Chapter 184: The Unseen Hand

Liam had finished examining the information he could gather about Leo’s world, but the results had left him with more questions than answers. He could observe the planet through Astral Projection, yet he still could not determine the full strength of the player governing it, and the planetary system had offered little help in resolving that uncertainty.

It was an inconvenience he would have to work around.

Liam leaned back within his consciousness space, watching the distant globe rotate slowly before him. He had already decided to invade Leo’s world, and although he preferred to understand his opponent before making a move, he knew that waiting for perfect information would only delay the inevitable.

"Well, I suppose I’ll learn the rest when I get there."

He closed the remaining displays and began reviewing the abilities he could use during the opening stages of the invasion. Rather than relying on a single overwhelming move, he wanted to preserve enough flexibility to respond to whatever Leo might do, especially if the other player possessed abilities that were difficult to detect through observation alone.

He had no intention of making the same mistake twice.

An unfamiliar ability could turn an apparently simple confrontation into a troublesome one, and Liam had no desire to discover the limits of his preparations in the middle of a crisis. If he could not understand Leo’s strength beforehand, then he would have to ensure that his approach allowed him to adapt quickly.

After reviewing his options, he turned his attention toward the player network.

The chatroom had been unusually quiet whenever he checked it recently, though that did not mean the other players had stopped paying attention to one another. Double X’s disappearance had already raised questions, and Liam suspected that the others would continue discussing it until they received a satisfactory explanation.

He considered entering the conversation, but ultimately decided against it.

There was little reason to draw attention to himself when he had nothing useful to contribute. Besides, he had already spent enough time considering the matter, and his next invasion deserved more attention than a conversation that might lead nowhere.

Liam closed the chatroom without sending a message.

For now, he would continue preparing quietly and wait for the appropriate moment to act.

Far from Liam’s world, Akuma stood alone beside a pool of dark water.

The place was silent, with only the faint movement of the water disturbing the reflection of the empty sky above him. He had returned several times since his conversation with Reciprocal, but the thoughts that occupied his mind had become increasingly difficult to ignore.

He remembered the conversation clearly, particularly how Reciprocal had spoken as though the arrangement were nothing more than a mutually beneficial exchange.

There had been no need for threats, because Reciprocal had understood that Akuma already possessed reasons to resent the Entity and the circumstances surrounding his existence.

That understanding had been unsettling.

Akuma crouched beside the pool and dipped his fingers into the water, watching as the reflection broke apart into ripples. He had accepted the arrangement because he wanted to, yet the more he considered it, the more he wondered whether his decision had been entirely his own.

"Do you think I’m that easy to manipulate?" His voice disappeared into the silence.

Akuma withdrew his hand and studied the water again. He knew Reciprocal had its own intentions, and he had no reason to believe that the promises made during their meeting represented the entirety of its plans.

But that did not mean he intended to abandon the opportunity.

If Reciprocal wanted to use him, then Akuma would simply have to ensure that he gained something from the arrangement as well. He would cooperate for as long as it suited him, observe what Reciprocal intended to accomplish, and decide for himself when the time came to act.

He would not become another being controlled by someone else’s ambitions.

At least, that was what he told himself.

Akuma rose to his feet and walked away from the pool, leaving the disturbed water to settle behind him. He had no intention of revealing his doubts to Reciprocal, nor would he make any unnecessary movements before the opportunity to act presented itself.

For now, patience was enough.

Back in his consciousness space, Liam had returned to reviewing the information available to him.

The preparations for his invasion were nearly complete, though he still lacked a reliable assessment of Leo’s strength. He could observe the planet and examine its visible characteristics, but the system’s inability to provide a complete picture remained an obstacle he could not simply ignore.

Liam tapped the edge of the interface before dismissing it.

"Whatever. I’ll deal with it when I need to."

He was not entirely satisfied with the situation, but he had reached the point where further preparation would yield diminishing returns. He could spend another day searching for information that might never become available, or he could proceed and learn from the response his actions produced.

The latter seemed more useful.

He glanced toward the globe once more, studying the world that would soon become the center of his attention. Somewhere beneath its skies, Leo continued governing his planet, presumably unaware that another player had already selected him as the next target.

Liam wondered how the other player would react.

Would Leo respond cautiously, as Liam intended to do, or would he immediately commit his resources to resisting the invasion? Would his civilizations be capable of defending themselves, or would the conflict expose weaknesses that remained hidden during ordinary times?

There was no way to know yet.

Liam allowed himself a faint smile.

"Let’s find out."

He turned away from the globe and began organizing the final stages of his preparations. The next time he focused on Leo’s world, it would not be merely to observe its geography or search for clues about its strength.

It would be to begin the invasion.

And whatever happened afterward, Liam intended to make the experience worthwhile.

Far beyond his awareness, however, the universe contained intentions that neither he nor Leo had yet discovered. While the two players prepared for a conflict that would soon bring their worlds into direct opposition, other forces continued moving according to plans of their own.

For now, their existence remained hidden.

The coming invasion would be only one part of a much larger story, though Liam had no reason to suspect how much larger it would eventually become.