Monsoon117
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344 Enmity
🕑 Added 2022-02-15 17:41:11 +0000 UTCInterrupting my thoughts, Shalahora simmered, "What is this? You intend to fight us?"
Iona Joan walked out, her angel wings locked behind her. Several other rulers paced behind her, each looking like members of a council or guards. The bubbly ruler walked up and gazed at me, a smile on her lips and a twinkle in her eye,
"Calm down, Shalahora. We're just making sure he's trustworthy." Her eyes narrowed,
"Well then...Tell us everything we want to know...Mmkay?"
Chapter Begin
I condensed my wake, time crawling by. While standing still, several minds considered how to approach the situation. Considering my abilities and the survivors' lack of combat potential, I had many options. Several of my psyches wanted to mold out of my constraints, while others wanted to leave my body and regrow outside it.
Before doing any of that, a lone Daniel presented a more devious plan. The other Daniels enjoyed it, so we all chose to follow it. A series of debates and arguments began about the plan's specifics, each of us iterating on the others' approaches. After a few minutes of discussion, Iona frowned at us. She ebbed out in a slow drone,
"What's wrong? Has an eldritch filled your throat, or are you just stupid?"
I pitied her for a moment, her lack of awareness setting her up for a slam dunk. Unfortunately for her, I was playing ball, metaphorically speaking, of course. I unloaded my wake and kept it unactivated yet extended. I frowned at her, my face covered with my helmet. I said,
"What's with the capture? I haven't done anything to any of you."
Iona jeered, "You're a newer ruler, so I'll cut you some slack here. We've talked with other rulers, and many of them are allied with Valgus. You and that Baldowah maniac talked before arriving here, so we're not going to welcome you back with open arms."
Shalahora deadpanned, "Valgus crushed his body fifty times over. That's talking to you?"
Iona narrowed her eyes and pouted towards Shalahora, "Hey now, I'm the one interrogating him, not you. Stay out of this, honey."
I mentally recoiled at her attempts to be 'cute.' It contrasted with any other approach I'd ever seen by a ruler, and it carried the opposite effect she intended on me. It was a blatant attempt at lowbrow manipulation, both an insult and an exploitation. I kept that to myself as I frowned,
"Regardless whether I said it or Shalahora said it, that's still my defense. Valgus and I are not friends."
Iona locked her hands behind herself, "I'll be the judge of that." She pointed her finger and gestured to all of me, "Now, tell me this. You've survived on this planet for this long, correct?"
I blinked,
"Duh."
She frowned, "You don't have to be so mean about it."
I peered down at my restraints, the cords burning my skin. Peering between the burn marks and her, I sneered, "Oh, I'm the one being mean? Ok, just making sure."
She sighed, "Hm...Either way, you got through all of this. I'm wondering if you joined Valgus's faction. Do you have any proof you didn't?"
Shalahora stated, "Aside from the fact he was attacked by him on sight?"
She did a playful huff before snapping, "Hey now." She put a finger over her lips and winked at Shalahora, "Shush."
The cute shenanigans repulsed me. I snapped, "I'm with Shalahora, and we know what Valgus is up to. I'm also offering you all protection here, but you're getting in my way." I narrowed the eye slit of my helmet, "It's almost like you don't want me to give the rulers here what they need...Is that true?"
The other rulers peered down at her. She struck a pose, and I slowly blinked in astonishment. She murmured, "Come on now, everyone, you know I'm not like that."
To my complete, utter, and absolute amazement, the other rulers blushed. I couldn't even fathom what the hell was going on, but I was losing my patience for it. I locked eyes with the other rulers,
"Are you all poisoned or something? Otherwise, this is...This is disappointing. I expected more from the rulers of worlds."
Iona Joan's tone changed on a dime once more, "Look, I'm trying to be kind here. Now either you're going to answer my questions, or else-" She snapped her fingers, and my restraints tightened, "The situation will get nasty, mmkay?"
The restraints tightened, burrowing inches into my skin and flesh. I glared down, unphased and adamant, while my eyes locked onto Iona. I remained silent, the atmosphere of the room changing in an instant. She twitched and looked away, unable to hold my gaze. I kept the room in that silence before murmuring,
"You think you have control here?"
Shalahora took a few steps back, giving me room. The other rulers, not trusting their own magic, did the same. I tilted my head to Iona, and I stayed in my restraints,
"People like you try to set up 'rules' in a conversation. They're unspoken restrictions, but they are always felt. It's a game people buy into without even being aware they've joined in. Negotiators always set up the rules to compensate for what they can and cannot accomplish...Just like this, and just like you."
Iona frowned, "Ok, well, I'm not the one in chains, am I?"
I held the room in quiet. It lingered before I stated,
"No. You're wrong. The chains I wear are physical, and they can be removed, snapped, or broken. Your chains are ones of ability, and they require the passage of years, the trials of pain, and the resolve of patience to overcome. That is no simple task...However-"
I stepped forward, my body hissing while the energy cords stretched. I kept stating my words,
"What if your chains were more tangible than my own?"
