novelraw Chapter 286 - 285 - The Supremes
Chapter 286 - 285 - The Supremes
Lind looked around his meeting table and felt a bit intimidated. He could speak a large game but when surrounded by actual representatives of all the supreme power in one place was something very rare in the history of the 3 continents.
The last time it happened was during the war with the Demon Empire at its end.
Mythra was there for Starfire House who was a large part of the Stardust Emporium. Frankly, she was more than enough to check the Demon Empire by herself but Lind felt it wiser to address all the current powers.
The 2 Sky Realms were not known by him personally but clearly both super sects took the issue very seriously and wanted Lind to know he had their back up if needed. Rathi did not look happy but Callsito seemed chagrined to be in the presence of 2 legends.
All that was missing was the Saint Kingdom, but they had already stated they did not care what demons did among themselves. The Shadow Sect had made no comment but that was not unusual. Their goals were often unknown and their silence given most of the time.
"Now, to make sure all are on the same page, Rathi, please state your case." Some looked at Lind oddly as he called out to the Demon Empire representative as if he was a friend but Callisto smirked. She had heard about the events in detail about the last Inheritance tournament.
Rathi and Lind had a rather warm bond compared to most demons and humans.
"Thank you, Master Frey. My point is simple. The Akashic Bloodline is the Emperor's purview alone. Only the imperial family can nurture such a demon to his full potential while avoiding the pitfalls of the bloodline." Slayer almost went for his hilt when the bloodline was mentioned but Lind knew why.
The last time an Akashic Bloodline had risen was the very event that led to the world war. The power of that demon had been terrifying, but it was not the first one. The last few had been battle crazed but did not drag the whole world into it.
"My sisters seem to be clear on sending us. We think you understand why we would be opposed to your Demon Empire having one of those again?" The Iron Maiden had her fists clearly in sight and all knew she was not bending on that stance.
"Agreed, the Emporium has extensive records of each incarnation of that bloodline. Your record works against you." Lind knew they all believed what they said, but it was narrow minded. Before he could speak, however, Callisto beat him to it.
"While it is not wrong to be wary of the wielder of that bloodline, it is correct that the Blood Empire has prevented even greater issues with them. The intrinsic violence of the bloodline was curtailed compared to the ancient records the empire holds." Rathi's eyes narrowed but as it supported his purpose, he made no comment on Darkmoor knowing of such things.
The frowns on the 3 supreme powers in opposition was clear but Tessa could not interfere. Lind, however, had no such compunction.
"I think it would be wise for you to know that the young man is a Sand Tier as we speak." Shocked silence fell on the room. Rathi, for once, looked a little afraid. A jade stone appeared in front of Lind and a display was put up.
Kalen was doing his training but he had only a simple set of shorts and a shirt to cover himself. His wings, hooves, horns, and tail were visible but clearly more vestigial than prominent. They simply stood out due to his lavender skin being a lighter shade while the new additions were black all over.
Nearly all of the representatives jumped to their feet, save Callisto as her eyes only narrowed as she watched the display.
"As you can see, he is currently fine. He is far more aggressive than before but that was expected. My wife can take it from here." Lind waved for Cyntilla to speak and she frowned at the boy's movements.
"First, he is still a bit sloppy but he is focused on mastering his emotions. Lind is somehow able to snap him out of any fugue he enters although we do not understand why." Nothing was held back but the revelations that not only were they training him but that Lind's aura reigned him in made all of the supremes feel a chill down their spines.
He was only an Iron Tier but the Akashic Bloodline obeyed?!
There were rumors that something had happened to Lind Frey beyond becoming so injured it took a century to recover. Some whispered that his state had been caused by adding a bloodline to his body.
If it was true, it was a powerful one.
"There is no bloodline or power that can make the Akashic Bloodline obey!" Rathi actually looked indignant. For the Blood Empire, this boy would be a proud member they would nurture but also harshly train to control their more violent tendencies.
Lind looked at Rathi before another stone was summoned. It lit up and all heard a boy's voice.
"Yes, Master Frey?" The image showed it was live as the boy had stopped training.
"Kalen, please come to the meeting room as we discussed." The boy swiftly nodded and could be heard sprinting when he got near the door. A knock followed and Ethry let him in. He looked and felt more fearsome in person.
All the demons in the room felt an instinctive need to bow to Kalen. Even at the Sand Tier, his authority of bloodline overruled them. Callisto did not like it but she had been warned about it. Even so, she had not expected to run into the boy now at the Purgatory Realm.
Kalen's once calm face became fierce as he noticed Rathi. He tried to curtail his reaction but unlike Callisto, he felt a threat.
Rathi, for his part, had a cold sweat break out as if he was facing the god of all demons! The boy was only a Sand Tier, why did he feel so powerful?
The room became tense until Kalen suddenly jumped and looked at Lind. Lind did not seem to have done anything but he was looking firmly at Kalen.
Rathi felt his jaw drop as he saw the impossible. The Akashic Bloodline was irrepressible. It was destined to make all demons come to heel and there would be no defiance, only death.
The records he had learned of were clear that no bloodline could surpass it, not even a dragon! Rathi then noticed that Ethry was not as affected as others but she seemed to be afraid of Lind right then. Why?
