He had overestimated the Tree folks, there he was atop his Glorious mount staring at his men who were locking up the last few Stragglers who still lived after his crusaders and feathershots massacred the more hard headed members of this tribe that had the misfortune of being in his territory without permission.

  “My lord, I have come to report the information I gathered from the Prisoners.”The Interrogator interrupted his thoughts, bloody hands being cleaned by a piece of cloth he had torn from a corpse.”It is as you said, they had come here because of the Mana Vein you sensed. They require the essence of nature to breed and help the newborns to grow faster by dipping them into the pool atop the vein.”

  He stared at the Interrogator with a pensive look, he had a feeling that may be the case as to why these primitives would dare to close in claimed territory.

  “Thank you Interrogator, I have new orders for you. Find out if these fools have connections to Elves, the ones who are twice the size with long ears the size of those of rabbits.” He replied, there is something that was missing in the puzzle in his head. Something that would connect all of them into one picture.

  “At once my Lord.” The Interrogator seemed excited at the prospect of beating the truth out of the tree folk, something that should concern him yet he was fine with it.

  I am fine with it, they aren't human, neither half human like the dwarfs in my territory so why should I care?

  They don't bleed as I do, they don't live as I do, they don't even eat or sleep…they are basically self aware fleshy robots.

  The only reason why I am keeping them alive for now is information and them being possible baits for their bigger cousins.

  Am I having a crisis of morality over these…things? C'mon me, you already had a skewed morality code when you applied for the Law school, snap out of it already and adapt.

  In any case, I know for a fact they would have killed me if they had a choice, they already tried to do that with giant tree monsters that weighed several tons. Fuck these tree humpers, I shouldn't feel bad about griefing their asses for EXP.

  “How is the progress with stabilizing the mana harvest Leandro? I don't want one drop of that to go to waste.”

  The only present knight standing next him seemed to be quite troubled by his words.

  “The dwarfs have expanded the pond by carving a boulder into a large pool my lord but they fear that it will only be temporary if no more measures aren't taken to prevent any of said liquid from spilling out sooner or later.”His Retainer replied, grimacing at the words he had to say to his liege.

  “Hmm then we may have to make sure it doesn't Captain. I seem to recall several areas that were hollow inside, those tall green plants close to the lake not so far away from the mana vein. They looked like a variation of bamboo wood but far too tall to be one.” Valerio paused mid-explanation as he recalled something from his previous world.” Perhaps we can make a Simplistic water wheel that we can upgrade once we have a viable area to store the liquid mana solved. It's a quite simple structure to make if you know the design…”

  Seeing that his knight was clearly lost he coughed in his fist to get his attention.

  “Go call Galvur here, I must show him the Design.” Valerio ordered.

  “At once my liege.” Leandro hurried as fast he could, under his helmet his face glowing red from embarrassment he felt at his lapse of attention when his lord was explaining that complicated machine.

  He did not question how his master knew the intricate design so well that he could explain it that easily, his mind, body and soul were far too loyal to even dare think such traitorous thoughts at this point in his life.

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  ‘And that's the last of the containers.’ Galvur finished counting all the available containers that had been transported to the new “mana farm” the Lord had found…in the middle of a jungle.

  “Sigh…now that he isn't no longer seeking to ‘off’ himself, he is getting more and more lively as the days pass.” He sighed good naturedly, he himself is feeling more vigorous too as he continues to work on the new technology his master decided to build.

  ‘Can’t believe I lived long enough to see the Ships make a Comeback, last I saw of them was when…those abominations began their Unholy crusade against the Empire. So many ships were taken from the empire by them that I thought we wouldn't dare ever build more again.’ He thought as he began carving another trunk into a bucket to be used for the liquid of miracles.

  ‘Perhaps he may decide to Try once again to construct the [Mechanized Suits]-’ His thoughts having been going back to those lost treasures, he has even daydreamed about finishing one the size of a house.

  “Master Galvur, you have been called by the Lord for a new project.” An overly formal yet familiar voice brought him out of his reverie.

  “Master Leandro?!” He whipped his head back to stare in shock at the Lord Knight who never left his Lord's side yet here he was.

  “Indeed, now If you would follow me, Our Liege has a need for your skills.” Leandro replied shortly before turning around and moving briskly towards the place where he should be not here acting as a messenger for God's sake.

  Seeing how fast the Knight walked he patted the area where he left his magical storage bag and grabbed before jogging as fast he could to catch up behind the temperamental Lord Knight who was infamously known amongst his men for having a short fuse.

  ‘I am getting a deja Vu feeling from this and I don't know how to feel about it.’ the Short stocky half-human half-dwarf snorted.

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  When his captain returned he had finished carving the project on a large plank he had cut with his sword and was in the process of refining a few key components in the design to make it fit with what was required for the Mana spring.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Glancing back he saw the short half-human and half dwarf arrive just a couple of steps behind his Captain who looked smug for some reason which he will ignore.