I took another step, the mana cables humming from the effort to restrain me,
"What if your lies are like glass, both brittle and waiting to be shattered?"
With one more step, I stood before her, twice her height and countless times her size. The energy cords squealed out in pain as they held me, but I was silent. I regenerated faster than the chains could burn through me. I stood taller than she could stand.
I leaned towards her,
"Your domain is built upon the ethereal. It is a castle of sand. It is a fortress of mirrors. It cannot move. It cannot breathe. My kingdom is different. It is moved with each of my steps. It heeds my call, every part awake and in motion."
I extended Event Horizon over her and the room, and I quaked the dimension they stood on. I simmered,
"My kingdom cannot be taken from me. It is the mastery of my mind and the body I've built. That is why you convince others while I resolve myself. That's why you rely on lies while I establish truth...Now-"
The mana cables ruptured, and I reached out my hand. Iona gazed up at me, fear and awe mixing in her expression before I shifted her with a gravity well. I moved a single finger as I did, emphasizing the ease of it. Iona Joan blinked before I spread my arms to the others,
"Let's discuss some deals."
I smiled,
"Mmkay?"
Comments
Gardor
Iona wasn't the one who invited him in, which he should have remembered, as that second gruff voice was an obvious point he should be curious about
FlawlessMovement
So important question. Do you think Daniel could build a world, I know not instantly but with all the current furnaces and like a year of effort do you think he could?
Mastermazer
My favorite part of this chapter surprisingly wasn't Daniel showing off, but the short bit about him being disappointed in the other rulers for falling for basic manipulation. It shows that just because he's stepped into a new tier (being a ruler), it doesn't mean he's back to the bottom of the food chain. It's a subtle way of validating all the progress he's made, not just in power but also as a person.
Monsoon117
Editing error right there. Fixed.
Rubeno
Florence is user of the charisma build both in stats and his natural charismatic disposition and he uses it in a way that most would consider for "good of the people". Why would charisma builds be forbridden?
Sani H
That was badass
David McConnell
Epiiiic!!
Abdo Fadel
Good chapter thank you
Weebking12
XD
Conor McGroarty
Quite short but no less enjoyable
Zachary Smith
Thank you!
Zachary Smith
Holy shit holy shit holy shit excited to read!
Edu Thomaz
We both are, because this chapter really felt very satisfying indeed
Weebking12
Oh how that makes me so satisfied (I'm extremely Petty by the way)
Potation
This chapter is mmkay :P
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Wanderingwolf
It was short, but he got the point across that he wouldn’t be bullied. Especially by someone that was using nothing but charismatic manipulation. Her choices could bring the downfall of her and other rulers.
Blake Richardson
Thanks for the chapter
Kristopher Abraham
I remember there was talk of a huge charisma nerf in the past. I'm guessing once Daniel is able to alter Schema, he'll be smashing charisma again as it is so annoying to deal with such builds. Or once he develops his own system, then I am curious if he will allow such builds.
Monsoon117
And if she spent that kind of time and effort to build up the situation, her position would be much firmer. However, she's trying to restrain Daniel within the confines of a conversation, something he won't allow. That's my idea of the situation, anyway.
Rubeno
Well kinda yes xanxia tends to agree but also huge no. Mc in this chapter refer directly to the winged girl surety of her position without good information about Daniel and forgetting virtue of personal power in xanxia like world yet... Charismata driven builds can't be underestimated. There are different kinds of power. If she for example created alliance of several rulers against earth and used various means and schemes and Daniel would be fucked despite his Gigantic rn power.
Jachin Nelson
The only Law that truly matters is the first Law. The Law of the Fist
Jachin Nelson
That was mine
Rubeno
Mc in this chapter pretty much says despite epic words that in world of schema personal power is a king in comparison to being politician. Is my understanding correct?
Rubeno
Damn I love MC penchant for epic speeches. They always make my blood boil.
Hayden Pech
Oh hahahaha this is great.
Pranav
Get R E K T
Titaniumtac
Great chapter
Alex R
both an insult and a []. I kept that to myself as I frowned, -> A what?
the void
Thank you for the chapter
GunsOfPurgatory
This was a really great chapter, and I think the length doesn't matter since it accomplished what it needed to do
Rubeno
I'm glad you are having writing as much as we have reading it ;)
Monsoon117
I'm not sure, but this is likely the shortest single chapter posted for The New World ever. While writing it, everything came together really well, and it felt like I was trying to force the chapter to be longer. While I don't ever intend to make these kinds of chapters the norm, the reason I even make chapter's long in the first place is for the immersion and satisfaction element. I want each chapter to be a dive into something and to have some resolution. While the brevity of this one prevents crazy depth, I think this chapter stands alone quite well. It feels complete, so to speak. That combined with the quick posting time made this one not so bad. Now, before this comment becomes longer than the chapter, enjoy guys. I'm heading off to start the next one. Writings been a lot of fun lately, and I'm really trying to just cherish this and have humility.
GraveLurker
Shorter chapter, but fucking flawless!!
