Chương 136: City Stuff

When Corel and Joe returned to Landradad, they were immediately met with a flood of questions: where had they been, what had they been doing, and why was Corel wearing a new dress that looked astonishing on her? Joe made himself scarce, giving Corel the freedom to share whatever memories she felt inclined to. He knew it was far better for his own mental health to let events unfold as they would; there was nothing he could do about it, regardless.

So when he reappeared a few hours later, he was greeted with nods of approval and assurances that he had done well. Everyone, that is, except Esha, who pouted at him for reasons he deliberately chose to ignore. All in all, Joe was satisfied with a job well done. A few days passed as he enjoyed the rare luxury of being on everyone's good side before he and Corel were summoned to attend a meeting in Heliopolis. Just before it began, they ran into a tired-looking Sarah, who greeted them both warmly.

"You two really need to visit more often. I missed you both," Sarah said after exchanging hugs.

"Especially you, Corel, you're looking especially radiant today. Did something good happen?" She smiled knowingly at them.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Joe said, while Corel bumped heads with Sarah and shared a memory. Sarah's smile widened as she turned back to Joe and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder.

"Good man," she said.

"Now, should we…" She hiccuped. Joe paused and studied Sarah for a moment. He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then tilted his head back and made an exaggerated show of sniffing the air.

"Sarah, is there something you'd like to share with us?" he asked, trying to sound casual, even as his thoughts spun.

"Shut up!" she hissed, dragging them aside as a privacy array snapped into place around them.

"There is absolutely no chance you know! I haven't even told Kai yet!"

"I knew it! You hussy! I could smell it all over you!" Joe laughed. Corel stared at them both in confusion until Sarah leaned in and whispered in her ear. Corel's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really? That is wonderful. You are truly blessed," Corel congratulated, pulling Sarah into a long hug.

"Seriously, how did you know?" Sarah asked, still half-indignant, half-amused.

"And don't you dare say a word to Kai! I was going to surprise him next week, but now I'll have to do it early. You've ruined my plans," she added, complaining with a grin.

"Oops," Joe said, laughing again.

"We swear we won't say a word, will we, Rel?" Corel made an exaggerated key-locking motion over her mouth, and Joe briefly wondered where she had learnt that.

"Great. Now, shall we continue?" Sarah said, leading them toward the meeting room. Inside, they took their seats at a large oval table, surrounded by representatives from all the pillar cities.

"Thank you all for gathering here today," began a smart-looking man at the head of the table.

"We have finally reached an agreement with everyone here present. And I'm happy to announce we now have a date set for the imminent joining of the city pillars. If you will," He gestured, and a projector flared to life as a screen appeared on the wall.

"This is our current timeline." He proceeded to outline the proposed schedule and the preparations required to begin the fusion. Much of this was new to Joe, and he listened as the plan unfolded. A map appeared, showing the future layout of the city. The individual city bubbles would remain intact but would connect at a single point, Heliopolis at the centre of the surrounding pillars, forming a flower-like design for the new supercity.

The meeting leader eventually yielded the floor to his partner, who detailed plans for a new governmental structure intended to ensure smooth integration among the races now sharing a single city, modelled after what had already proven effective in Landradad. Joe was surprised when several of Landradad's residents entered to offer their assistance in fostering harmony between communities. Joe looked at Corel, who gave his head a gentle pat and smiled, clearly aware of all this long before he was.

Joe responded with an exaggerated pout of mock betrayal. She leaned in and whispered something wholly inappropriate for a formal meeting, drawing a faint blush from him as he studiously pretended nothing had happened when Sarah glanced his way. Once the lady leading the meeting finished, a stout-looking man took her place and began discussing the logistical challenges of so many people sharing a single city. He outlined plans for designated agricultural zones and other infrastructure needs.

Something clicked for Joe, and he raised his hand. Sarah motioned for him to speak.

"I am more than willing to handle any and all food-related issues," Joe said calmly.

"As many of you already know, I was responsible for creating the farmlands still in use today here in Heliopolis, and I've only refined my methods since then. I can guarantee that, given enough time and space, food will never be a problem." Everyone seated seemed more than willing to grant Joe as much space as he required to establish the farmlands.

"So the rumours are true about you having a farming profession?" someone asked. Joe chuckled.

"Something like that." The meeting dragged on for the remainder of the day, but Joe and Corel were spared the more tedious numbers and political manoeuvring. They were ushered outside alongside the less essential representatives and given the freedom to occupy themselves.

