The scene was a devastating one to watch.
From a battle against three Alfanian Rulers and two Dragon Rulers, not a single one of the Alfanian Rulers survived as only a massive Dragon Sky Ruler remained!
And this entity was going to claim its prize at this moment, its gaze locked upon the Covenant Gems shining brightly.
But at the next moment, its danger senses pulsed as it barely looked up to see the tip of a glistening golden sword crashing down.
And more than this, the golden sword didn’t just seem to be coming down by itself- it carried with it the imposition of a False Domain of a Covenant of Nature!
[Vile!]
The dragon roared out maddeningly as it pulled upon its remaining resources to enact its own domain- but there was barely any shred of Energeia remaining.
A murky barrier of Covenant Authority was the only thing it was able to gather as it withstood the sharp point of the golden sword and the descent of a False Domain of Gold!
BOOM! Your next read awaits at empire
And the impact was heavy. So heavy that the scales of the dragons buzzed, blood spurting out between them as its body sank into the molten earth!
The huge gash that it had in its chest opened up even more right now, blood flowing out like mad, but at least it didn’t allow the gold blade to pierce its body.
[You think you can sneak attack a dignified entity and take me down?! I will let you know of the inexhaustible grandeur of Drag-…!]
The dragon was bellowing out maddened words filled with power as it regenerated and gathered more and more of its remnant authority.
But about halfway through, it felt the massive solidified golden sword that it withstood again, a tremendous amount of weight as under its gaze of disbelief- a second False Domain cascaded down!
A second one!
He didn’t even have the time to question if there were actually two Sky Rulers hiding in the dark waiting.
SQUELCH!
With the increase in weight and power, the golden sword was hindered no more by his defenses as it thundered down and entrenched itself deep into his back, cutting apart his wings and going through until its pointed end came out of its chest!
Cleanly through and through!
[Gah…!]
A bellow of defiance and indignation boomed out as the last glimmer of the life force of a Sky Ruler dwindled down.
Its body began to change its texture and material as the coverage of gold began to spread all around.
And the eyes of this Sky Dragon were unwilling. Unrelenting!
It wanted to see.
It wanted to see just which two Sky Rulers were patient and cowardly enough to camp and wait to decimate it like so!
And…
The eyes of the Dragon that were about to be transformed into pure gold trembled as its serpentine pupils saw the culprit responsible for its death.
It was…a single human. A young one at that.
His eyes held traces of gold as he was looking down at the devastation with a cold look that made the already dying dragon spit blood, its eyes becoming gold as even in death, it was questioning!
That little young human was the reason for someone as dignified as him to perish?!
One last thought, and that was it
In the skies, Alexander looked at the horrid scene of the melting and bubbling earth below as extreme heat surrounded this entire area.
He saw the dead bodies of Alfanian Rulers as he thought of Ryanara and sighed.
The threads of information had told him regarding this event as he realized at this moment, his mind was not geared towards saving the Alfanian Rulers.
On his way here, he had only been thinking about what the products would be from the mutual destruction of the battling Sky Rulers.
He looked at them…as if they were merely sources of Covenant Gems.
When did his thoughts begin to turn so cold and callous?
Even as he had these thoughts, he kept his imposed Domains of Gold and Earth in the surroundings as tendrils of his authorities were picking up the Covenant Gems and the Ruler’s Gems all around.
He reminded himself that he had many abilities through the Enneagram that made him calculative, but he still had his humanity.
If he were to put himself into the shoes of the now dead Alfanian Rulers, including the Land Rulers and the Sky Rulers- they had their own worries, and families to think about. One of them may have even been connected to Ryanara who was at this moment searching for her people!
What if there came a time when an enemy was looking at Claire as simply a means for them to obtain Ruler Gems to empower themselves?
The idea caused him to turn up to the gray skies and the distant void above it as he closed his eyes.
He wanted more power, yes. But the method by which he achieved his power could not be the same as his enemies.
Otherwise, he would be nothing but a hypocrite!
This time around, he was late to save any Alfanian Rulers, but if there was a chance next time- he would do the more humane thing.
He breathed out at such a conclusion as he opened his eyes and looked at the cluster of Gems now swirling around him.
From the five dead Sky Rulers, he retrieved 17 Covenant Gems.
And from the deceased Land Rulers, 12 Ruler’s Gems!
The most critical thing were the Covenant Gems, and Alexander felt his heart beat chaotically as he looked at them.
He held three before this as they would have advanced any Covenant by 18%.
Even if he didn’t count them, the 17 he had just obtained…were enough to grant a full 102% to any Covenant!
It meant that this pathway he had chosen to take could truly make him into a Void Ruler.
“…”
He was dazed at this as it didn’t feel entirely real.
His path across the stages of a Ruler was astonishingly fast as he knew it took others years. Yet now…it seemed that within a single day, he would jump from Land Ruler to Sky Ruler, and now there was the grandeur of a Void Ruler ahead!
It was ridiculous, but to face the enemies that came and ensure a life of calmness, laziness, and happiness for himself, it was exactly what he needed.
He focused again on the Covenant Gems as there was yet another surprise.
Among the 17, four were radiantly shining crimson and surrounded by flames.
Covenant Gems of Fire.
If he spent them towards his Covenant of Fire, he could gain an instant 48% Assimilation as the rate was doubled if the Covenant Gem absorbed went towards the same Covenant!
But…he would not choose Fire for his first one.
So these would be saved and used last as for now, he would utilize the Covenant Gems towards a higher Tier Covenant of his, with the race having come down to Gold and Evolution.
He wanted them both. He would eventually have both! But which one would be the first?
The effects of Evolution were unique as they even showed a level of empowerment and change in other Covenants, but its offensive power was not much to speak about.
Meanwhile, Gold was his first Covenant, going in line with the Sacred Gold Mountain he was a Master of as it held more offensive measures that could cut down his enemies!
What did he need the most at this moment?
“Evolution…is change over time.”
…!
He spoke out the singular understanding of Evolution as the moment he said it, his decision was made.
20 Covenant Gems in total.
At this moment, 17 of them were pulled into his Enneagram as he spoke out calmly.
“Let Gold achieve full assimilation.”
WAA!
Change over time. It was unique, but he needed a sharper tool at this exact moment in time!
Gold.
It was always Gold!
So Gold led the way forward as his figure hung in the skies, a golden brilliance akin to a star being born flashing out blindingly at this moment!