Chapter 437 - Cliff’s Agony

The confident Madelyn had been living her dreams in the past months.

She had been one of Pridgeon's most trusted soldiers in this war. Her rescue of Pridgeon in the battle between Richie and the Black Dragon of China months ago allowed her to become an Arbiter. And while this position was short-lived, Pridgeon had managed to do the unthinkable and killed one of the most powerful Presiders on Earth.

As such, Pridgeon's power rose to great heights. She also received many techs that would secure her rise to Presider in the following months. And so, her service to Pridgeon had grown better and better. Even when Pridgeon would call for her at night, she didn't disdain it but thoroughly serviced Pridgeon to the point of even kidnapping several artists in the chaos that ensued in the following months.

And when the battle between Shakstress and Pridgeon occurred in Egypt, she engraved the fight between Pridgeon and Shakstress to her heart. She replayed the fight over and over again. Finally, the battle that took place within Pridgeon's ship was revealed to the Pioneers serving Pridgeon.

She couldn't' understand the battle, but what was clear was that Pridgeon dominated and would have killed Shakstress, forcing Shakstress to make a desperate retreat. And it was this retreat that allowed Pridgeon to get data for improving his technology.

To her, the meteoric rise of Pridgeon proved that Pridgeon would soon dominate Earth.

She fulfilled the plans of Pridgeon, and even though the new era and chaotic state of the Earth made it difficult to unite and transfer all Jews, she followed and believed that Pridgeon's obsession would bear fruit. And with Pridgeon being satisfied, she was gifted an imitation of the Throne. With that, only a Low to Mid-Tier Presider can kill her now.

But now, a man had appeared. He didn't even need a Throne. He even brought his vape.

The nonchalant attitude of Cliff created fear in her heart.

She raced to contact Pridgeon.

"You must be Madelyn. Richie sends his regards." Cliff spoke.

At that moment, Madelyn felt pangs of satisfaction, and great lust burst out of her loins.

"Ri-Richie...?!"

No matter how she viewed, worshiped, and wholeheartedly served Pridgeon, the memories of that man and that kiss remained.

"She missed you, Madelyn. He's gotten stronger. He is now an Anti-Presider. But somehow, that kiss he gave you out of spite seemed to have really made an impact on him." Cliff lied.

"Ri-Richie... misses me?!" Madelyn was trembling from the delight that she suddenly closed the line of communication to hide her erotic moans.

If not for the blank mask that Ciff wore, everyone would have noticed the blushing expression of Cliff.

"What a freak! I can hear you, you know?!" Cliff secretly complained even though Madelyn had perfectly soundproofed herself, the fact that the Fourth Dimension was largely altered allowed Cliff to use his realm to bypass it easily. And the sounds of Madelyne's pleasure, was Cliff's agony.

"I should have taken Richie's Dimensional sound lessons last! That crazy lady! Stop thinking about it, Cliff! Get it out of your memories! Get it out of your memories!" Cliff cursed his weakness. Ever since he mastered his memories, he was very careful not to find any lustful encounters as the memory and feeling would be engraved forever. Instead, he vowed to put the sound of Charm's voice to his heart when 'that' would finally happen. 

"Begone memories! Damn it! Damn it all! This will stay with me forever! Forgive me, Charm!" Cliff cursed.

His first kiss had already been stolen with a man that he wished to forget. But the name of Primer Elionios, his height, weight, blood type, and even how the man's heart was pounding when they kissed still registered in his brain like an agonizing curse.

The agony of that kiss remained, and while it was disgusting to Cliff, he could still block it out when he finally makes his move with Charm. But Madelyne was a beautiful woman. And the sounds will forever be in Cliff's memories. It was as if a porno was stuck in Cliff's head. Forever.

And now, the very seductive moans of the woman echoed out.

"I... am a loyal man! I cannot cheat on Charm!" Cliff cursed and decided to move. With his ability to Daydream, and his constant training, he could now easily create plans and adjust them. The memories of how he would fight in an ever-changing scenario and even when he led Seeker, Lynd, and Meryl in combat had made him a man that was now regarded as one of the best strategists among the Unlocked.

BOOM!

A massive dent that almost became a hole was made on the Throne of Madelyne with a single fist.

"Tsk... Still lacking." Cliff cursed.

The punch jolted Madelyne and threw the Throne back. 

"I have to attack you to make it look like I wanted to kill you. But Richie is still looking for you. Wait for him, and I hope you will be our ally. Now retreat! Delay your alarm at Pridgeon and pretend to be unconscious from my attack. Call all your men back as well. Do you understand?" 

Cliff's words added great hope to Madelyne's heart, and she agreed.

"Yes."

"Good. Now attack me as you retreat. Only you heard my words." Cliff added.

Immediately, Madelyne's Throne began to glow as she retreated and disappeared.

"Attack!" She called out, and the portals to the fourth dimension opened and shot at Cliff.

Cliff jumped back and evaded the barrage while using his arms to swat some of the exploding canisters shot at him.

His strength and speed were easily able to match the speed of these bullets.

"I knew they'd use bullets... Laser attacks don't do well in the fourth dimension." Cliff laughed. 

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The numerous attacks could not all be blocked and evaded. 

Cliff took out a small round ball with a shield emblem on it.

"Let's try this new baby out." He harnessed his Unlocking to activate the bomb.

A layer of sound appeared around Cliff, and he charged forward, evading and blocking when necessary.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The attacks that did reach Cliff couldn't penetrate the sound armor.

STAB! STAB! STAB!

Cliff used his sword to kill several of the Exoskeletons standing beyond the dimensional tear.

"AHH!"

"Retreat! We can't handle him!" Madelyne shouted as she found the right timing to order the retreat.

The Emperors also began to fight and attack Cliff, but his speed was just too fast. And the sound armor that was around him allowed him to manipulate it in a way that many others of his level couldn't do. Only Seeker could do what Cliff just did.

Cliff used the sound of the shield to make himself fly.

BOOM!

With Madelyne's Throne disappearing, Cliff turned his aggression on the Rules and brutally attacked it with his bare fist.

"Impossible?! What Techs is he using?!" The Empress shouted and began to use Origin to protect herself.

The weapon that Cliff wielded was a new weapon developed and sent all over the world. Only the Tyrant Empress did not get access to this. Unlike the Balls of Thunder, the Shield of Thunder did not wield the sound like a bomb but harnessed it. Seeker's use and how he could manipulate Richie's sound became the basis of the study and was finally approved for combat use as it can perfectly shield an Unlocked.

But this weapon was very expensive to create that only those who had reached a certain category could use it. And Cliff was one of them. In fact, he was among the people who could maximize the Shield of Thunder.

"Who are you?! We surrender!"

Sensing the disappearance of Madelyne and the restoration of the dimensions around him, Cliff smiled as he could finally talk and negotiate with these Emperors without any Aragarian ears listening to them.

"You surrender? Good! Listen up! I won't say it twice as you have to make your retreat after. If you make a mistake, I will kill you.. I am Ranked Hero, General Cliff Fangwood of the Basilisk Squadron. I am He Who Treads on the Trodden Road!"