Chapter 324: Epilogue of Volume 4

The world was falling into chaos. The truth was no longer something the government can conceal.

Ever since the attack on the Kraken and the disappearance of the WGP's support, the world was already going on its downhill descent.

The financial world, the exchange of currency, the trade that the world relied on had all fallen into a chaotic mess. Countries found themselves to be without means to support or sustain themselves.

Some countries even had people killing their leaders. It was very much satisfied with how the government was trying to fight off the collapse of almost every stable source of income, trade, and other necessities.

Corruption began to reveal itself left and right in some countries. Countries in any form of alliance or agreement even fell apart, and war occurred within.

But as the world fell, great reformations and reestablishment were occurring.

New people rose to power, and the former regimes died with the leaders that once held them.

Tech Possibilities had been lifted. Almost every corporation and organization, and even some of them, had revealed a new form of technology that they had secretly hidden all along and began to sell them and offer exchanges with various forms of financial aides and trades.

The WGP offered trade offers to some countries that attracted them with unique techs. But mysteriously, it was countries that had long lived under severe economic and technological hindrances that were the ones that managed to remain afloat when the whole world changed.

Pangea, which had enemies on both sides and limited land trade, were forced to find means as the triune countries united and made techs of their own. With the western sea and land routes blocked by the SPU and Australia hovering over the west, they had to turn to different means to survive the trade storm.

Apart from this, the gambles of Crazy Carlean and Ludicrous Lynd paid off. General Harker wanted the various gambling debts to be paid using minerals, supplies, materials, and tech. 

But this trade greatly benefited Pangea as it now managed to create a stable society in the new era when the WGP fell.

The Americas and Canada, which had long been isolated due to the severe restrictions in trade, remained as stable as ever. And while great turmoil was happening within the Americas, powerful organization and techs that was so intriguing, it even moved the WGP to offer various trades.

Since its establishment, Unlock Industries, which wasn't even a month old, has overtaken several large corporations in the Americas. South America even experienced the rise of Underwater Cities, which created even more chaos in various countries worldwide.

Arthur watched the news and continued to mutter strange things.

His trip had taken him all over the world. He visited Pangea and aided Seeker in the attack of the WGP. After this, he had settled in the Leviathan and was making his way towards Egypt.

The Leviathan had been spending the last three weeks traveling all over the world. It was searching all over the place and managed to wipe out and conquer three underwater cities. Arthur understood more about the underwater cities and how these secret societies functioned. He was able to deduce and calculate the locations of the other cities and found a way to attack and conquer them without alerting the rest.

The cities they attacked were easily conquered. Some had three times larger cities than the Leviathan itself as the city was buried under the sea bed. But against the primary team of Unlocked soldiers, these cities easily were captured.

But Arthur didn't capture and enslave everyone. They simply observed and acquired the unique technologies that developed in the underwater world. Some were turned into Programmed Slaves, and they even gave the conquered cities techs and explained about the Aragarians.

As Arthur kept charting their path towards Egypt, he suddenly felt a strange force.

He immediately turned on a strange device.

The device was something that combined several techs. Richie, the Realm King, and Lennox made means that allowed the three to link in great distances.

"Soundcheck. I'm sorry for the sudden call. But this is the only time that I can make this call. I'm inside the underwater nuclear facility of a certain Underwater City. Is everyone here?" Lioncourt asked.

All the Overcomers and Near Overcomers were present and gave a simple acknowledgment. Notable members joining the call who weren't Overcomers are Arthur and Charles.

"They Tyrant Empress is, of course, without means to respond. Although I'm sure, you've felt it. It's as if her claws are trying to reach out and grab us." Lioncourt wiped the sweat off his face.

"Eagle seems to be busy. Anyway, now that everyone's attendance is confirmed, let's get this call started. As Arthur predicted, strange fluctuations are occurring around the world. Four, to be exact. One appears to be headed towards the Caliphate region. Amir Mann, you owe me your liver. I expect the shipment to be made immediately."

"Fine…" Amir grunted.

"Liver?" Charles asked.

"No time to explain, Doctor Charles. Anyway, with this, we can confirm that Arthur's prediction was right. Crostfree is dead and Pridgeon now controls Crostfree's techs. But now, there are three more strange fluctuations. Looking at the feel, I'm guessing two of them are mass teleportation. One is bending space like the Void's assassins teleportation technique, but the other is displacing space. Any thoughts on that Seeker?"

