Restricted Records of The Scribe Book 179: The Dark Path of the Voident

  The Mechanics of Wielding Void Gems

  The rise of the voidents marked a turning point in the balance of power within the infinite realms. What began as a pursuit of mastery over corruption in order to hunt the Lost Race spiralled into darkness as these individuals became corrupted by The Nameless One.

  To forge a Void Gem is to bind one’s own karma to corruption. This process requires a significant sacrifice; usually the karma of another, uncorrupted being. This is an academic research scroll, but I know The Great Quartenity will not allow my book to see the light if I explain in detail how Void Gems are created, so I will omit that. The ritual is often conducted in secrecy and a Void Gem; a conduit for corruption is born.

  Langa sat down on his bed in the inn reading the book. He already knew most of the information that was written there. What he was most interested in currently was how to use his Void Star effectively. The last time he'd used his Void Star in his fight against the E-Rank voident Sasani-Zine, he'd used it to protect himself and then allowed the excess corrupted energy from the charge he had consumed into his body.

  It was similar to how voidents assimilated corruption, so he wanted to learn how to control it in the hope that he would one day be able to control his Brand without relying on Adtonifulmin's master.

  If Langa would one day take Chaos' Divine Challenge which was offering him Void Mana Channels to control his mana flow, then he needed to exercise some form of control over the star fragment. If he chose that path, the Void Star fragment would become his manacore after all.

  The reason why he chose this book specifically, though, was shortsighted. Adtonifulmin had told him before that Void Stars could be used like Void Diamonds to seal a Player inside the voident's pseudovoid territory so that even if they died, they were forced to respawn inside the territory instead of their respawn point.

  If he could access that power, then he might be able to permanently kill Fi Kindaro III without relying on working with Vos Kindaro II. However, it didn't seem likely because, at the moment, all he could use his Void Star for was to protect himself against void territories that his Deiform Artefacts could not protect him against.

  He still had a lot to learn about assimilating the corrupted energy inside the Void Star without triggering his Brand. He wanted to have as many options as possible when he fought against Kindaro just in case he couldn’t gain enough items to boost his Mental Resistance.

  He flipped to a different page.

  [Chapter 4: The Three Paths of Awakening

  It is common knowledge that there are only four ways for mortals to directly interact with corruption, according to the principles of The Great Quartenity: Assimilation, Harnessing, Sealing and Clearing. Voidents use the first three, and to destroy a Void Gem, the fourth is used.

  When a voident chooses to awaken the corruption within their Void Gem they must allow the infection to fester inside them and force their will upon the Void Gem.

  1. Sealing Corruption

  Voidents can seal corrupted creatures within their Void Gems and, upon awakening, can summon them to fight at their command. Higher-ranked Void Gems, Void Opus and above, may even seal maestrils and use them as minions. These summoned creatures are bound by the voident’s will, though maintaining control over such malevolent creatures is a strain on them. The corruption used in summoning consumes large amounts of the Void Gem’s power, and thus the karma requirement grows with each use.

  2. Assimilating Corruption

  Through assimilation, a voident allows corruption to invade their own body, transforming them into something resembling both a mortal and a corrupted being. This Awakening State enhances physical strength, mana reserves, speed, and resistance beyond mortal limits. However, the corrupt mana stokes the voident’s aggression and bloodlust, often pushing them into a battle craze they cannot always control. In this state, they are unpredictable, and this power devours their Void Gem’s reserves rapidly.

  3. Harnessing Corruption

  Lastly, a voident may harness corruption to taint the area around them, creating an aura of corruption influence. This territory effect can sap karma from any living being within, transferring it into the Void Gem to fuel the voident further. Though powerful, the corruption spreads indiscriminately, endangering allies and innocents alike. The voident has the ability to exclude other people from the effects of their pseudovoid territories.

  Every use of a Void Gem’s corruption leaves it craving more. After each Awakening, the gem demands karma to replenish its power. Initially, a small sacrifice will suffice, but each subsequent awakening deepens the gem’s desire. A voident who has spent much of their Void Gem’s essence must sacrifice again to sustain their power, though even this is only a temporary relief.

  If a voident fails to feed their Void Gem adequately, the artefact turns on them, feeding upon their mind and sanity. Their mental state slowly deteriorates, plagued as corruption consumes them, until they are nothing more than a living puppet of The Nameless One.]