"Speaking of farming. I actually have a bunch of new seeds I'd like to plant here. Mind if I go take care of that?" Joe asked. Sarah hurried over and planted a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I love how I don't even have to ask. Go plant. I'll keep Corel busy while you play," she said, shooing him away while dragging Corel off in the opposite direction. Joe smiled as he set to work. It had been a while since he'd enjoyed a proper farming session, and he found himself genuinely looking forward to it. He vanished and reappeared at the edge of the city's farmlands, startling everyone nearby in the process, before getting straight to work, issuing instructions, adjusting the layout, and planting new seeds.

What began as a simple task quickly grew into a week-long undertaking. Joe completely reorganized the farming grounds, upgraded all harvesting equipment, and planted an impressive array of crops that few had ever seen before. He even helped gather animals from the surrounding grasslands, relocating them into the city where ample space awaited. In total, Joe spent two full weeks in Heliopolis alongside Corel.

Their time together was largely confined to evenings, as both were consumed by their respective responsibilities. Joe worked himself to exhaustion just as the city pillars were finally fused. The timing could not have been better. The undead army advancing toward the Voldura city had drawn dangerously close, but once the cities converged upon Heliopolis, it granted them years of reprieve from the looming horde. Thus, the integration between the races began in earnest. Joe saw Corel less and less.

She attended countless clan meetings, fully embracing her role as the de facto guardian of her people and their voice within the new city. Joe felt nothing but pride in her. He understood how vital her presence was to forging lasting harmony between the races, and so he devoted himself entirely to his own work. He did not relent until every stretch of farmland met his exacting standards. Once he was finished, Joe met with Sarah to discuss the small section of Heliopolis she had set aside for him.

"It's ready," Sarah announced as they stood in an empty section of the city near the southern edge, close to the bubble.

"Thanks again, Sarah. I really appreciate this."

"Have you told Corel yet?" Sarah asked. Joe winced.

"Not yet."

"Told Corel what?" Corel asked, her voice coming from just behind him. Joe shot Sarah a look, which she dismissed with a smile and a casual wave before slipping away, leaving them alone. He took a slow breath and spread his hands as he turned to Corel.

"Sarah agreed to let us use this part of the city to relocate the village residents and offer them a new home," Joe said, gesturing around them.

"And why do they need to move?" Corel asked, following his gaze over the largely empty lot. Joe drew in another breath.

"Because it isn't safe here anymore. We have to prepare for the integration."

"What aren't you telling me?" Corel asked quietly, stepping closer and placing a hand against his chest, directly over their bond tattoo. Joe felt it flare with warmth, edged with a trace of her anger. Above them, the sky seemed to darken as Joe sensed a distant presence settle its attention upon them. Corel felt it too. She moved closer still, eyes lifting toward the clouds with unease.

"Just know that everything I do is to protect those who matter to me," Joe said, covering her hand with his own and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"To protect you." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"I don't need protecting," Corel whispered.

"I only need to be by your side."

"And you are. You will always be," Joe pulled her into a tight embrace.

"But there are things I have to do. Things I'm not proud of. Let me finish what I… what it has started." The clouds overhead churned, and lightning cracked against the city's protective bubble, sparks scattering across the sky. Joe knew he was walking a narrow path, but he no longer cared. Corel pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. She could feel the system's attention lingering, heavy and watchful, and she knew continuing would only invite trouble.

"Don't say any more," she murmured.

"I know there are things you can't say. But it angers me." Corel balled up her fist, her anger flowing through the bond unhidden.

"I know," Joe replied softly.

"If I could tell you everything, I would. Just knowing you believe in me, knowing you care, that's what keeps me moving forward. I promise. I'll do everything in my power to see this through and come back in time to leave this place." Corel nodded, and Joe knew there was nothing more to be said. He turned his attention back to the empty stretch of land around them.

"I'm going to turn this place into a tree haven, and then we can move the village here." Corel nodded once more and pressed a final kiss to his lips before he began to grow. It took Joe a full week to fill the area with enough trees to begin relocating the village. He brought the craftsmen in first, setting them to work on the construction of the tree houses while he continued to deepen the foliage and accelerate growth throughout the haven.

Before long, nearly every tree was threaded together with wooden walkways, homes climbing higher and higher toward the protective bubble above. Sarah eventually complained that the trees were growing so tall that she had to extend the bubble upward to compensate. Joe felt no guilt over it; trees were meant to reach for the sky. He worked until there were enough completed dwellings for the first residents to move into Heliopolis.

