Chapter 372: Seeker’s Request

Seeker's sudden request stunned the group.

"You want us to help you fall in love?" Lynd asked with his tone rising.

"Are you even listening to yourself? There's a limit to how you've been doing things around to get what you want, Zeek. You changed Kristine's future and decided to make her yours when the future, you know, he was supposed to be with me!"

Meryl and Charles were stunned at Lynd's declaration.

"And then, you sent us and forced Arthur to carry out a massacre in Australia because you knew that their future is wicked. But these people who don't have any faults yet and you could have stopped them from becoming evil! Look at Africa! Look at Russia! Those world powers in your future now have uncertain futures! You could have taken the gracious end and prohibit Australia's backsliding, but you chose to kill a lot!"

"He's right!" Meryl realized another important factor.

"Arthur could have even made a better plan for this world, but they decided to follow you in your selfishness. And now, you want to go through another selfish path? What's you're doing is reckless. There are better ways to get the information we need! I think we don't even need her! Look around you! The advantages we have! Lanterk thinks that we have a Principal on our side! Our spies can gain more information! Or is it that you don't underestimate them?!" Lynd bombarded.

Charles and Cliff also nodded.

"He's sort of right, Zeek," Charles admitted.

Seeker shook his head.

"I don't underestimate our spies. I admit. I have been making pretty selfish calls. But that's not it. Australia had to go through that event because it was the best way for us to get the drug that healed us. Git Godlike and many others were pulled out of that place and managed to fight harder and better. It also cleansed our Australian chapter for any possible future traitors. I don't want to go to the specifics, but you're cherry-picking your facts, Lynd!" Seeker argued.

"Even if I am, you're also focusing and highlighting certain truths without revealing the cons of your choice! We can sit here all day and refute each other's work! It's very easy to do so! You can take one aspect of my argument and rip it apart, and I can do the same with yours! But regardless of which action does indeed bring the most benefits... I'm warning you, Zeek! Things can never go your way all the time!" Lynd warned.

"Zeek. Lynd never argued against you since your battle. Because he submitted into the truth of agreeing with whatever you knew to be right. But he is now. And he's doing that for the reason that you already know. Zeraphine's not the only Presider in this world. I believe Meryl's relationship with Lanterk will bear more fruit than you. There is no need to allow yourself to fall into her charms." Cliff suddenly spoke up.

He used his memory to point out what the angry Lynd was unable to say.

"Lynd is doing this because he cares," Cliff added.

Seeker and Lynd grew quiet.

"What if this decision of yours is something that your Adult self is saying because he's still madly in love with her? You think I didn't notice how you cried after seeing the picture of Zeraphine from Malang's painting?" Lynd finally asked.

Seeker sighed.

"I have to! This is one of the ways that we can get information about Principals! Maybe even Primes! The spies are good and all, but there is a limit to what they can uncover! And I am telling you this because I need your help! I always would walk my Path and make everybody follow it. But it's not that anymore. I want you guys to help me walk in it. Not just follow me. That's why I gathered everyone for this mission." Seeker revealed.

"I can't do this on my own. My adult self was insane and deeply affected by her powers. He warned me as well because he knew how inescapable it is. But unlike his timeline, I still have you. And you guys are stronger in this timeline. I am not being selfish here. She thinks I am the Progenitor's son. And if Lanterk assumed the Progenitor to be a Principal, so will Zeraphine. This means she can marry me. She won't have to kill herself as she did in my Adult self's timeline. She has that shot. And I could be the best spy the Unlock can ever have!"

"What about me?" Meryl challenged.

"Don't I have that shot?"

"If he was a normal Presider, yes. But if Lanterk is a Principal, he might only see you as a concubine or even a toy, Meryl!" Seeker argued.

The group became silent once more. Everyone was thinking of a way to refute Seeker's words.

"Listen. I know you against it because you valued my safety. But Charles, you were the first to die. Well, probably Cliff. I never really knew much about you."

Cliff sighed.

"Then Lynd and then Meryl. If someone were to die in this timeline among all of us, I want it to be me." Seeker answered.

"My multiple personalities will help. And if Malang's painting is correct and that my idiot adult version made a woman personality, then they can help me keep my sanity if ever Zeraphine's power sinks too deep."

The group was contemplating once more.

