Chapter 409 - Destiny
The Unlocked of this timeline had trailed off so different from its original events. The techs, the personnel, and the resources that they now have allowed them to have the ability to challenge Presiders finally. They had to rely on various means to fight and kill a Mid-Tier Presider in the previous timeline.
But now, the science of altering the dimensions was the key component that the Unlocked had to study.
In the center of this study were the Void Assassin, the Realm King, and Seeker Carlean.
Seeker had grown in so many ways that he was beginning to touch upon the truths of the dimension. However, the most important aspect that allowed him to travel in the Void Passages in his risky teleportation training was the cumulative experiences of seeing the dimensions beyond.
Pridgeon was altering the dimensions and was merging them. This scene allowed Seeker to see that place for the third time.
The first time Seeker saw that place was when he reincarnated and traveled back in time, and the second was during the battle of the Kraken.
When Seeker fought against Crostfree, a portal was opened that allowed Crostfree to send a powerful lightning attack. That portal revealed the inside of that the fullness of the Fourth Dimension.
That vision alone allowed the team to research and try to find a way to breach it. The dreamworlds and the vision of the soul belonged to another dimension. This wasn't a physical dimension, and they gave up on trying to study as more understanding of Soul Cultivation would be acquired.
But the dimension that was shown here is the physical dimension.
"What's going on?!" Meryl asked as she retreated.
"That damned place is hurting my head!"
Lynd rushed in with his Exoskeleton and saved the out-of-control spin of Seeker.
He caught Seeker, and the trio retreated.
The dimensions warped as the two battled.
Overlapping Dimensions versus the Minuscule Dimensions.
There were no eruptions or signs that there was a battle occurring. But Pridgeon and Shasktress were unloading a ton of weaponry.
Seeker felt nauseated from the sight of it all.
"Get me out of here! I'd lose my mind if I stayed here!" Seeker urged.
A gust of wind blew as Herme heard them and the strong wind aided the trio in moving faster.
As the three retreated, Hermes had finally met Andronze.
"Hmm. Not even a raisin cake insight. Weak." Hermes gave his brutal assessment.
Andronze felt helpless, but she remained silent.
"What's going on?"
"This is a battle between Top-Tiers. One shrinks the world around them, and the other reflects the fourth dimension. You can't see it, can you?" Hermes laughed.
"It's quite nauseating." Hermes added as he heard what Seeker said.
Andronze was silent. But those words made her tremble.
She once served a Top-Tier Presider who fought another, and that Presider used the exact phrase! She couldn't understand how that space battle that looked like they were just floating in the air, in reality, was a fight that could have changed the landscape if it happened on land as it altered the dimensions.
Andronze was more convinced of Hermes' identity.
"This is clearly a Top-Tier Presider! To thin his abilities allow him to see through dimensions! Are these five his incarnations?" Andronze began to make guesses. It wasn't rare for Presiders and even Principals to follow the format of dividing the body.
"Who was that person earlier? The one who released such a powerful punch?" Andronze asked.
"Must be the Tyrant Empress. She's been here on Earth and was a rival of Lourca Ovilli. They are like you—someone studying the heritage of the Lost Primordial. There are various groups of Pioneers who survived and had been building up their power. They planned to challenge you guys when you get back. In my future, most of them died, but it gave rise to that man."
"That man?"
"He goes by many feared names. The one I fear the most... is Patricia."
"Patricia?"
"Focus on your current battle! I just got here and haven't started my research! That's why we planned to kill this Top-Tier to have the basic materials to start our many research. What techs do you have to fight against that?" Hermes asked.
Andronze's expression turned sour. He gazed at the current battle and couldn't even understand it!
"Pridgeon's powers were the superimposing of the two different dimensions. He can hide the entire fortress inside the fourth dimension. He is using that to hinder and draw attention from the Shrinking technology of Shasktress. What can you do to help Pridgeon find Shakstress?" Hermes asked.
"I-I know that. Will my attacks work?"
"What techs do you have?"
"I can offer my soul." The Presider reached out, and a strange light appeared.
Hermes had a stoic expression, but he was about to ask Seeker questions.
"You misunderstand. We don't have a Nefilus Suit. This is a Phalium Suit. Time travel has a lot of limitations. Show us the techs one by one. We can't see your soul!" Austin spoke up.
"Indeed. Such primitive times this is. To think that these Nefilus suits would surpass us." Omricon sighed.
