you. Manipulating the mind of a mortal through a digital connection was, to be perfectly candid, exceedingly simple."

He gazed down at her, the pavilion's golden luminescence mirrored in his irises. "You perceived yourself as a manipulator of shadows, Esmira. However, you neglected to remember that shadows only manifest in the presence of light casting them. And within this realm... I am the radiant sun."

Esmira slumped back against the plush silk cushions, her thoughts finally ceasing their turmoil. She was no longer an empress; she was merely a piece, a resource.

As she observed Anohara's departing form, a jolt of primal terror struck her: she wasn't just fearful of him. She was utterly captivated by his immense, overwhelming might.