Joe was soon buried beneath gifts and gratitude for having sheltered them in Landradad for so long. He endured handshake after handshake at Corel's firm insistence. He was even forced to purchase a new storage ring just to hold the assortment of offerings and keepsakes pressed upon him. Overall, the relocation progressed smoothly. There were a few unhappy faces as people settled into their upgraded homes, curiosity and excitement outweighing any lingering sadness.

Knowing it would take time for everyone to move, Joe imposed no strict deadline, only encouraging them to finish before the final Star Shard competition began in a few months. Speaking of events, the final empire meeting was fast approaching, an occasion that would officially mark the beginning of the last year of the integration competition. Only seven worlds remained. The rest were simply gone. With so few competitors left, the active contests had thinned considerably.

Every remaining world was now guaranteed a place in the Multiverse, leaving only those hungry for personal glory or blood to pursue the final challenges in earnest. Joe avoided the competitions entirely. He had no desire to trigger a Harbinger quest. Instead, he remained on Thropia, clearing gates and harassing the undead whenever time allowed. The Horsemen steered clear of him now, and he never once caught sight of… Apocalypse.

All told, things were moving steadily forward as Joe prepared for his true objective and the final Star Shard competition. That was when it happened. Joe awoke with a sudden shiver, breath catching as a familiar presence pressed against his senses. His spine tingled, every instinct humming that someone was waiting for him, right outside his front door. He rose smoothly and dressed in silence. Corel stirred beside him, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"Is that Zevra outside?" she asked with a yawn. Joe nodded and slipped out before she could say more. The moment his feet touched the fresh grass of Landradad, unease settled deep in his gut. Zevra stood ahead of him, waiting. She was without her cane, arms folded loosely across her chest. Something about her was wrong. She looked taller somehow, straighter, and the familiar boredom that usually dulled her gaze was gone. In its place burned a sharp, eager anticipation. Joe stopped a short distance away.

When she tilted her head to study him, the hairs along his arms stood on end as a stronger shiver raced up his spine.

"Good morning, Feormere," Zevra said.

"I've been waiting for you. Why do you always keep me waiting?" The voice wasn't hers. The age and weary wisdom were gone, replaced by a thin, metallic cadence that scraped against his nerves.

"Zevra?" Joe asked, forcing steadiness into his tone.

"What can I do for you today?"

"Do you remember," she said smoothly, "when I mentioned I would one day need your help? Something important." Her lips curved faintly.

"I'm here to… ask you to accompany me today. For one final farewell." The finality in her words struck him like ice dragged across his spine. Fear flooded his body, sharp and instinctive, and he took an involuntary step back. Zevra wagged a finger at him.

"Tut tut. Don't even think about it, boy. Think very carefully before you make a terrible mistake." The warning was thinly veiled, and something inside Joe snapped. How many times had he been cornered by forces that spoke in riddles and hid their true intent?

"Who are you?" he demanded, anger bleeding through his restraint.

"That isn't important," she replied calmly.

"I am someone beyond your understanding. And now, it's time for us to leave." She extended her hand, not an invitation so much as a command.

"No," Joe whispered, knowing she would hear him.

"Why should I? I don't like being lied to." Her words didn't come from her mouth this time. They echoed inside his head, sharp and relentless, bouncing through his mind like shattering glass.

"Do you really think you have a choice? Do you really think I am the only one lying to you? Do you truly know anything at all?" Pain flared suddenly at the side of his head. Joe staggered, clutching at it as sparks of agony burst behind his eyes. When he pulled his hand away, he stared at the blood staining his palm, heart pounding as Zevra continued to watch him, silent, patient, and terrifyingly certain.

"Think, boy. Now come. We are leaving."

"Don't call me boy," Joe spat as he surged forward. Zevra lifted one hand lazily and swatted him from the air. The blow struck with impossible force, cracking two ribs as Joe slammed into a tree hard enough to break it clean in half. Pain exploded through him, stealing the breath from his lungs. He hadn't even seen the strike, but he knew, felt, that it had been a slap. His barding flared to life as he dragged himself upright, purple mana flooding around the quarterstaff now in his hands.

There was no room left for restraint, so he abandoned it entirely and hurled himself forward one more. Zevra stepped into his charge. One finger drove into his chest. The barding ruptured like brittle glass as the impact punched deep, snapping another rib and sending a sickening shock through his body. She flicked her wrist and tossed him aside as though he weighed nothing. In a tone so bored it chilled him, she asked.