"That suit is our foundation. So show some respect! Once we acquire that, our techs will naturally eclipse these old suits." Alvin made a gutsy comeback.
Andronze was shocked.
"Hurry up," Omega ordered.
"Ye-yes, Presiders!" Andronze then began to show them the techs.
Hermes was silent but was secretly relieved at the quick thinking of Austin and how the others played along.
"Can you hear us, Lowengren? I will need you to think of a way to use that."
"I hear you. And it's time to initiate Arthur's plan. With your direct access to Andronze, have her provide a powerful broadcasting system. Vender is already excited to act."
"I... feel like I shouldn't ask for that."
"Trust me. The way things are going, we're still on the losing end. Pridgeon won't hold. And something's up with Seeker. We haven't heard from Richie and Arthur's team. Whatever it is, we need Vender to get back on the mic. Arthur will expect Vender, but those Presider's won't."
"I'll see what I can do," Hermes answered.
Seeker and the other two stood at a distance from where the battle was happening.
The resulting vision was so complex that it made no sense at all. It was like looking into abstract art with the strange Penrose staircase that seemed to be moving upwards and downwards but would meet at the center. But there were more than just the physical dimensions. Seeker saw concepts such as time being altered. There was also a unique power that felt a lot like gravity.
"What's going on, Zeek? I tried imitating you but can't."
"You don't have my eyes and my experience. That sight only affects those that can see it. It's like how bright light can hurt those who can't see but won't do anything to those who can't! You don't understand or can comprehend what I'm seeing."
"Is this in any way beneficial for us? Because we still have a battle to fight, Zeek. Richie and Arthur are still inside that ship! So while we are wasting time out here, they could be dead now!"
"Don't worry. I saw something when Pridgeon forcibly yanked out the fourth dimension. It's related to Zone. But whatever that was... it's something that has somehow bounded us to certain limitations. Call it destiny or whatever... But something is controlling our future! And I could tell... It's working to protect Richie and Arthur!"
"What?"
"Our battles have been won through many things. But all of it is because the plans we have set worked! But something felt wrong when these stronger Presiders began to arrive. Arthur said he couldn't see the future anymore. And yet, he still managed to pull off this trick. Something is helping us beyond the dimensions. That's why the Lost Primordial was so confident! I get it now! Even my death and my time traveling was something he prepared! I was destined to go through that black hole and go here! I can't explain it, but Richie and Arthur will survive this battle!" Seeker explained.
"What can we do?"
"We have to be patient. We wait."
"Wait? Are you sure? Your mom and dad are in there too!"
"I'm sure. Alean has Zone because she can feel it. Arthur can tell the future because he can predict it. But that little jolt allowed me to peer into that Dimension. I can't explain it properly. But I can see Zone now. And that Zone fuels my power. I am a Prophet just like Arthur is. Trust me. The others can go about their respective plans. But for the three of us, we have to wait and act later."
BOOM!
An explosion finally occurred over the skies. This was strange, for the battle didn't create explosions.
"Look's like it's starting..." Seeker smiled.
The space around the area was slowly reverting as a large transparent form of Shakstress's ship began to appear.
Inside the ship...
Shakstress was enraged at the strange power that the enemy had before him.
"How?! How are you able to withstand my attacks?!" Shasktress raged.
The insides of the ship had several compartments that were damaged. Shakstress had moved immediately to kill the large man who wore a thick set of armor.
Then the first attack landed not a second since True Shrink was activated.
Shakstress had managed to appear directly in front of him and shot out a powerful beam through her Throne.
But what she thought was supposed to be an easy kill became difficult and even mysterious.
The attack she sent out was one of the powerful attacks she sent. It shot out and dispersed right after it struck him so that no further harm befell the ship.
But as the blast approached, Ocatrion managed to change his form, revealing a thick shield, and Octarion blocked the beam and retreated at the same time to keep himself from being enveloped with the blast.
The man stood up, and even though the bombardments of attacks would have melted the metal he was wearing, not a single dent or burnt part could be seen on the shield which ate the beam.
"You are much more durable than you appear... But why retreat? It seems there is a strange technology in that shield alone." Shasktress assessed.
She then prepared another volley of attacks.
Octarion stood firmly. But he knew that he wouldn't be able to survive the next attack.
"Hmm. To think I would be this useless..." Octarion shook his head.
"Hey, Ceasar.. Need a hand?" A familiar voice asked.