The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

"Does it seem like I have a choice? Either I choose to let the Caerulumen invade and massacre the people or fight them and have a chance of winning." Oscar frowned, displeased, but his lips flattened and brow smoothened, resigned to the obvious choice. He stood up under Metures's blazing glare and dragged his weary self closer, brushing past Ignyres, who remained silent and stepped aside. Erden grunted and walked by his side. They reached the throne, standing barely past the bottom of Metures's greaves. A firm and sharp aura pulsed around the Ancient of Metal, making Oscar reel from the sensation of his blood pinching against his veins.

"That may be so. But you will no longer be bound by me or by anyone else." Metures said clearly. "Fight the battles you wish. Save those you love. Spare those you pity. Not a tool. Not a weapon. But you. Let me ask. Once more." His breathing grew rushed. "What say you?"

"Yes. I will accept." Oscar said without hesitation. They had no time to deliberate or argue any longer. He felt it, the slight danger lurking nearby, constantly tapping on his instincts, knocking and hanging over his head. Sighing, Oscar sat down and watched Metures's hand reach out and place a finger gently on his head, a simple push capable of squashing his entire body into a splotch of blood. Metures brushed Oscar's hair and patted softly in a strange comfort that forced tears to well up and spill from his eyes. Why did this normal gesture of kindness strike him so hard?

"Forgive me. It has been a long, burdened journey, and you may endure more suffering in the future." Metures coughed, spewing out more clouds of rust, and gasped weakly. His red eyes shifted in his visor and locked on Erden standing to the side. "Prielapos, you have also been fortunate. Growing from a small, unassuming beast and elevated to the purest of blood."

"If the Ancient of Metal says so, then it must be true. My greatest fortune has to be meeting Oscar in Ashen Grove all those years ago." Erden laughed and nudged him in the face. He smacked his lips and grunted, "Is there a need for me to be here? I'd be better off fighting to save as many people above. Even if Oscar dies and I follow after, we are content, knowing we've fought to protect."

"Do not lower yourself. I hadn't considered it before. But I believe that fate is on our side. You are here, and Old Flame is also here. You have also crossed a strange border and have become more than just a beast. A new opportunity has risen for us." Metures turned his red eyes to Ignyres. "Old Flame. Are you willing?"

'So that's it!' Ignyres cackled, flickering his bright flames in a violent burst, radiating a fierce heat. Oscar couldn't read the Ancient of Fire's expression, but he knew a smile was on that flaming head. Ignyres blazed forward with wide strides, cackling in excitement. 'We are old and dying, mere embers waiting for the inevitable. Shall we risk it all by starting the greatest fire since the dawn of creation itself? I never thought a block of metal such as yourself had the mind to think of it. Yes! Yes! Our time is over, but our flames will burn the brightest.'

"A simple yes would have sufficed." Metures shook his head. "Very well. The time of the Ancients is over. Man and beast will reign, in control of their own destinies. Oscar shall inherit my mantle. Erden shall inherit Ignyres's. Thus, I have spoken, and so it shall be done."

The ground trembled after his declaration in response. Oscar closed his eyes and waited for it to start, but after a few seconds of silence, ignoring the soft cracklings of Ignyres's fire, nothing happened. He was confused and raised his head, baffled at the Ancient of Metal leaning back on the throne. "What are we waiting for? I can't waste any time. Why are we doing nothing when everyone is fighting out there?"

"Patience. Have faith in your people. The process cannot begin without the influx of Ein that will come from the Convergence. Tend to your body and wait." Metures said, peering up. "It is almost time."

Oscar glanced up and gritted his teeth, unable to calm down. Hopefully, his people would prevail or, at the very least, survive until Auren completed his tasks and activated the formation. He was agitated, cursing himself for relying on Auren, but it was their best chance, especially since he had to remain here for the Convergence. Gripping his knees, he couldn't calm down and worried for everyone.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

…….

The uproar in the stairway diminished into a haunting silence; dozens of voices that once yelled and screamed were now void and silent. Lysander took over from the front and led the way once they agreed to partner up, the might of the Grade Nine slaughtering anyone in their path. Auren stared in awe at the ease at which Lysander killed the ones impeding their climb and scratched his chin, pondering a way for his Lord to win against this hardened foe. If they had to fight each other, he needed to analyze the most he could glean from his observations. Behind him, Renn and Gloria looted the space pockets and armaments, keeping up.

