“What?”

  Aelion’s face was frozen in shock, his lips quivering softly as he tried to form a coherent sentence, one second he was ready to die. The next a Prothean Construct was staring at him upside down with its weapons embedded in his would have been killer.

  “Death. Seeing it coming. Feeling it slowly becomes an inevitability. It is slow isn’t it?”

  “Y…yes.”

  “Now I’m going to ask you to wait here while I deal with those remaining… miscreants.”

  The construct finally dropped down to its feets, two floating spheres next to him making a soft humming sound before rising in intensity as energy was being gathered inside them. All Hell broke loose only a few seconds later when a loud bass-like sound slammed into everyone’s eardrum.

  Two powerful green rays came from the spheres, in one continuous beam that ended up effortlessly vaporizing all the attackers. They couldn’t even resist for one second before all turning into piles of glowing green dust. Erased by the gauss rays. No matter how fast they believed to be, the beam caught up with them, even destroying the sand under them.

  Everything hadn’t been longer than three to five seconds.

  “Behind me, Aelion!”

  Valencia appeared before Aelion, her helmet cracked and exposing most of her face from that previous battle. Her weapons lifted toward Akhenamen who simply stared at the tip of the sword curiously.

  Moria rushed to her master’s side, ready to defend him again. A chuckle came from Akhenamen as he stared at the fierce eyes daring to harm even one hair of her grandson’s head.

  “So much for a thank you.”

  “You’re a Prothean construct. Your kind is not known for their clemency!”

  “Yet your grandson lives, does he not?”

  “What are you doing here… “

  “I just happened to pass by.”

  Valencia’s eyes stared deeply into his own. He was already aware of her true identity, and she was most likely old enough to not believe in coincidence when it concerned Transcendent beings suddenly appearing to save their life.

  He swiftly cast his [Analyze] skill three times in a row. Three successes. Valencia’s eyes quickly narrowed.

  Akhenamen’s fingers went to grab his chin, staring between every member of the group, his eyes lingering on Aelion’s ring. He could indeed feel a soul’s presence in there. The being was hiding and staying as immobile as they could.

  Akhenamen let out a small laugh, he had to admit that he was glad this kid wasn’t in the dark edge lord category of protagonist. He however didn’t doubt he would meet one at one point. He also did have some very good stats for being only level 20.

  Must be Traits and his class. It was at the legendary rarity after all, even higher than his. He took a good look at Aelion. Deep black hairs, soft yet determined green eyes, he wore a simple, practical yet formal leather armor. Carrying some Liquid Silver shield and sword, no doubt made with Suk’kulkan’s help.

  His eyes went to the second status screen that had appeared before him.

  Moria made him think of every single anime, manga or novel he had read or watched. Pretty cute but not too beautiful. Most likely to not overshadow the “main heroine”, wearing a french maid dress and a simple ponytail to hold her brown hairs. He was a bit stunned at how blue her eyes were, almost unnaturally so.

  Two daggers of Liquid Silver held in her hands. A gift from Aelion?

  But the real thought he had was that the System was massively disrespecting this poor girl. [Sister-Zoned Maid] as a title? Really? Her level was also very high for her age, most likely that “maid training" given by her clan. And her stats seemed to be perfect for an assassin build.

  As for Valencia, her status was the most interesting as he now knew a bit more about a “normal” Beyonder’s stats. Yes he had heard that part of their conversation and it didn’t take a genius to know she was clearly poisoned and therefore weakened. Otherwise he doubted he’d have been able to [Analyze] her.

  “Well… it was a pleasure.”

  Akhenamen made a small regal bow, his free hand pressed against his chest, stunning the four beings in front of him, as he turned around and left. His feet floating slightly above the sand as he started to slowly leave the group.

  “Wait!”

  The Cygilite stopped, looking back, allowing just one glowing green eye to be seen from under his hood.

  “Bring us with you! My grandma is weakened, she needs time to recuperate and the poison is still affecting her! We’ll leave the moment she’s healed. Please help us. We can repay you!”

  Akhenamen was having a silent conversation with Ascylla.

  “Do you have any data on a drop of the sea of the Empty?”

  {Yes. It was a poison used by Ludmia, Goddess of Shadows, she was able to briefly open a portal outside this universe, to the Empty, harvesting some of it in the shape of a drop. A single drop could kill a Beyonder, she’s alive only because of her insane Armor and Might stat. As for how to remove it, we do not know.}

  “Thank you. I’m gonna need you to tell Sofya a few things. Make sure she understands that if she slips up she will be forbidden from watching the last two movies of the prelogy.”

  {Understood.}

  Akhenamen finally turned toward the group fully, his eyes peering into Aelion’s.

  “The fact you carry this ring, and the fact she seemingly believes she is well hidden, would have made many of my people kill you where you stand. Even more for one like me who knows the truth of their betrayal.”

  “Do not trust her so easily. They betrayed us. They shall do the same to you. However in this case… I suppose she should be able to help your grandmother. She was poisoned, and I know by what. But I will require something in exchange.”

  Aelion was frozen in shock, his eyes wide, his breathing stopping for a few seconds, he could feel Suk’kulkan’s soul starting to get agitated inside the ring. He didn’t know what the hell that construct was talking about, but the fact Suk’kulkan had hidden instead of using a Control Code like she had once done to help him obtain Liquid Silver from a Prothean Facility in the Pyrax Empire, he knew this Cygilite was different. Very different.

  And this was definitely proven by his ability to instantly see through his greatest secret. Seeing her grandson was struggling to come up with an answer.

  “Don’t worry Aelion. I’m not letting you make any deal with that construct on my behalf. I can do that myself.”

  She gently squeezed her grandson’s shoulder to make him relax, she believed he was actually afraid to have to promise something that he couldn’t afford to promise without the Imperial family’s authorisation.

  While Valencia was ready to die for her nation, she HAD to warn her daughters of the coming plot. She didn’t doubt the Radical faction hadn’t sent just one team of assassins, that would be too stupid, even for them.

  Dying would leave Aelion and Moria by themselves in the middle of one of the most dangerous places on the continent. She knew the poison was getting worse and worse, she had no more than a few hours left. If this construct could help them, then she was ready to pay any price.

  “State your price.”

  “There will one day come a time where I will require a favor from you. I cannot ask you to kill, rob, hurt or betray anyone with that favor. But, no matter what that favor is, you will have to accomplish it.”

  “And what will be that favor? You don’t know yet or you’re just having fun messing with a dying wrinkled old woman?”

  “The Prothean ruins inside the Pyrax Empire. I will one day ask you to allow my people, the Cygilites, to be given a right of passage through the Empire’s territory until they reach the Great Desert of Oleron. None shall harm even one hair of the Empire’s citizens, but they will be given safe passage in exchange. That is all I ask.”

  Valencia stared silently, a harsh cough cutting the silence as she started to spit out deep dark oily blood, the veins on her faces getting even more black and purple, the poison was getting worse.

  “D..deal.I swear I’ll make sure the Emperor will grant your people safe passage.”

  Akhenamen nodded, relieved that her status had told him that she always kept her promise. Otherwise he might have been less easily trustful of her.

  “You have been poisoned by a drop of the sea of the Empty. I’m sure your grandson knows someone who knows a way to help you.”