"No. I don't know who those Presiders are. But they might appear in South America. My team will keep a close eye at the situation."

"Alright. Anyway, it means what you all think. The Aragarians are moving their armies inside Earth. We have accomplished one of our objectives. From our own reprogrammed set of slaves and the Pioneers serving the Tyrant Empress, we know that there are tiers among Presiders. Since these so-called top-tiered Presiders are now moving, we can now assume that it is safe to move into our next plan."

"Amazing. You got even the date right. You can really see the future." Seeker laughed as he checked the calendar.

"Then that means that Arthur is also right in the locations. Russia, Caliphate, Canada, and one in the Underwater region of the world. Is it in the Arctic waters?" Meng asked.

"Correct. The movements are as Arthur expected." Lioncourt answered.

"Let's not get confident, Overcomers. Our concern is to prepare our traps and create as many spies as we can. My predictions moving onwards will now have lower chances of coming true. There are too many factors in play and too many powers. And even now, our chances of victory is quite small."

"We will do what we can. In about a few weeks, I should have the ability to sense through the wind." Hermes explained.

"I'll try to scout them. Or does Arthur have any suggestions?"

"It's best to wait for Richie to visit you up there. I'm sure he will be gathering and pulling you in the war against the Tyrant Empress in Africa. Once together, try to find a way to merge your two paths. We do not know if the Presiders in Canada can detect the strange movements of the wind. So it's better to use your wind and make a Realm Chamber for Richie." 

"Alright. Sounds like a plan."

"Meng… What about your father? How is he?"

"He will be going to South America as planned. Rosa's family has finally caved in. My father will be joining them and will be acting as one of their elders."

"Caved in… Meaning?" Charles asked.

"Typical tortured them, and they believed the reports about the Aragarians."

"The Gladium family fought me on several occasions. You used fear to make them submit?" Rai wondered.

"Consider them Programmed Slaves. But instead of pleasure, I used pain. Three of their younger members reached the Advent stage of Unbecoming during the torture, which proves that they may have more possible Paths to develop. They have agreed to join against the war against Russia and India."

"Are you certain that you can handle that, Dragon?" Amir asked.

"My Fangs crushed you once. They will crush you again, Little Doggie." Meng laughed.

"We shall see." Amir didn't fight back. Although Cliff was the main reason they won, Amir counted it as his defeat.

"Seeker. For your mission in South America, you have to be very careful. Pridgeon shouldn't have made his move obvious. With how he is suddenly moving towards the Caliphate region means that things have changed. Act as if a Principal is there."

"I know. That's why Lynd and Cliff are with me."

"That should also be a reminder to all of you. You have to be more on guard with your battles. Pridgeon is able to move an entire invisible fortress towards that location. It is that moon that we attacked in the South Pacific. If Crostfree becomes the baseline of reference for Top-Tier Presiders, we should assume that the others have the means to do the same thing. Mass teleportation is something inconceivable at this time. And since both have used different means of teleportation, it means that their techs in the dimensions beyond are something we cannot imagine or box."

"So we live assuming that they can detect us?" Charles asked.

"In Seeker's future, I believe that apart from Crostfree, most who took part were either low to mid-tiered Presiders. But now, we have Top-tiers on Earth. They will be actively looking for this Lost Primordial. We gave them a fake target with all our lies. So don't try to get yourself in the target range." Lennox interjected.

"As you can see, my son is wise in forcing all of us to complete our big moves before they get here. The only Presider that showed interest was drawn out and killed. But since we already killed a Top-Tier and made it look like another Presider or the Lost Primordial is involved, we might draw in Principals." 

"So in our current power, we don't have any hopes in defeating Principals. We know Dimension tech is the key to rising to greater power. And we don't even have the basics. My powers could barely be counted as that." Rai sighed. 

"Yes. Principals should have the power to do far greater things. And so our plan relies on stealing whatever we can from Presiders. But even if we've acquired all the techs that the top Presiders here have, we still won't be able to beat them." Arthur agreed.

"Cheer up, gang! We have the Lost Primordial's tech. We have within us the means to become stronger than these guys! The techs we get from them are just nice benefits. Just as it always has been, the key to victory lies in our ability to Overcome." Seeker smiled.

"Our enemies are near. Are enemies bring such a great threat to the balance. But this is the only way for us to grow." Seeker added.

"Arthur, you didn't tell us last time. But what is your prediction? What will these people do?"