"Kalen, please sit." Kalen nodded and sat next to Lind. Cyntilla looked at him in annoyance but she would deal with him later. "Explain what just happened." Lind's words made them all realize he had done something.
"I have difficulty putting it into words. I always feel like a storm is on the horizon and when I see demons, whether friend or foe, I feel the need to dominate. It is powerful, I feel like I am drowning." Kalen then shivered as he looked at Lind once more. "I then sense you, Master Frey, and I must obey. You shatter the dark clouds and even the desire to dominate seems like nothing next to you."
His words shook up all present. They moved to raise wards but suddenly realized the walls already had it! They had felt nothing but the door closing caused them to erect a formation so subtle, no one felt it until they tried to make their own!
The Mistress of Illusions sprung to mind due the exquisite work. Her formation power was above her realm so even the Sky Realms were stunned at what they felt.
"I have studied my body but the severe limits I live under have left me with little idea of what happened to me in the Inheritance. All I remember is nearly dying and waking up later in the special realm." It was all true. Lind was actually very frustrated as he could cultivate and use Qi fairly well now, but that bloodline authority wiped him out very quickly.
Thankfully, a quick flex was enough to keep Kalen in line.
"Now, we all have the information. You were saying only the Demon Empire could guide young Kalen?" Lind was ruthless. He scraped Rathi's biggest lever and left him with nowhere to go. Many felt satisfied but the catch was Lind, himself.
Lind was the linchpin for the opposition but that meant Kalen would be at the Moebius Sect for the future, correct? The Heavenly Maidens had no issue with that but both Divine Sword Sect and Darkmoor had large objections.
The Akashic Bloodline was a terror waiting to happen. Regardless of how they respected Lind, he did not have the power to stop such a beast from being unleashed in time.
"You have surprised me, Master Frey, but your journey will take you from the sect eventually. You cannot guide the Akashic Bloodline inheritor on a journey like yours." Rathi's words were not hidden daggers, but harsh reminders that Lind was a hunted man.
The powers looking for him were quiet for the moment as he was in a citadel beyond their reach, but back in the wide world, the battle would be joined. The hunt would not stop until he was run down.
Rathi was intimating the Demon Empire would not stop them if he tried to claim he could train Kalen in such an environment.
A small smile spread on Callisto's face. The runt from the Blood Empire may have thought that was a threat, but one glance into those deep dark green pools and the need to fight rose in her heart.
Lind glanced at the royal consort of Darkmoor in a little worry but she curtailed her bloodlust herself. Iron Maiden simply smirked at the display but Slayer looked a little grim as he knew the battle maniac his former little sister was.
"You misunderstand. I am not talking about a lifetime commitment. I am talking about laying a foundation and leaving the choice up to Kalen at that point. My love?" Cyntilla stepped forward and before anyone could react, she struck Kalen from behind.
Rathi nearly leapt from his seat but Ethry suddenly appeared next to him and with a single hand restrained him! She was weaker in aura but her strength had a similar effect at that moment.
He had forgotten she was a dragon of immense power!
He was one of the few that knew she was a dragon in human form but all in the room were aware.
The fight was swift but the expected escalation never came. Kalen strictly controlled himself and was getting a thrashing from Cyntilla, yet he was learning. His Qi flowed in a stable, if vicious, fashion. It showed he was in complete control which both Rathi and Callisto felt beyond stunned to see.
Slayer also looked on as a smile slowly spread.
"I get it! You are not guiding him as the Demon Empire but as purely a cultivator with a powerful bloodline. You are teaching him to master it and not subsume him!" The exclamation made all eyes narrow as the bout ended quickly.
"My husband assigned me to train him and I have done so. His original attacks after becoming a Sand Tier were mindless and, frankly, idiotic. As Kalen resumed control, he demonstrated his previous training as well as some instinctual responses with his new limbs." Cyntilla's words of praise made both Tessa and Kalen look up in surprise.
She was merciless in training.
"My point, Lord Rathi, is that the method employed by the Demon Empire may curtail the negative effects of the bloodline, but for some reason, you never tried to approach it as other cultivators that awaken powerful bloodlines." Lind's words made Rathi contemplative. The problem was staring him in the face.
"Demons can't do that, is your point, Master Frey?" Lind nodded.
"I have observed that while the warnings are true, I noticed Kalen can assume control over time. My goal is to lay a firm foundation in the Sand Tier the boy can use in the future." Lind looked around the table and bowed to them all. "I ask for time. Observers are free to stay but I want Kalen trained here. I welcome input, but I will not tolerate coercion. Is this an acceptable compromise?"
The powers around the table were the supreme representatives. While there had been others that fell in the past, very few could rise without such a fall occurring. Now, they all could see the Moebius Sect could indeed become their equal. It could also become a place of negotiation and compromise if they agreed.
All turned to Rathi who did not immediately object.
"I will have to consult his Highness and his Imperial Majesty, but they may agree under those conditions." The point was to allow the boy to grow and make his own choice. Darkmoor had to agree to it though.
"So long as his choice is honored and not influenced, we have no objection. However, I will stay as the observer." Lind felt a vein twitch at Callisto's words. Still, he could tolerate it. The Maiden and Sword sects both agreed as did Mythra, so the issue was resolved.
The details would be hammered out, but it was already laid with a firm foundation. The Moebius Sect would be busy in the future.