  Most of the low rank voidents used the harnessing power and some the assimilation. Langa had yet to meet someone who used the sealing power. Still, all those powers sounded dangerous. Thankfully Langa wasn't a voident, he'd earned his Void Star fragment fairly. Langa closed his eyes and sat in the lotus position. He looked inward where there should have been a manacore. The Void Star sat next to his heart with the black ball of fluid of the Brand, right next to it.

  "System, scan the Void Star," he said.

  [Void Star (Fragmented)

  Artefact Rank: Divine (Chaos: The Onslaught of The Dark Void)

  Sacrifice: ?

  Effects: ?

  Total karma: ????????????

  Charges: 7/???]

  The charges on it had gone up since Adtonifulmin killed King Maetrolugy. It seemed the negative karma he’d allowed to flow into Langa charged up the star fragment. If Langa wanted to increase the charges on the Void Star he didn’t need to kill and sacrifice innocent people. No, since it was born from the death of a constellation, the star fragment only accepted karma sacrifices of seraphim or constellations. It was a good thing Langa wasn’t planning on using it to Awaken himself but to control his mana flow.

  Harnessing the corruption seemed to be what he needed to do to create his own Void Veil and modify the properties of his pseudovoid territory. He couldn't do that without first activating the fragmented Void Star. Langa took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

  "And here goes nothing," he said.

  He started by activating his lightning mana through his nerves and using the Void Star as a conductor, moving his mana slowly into the Void Star. He was careful not to have the mana go anywhere near his Brand, but that wasn't something he had much control over because the Brand had a mind of its own. As soon as his mana was infused, Langa exerted his will upon the star fragment.

  "Create a pseudovoid territory," he said, and then suddenly his whole body felt like it was on fire.

  He felt black strands of karma emerge from the Void Star and absorb the mana he infused into it. He didn't even have time to consume a single charge. His nerves started burning, and he screamed as a tiny little sliver of corrupted energy flowed from the Brand, travelling up the nerves carrying his mana, trying to create something tangible from his hands.

  The moment his lightning mana became slightly corrupted his whole nervous system went haywire, and he felt like he was holding a live wire with his body covered in water. He shook and trembled as he heard himself start screaming.

  When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor, defeated. Warmth was coursing through his body, and a flask was pressed against his mouth. His head was lying on Synn's lap, and she had her hands on his chest, glowing with light. That was where the warmth was coming from. He could feel her mana soothing him.

  "Synn?" he said, getting his bearings back.

  "Hey," she said. "I heard you screaming from next door. I found you passed out from mana exhaustion. What happened?"

  He sat up and drank the regular mana potion. He only received half the mana it offered due to his full affinity, but he wasn't going to waste his lightning mana potions outside of battle. "I was trying to use the Void Star," he said. "This damn thing almost got our entire party killed, so I wanted to get some use out of it.

  "Well, be careful," she said. "You almost fried your nerves again.

  Damn it! He'd been doing so well. Adtonifulmin had warned him to be careful about circulating corruption through his nerves after the fight against Sasani. His nerves had stopped filling with pain whenever he moved mana through them. But he was worried it would start again.

  "I know. Thanks, Synn," he said. "Hey…”

  She looked up at him and he took both her hands in his. “About what happened in the fight against Funduvus,” he started and she tensed, looking away. “I know how you feel. I used to be like that too, I thought if I died, I would be free.”

  Synn refused to meet his eyes and said quietly, “It's not the same. You didn't destroy an entire world because of greed.”

  “I think you're too hard on yourself, and so is your master. I know this isn't something anyone else can give you, and it has to come from within but I want you to know, Synn,” he said, squeezing her hands gently. Her brown eyes met his, unreadable and filled with worry. “I promise I will help you find a reason to live.”

  She didn't cry, but sorrow filled her eyes. “I don't know if anyone can do that for me, but thanks for wanting to try. I don't hate my life; I just don't deserve this second chance.”

  “Synn-”

  “I'll say this though, despite promising to live for those who died because of me, I selfishly liked doing the dungeon with you guys,” she said. She pulled her hands away, and leant closer, kissing his cheek. “You're a good friend, Langa, so I promise not to throw my life away.”

  Langa knew that was all she could promise right now, so he nodded and changed the subject. “Has the broadcast started?" he asked.

  "Yeah," Synn said, standing up. "We should go watch it and hope Liv'Kungsadu doesn't make a fool of himself."

  *

  The tavern at Sorrento Inn was packed with local NPCs, all gathered to watch The Guardians’ State of The Tower Address. There was the usual sound of chatter, laughter, and music. Langa and Synn ordered their drinks and joined their friend Undkese at a small table near the back, watching the large lucent tile above the bar.