"The key lies ins Pridgeon's sudden action. Why suddenly make an obvious move? For those who are Top-Tiered Presiders, this would make his acquisition of Crostfree's tech known. Why would he do that?"

"He knows he's discovered," Richie answered.

"He's not hiding anymore. But even then, he is still moving to complete the obsession we've started with him with the Jews. Did he succumb to the Tyrant Empress's power?"

"Not exactly. He knows he's failed. He's moving to counter it." Arthur answered.

"Tyrant Empress, you have to grow stronger in a way that he will fall into an obsession towards you without knowing it. Make him fall so in love that he will create an alternate personality. Make that obsession a personality. It is possible." Seeker suggested.

"You've read my mind, Seeker. But while that may not happen, the best way for these Presiders to move freely within Earth is to create a new nation for themselves." 

"Then it's perfect." Someone suddenly interrupted.

"Eagle. So nice of you to join." Lennox greeted.

"I'm sorry. I was in the middle of the Bible study. But the events that follow seem to be in line with the Bible's grand tale."

"The Bible's grand tale?" Richie asked with great curiosity.

"The Bible repeatedly talks about two certain things. Israel and a city that opposes it. Jerusalem was first shown in Genesis as the city called 'Salem' ruled by an interesting bible figure that was a High Priest and at the same time a King."

"Melchizedek!" Richie answered like a young kid showing off to his parents how smart he was.

"Correct, Richie. This Melchizedek is seen as an important typology of Jesus Christ. He presents himself as a King-Priest, a role that only Jesus fulfills and is hinted to in the New Testament. The Book of Hebrews details this. Jerusalem quickly becomes the center of all Biblical narratives. It focuses on that city, and the Bible even ends with the City of God, the New Jerusalem falling from Heaven and taking its place."

"That is what you kept mentioning as the Kingdom, correct?"

"Yes and no. Depending on your view on eschatology, you might believe the Kingdom happens before or after. But that's not necessary. For now, we can say that it is the Kingdom for convenience's sake. What is important is that we understand the first important city that is Jerusalem. The second city also appears in Genesis, we see it featured prominently in the last book of the Bible, and we see its mentions running all over the Bible. The second city first appeared in Genesis as Babel."

"The tower of Babel?"

"Indeed! The very same! Babel in the land of Shinar. And do you know what existed in Shinar?"

"Babylon!" Richie exclaimed once more.

"Correct again! Look's like Richie's knowledge of the Bible is getting better! I trust your Bible studies have been going great?"

"Richie's leading bible studies?!" Seeker was amazed.

"Yeah. You should join, Seeker! Your Grandmother frequently attends now."

"...Please continue, Eagle." 

"Anyway… It is, as Richie said. Babylon becomes an important theme throughout the Bible, and in the book of Revelation, we see the two prominent cities fighting. Revelation tells of a great city, full of sin and wickedness, and is very vocal in their defiance against God. And this city is at odds with Jerusalem. You could even say that Babel, the city that sinful man built to reach the heavens and challenge God, is rebuilt!"

"I get it. You mean to say that we are fulfilling the typologies of Scripture?" Lennox asked.

"Indeed. Whether Arthur intended it to be, this is what's happening. So, Arthur, we have to find a way to make Pridgeon build his fortress in the land of Shinar. If we arrange it in that way, my sermons could become a powerful weapon to convince the world when the time comes." Eagle urged Arthur.

"Alright then. I'll send word to Lowengren. I predict that these Presiders on Earth will build a city just like Pridgeon will do. And I guess, to fulfill Scripture, we have to make our cities strong enough to fight them." Arthur added.

"This doesn't overlap with our current arrangements. Richie and the Empress will still fight in Africa. Amir and the Dragon will fight in China. Near Overcomers, I urge you to join those battles. Make your battle wild that it will cause some countries to flee to the Cities of Refuge. Also, try to attack these towers of Babels that will surface. I predict you will lose. But that's the point." Arthur added.

"I see. One city is a place of escape. The weak and helpless will go there. But Babel will be a city of power. Full of vices, sin, and pride. Both will rise, and both will have different things to depict. If that's the case, then our battles will be easier. The other Presiders will probably join one of those cities to make their entry on Earth easier." Lioncourt analyzed.

"So one of the major themes in the Bible is Jerusalem and Babylon… Interesting… It kind of makes me see the Bible differently know. So this is it, huh? A Tale of Two Cities." Richie laughed.

"The Cities of Refuge versus the Towers of Babel… It has a nice ring to it." Seeker also laughed.