"Here we are," Lysander slowed and neared what appeared to be a hatchway that led above. He tapped the hatch with his knuckles, making clear ringing sounds similar to a bell's toll. His yellow eyes flashed, glowing with Ein, and his fist rammed into the thick metal, blowing the hatch off its hinges and breaking it open. Light poured in the newly formed gap and blinded Auren for a second, his eyes blinking to adjust. Lysander leaped up and waved his hand down, motioning for them to follow.

Auren stepped up and jumped out of the hatch, caught by a fierce gale that shunted him back. Nearly blown off the edge, he clung to the empty air and halted himself mid-flight, gasping first in fear but then in awe and wonder, stunned at the amazing view. A vast orb of light floated below, accompanied by others in far distances to its left and right, bringing daylight to the eleventh land, the grassy plains that looked like a mere lawn from this height. The blue hue of the sky ended and led to the great expanse of stars, numerous as the sands in the desert, each sparkling with its own unique radiance. Day rested below, and night loomed above.

"So this is the top of the dark tower. Great. Great." Lysander said, applauding. Ten disks, larger than a small city, hovered and rotated in a lazy motion. One stood at the very top, followed by three below and six further beneath. Lysander smirked and grabbed Auren, Renn, and Gloria with his Ein. In a single leap, he landed on one of the bottom six disks. Auren noticed intricate carvings and patterns engraved on the gem-like surface and leaned forward, tracing one of the lines with his finger. His mind calculated and made a conclusion in an instant.

"What did you notice?" Lysander tapped Auren's forehead, snapping him from his deep pondering.

"There is a complex formation in this disk. Probably all of them. Then, this setup. Like a pyramid…Everything leads to that central disk at the top." Auren explained. With this configuration, he didn't need to do much and commandeer what was already laid down. "I don't need to mark my blood on these disks. Can you take me to the top?"

Lysander flew straight to the top and let them go on the top disk, staring above at the ocean of stars with a strange look of longing, flashes of desire glinting in his pupils. Auren pretended not to notice, knowing better than to disturb and possibly antagonize this man, but Gloria had other ideas, fearlessly asking, "Lord Taradon, is there anything to find up there? I only see stars."

"Young miss–" Auren grew flustered, but Lysander's booming laughter knocked him to his rear.

"That's the point. There are only stars there. What mysteries exist beyond them? What do they look like up close? There is a wider world out there, far beyond our Talos. Ancient records tell of a few who came from the outside. Isn't that nice?" Lysander smiled and crossed his arms. "Wouldn't anyone want to journey out there and explore? Perhaps they can go to the moon, to our two suns, to faraway worlds, and meet new people."

"That sounds amazing!" Gloria covered her sonorous laughter and tucked her brown, wavy hair behind her ear. "I'd love to travel out there."

"You're not bad at all! You understand." Lysander said. "I had hoped to come here and jump off, soar out of Talos's reach, and live an adventurous life out there. What a shame." He shrugged and slowly raised his hand, his fingers shaking at the highest point. "Even here, I am still bound. Oh well. Get on with your ploy. I'll stand watch."

Right as he said that, another hatch burst off the floor and clattered a charred, melted mess, lighting flashing and ascending in thunderous roars. Auren hurried to the edge of the top disk and shivered in fear of the terrifying Ein that rivaled Lysander's. A man with blue hair and blue eyes emerged out of the new opening and brushed the dust off the golden decorations on his shoulders, from which he draped a mantle of gold with blue inscriptions on the back. His blue uniform shirt matched well with his blue pants, tightened by the black belt and locked by golden latches.

"Auren, hurry it up. This man is none of your concern." Lysander narrowed his gaze and shouted, "Took you a long time, you little bastard. Have you grown in the six months since I met you, or are you still a brat?"

"Lysander…." Gilbert Lockwood raised a brow, then sighed. "Just leave. You have no reason to stop me."

"Since when did I need a reason to do what I want?" Lysander floated off the disk, looking down on Gilbert. "No one can tell me otherwise when I've already decided. And I've decided to fight you."

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