  “Wow, it feels like the whole town is here,” Langa said, scrunching up his nose at the smell of sweat, food, and beer. "I didn’t know the Address was so popular.”

  The Address was taking place inside the Guardians' roving guildhall, in front of over a thousand Guardians sitting inside a hall. Currently, Khalifhari, The Guardians’ First Storey Administrator, was giving a speech. Langa only half listened to her and then Alfsol’s reports on the state of the First and Second Storeys and how many voident gangs they took down since he didn’t know half the people they were talking about.

  Undkese tore into a chicken leg and said, "My sister and I used to sit together in the sitting room watching the Address every year, from back when Alfsol Seren was the Guardians' guild master. I remember the historic moment when he announced he was stepping down and letting the Guardian Knight take over as guild master," he smiled. "My sister was so inspired by Merreddyd that she decided to be a player in Batch 3."

  Langa froze for a moment as he remembered Liberty telling him that the reason she and the other Insurgents of Anarchy weren't allowed on the 1st Floor was because Anarchist had killed The High Commissioner's daughter, and that was Undkese's sister.

  Thankfully, the topic of conversation shifted as Jandri’s face filled the screen now. Murmurs of discontent went through the crowd as she spoke about some massacre on the 8th Floor.

  “Well, the existence of voidents affects everyone so they all listen to the Address,” Synn said with a shrug, putting her cup of mead down. "Plus, it seems the Guardian Knight is really popular even if people don’t like The Ground Storey Administrator.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  It made Langa unhappy to see NPCs cursing at Jandri as she spoke, given how much she had sacrificed for this Storey.

  “Turn it up, the Guardian Knight is about to come on,” an old goblinkin shouted from the back, and Langa had to cover his ears as Jandri’s voice increased in volume.

  "I would like to let all the mortals of the 8th Floor, my people, know that I will not stop until I bring the fugitive known as Amalgam to justice,” she said. “All the lives lost in the last ritual will be paid back in the blood of The Accari Crows.”

  Jandri stepped off the stage, and then Aria came on the screen, dressed formally. Her hair was dark brown today, and Langa had no idea what that colour meant.

  “Thank you to our three Guild Administrators for their commendable work in keeping this Tower safe from voidents,” Aria said. “Without further ado, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Making her first public appearance in a year since the destruction of The Pathfinders, please welcome our guild master, the Guardian Knight of Justice: Saint Merreddyd the 5th.”

  Cheers went through the crowd as Merreddyd walked up to the stage. Langa whistled. Gone was the exhausted girl he’d met a few days ago. She had transformed into her angelic version, had a cloth over her eyes, and was dressed in her Guardian Knight Armour. Even across the lucent tile, he could tell her karma was astounding.

  “Damn! Cora said she was young, but I didn't think she was this young. How is she carrying this Tower alone?” Synn asked and Langa couldn't help but agree.

  Merreddyd stood in front of the podium, flanked by Alfsol and a tigerkin Langa had never seen before. “Thank you, Aria, Jandri, Khalifhari, Alfsol and Baneiline. It has been over a year since I last Addressed this Tower, ya. It is good to stand before my guildmates and the Tower again," she said with a smile.

  "She is so sweet," one goblinkin NPC whispered as everyone clapped again.

  "My dear Towerpeople," Merreddyd's voice was enhanced and it silenced the tavern as everyone observed. "The people on this stage with me are, as you know, my most trusted officers. Today, we stand here united in our mission to uphold the law and protect the innocent. You have heard the reports of how hard we work to ensure The Unrivalled’s laws are kept," she said, looking directly at the lucent tile.

  “Right now, I am paving the Guardians’ way into the Third Storey, but I don’t want the people of the lower Floors to think I’ve forgotten them. Alfsol, Khalfhari and Jandri have been doing an excellent job, ya, however, we still need more Guardians,” she said. “I have prayed endlessly to my master for assistance, and I am pleased to say she finally found someone worthy of her co-Sponsorship.”

  The crowd went dead silent, all waiting for the announcement as Merreddyd looked across the curious crowd of Guardians before her.

  “I would like to introduce to you Batch 4's very own, Coraloa Aquarius Winter: The Guardian Knight of Peace,” she said, raising her arm with a smile.

  Claps and hoots of joy erupted from the Guardians as Coraloa stepped onto the podium. She wore armour similar to Merreddyd’s, but hers was lighter, and silver and green instead of gold. People in the tavern started cheering as the Guardians in the audience all stood up and bowed.

