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  Heba reproduced a message that had bee oo the entire local popution of the try of Egypt.

  [To all inferiors that live in this deserted wastend, I, the Empress of the Empire of the Sueri Akasia, e to inform you of your prompt purge, unless you help me retrieve my son, who has fallen into the cws of your brethren. I shall only wait 48 hours before I and my fleets begin to vaporize every city we see. Give me back my son, Anubis, and Ra. Or else, prepare yourself for a prompt release from your mortal husks.]

  eri Akasia was her name; Akhenaten’s mother, and apparently the Empress of the Empire of the Sun, ended up getting stranded all the way here. She erhaps Merh’s stepmother, who married her father, the current Emperor.

  Apparently, she and Akhenaten ended up stranded here, each with their own giant pyramid to move through the skies. However, there’s three more pyramids she’s trolling, which might ht not have other family members with their own Meical Gods.

  Everyone g Merh ohey heard the message.

  “That is… indeed my stepmother,” she sighed, drinking some wine. “I never imagined she would also end up in this world too... But if Akhenaten came with her, then it makes sehat she might have ended here. That means that when I escaped, she and Akhenaten, along with three more pyramids, were sent to find me and take Ra back, probably while also making sure to execute me.”

  Merh’s expression quickly transformed from her prideful smile to the face of a woman who had been abandoned by her family and persecuted as a criminal. Her eyes lost their light, and even her jackal ears, pointy and cute, lowered.

  “I’m sorry, this is all my fault; I brought them here; it’s my responsibility, not yours,” she sighed, gripping her fists tightly. “I’ll go back with the Empress and bring Akhenaten and Anubis with us. If that’s all she wants, then I’m sure she’ll leave, and... nobody will be hurt.”

  Everyone fell silent. I was going to say something, but Mohamed ended up speaking first.

  “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” said Mohamed, nodding. “We could indeed just give you back to your stepmother and finally solve all our problems. I guess... that’s the right thing to do.”

  “Mohamed!” Heba gasped. “How could you say that?! I am not giving up, Merh! This little brat has helped us a lot!”

  “Tch, but she’s n! She brought all those problems here,” said Ahmed, groaning angrily as he finished eating his food. “Why do we have to sacrifice ourselves, put ourselves at risk, and more, just to save someone nobody invited?”

  “I-I could never do such a thing; Merh is a friend! To sell a friend is… a terrible thing! I would never give her up!” said Sara. “Didn’t Imam Ali say, “The weakest person is one who ake anyone his friend and brother"? We mustn’t abandon Merh! She is a friend! God would never five us if we did… She’s trying to be a martyr, but that’s wrong. A friend… is someone we must prote the name of God.”

  “Don’t e to lecture me about yion, Sara,” Ahmed said. “I don’t care what the Quran or whatever says. Also, isn’t yion all about treating womehan a person?”

  “A-Ahmed! Don’t be so disrespectful!” sighed Sara. “The Quran says men and women are equal; the patriarchy thing is, uh, something from Arabic tries; it’s not quite literally part of the religion, but of traditions made by men. I-It’s different! Anyways… There must be something else we dht, Heba?”

  “Yes,” said Heba. “There must be a erhaps if we… could attack her, maybe if we defeat her and then force her t the other pyramids or… Ah, no, this is hopeless either way. It’s on a whole other scale. Giant floating spaceship that bst whole cities in seds. Even if we tried taking one down, the other three would quickly learn what we did and would swiftly bst the cities…”

  “E-Eh? But…” Sara muttered. “There must be some way…”

  “There’s no other way than doing this,” said Merh. “I…”

  “Ahem!”

  I quickly decided to make a bit of noise here; it seemed they were all in their own little world, and actually, the very task of stopping all pyramids at once shouldn’t be a big issue.

  “Ah, Bing Xue?” wondered Mohamed. “Do you have an idea?”

  “Of course I have!” I nodded. “Heba’s n; if we attae pyramid, the other three will quickly learn and likely destroy the cities as a punishment for our insoleherefore, we must quickly “kick” all pyramids away into the deserts, where they ’t harm ahen we freely engage in a fight against them all. How about it?”

  “Huh?” Ahmed didn’t know what I was talking about.

  “What… do you mean with “kick”?” Mohamed asked me with a worried expression.

  “Hahah… I mean, she’s strong, but… no way, right?” Heba asked.

  “You have yet to see how powerful she truly is.” Mursha spoke, her eyes menagly gring at Heba. “Those floating ks of metal… There should be no for her.”

  “She has sin over a dozen gods by now,” said Urbosa. “I doubt those pyramids would be much of a problem…”

  “R-Really? Gods?” wondered Sara. “I-I… You mean the false deities from the tower? Those beings that seek to sponsor people and turn them into avatars?”

  “Yes, those,” I nodded. “They are from different worlds, so I doubt they are reted to any of ions… There might be some resembnces here and there, maybe with the a Greek, Norse, aian myths, but I don’t really think they’re reted to anything. They’re pletely alien.”

  “Phew…” Sara sighed in relief.

  Did she think I fought her religion’s god or something?

  Well, she’s a child, so I guess she could end up thinking such things.

  But no, these gods are tangible and not based solely on belief, so they’re different.

  In a way, even the Egyptian gods aren’t really them, but maes shaped after their image.

  “Yes, what they say is true.” I nodded. “However, simply kig them away wouldn’t be enough... They’re ed around a powerful protective forcefield. Also, they’re very tough on their own, so... I would need everyone’s help with this one. I pn to divide our forto froups. Eae shall be sent to a certain city. Where is the pyramid where eri is located?”

  “The port city of Alejandria is perhaps one of the prettiest cities in our try,” said Heba. “It is also a touristiter and is enormous, with a lot of people. Practically, she’s holding them all hostage.”

