Book 9: Chapter 6: Kneel (3)

“Are you sure?”Dyon looked toward Amphorae with a serious expression.“Yes. If I bring Luna, there’ll no longer be a threat to my safety. I still believe that it’s important to participate in the Conference. We can easily cover the ground the lost with Luna’s help as well. If we don’t appear, the façade of our strength will be put into question.”Dyon fell into his thoughts. These days, he always had Alauna by his side, so the little girl was obediently sitting on his shoulders, remaining silent.The truth was that Amphorae was correct. Their façade of strength was very important. In addition, with Lyla going as well, it would be a great opportunity to look into the true thoughts of those heading this Conference.Dyon still had no true idea why this Conference was being held. And, even if you were going to hold such a conference, was there a need for such a power play by the Star Clan?One had to remember that the Star Clan forced dozens of Clans, each of whom had powerful individuals beyond reason heading them, to travel for almost a decade. This travel time could have been cut to just a few minutes if the Star Clan was willing to open the portals they controlled within the tower, but they refused to.Yet, for some odd reason, even with this move showing a blatant disdain for the powerhouses of the towers, everyone went without complaining much. There were very few exceptions to this rule, one of which being the current Head of the Atlas Clan, but that was only because though he had the talent of a True God, he didn’t yet have the power of those upper echelon members, so others went in his stead.The most obvious point for this oddity is that even the Dragons, the most prideful race in existence, laid down said pride to bow to the Star Clan’s demands. It was truly baffling.“Alright.” Dyon nodded. He couldn’t remain in the dark about this Conference.Since in the previous timeline, he was obviously in no position to attend, he had little information about this Conference. In this timeline, Dyon believed that its effect would be far greater than it was previously…The reason for this was simple. The Conference was being hosted by the Star Clan which was a part of the Sprite Alliance. In the past timeline, the Sprite Alliance was embroiled in its own inner conflict due to what Dyon now knew was the Timeless Library. In all likelihood, the purpose of the Conference was lost as a result of this inner conflict…However, Dyon believed that now that the Sprite Alliance lost the means to control Luna, their actions toward the library would be much more reserved. It was possible that they could ignore it entirely for now and allow the purpose of the Conference to take center stage.If Dyon’s deductions were correct… This Conference was far more important than it seemed.**“Hello Little Alauna.” Clara said with a bright smile.“Momma Clara, hello, hello!~”Clara felt a heated pride fill her chest. This little girl was too adorable.After a moment of assaulting her chubby cheeks, Clara let Alauna run off to go and play with Mia, Bella, Aiden and Junior.“How are you doing?”Dyon had found Clara resting by the small rivers that ran through the paradise hidden behind Soul Palace. It seemed she often came here to relax.“I’m doing okay.” Clara said with a slight smile. “Things just have been happening really quickly recently. It seems we haven’t gotten a moment to rest.”Dyon nodded. What Clara said was true, especially for him. He felt as though he had been running around endlessly for the last two years. Though, to be fair, he spent almost a year on a cushy bed, watching his daughter go through the first milestones of her life. But, that time felt too short.There was another, more glaringly concerning matter related to this ‘speed’, though.Dyon kept repeating the 112 year mark in his mind, but were matters so simple? If he managed to conquer the two quadrants in that timespan, would that be the end of it?Conquering lands wasn’t just about power. What would happen after he did so? Would the loyalties of those he conquered magically change? What about their cultures? Their beliefs?Dyon said he had 112 years, but the reality was that if he didn’t conquer these two quadrants far faster than that, it would be impossible to assimilate the territory in time.Not only did he need to conquer two quadrants, he needed to make its people feel as though they were his people… that he was their leader… that his cause was their cause.If these matters were framed like this, Dyon didn’t have 112 years at all. At most, he had 5 to 10 years… The remaining 100 would have to be spent slowly molding these two quadrants into the core of the Mortal Empire.Once that was complete, assimilating future lands would become easier, but this first step had to be done right… It had to be done perfectly.Dyon sighed, taking Clara into his arms. He stroked her long black hair.Clara could feel it in that moment, the steady beating of Dyon’s heart. It felt as though nothing could shake it.In the past, Dyon buried this truth deep within himself, repeating the 112-year deadline. But now, he embraced the reality and didn’t feel nervous at all. Instead, he felt a steady calm.“In as little as 5 years and no longer than 10, I’ll make both quadrants kneel.”