  Merreddyd whispered something to Coraloa before stepping back.

  “Thank you very much for the introduction, Saint Merreddyd," Coraloa said.

  She waved at the Guardians and the people watching through the lucent tiles. Langa was relieved at how confident she looked. He hadn't realised it, but he'd been worried that her nervousness in front of Merreddyd might make things harder for Coraloa.

  "I’m new to this Tower, but I am not new to the dangers of rampant corruption. My main patron, Lady Aquarius, used to be a Guardian Knight herself when she was mortal. I’m honoured to be walking the same path as her as well as Saint Merreddyd," she said. Her voice was so strong and authoritative that Langa couldn't help but be proud of her. "To all the NPCs and Players watching. I vow upon the names of my patron deity, Lady Aquarius of the Zodiacs, and my sub-patron deity, The Unrivalled Tower Master, that I will restore peace and order to the Ground Storey. Voidents should beware, for there can be no peace without a war to eradicate the corrupt.”

  “Wow, look at my girl go,” Synn said proudly as the Guardians chanted Coraloa's name. "I guess the Class Change went well."

  Coraloa bowed, stepping back and Merreddyd took the stage again. “Thank you. That was obviously the biggest news I had to announce to you all, ya. I figured it was best to start with the good news before I got into the bad news.”

  As soon as she said that, the buzz that had been created by Coraloa's appearance died down and everyone watched her silently, her charisma compelling them to listen. “The 1773rd Deiwos Tower is in shambles. There is a reason why my master decided to grant Coraloa a Class Change. The creation-corruption balance on the lower Ground Storey is tipping against us. Coraloa and Jandri are going to be working very closely together to fix that issue, but that is not why I am angry."

  Gone was the smiling, benevolent Guardian Knight who claimed to be happy to be Addressing the people. Instead, there was a hardness in her face, even without seeing her eyes. "Recently, a disgusting incident took place on the 1st Floor,” she said. "We uncovered an awful operation by the voident gang known as 'The Accari Crows,'. They were responsible for the cruel and inhumane treatment of NPC children. They kidnapped and planned to corrupt these innocent, unlevelled, and unintegrated children!"

  Merreddyd paused, allowing her words to flow into everyone. Langa didn't know if it was her charisma or his memories of the incident, but he felt his anger rise as he thought of the children he couldn't save. Murmurs of disgust rippled through the crowd in the tavern.

  Undkese looked down shamefully. It seemed he was still feeling guilty over his part in the children's kidnapping.

  "The individuals involved in this vile undertaking have been apprehended," Merreddyd continued. "Thanks to the bravery and vigilance of our Ground Storey Administrator Jandri as well as three new players from Batch 4. "

  “Batch 4 again?” someone in the tavern asked. “It’s only been a month since their integration, though. They are progressing rather fast.”

  "Here's the thing about players, friend," the eaglekin beside him said. "Those who stand out do so blindingly. Nothing can stop them."

  "It came to our attention that a neutral mercenary guild was not only complicit but actively participating in these crimes. This betrayal of trust is a reminder that we must remain vigilant. We cannot allow such corruption to take root in our community, both literally and figuratively," Merreddyd said. “It pains me to say that the guild in question is The Vonelle Heilliege Guild.”

  "She is not pulling any punches," Langa said. He hadn't expected her to just announce it like that. It wasn't as if the whole guild had been involved, just a small portion.

  "Yeah, everyone should know what they did," Undkese sighed. "This is going to destroy them."

  Merreddyd held up a scroll. “I hold an Edict from The Unrivalled Tower Master herself. It is an old law employed across many Towers, and I finally managed to earn enough Achievements to convince her that we require it to be implemented in the 1773rd Deiwos Tower,“ she said. The light reflecting off her armour was almost blinding as she continued. “This Edict states that any neutral or positively aligned guild proven to be in cooperation with known voidents will have their alignment dropped by 100. Every. Single. Guild. Member. Complicit in their scheme or not.”

  It surprised Langa that such a drastic Edict existed. A neutral Player who lost that much alignment would automatically become a red Player, meaning they couldn't enter safe zones unless the safe zone Authorities gave them restricted access.

  “Whoa, that’s harsh,” Undkese said.

  "They do that in all the Towers, but this type of Authority usually doesn't come into effect until like the Fourth Storey is open," Synn said in surprise. "That girl must have prayed and worked her little heart off to unlock it so soon."

  No wonder Merreddyd hasn't slept in months and had been exhausted when Langa first met her.“.