  “huff Damn long legs and your fast speed huff, Do you have any idea why my Mother's side wasn't known for traveling?” The Short half-human growled while huffing like a man lost in the desert.” It's because they weren't made for traveling in the first place but for being stubborn bastards who wouldn't move an inch from their mountains damnit!”

  “Doesn't count for you though, you are half half so you get the best of both races. You don't get to complain because you are taller than the tallest dwarf and stockier than any human will ever be barring a few special cases here and there.” The captain retorted calmly with a rare half smile gracing his face which left as soon as it came.

  “Damn smug pricks and their fancy words…”the short man grumbled under his breath.

  “AHEM! If you are finished with your dramatic acts I would like for my Builder to focus on this drawing here, captain you are dismissed.” Their Liege coughed loudly to get their attention on himself, a pointed look had him hastily leave the premise.

  “Good then, now to explain the details to you so you can begin working as soon as possible.” He turned his gaze on the half-human who seemed totally engrossed on the tableau he had made from the large wood he had cut.

  “Beautiful…” Garvul whispered mesmerized, he stepped forward and touched the grand design that will revolutionize everything he has ever known until now.

  To think there would be a way to harness the very power of Nature itself without drawbacks. Judging by the wide array of options added in the design this Wheel can theoretically…

  “Can you grasp the sheer variety of applications this design is capable of, Garvul?” His liege asked knowingly.

  “This design could bring down a whole lot of unwanted attention my lord, you know how the nobles are when it comes to being trustworthy.” Garvul murmured, placing a hand on the carving.”You would gain the power of nature, something your fellow nobles would see as a threat to their personal monopolies they control and since you are already the second highest authority in the Kingdom currently until the king marries and has a son that would put you on the same rank of the Minister.”

  Valerio raised an eyebrow at the shift of mood, while Garvul was not wrong with his assumptions he wasn't right either…

  ‘After all I alone know how most of the events will play out…nobles, warlords, even the King they are all manageable and can be manipulated easily.’

  [Achievement unlocked: Foreboding future…]

  “Excuse you? What the shit do you mean by that you cunt?’ He demanded irritatedly, he felt every single hair on his body stand up at the words he read.

  Fuck.

  “There will be no backlash from this project because it will remain a secret between us, it's just a wheel that is meant to move the water, not a dangerous tool for war until I say otherwise understood?”

  “Yes of course, I shall not say a word of this project to anyone.” The half-human and half dwarf clearly understood what he was implying, he was not that dumb as to not grasp how this little innocent wheel could be reworked into a weapon fabricator by adding a few extra pieces to it.

  “You should know what comes after yes?” His Lord asked with a serious look in his eyes.

  “You wish to automate warfare?” Garvul asked carefully, He had this feeling ever since his lord made his 180 shift in his life, he was up to something…the militarization, the cowing of the nobles, strengthening his ties with the king, the sudden spike of projects to modernize his Duchy, the expansion of the borders into the Wildlands, the extermination of the Invaders and now he gives me the keys to the future with one single warning.

  “I want to bring that project we were working on back then, the Mech suits and the Warmachines which would harness fire and metal to break even the most resilient strongholds. This is the key to bring it into fruition.”

  Suddenly he could see something, a vision of what's to come, rows upon rows of Men and women commanding the mech suits fighting against monsters and beasts the size of castles, in the background an ominous hole into the air could be seen spewing out an unimaginable numbers of shadowy entities that thirsted for the blood of Man.

  Garvul gasped and backpedaled away from the carved design with a haunted look in his eyes, his heartbeat spiked up to the point he could hear it hammer in his ears like the giant golden bells of the capital.

  “Craftsman Galvur, are you okay?” His Lord asked worriedly.

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  [Pov change: Valerio]

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  ‘What the hell happened?!’He demanded, for a moment there he could swear he saw something touch the Craftsman but where the hell did it come from?!

  [Second Phase has begun: A Glimpse of the future has touched the Mind of the Inventor.]

  A pit opened in his stomach when he read those words.

  [Truth begets madness, Madness brings change and change Brings the future…(Warning) This is your only warning that something has gone horribly wrong somewhere in your universe.]

  [Chapter 2 has been unlocked: Goal, SURVIVE.]

  His sixth sense was warning him to move the fuck away!

  He jumped forward and grabbed the small man and began running like a madman all of a sudden, shouting at his minions to get the hell away from the dangerous zone he could only feel now when he heard that unmistakable crack in the sky.

  He didn't wait any second to transform as soon as he threw the small man in his arm at the templar who seemed to have heeded his words and ran away.

  “All Crusaders prepare for combat, lethality is to be expected.” He boomed loudly, His armor appearing in a flash of gold and red along with the star of divinity in his back.

  ‘Behemat my lord were you talking about this when you warned me?’ He telepathically tried to reach his patron Deity.

  Silence was his answer as he awaited for a reply patiently, the crack wasn't advancing anymore so that was a plus on his timetable.

