World Domination System

This 'just the tip' situation really stymied Daneel, but the Empire Spirit continued.

"Look. I know that you don't trust me. I am actually glad that that is the case. It shows me that you are someone cautious. But I really don't have a choice here. I need you to believe me. My method of securing entry for you is that I will pretend that I turned, just like the Black Raven Empire Spirit. After turning, I will claim that I managed to take control of you, as you are, after all, a once in a century talent. You rapidly used the technique I gave you and mastered it, so I managed to complete the possession very fast. In reality, the technique I gave you has no such backdoor, unlike the one the Black Raven Empire Spirit gave your friend. Again, I can't make you believe that, but that isn't important right now. What's crucial is this chance. The Black Raven Empire Spirit will believe this and let you in, as I'll be claiming that I'm there to protect it during its possession."

Daneel pondered on this for a few moments, before a question occurred to him.

"If this was your plan all along, why didn't you choose to deceive me that there really was a way to save Faxul, so that you could kill Faxul using my body yourself after entering its abode?"

This made the Empire Spirit chuckle, before it replied in an amused voice.

"That's quite cunning of you to think that up. But, that isn't possible. Temporary Voluntary Possession, which is what I'm going to do, will result in you still retaining the power to push me out using sheer will. If you see me using your body to kill your best friend, you would rebel, which would reveal everything to the Black Raven Empire Spirit and result in the entire plan being wasted. You must do it yourself, King. There is no other way. This is why I told you about this on that day, so that you could make a decision."

Again, Daneel was caught in a dilemma regarding whether he should trust this Empire Spirit or not.

Repeatedly, he was getting the feeling that everything it was saying made sense, and that he would be foolish to ignore it just to be too cautious.

However, Daneel needed proof.

So, after thinking hard, he got an idea.

"System, can it be identified whether the Empire Spirit is using a Temporary Voluntary Possession technique like it said, or a permanent one, like the one used on the Crazy King?"

[Affirmative. Possession is an advanced form of Mind Control. Due to system being in possession of the Hero-level Mind Control spell, system is capable of this task, as the same data can be used to check. Data collected by observing the target 'Crazy King' will also be used.]

That was good news. So, Daneel asked the most crucial question.

"If the Empire Spirit is attempting the latter after I give permission, is it possible for me to throw off the attempt and escape?"

[Negative. Host will be in a state of semi-slumber after giving permission, so this is not possible.]

Hearing this, Daneel frowned, but he felt like cursing the system after that when it continued, almost as if it had a sense of wit with which it was playing with Daneel.

[However, this can be ensured using a pre-programmed protocol to close off the consciousness and cancel the attempt if a Full Possession is detected.]

Of course-he had already used the pre-programming function of the system to excellent effect, and it seemed that it was going to help him again.

So, with this back up in hand, Daneel was much more agreeable to the Empire Spirit's plan.

Yet, he couldn't show that, so he acted as if he were very frustrated.

He first walked around the room with his face set in deep thought, before even banging on the walls, as if he was torn regarding a very, very critical decision.

Finally, satisfied with the frustration and hopelessness he had shown, Daneel walked up to the podium with a resigned look on his face and said, "Fine. It seems I don't have a choice, anyway."

"You won't regret it, Young King. Perhaps, with this, you will see that I mean you no harm, and that everything I've told you is the truth. I will begin right away. When you feel a prick in your mind as if you were being poked by a needle, please do not resist."

Nodding, Daneel took a deep breath and closed his eyes after confirming that the protocol was active.

Soon enough, he felt the prick, and although every fiber of his being told him that he should resist, Daneel relinquished all his defenses with great difficulty.

Slowly, he started to get sluggish, after which he felt a foreign presence in his mind.

Frankly, this made him feel…violated.

As he tried to push away this feeling of disgust, he slowly started to lose control of his limbs, one by one.

The sensations remained, but he could no longer move them with a thought.

This was followed by his heart, his organs, his throat, and finally: his face.

Daneel was now a passenger in his body: he could see everything, hear everything and feel everything, but he was not the one in control.

"Young King, shall we proceed? Notice that at any time, you can take back control. Why don't you try it now? Try to control yourself again."

Nodding but not feeling his head move(which was a very strange and horrifying feeling), Daneel willed himself to take back his body.

There was a small struggle, after which something seemed to give way.

Instantly, he could move again and do everything else again, but that foreign presence was still there.

"Now I am trapped with you, instead of the other way round. This is very dangerous, you know, for this exact reason. Anyway, let's go. It is time."

….

Meanwhile, in the cave behind the waterfall where Faxul had first come into contact with the Black Raven Empire Spirit.

Flying here with the Protector Raven again instead of teleporting, Faxul alighted on the ground and put his hand on the head of the Protector Raven.

These past few weeks had been fully filled with training and handling court matters, such as the deal to unify trade that was progressing briskly, and a few other requests that had been sent to him from Lanthanor for approval.

Today was the day. Today, he was going to break through to the Warrior level here, and he would be surprising his best friend with a means which they could probably use to grow strong enough to protect this continent, together.

This thought sounded great in his head, but day by day, as this date approached, Faxul had been feeling as if something was leaving him.

He had been using the technique to obtain power using Ravens, and each time, the feeling of digesting that globule of Energy was so addicting that it was almost like a drug.

Now, as he laid his hand on the glossy feathers of the Protector Raven and leaned his head on it, he felt as if he were saying…goodbye?

What? Why would he be doing that? No, he must be mistaken.

However strongly his mind persisted in making him think that everything was fine, it was as if something inside him knew that soon, everything was going to change, and not in a good way.

Only, that something was powerless to do anything.

With the gait of one walking to their death, Faxul and the Protector Raven entered the cave together this time.

According to the technique, this final step to the Warrior level and beyond needed him to use it on the Protector Raven, but it needed to be in the presence of the source of technique, as this was a dangerous step that would require the 'help' of the source to finish smoothly.

Entering, Faxul noticed that the podium was nowhere to be seen.

Looking around with puzzlement, he noticed that there was a path leading inwards.

Following it with the Protector Raven beside him, Faxul came upon a large, open area with stalagmites and stalactites filling the ceiling, which was illuminated with a soft glow.

The sight was beautiful and serene. There was even a calm lake to the side, where Faxul could see a few fish swimming around, minding their own business.

The only incongruence in this sight was the stone podium, which was perched in the center of the open area at an angle.

Before, the podium's base had been hidden underneath a few rocks, but now, he could see that it seemed as if it had been broken off quite crudely.

In a few spots, Faxul could notice thick branch-like structures of a dark red, almost black material, that seemed to be faintly glowing.

While he took all this in, he walked to the podium and put his hands on it without even thinking about why he was doing it.

His mind told him that it was just the natural thing to do.

"Wise King! You have progressed far with the technique, but it is time that you took the final step! From now on, a new age will unfold with you at the helm! Let us-"

"Hey, old bird. I beat you all those ages ago at each and every game the Empire held. Did you really think that you could beat me at this?"

As these words echoed in the open cave, a figure appeared at the entrance through which Faxul had just walked through.

The figure's hand was raised, holding the neck of the Crazy King who seemed to have been incapacitated without even landing a single blow.

His regal clothing that made him look like he had a Dragon perched on his shoulder only served to accentuate his Royal air, which was coupled with an expression of one who was like a force of nature: something that no one could stop.

"Long time no see, old bird. Now, were you fond of this mutt? Or can I snap his neck?"

As the crazy King's eyes widened due to the possibility that this man seemed crazier than him, Faxul's jaw dropped as he realized something.

This…was not his friend!