  “My Master is a fair queen, so even though I do not like it, I have to give every single member of The Vonelle Heilliege Guild 13 minutes before I employ this Edict. That means, those whose loss of alignment will turn red, have 13 minutes to leave safe zones or hand yourself over to the safe zone authorities and be stripped of your mana, health and stamina or you will be forcefully removed by the system," she paused. "And just so we are clear, by forcefully removed, I mean instantly killed. Starting now. Of course, all Vonelle Heilliege Guild properties and land inside safe zones naturally will be seized by the Guardians’ Search and Seizure squad.”

  “What about the innocent guild members that aren’t watching the Address?” someone in the tavern asked.

  “Sucks for them,” another person said. "That's what they get for working with murderers."

  It was a bit unfair to punish everyone for what a select few had done, but hopefully, this would help deter any other neutral guilds from associating with voidents.

  “Additionally, for the first offence, 30% of ALL the guild’s assets will be reverted to the Guardians Guild to assist in the efforts of purging the Tower of corruption,” she said. “The Guardians will all be getting a raise, so anyone who wants to join should hurry to their nearest Guardians Guild outpost."

  Langa was impressed that Merreddyd was not-so-subtly recruiting for the guild. If people didn't do it from the goodness of their hearts, they could do it for money.

  Merreddyd wasn't done yet, though. "My deputy guild master, Alfsol has outdone himself and captured the guild master of Vonelle Heillege. She wisely confessed to her crime and agreed to serve time in the Carciere. We recorded her confession."

  Merreddyd waved her hand, and the lucent tile was suddenly filled with the image of a badly bruised woman in crystalline mavale chains wearing no armour.

  “I, Latiga Hintazo, hereby admit my guilt in mismanaging the Vonelle Heilliege guild. My failure to capture and bring to justice my former guild member Perinda Housci has caused this shame to fall upon us. As compensation, I will enter the Carciere for atonement and to improve my alignment. There I shall take my penance and return as a better leader. For now, the guild will be headed by our Chief of Staff, Khan," the woman on the screen said. "I hope he can expel and get rid of the voident known as Perinda Housci. He’s been a terrible influence on my guild members and led them on the wrong path. I fully admit my wrongs in being unaware that such a scheme was being carried out under my nose."

  “Poor girl,” Undkese said, with compassion in his eyes.

  Gasps of shock and anger echoed through the tavern as people either cursed Hintazo, pitied her or praised Merreddyd.

  “Poor, my arse. That Chief of Staff person...he’s working with Perinda, I’m sure he told me that the first time we met," Langa said, watching the screen.

  This had to be just a publicity stunt for Hintazo to seem humble and apologetic so that people would feel sorry for her and empathise with her guild. He knew Merreddyd wasn't stupid, so she probably knew that too. But this was a chance for her to show that high and mighty guild masters were not exempt from punishment. Even masters of top ten guilds.

  Langa could guess why Merreddyd would make this show of force. It was a clear warning to The Hallow Reapers since they were the greatest merchant group in the Tower and had a lot to lose if their voident connections were proven beyond just rumours.

  Merreddyd's voice grew even more authoritative. "Let me be clear: anyone caught associating with The Accari Crows or any similar voident gangs will face the full force of the law. We will not tolerate such behaviour. Our Tower deserves better, and we must ensure that justice always prevails." She removed her blindfold and her blank, blindingly white eyes stared into the lucent tile. "If you have any information about ongoing illegal activities, I urge you to come forward. Together, we can root out this evil and restore safety and integrity to our Tower. Stand with us, and stand for what is right."

  Claps filled the air, everyone agreeing with her.

  “To that end, I would like to extend a special thanks to the people who did not stand idly by in the face of this injustice. They were outnumbered, the odds against them, but they still followed the path of order.” The lucent tile showed the footage Langa had sent to Jandri, of him and Synn confronting Sasani. It also showed Undkese defending the kidnapped goblinkin children from voidents. It then showed Coraloa leading a party of Guardians into a voi-den and destroying it.

  “Besides Coraloa, the three people you see on that screen are not Guardians. They are regular good people who hunted the voidents and saved innocent children on their own.” There was footage of one of the children they'd saved: Teyin sitting on her mother’s lap, and Langa felt a warmth spread through his chest.

  "We were just doing what was right,” Undkese said. “But I guess that's not the same for other people, huh?"

  Synn raised her cup. "Nope. To us, who almost got children sacrificed and then saved them."

