\u201cTHE NEWS BROKE OUT?!\u201d shouted Oyed as he met with Dr. Borg outside the frigid wastes of the new base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were the one,\u201d remarked Dr. Borg, \u201cthat insisted all logs be linked to a central database. But, to answer your question, yes, the Realms know of Arsha\u2019s survival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIDIOT! THE EMPIRE\u2019S AT RISK!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you would care to\u2026\u201d Dr. Borg then felt the sharpest, most excruciating pain erupt between her wings. She opened her mouth in a silent scream as she fell to the floor. Oyed then grabbed her by the antennae and slammed his fist into her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have failed me for the last time!\u201d He tossed her across the room into a stack of barrels. He then charged up a magic blast, only for her to fire her own into it, making it explode in his face. She then flew towards him and slammed her metal fist into his gut. Oyed recovered and slammed his fists to the ground, making it rise up to meet her. It knocked her out of the air and he leapt at her, but her taloned feet grabbed him and she slammed him into the ground. He then grabbed her feet and threw her into a wall before picking himself up and dusting himself off. \u201cVery well, you\u2019re still entertaining. You may live a little while longer.\u201d He left the room. Dr. Borg picked herself up painfully, then checked something on her cybernetic arm\u2019s hidden computer. She checked the readings, then grinned. She hobbled her way to the medical room and found a berth. Shefarn then wheeled in via a water chair and saw the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSweet Oyed!\u201d he cried. \u201cWhat happened?! Did an experiment go wrong?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActually, an experiment went right,\u201d she explained. \u201cI got all the readings I needed for Project: Ascension to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait a minute, I see bruises here! And cracked ribs on the scanner! Cytanek, did you get into a fight with Oyed?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe heard that the news of Arsha\u2019s survival broke out and\u2026held me responsible, as it were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe damn near KILLED you! You had to shut down your resurrector machines, remember?! If you didn\u2019t stop when you did, you\u2019d be dead, and we\u2019d be widows before Project: Ascension came to fruition!\u201d Shefarn began tending to his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to fight back to prevent that outcome. He seemed entertained by my attempt, at least, so I bought us some time. I\u2019ve already given the readings to Jansha. It should take her a few days to recalibrate the machine for a Titan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, until then, YOU\u2019RE laid up here!\u201d grunted Shefarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs my handsome doctor wishes,\u201d purred Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlattery\u2019s not getting you out of here any faster!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Dr. Borg was being healed, she got an earful from the rest of her spouses and Jansha about how stupid she was being. Once she was cleared for duty, her family simply gave her looks that indicated they were still mad at her, only much less so, now that they knew they were ready for their project to begin. She told Oyed that she had a plan to correct Arsha\u2019s survival and tip the balance of power in the Empire\u2019s favor and needed to address the whole Empire. Oyed then ordered for the Empire to return to base and attend a demonstration of Dr. Borg\u2019s plan. Everyone assembled as Oyed and the Imperial Council sat at a table on a stage facing the audience. There was just one person missing. \u201cWhere\u2019s Yulduk?\u201d asked a Golem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that\u2019s a good question,\u201d replied Remsu, \u201cbut I\u2019m sad to say I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must admit, I\u2019m woefully ignorant of his location,\u201d remarked Oyed. Yulduk then stepped onto the stage, looking perturbed about something. \u201c\u2026Is everything all right?\u201d asked Oyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was a piece of lettuce in the urinal next to the one I used!\u201d explained Yulduk. He looked to the crowd. \u201cWhich one of you putzes eats while going to the bathroom?! That\u2019s just disgusting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis coming from the guy who leaves pizza boxes strewn all across his room,\u201d muttered Dr. Borg. As Yulduk glared, he sat down while Dr. Borg stood up. \u201cLadies and Gentlemen, we\u2019ve suffered a grievous setback with Arsha\u2019s survival and reclaiming the Endeavor<\/em>, but I stand before you now with a plan! A plan so epic, my fellow Councilors and I needed outside help and funding! So, let\u2019s give a hand to Borome Garsheek!\u201d A Goblin man then stepped up onto the stage as everyone clapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA pleasure to be here, Dr. Borg!\u201d called Borome. He then turned to the crowd. \u201cYou may or may not remember me as the one who infiltrated the Diamond Consortium and used that position to murder Lord and Lady Varsek!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, that was him?\u201d asked Oyed. \u201cI thought it was a Crimson Diamond who did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course, it was me!\u201d snapped Borome. \u201cI killed Lord and Lady Varsek, made Realmfleet start Arsha\u2019s journey before she was ready, and funded Dr. Borg\u2019s research into resurrection! I! was Arsha\u2019s! first! ENEMY!\u201d He then drew in a breath and calmed himself. \u201cIt was nice to run the Empire\u2019s supply lines in the shadows, but I\u2019m very happy to be recognized publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, I DID wonder where Dr. Borg got the money for her experiments and the Empire\u2019s supplies,\u201d mused Yamta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, it was all thanks to him, I assure you,\u201d replied Dr. Borg. \u201cAnd, Borome, you\u2019re about to witness what your funds were used for. I present to you Project: Ascension!