  One minute then five minutes passed then ten minutes passed until he felt tha unmistakable feeling of his connection strengthening.

  A sign that he was heard.

  {Forgive me for not replying sooner my Champion, there was an anomaly in the Realm of the Gods that took my attention.}

  ‘No need for apologies my Lord, it seems what happened here has also happened in the Realms of Gods as well, a Crack of some kind has imposed itself in the sky and is pumping an unimaginable amount of strange mana in the world.’ He allowed the God to see through his eyes and check for himself if there was something else going on that he didn't know.

  {That is a sign of the Outsiders invasion my Champion, it is how they breach the barriers of the Worlds and anchor themselves by pushing their stench in the World to fool the natural order that they aren't thieves and bandits, do not worry about something coming out of that crack, it's just a tiny hole in reality that is meant to allow their mana through not to be doorway.}

  ‘I see…is there a solution to halting their progress?’ He relaxed a little bit at those words, as long as they don't tear a hole this close to his territory then he can breathe easily for now.

  {Find and Kill their messengers who were able to communicate with them and if they are champions amidst them burn their bodies with my power, summon my avatar into a Worthy vessel and use it as a conduit to close the rift if there is any.} With those last parting words he felt the weight leave his mind and his connection to stabilize again.

  “Begin a widespread search all over the area, if you find anything strange send a warning back for reinforcements to back you up, if you find any suspicious monster races kill them to last and burn their corpses.” He ordered his underlings, a thousand thoughts and ideas were playing in his mind with the information he had gotten and what he knew from the…stuff he had read and watched back in his previous world.

  His thoughts were able to find the one anime that dealt with this particular situation, rising of the shield hero, the demi-human simp Naofumi who had no shred of common-sense in his walnut sized brain of his.

  I mean how can't you feel disgust when a tail touches your nether regions you disgusting freak, or fucking an overgrown chicken? For fucks sake the zoophilia in Japanese shows is disgusting, tits and ass i understand but fucking animals? Ew bruh I can feel the second hand embarrassment from here.

  …Ahem I got a bit sidetracked there, this sixth sense is no joke when you are feeling what I am feeling currently…but yes If I am guessing correctly it will be something like what happened in that degenerate universe where beastiality is Supported. Fucking Freaks.

  ‘Arrgh this is so bad for what I had planned!’ He groaned inwardly at the turn of events.’Couldn't they just wait one year?! Like let me build up and make it worth for you to struggle a bit you fucking dipshits! Where is the build up,the mystery, the drama and the grand moment where everything comes to a conclusion?!’

  No point in crying over spilled milk. If they don't wanna play fair I will do the same thing to them. The dragon eggs should be ready to hatch in a couple of days, judging by the outer shell beginning to crack I will have answers soon enough.

  I hope there is at least one abyss Dragon amongst the eggs because they all looked the same outside.

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  [Pov: ???? “Hunger”]

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  Far far away at the outer reaches of creation itself an entity awoke and the darkness without light shivered at the sudden weight added on its tapestry of existence, an alien hunger slithered at the barriers of nonexistence, uncountable tendrils smashed the final shield which blocked its advance inside where the greatest game to exist was happening and will continue to happen for eternity.

  That event was life and death and rebirth, a perpetual engine with unimaginable power that fed this omniverse the required energy to sustain its continued existence within nonexistence.

  Yet this balance was being subverted by the action of a predatory intelligence from the outside the folds of creation where…nothing was supposed to exist or so the Great system had in its eternal existence believed.

  There was no light or darkness beyond the veil, just pure nothing, a blank canvas waiting to be filled. The system didn't have data for what existed beyond its borders, it never cared to begin with but now something has gone wrong and it felt a tendril amongst an infinite number of tendrils actually find purchase on a weak point in its Domain.

  {Begin search for a possible candidate to stall the infected sector until the barrier has been reinforced…}

  {Hosting vessel has been decided, searching for a matching boon…}

  {Growth symbiote entity found…rewriting DNA, adapting sub-system geared for fast growth…pending.}

  {Reincarnation cycle has halted the vessel's Rebirth into the infected sector. Unacceptable, the boon will be installed in the soul of the vessel, the symbiotic entity will be compressed until the host reawakens which will start the immediate unpacking of the symbiote.}

  {Fantasy sector is herby locked until all the infection is expunged and the wound is sealed.]

  At the center of everything, where creation and chaos meshed together was located an enormous Obelisk which contained everything that has ever been will be and shall be, it was the equilibrium constant for all living and nonliving that it had birthed in its Eternal existence. Some of the oldest living races would name it The Creator, some called it the Patron but they were all wrong, it was The Overseer. An enormous system which inhabited the obelisk, the physical vessel which was also the most powerful supercomputer to ever exist.

  After all it was the most neutral entity there is, A system which balanced creation fairly it didn't matter if someone was aligned with one of the multitudes of powers which existed within this omniverse…It judged all there was.