  Undkese clinked his cup against hers, and they both took a long sip as Merreddyd continued talking.

  “The three players you see are actually connected and I would like to introduce the person who leads them. Without his help, this incident would have escalated. He has a few words he would like to share with you all. Some of you may know him from the unending announcements of his Achievements, from being named the Celestial in the Batch 4 Celestial Clash exhibition match, or from the fact that he is the only player directly bound to a Neutriarch in this Tower. Please welcome the number 1 ranking player from Tutorial Batch 4, Liv’Kungsadu.”

  "She is really talking him up," Synn said with a snort as Liv stepped up to the podium to polite applause. "Making him seem like a big old hero."

  "She fibbed a little, but she's not exaggerating," Undkese said. "He has amazing achievements. I'm happy for you two being in his guild."

  Langa wondered what Liv and Merreddyd's plan was considering Liv hadn't even known about the Vonelle Heilliege incident until recently.

  Liv shook Merreddyd's hand on the screen.

  “Thank you, Guardian Knight. You honour me,” Liv said. “The truth is, this incident had nothing to do with me personally. It had everything to do with upholding the rule of light and order in the Tower. As a Solar Paladin, I must be a Beacon of Light to the oppressed innocent. I’ve got a message of hope to those of you living in fear of the voidents or mortals who keep their alignments neutral while doing heinous things."

  Langa knew how good of a liar and pretender Liv was, but as he stood on that stage, pretending to be a hero of light, with a golden solar aura on the sword he raised high, he almost believed him. He almost believed that Liv was a righteous man on the path of light, and since it wasn't true, Langa could not help but want to make it a reality. To make it so Liv would stop pretending and become the idealistic hero he strived to be.

  "Batch 4 Players no doubt received the notification already, but I recently formed a guild. My guild members and allies were instrumental in exposing the Vonelle Heilliege Guild," he said. "I would like to thank my deputy guildmaster Langa Zulu, SynnForessa and Undkese Anukirtam for their decisive judgement in delivering the children to safety. That is the core of the Khwezikazi Rays Guild.“ Liv looked directly at everyone through the screen, face earnest. ”All of you who are oppressed have a voice, and we will listen to you. We want to lessen the burden on the Guardians.”

  "He makes it sound like everything wasn't my fault," Undkese said with a sigh.

  “Of course, it wasn't. You were tricked by Vonelle Heilliege. Hey, Undkese, you said before that you'd join a guild if I endorsed it, right?" Langa said. "Do you want to join the Khwezikazi Rays?"

  "Are you serious?" he asked, eyes wide.

  "Of course. I don't know what the joining requirements are, but Liv will never say no to me," Langa promised.

  "Absolutely. Wow, that's-"

  "Will you both shut up? Your dear soulmate who never says no to you is still talking," Synn hissed.

  Before Langa could complain about a second pairing with Liv today, he continued talking.

  “It may take time, but when I say our goal is to free the oppressed, I mean it. It’s not just voidents that infringe on mortal rights. I know words without actions are pointless, so we’ll show you our resolve by saving the most oppressed people on this Ground Storey," he said.

  His charisma was just as commanding as Merreddyd’s and the light surrounding both of them was almost too bright, too overpowering. "I, Liv'Kungsadu, make a vow in my honour as The Solar Paladin of The Sun God. I will lead the Khwezikazi Rays on a mission to tear down the regime of anarchy on the 6th Floor and restore the rule of light and order. We’ll start the mission within three months,” Liv declared.

  The entire tavern went dead silent. Goosebumps spread over Langa’s body at the confidence and conviction in Liv’s declaration. Even on the screen, Merreddyd was stunned into silence. He guessed that wasn't something Liv had discussed with her.

  “That bastard is insane,” Langa said as the entire tavern erupted in cheers and Merreddyd recovered from her shock. "I told him not to say anything crazy."

  “Three months?” Synn banged her head on the table in frustration and her comcer started beeping non-stop. "Three fucking months? Why would he say something so absurd? I'm never going to get a restful night ever again."

  “You heard him yourselves, folks,” Merreddyd said, recovering instantly. “The newly formed Khwezikazi Rays Guild will be working closely with the Guardians to hunt down those who break my master's laws. This is a new era for the 1773rd Deiwos Tower.”

  Liv shook her hand again and left the stage.

  The Guardians’ Administrators joined Merreddy one more time on stage and bowed. She smiled and said, "I will end the Address here; after all, it is time to collect what The Vonelle Heilliege Guild owes this Tower."