The Conquerors Path Chapter 999 - 997-You Don't Get The Goods On My Watch.

'Yeah, I really needed that.'

I lounged back on the couch, all clothed and sharp-looking, everything in order, my thoughts utterly at ease, honestly speaking, while unfortunate Lily sprawled across the sheets, her gaze flipped upward in her skull, her form jerking slightly now and then. I considered mending her, yet it appeared she preferred remaining in that state, all battered, blending agony and ecstasy, so I allowed her to rest as is.

During our previous encounter, I'd arranged for her to shift to a superior setup beneath my influence, but afterward, another scheme had sprouted, leading me to reposition her as a premium overseer in the division managed by Vixuola. Astonishingly, her kin held ties there.

It was a lineage boasting some influential links and a prominent role in the conflict advisory group on the faction side, and upon Lily's relocation here, thanks to her unique "talents," she was welcomed warmly and has thrived as a kind of front-desk handler in the area. Therefore, when I decided to act in this place, I summoned her to join me.

Not exactly for intimacy alone. Sure, the intense, all-out passion feels great, but beyond that, it's about reining in my inner turmoil. My dual aspects require their nourishment to remain linked. By clinging to reason and virtue somehow, harmony gains power, yet for disorder to flourish, I must infuse my personal flavor of mayhem and followers beneath me.

To accept my darker aspect, all while twisting innocent souls into more warped editions of who they were. It's agonizing and challenging to pull off, but essential if I aim to avoid plunging into contradictions that could shatter my existence and ultimately dismantle me.

Therefore, balancing the pair is crucial, nurturing it as I advance, demanding a subtle handling. Up to now, harmony has been expanding, but presently, disorder deserves its moment to gleam. That's why I reached out to Lily. Through this, I sealed her essence completely as my own, while shattering her to the point where she's wholly surrendered to her wild side.

My gaze caught my distinctive mark of taint embedding deep into her spirit. Her restraints diminished, her cravings surfacing bolder, destined soon to exist solely for delight and amusement, stripping that mental barrier that curbs urges. That's precisely why turmoil is largely shunned in this realm.

Self-control is what maintains our society. You spot something and a risky or foolish notion crosses your mind, yet you rein it in. Embracing disorder removes that safeguard, permitting the profound shadowy malice of existence to dominate you, and before long, Lily will embody that entirely.

Yet it doesn't have to be absolute.

I grinned at the idea as my sight also detected the sliver of harmony I'd embedded inside her. I'm not solely disorder; I'm harmony too. Thus, I inserted a safeguard into her essence. Certainly, the taint has claimed her for me, but the restraint I desire for her persists. It won't drive her to ruin her existence, although every such limit will crumble in my presence. Otherwise, she'll manage a fairly ordinary routine.

My route of taint involves cravings.

I ran my tongue over my lips considering that. The further I urge her to welcome those feelings, those filthy yearnings, the more, in a way, my strength pulses, not massively but in a minor, managed manner. For instance, taking her while her spouse is nearby could shift things similarly. Naturally, I could pursue alternatives, but that would mean suppressing my own urges and identity, which harms my progress ahead.

For disorder, I must indulge my shadowy cravings and preferences to evolve as well, not merely evoke them in others. So if I push it artificially, I might improve somewhat, but far from the heights I'd reach by staying authentic to myself.

My own restraints fade too in this state.

Focusing on those notions, I steadied my composure and unwound slightly. Now, after releasing some tension, my thinking would sharpen. From the looks of it, it'll take a while for Vixuola to arrive with her decision and moves, granting me a window of opportunity. Hence, after leaving a note for Lily to discover upon awakening, I vanished from the chamber.

I surged through the folds of dimension as I quickly reached a secluded basin, towering peaks encircling me, verdant fields woven throughout, and hovering aloft, I peered below at a vast depression from which savage gusts howled, potent enough to swiftly fell an Origin level 3.

My gaze sharpened as I darted forward once more, materializing at a cleverly concealed cavern entrance that, by chance, reveals itself only when the breezes abruptly cool for brief instants before intensifying. My awareness then detected the numerous formidable wind beasts prowling nearby.

Fortune truly plays cruel tricks on me.

I reflected as I grasped Leonardo's predicament. He and his companions had ventured here mainly on a quest to slay a particular creature in the region, which turned out to be a horde far surpassing their capabilities. Thanks to Leonardo's commanding guidance, they'd plunged at the precise juncture when the gales had turned milder.

That alteration enabled them to glide into this undiscovered spatial pocket, which surprisingly housed a particular ancient realm.

'This one's advanced.'

I pondered while positioned inside the cavern. Like a typical grotto, this one appeared ordinary, save for the grand, silver-hued slab levitating at its core, emitting soft glows that influenced the surroundings, apparently concealing its aura.

It required little time for me to decipher the inscriptions on the slab and comprehend, somewhat, the nature of this ancient realm.

'Tch... fortune for sure.'

A touch of annoyance washed over me regarding an event slipping from my grasp, yet I embraced it. Such occurrences arise, and controlling every one proves impossible. So my thoughts raced briefly, sifting through various ideas in my head, evaluating them all, seeking to fathom the entirety.

'Suppose I just follow my inclinations.'

I curved my lips in a smirk as I laid my palm upon the slab of the ancient realm, its silver radiance swirling about me. At present, with those already immersed within, it bars further entrants. Evidently, the slab itself had chosen a suitable heir to inherit the heritage.

'Apologies, but I can't allow that.'

Whispering so, my grip shattered the silver slab, which, sensing the assault, attempted to muster its full might in defense, but it resembled a child swatting the sea with a soft pad, utterly futile.

In an instant, the entire slab fractured and disintegrated. It lacked even the vigor to resist properly as its fragments scattered and dropped to the floor. Following that, the cavern quaked, the ambient air halting briefly as I clutched this unique silvery gale essence in my grasp.

Through that very essence, the dimension encircling the cavern tore open, expelling six forms, consisting of five men and one woman, though the female was quite known to me, featuring brown locks, gaze, and spots.

Agent 007...

As soon as my eyes landed on him, a spark of astonishment hit me, which quickly fueled my frustration and rage.

"Nia!"

Leonardo yelled while dashing toward the "young lady" to assist her.

"Are you alright?!"

He inquired with alarm, but then Leonardo realized that certain teammates who had gone in with him, including a veteran, failed to emerge.

"No..."

He murmured while quivering, tears welling in his eyes. Those who appeared were the fortunate survivors spared from the dimensional upheaval of the abrupt rupture. The others had been torn asunder and mangled by the spatial surges. In essence, they're gone.

The remaining four guys lay on the earth, moaning in agony. Leonardo alone seemed somewhat recovered, and near him I felt the faint silver ripple, albeit incomplete and fractured.

Time for a bit of amusement, right?

I grinned as I permitted the wild notions in my head to emerge right then.