  “Alright…” I nodded. “I’ll go there with Merh and Akhehe rest shall be divided into froups... Fear not; I am not the only one capable of sying gods anymore. Urbosa, Merkite, Mursha, Peperina, and perhaps Fiery Hair here all have the potential. They will ensure your victory.”

  “Wait, what? We’re really doing this?” asked Ahmed. “B-But what if you fuck it up and everyone dies?!”

  “I promise you that such a thing will not happen.” I said.

  I stood up as I g everyone here.

  “Egypt is part of humanity; therefore, I will give it my all to protect its cities and its people.” I said. “You’ve seen what I do, and you’ve seen what my disciples do. Now, I am only asking you a single question, hunters of Egypt.”

  I g their eyes; they were all different people from all paths of life. Some were thugs that lived harsh childhoods, some were normal people until the awakening happened, and a few were born into rich families.

  Yet they all desired ohing: to protect their people.

  “I’m asking you to trust me,” I said. “That is all... Would you trust me?”

  I gnced into their eyes, awaiting their response.

  The first oo respond was Sara.

  “Of course, Auntie Bing Xue!” she nodded. “I’ll help as much as I !”

  “Good girl.”

  Then Heba.

  “Very well, no matter how hard I try to be skeptical, you’re someone who has defied logic time and time again,” she smiled. “I want to trust you, dear. So let me assist you as much as I . After all, I was the ohat called you here.”

  “Thank you, Heba,” I nodded.

  Heba smiled beautifully, winking at me.

  Ah, she’s a beautiful woman.

  Ahmed followed with his response.

  “Hmph, tch, whatever!” Ahmed groaned. “But if we all end up dead at the end, I’ll curse you in hell! Did you hear me?!”

  “There will be no need for that,” I smiled.

  And then, the st member of the croup of hunters of El Cairo, the stro of all Egypt, and the chairman of this city’s hunter association, smiled, gng at me after being in a meditative state for a while.

  “Alright,” Mohamed said. “I will put my trust in you, Bing Xue. Not because of the feats you’ve done, but because of the resped manners you’ve shown to my people. Not many freat us like this. I’ve dealt with Ameri and European hunters before, a me tell you, they’re very disrespectful towards other cultures. I’m impressed with how well you’ve educated yours.”

  “Oh…” I felt a bit surprised by such words. “No, thanks to you, Mohamed. My disciples here were indeed a rowdy bunch before, but through meditation and cultivation, they have grown to be more unified as a family while also gaining some more inner peace.”

  “I see…” Mohamed nodded. “Very well then, Bing Xue. Tell us. What’s your pn?”

  I smiled, quickly gng through the window.

  “Just as I said before, it’ll be quite simple, Mohamed,” I said. “First of all, I wao ask another question. Would you bey disciples?”

  “Huh?”

  “What?”

  “HAH?!”

  “Disciples?”

  Mohamed, Heba, Ahmed, and Sara were notably surprised, but it was time to ask them this question. If I wahem to get stronger as well, they first o bey disciples and lears of Ki Cultivation and Physique Refining.

  “As you see, the strength of my disciples has increased so much thanks to cultivation, a secret art I teay disciples,” I expined. “If you join my Heavenly Court and beembers of this family, swearing your loyalty to me, then I let you have this power, which will help you grow strong enough to protect everyone you love.”

  “Such a power…” Mohamed muttered. “But I… I just ’t, sorry. To swear loyalty to someone we’ve just met, it would not sit right with us at the moment.”

  “It’s a loyalty that only means you will never betray me o against me,” I said. “But it wouldn’t restrict you in any way. You e and go as well, and there’s no responsibilities binding you, but the gratefulness you’ll feel towards me once you bee even strohan ever before.”

  “Hm… Is that really true?” wondered Mohamed. “Something with so many bes and no downsides… I… I’ll o ask other people first; as chairman, I am bound to many responsibilities anyway.”

  “It’s fine,” I nodded. “I suppose you take your time to decide... Hm?”

  “I’ll bee your disciple, Bing Xue. Gdly.”

  Suddenly, Heba raised her hand and quickly accepted my offer without hesitation.

  “Heba?!” Mohamed gasped. “Wait, you ’t just...”

  “I ’t what, Mohamed?” the bck-skinned beauty wondered. “What you said was only for yourself, all of us are free to make our own decisions. And I’ve decided to trust Bing Xue. I’ve also learned… how weak I am, despite how strong I thought I was. I need power; I need her help. And I trust her; I tell she’s a really amazing person. If anything, I’ve been looking for someoo guide me. My life has been a mess since I was a kid, after all. So, I’ve learo not waste opportunities and always take them when they appear. I don’t hesitate like you.”

  “Hmm…” Mohamed sighed, crossing his arms and looking elsewhere.

  “Thank you, Heba; your words are inspiring to hear.” I smiled, nodding. “Sara? Ahmed? Do you want to join, or do you want to wait?”

  “Like hell, I would join your shady cult…” Ahmed groaned angrily. “I know you helped us save El Cairo and saved Merh and all… and I’m grateful for that! However, I o see more of your siy before I make my decision.”

  “That’s fine,” I said. “Sara?”

  “Um…”

  Sara g my stepdaughter, Hekita.

  “Is Hekita your disciple too, auntie?” she asked.

  “She’s my adoptive daughter, but yes! She is also my disciple.” I nodded. “She has learned a lot and became much stronger!”

  “I have! You should join, Sara! Mama will give you amazing powers!” my cute, fluffy daughter said.

  “Hm…” Sara nodded. “Okay! I shall!”

  That was really quick; I guess she wants to go wherever her friend goes.

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  Pach