\u201d She snapped her fingers and the curtains behind the Council were raised to reveal the Divine Ones hooked up to their mechanical prison. \u201cThanks to the war, My science team and I were able to learn the limits of the Divine Ones and create this machine to hold them and drain them of their life-blood, their Divine Mana, the most powerful form of mana in existence!\u201d She pulled a cloth off a table to reveal ten bottles of liquid mana in the ten colors of the Divine Ones. \u201cHere they are! The liquid essences of the ten elements that make up our Realms; love, fire, magic, lightning, earth, water, air, endings, balance, and beginnings!\u201d Oyed then laughed in an evil and joyous manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOH, THIS IS JUST TOO GOOD!\u201d he cheered. \u201cMY CHILDREN, FELLED BY MORTALS INSTEAD OF ME! I DIDN\u2019T NEED TO LIFT A FINGER! Dr. Borg, you have pleased me to no end!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hate to disappoint you right now, but Project: Ascension isn\u2019t ready just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen what needs to be done to complete it?! I won\u2019t rest until I find what you need! Neither shall the Empire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWilling to contribute, are we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to know.\u201d Dr. Borg then pressed a button on the table and a tube buried itself into Oyed\u2019s back as multiple restraints clamped onto him and hoisted him into the air!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBorg, what\u2019s the meaning of this?! RELEASE ME AT ONCE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re the ones in charge of this operation, not you!\u201d snarled Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, it\u2019s nothing personal\u2026no, I take that back, it\u2019s VERY personal!\u201d hissed Dr. Borg. \u201cDid you really think anyone assembled here would allow you to destroy the Realms?! We all need something to rule, and we can\u2019t do that if our world is destroyed! We just need a bit more Divine Mana to help hurry Project: Ascension along, and you\u2019re the last source of it!\u201d The audience then cheered, forcing Oyed to face the reality that he had no allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI WILL DESTROY YOU ALL FOR THIS!\u201d he roared. \u201cYOUR LIVES ARE FORFEIT!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWould someone begin the draining process already?!\u201d called Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got it, dear!\u201d replied Tensam as one of his legs pressed a green button. Oyed then felt the tube sucking his Divine Mana out of him! He howled in pain before becoming as emaciated and weak as his children. The Divine Mana that was extracted shifted in the darker colors of his children\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe next step,\u201d chuckled Dr. Borg, \u201cis to blend Oyed\u2019s with each of the ten bottles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s when you become the new gods of the Realms, right?\u201d called a Revenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBingo!\u201d confirmed Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, Doctor,\u201d interjected Borome, \u201chow dangerous is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s where the Empire comes in. You see, we can\u2019t just drink Divine Mana directly, the resulting power surge would kill us. The only way for us to take in the Divine Mana safely is to use a Divine Tower. According to records we obtained, there\u2019s one still here in the Under-realm. While Arsha is locked in the Over-realm and focusing on rebuilding the Realmgate Network, I need you all to find the last Divine Tower. Have our operatives to slow Arsha down at the very least. I won\u2019t cry if you actually do what Oyed failed to do in the first place, it will mean you\u2019re actually better than him. Once the Tower\u2019s found, report to us and give us the location. Who\u2019s ready to end the Final War and be the authors of history for future generations?!\u201d The crowd cheered and left the auditorium to carry out Dr. Borg\u2019s orders. Tormo then spoke to Borome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re okay with the war ending?\u201d he asked. \u201cI mean, you profited a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEh, I can profit just as well in peace,\u201d replied Borome. \u201cYou taught me to be flexible in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s my boy!\u201d Tormo then gave him a man-hug, a hug with both men slapping the other\u2019s backside silly, then Borome broke it off and went to join his fellows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You think we should be as active as the Divine Ones in terms of mortal affairs?\u201d asked Femfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d say a little more active than that,\u201d replied Dr. Borg. \u201cWe must show them our appreciation in them helping us ascend to godhood.\u201d Femfaf considered Dr. Borg\u2019s words and nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrue that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cTHE NEWS BROKE OUT?!\u201d shouted Oyed as he met with Dr. Borg outside the frigid wastes of the new base. \u201cYou were the one,\u201d remarked Dr. Borg, \u201cthat insisted all logs be linked to a central database. But, to answer your question, yes, the Realms know of Arsha\u2019s survival.\u201d \u201cIDIOT! THE EMPIRE\u2019S AT RISK!\u201d \u201cIf […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,238],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-4874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-5-the-final-fight","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4874"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4875,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4874\/revisions\/4875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}