"Are you done lashing out? Time is wasting… boy." Joe roared, rage and agony tearing from his throat as he forced himself upright again. That was when he saw Corel emerge from the house. Panic surged through him. He moved to intercept, but a green fist smashed into his chest. The rest of his barding shattered, and blood sprayed from his mouth as he was hurled backwards. He crashed into another tree, bark and splinters raining down around him.

Through the haze, he watched in horror as Zevra turned her attention to Corel. Corel froze, fear flashing across her face at a scene she could not yet understand.

"Ah. Seeker," Zevra said mildly.

"Come here a moment. I'm trying to convince your bond to do a task for me, and he is being… stubborn."

"Noooo!!!" Joe roared as Zevra stepped toward her. With a spark of mana, Corel turned and ran. Zevra blurred forward, and Joe knew, with dreadful certainty, that Corel would not escape. He vanished. Joe reappeared beside Zevra, slamming into her and latching onto her shoulder. She spun instantly, a palm snapping up into his chin. Teeth shattered. Pain detonated across his skull. Still, he held on long enough to Space Jump. They vanished together, reappearing high above Landradad, open sky yawning beneath them.

Zevra clutched her stomach, her composure finally cracking as nausea seized her. Joe used the brief reprieve to spit out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth before lashing out with a kick. She caught his foot effortlessly, grip like iron. They vanished again. Joe Space-Jumped again and again, disorienting the world in violent snaps until Zevra finally gagged and vomited into the open air. He bared a bloody smile at the small, vicious victory as they crashed down into the trees somewhere south of his home.

Zevra recovered in the blink of an eye. She slammed him into the ground, once, twice, again and again, until the world dimmed and Joe groaned, on the verge of blacking out. How was she this strong? What was she? He barely comprehended what was happening to him. Dazed, he tried to focus on the blurred shape holding him upside down by one ankle.

"Are you finished?" Zevra barked, spittle spraying across Joe's broken face.

"We do not have time for this pointless resistance." White blood dripped from Joe's mouth as he spat onto the earth below and smiled through shattered teeth.

"Fuck you." Zevra threw him. Joe slammed into something solid and bounced hard against the ground. He groaned and struggled to rise, vision swimming. Before he could even get his footing, Corel reached him, hauling him up and trying desperately to drag him back toward the house.

"No…" Joe rasped in warning, dread surging through him. But it was too late. Zevra appeared like a harbinger of death. One moment, the space was empty, the next she was there, fingers closing around Corel's throat as she lifted her effortlessly into the air.

"Now, now, Seeker," Zebra whispered softly.

"That is mine." Her grip tightened. Corel tried to scream, but the sound died in her throat as the air was crushed from her lungs.

"Stop!" Joe shouted, scrambling forward and seizing Zevra's ankle.

"You brought this on yourself," Zevra said coldly.

"All you had to do was help me. Now I will take your precious Seeker away." She turned a feral gaze on him and squeezed again. Corel thrashed wildly, her legs kicking in futile defiance. It did nothing. Her struggles weakened, her growls collapsing into wet, choking sounds as blood spilt from her mouth.

"I'll do it!" Joe screamed.

"I'll do anything! Just stop!" Zevra did not stop. Joe's vision darkened. Something inside him sparked open as Uriel's light flared within his chest, illuminating a presence inside him. Power pulsed, old and restrained, and Uriel's voice whispered through the void of his mind.

'Stop her.' How? Joe's thoughts spiralled. She was too strong, far beyond anything he had faced. She wasn't human. She wasn't Voldura. There was no way they were even on the same scale. D-grade? Higher? His thoughts were sliced open by a memory. Joe activated Mana Stream and Farmer's Sight simultaneously. His senses surged outward, and he poured his mana upward without much thought, letting instinct guide him. It struck something unseen… resistance, a shimmering barrier, a veil wrapped tightly around Zevra's form.

A lie made real. With everything he had left, Joe shattered it. The veil tore apart. Zevra gasped in shock, her grip loosening as Corel dropped to the ground. For a horrifying second, Joe thought she might be dead, until her chest jerked and she dragged in a ragged, desperate breath. Thank the gods, he thought. Joe still clung to Zevra's ankle. But it no longer felt the same. It was cold. Hard. Metallic. He forced his gaze upward.

The form above him was still blurred, his vision slow to recover, but it was unmistakably different now, taller, broader, angular. Wrong. Why wasn't she moving? Why wasn't she… As his sight finally cleared, Joe saw the Seedling floating in the air before Zevra, radiant and furious. Its eye burned with anger as it stared at the unveiled truth hovering before it. Zevra's true form stood revealed. She was a cyborg.