"Also... I have begun treading Alean's Path. I don't know. But somehow... things are falling to place. I don't think that me and Zeraphine's past life was a coincidence. The more you understand Zone, the more you realize that there are more mysteries in this world. But there are no coincidences. My future self lived a life being told that all the miracles he made were all coincidences. I could not have told you this and went along with my plan. But I have a feeling that I should do this. I should tell you about my plans. This is a leap of faith. Logically, I believe you will all disagree. But I'm telling you because I took the leap of faith. So help me." Seeker pleaded one last time.

Lynd was in deep thought and finally looked at the rest.

"What do you guys think? Are we going to let this idiot have his way again?"

Meryl was grumbling and was the first to speak.

"Fine. We'll help you. Kristine is coming to South America, right? Hopefully, Alphie will make the right choice and pick you." Meryl smiled.

"Lynd, you don't want Kristine in this life, do you?"

"I'm already set for Alean. So I'll pass. But Seeker owes me big time."

"Good! Then I'll help Zeek by helping these two fall in love with you. This will also be interesting if that Jake fellow that can pass through walls gets to South America." Meryl chuckled.

Seeker shook his head and laughed.

"I'll try to develop anti-depression drugs or powerful emotion controlling drugs as well. One that can affect an Unlocked." Charles added.

"It might sound impossible to treat an Unlocked medically. But where's the challenge? I already did the impossible with a drug that can get Unlocked to Surmounting. Too bad it's so expensive." Charles sighed.

"I'll watch over you, Zeek. I'll get stronger too. Strong enough to fight and defeat you and all your personalities. I promise I'll be that strong so that I can pull you out of the darkness that you pulled me out of." Lynd also added.

Seeker smiled. He felt great relief at Lynd's words.

"I'll also be your bottom just to irritate Zeraphine."

Seeker's expression grew dark.

"I don't want rumors to spread, guys!" Seeker warned.

The group laughed.

Finally, everyone turned to Cliff.

"What?" Cliff was confused.

"Everyone just gave great suggestions in helping Seeker that it didn't feel right not to listen to how you plan to help him." Lynd frowned.

"I don't know how to help Zeek!" Cliff complained.

But everyone maintained their questioning and expecting looks at Cliff.

"Come on, Cliff. You have awesome powers. Use it to help Zeek!"

"Why should I? That guy made my life a living hell."

"Ah. But I also gave you your first girlfriend." Seeker reminded.

"I don't know how to help you!" Cliff emphasized.

"You have to, Cliff. It's the rules. Besides, I helped you reach Inhuman. And I am the reason for when you get your first kiss. I mean... not that one. But a future one with Charm. Or Eva. Whoever, really." Seeker laughed.

Lynd, Charles, and Meryl laughed at Seeker's answer. They still recalled how Cliff was forced to kiss the weapons dealer of Pangea.

Cliff was about to complain again, but then a strange thought surfaced on his head.

"Alright. Fine. Tread on my Path." Cliff requested.

Seeker was surprised at Cliff's actions.

"Interesting... Did little Cliff really grow stronger?" Seeker smiled.

"Just do it. You can do a bit of Nogard's soul thing, right? Try it on me." Cliff sighed as he used his daydreaming powers.

Seeker harnessed the energy and threaded on Cliff's Path of daydreaming. Seeker's eyes broke through the normal dimensions and managed to reach Cliff's dreamworld somehow. Although Seeker didn't see it, he felt it.

Seeker froze. He was horrified as he sensed the peculiar sensation. But it was too late. It was as if the sensation was implanted on himself. He glanced at Cliff in shock. And then a great hatred emerged.

The power of Seeker's reaper's breath that was now breaching the dimensions occurred, and it crashed down on everyone.

Cliff was crushed, but his expression still maintained a laugh.

Seeker stepped forward, and while being in an Inhuman body, Seeker used Surmounting Strength.

BANG!

Lynd blocked the attack in time.

"Are you insane, Zeek? You'll kill him!" Lynd shouted.

"Then let him die!" Seeker suddenly teleported and appeared near Cliff. Due to the great turbulent powers that he used after teleporting, the wounded Seeker emerged and punched what he can to Cliff.

"What happened?!" Lynd asked, and then he used his Path of Observation and Empathy of Seeker.

And then... he felt it too. The rage of Seeker was caused by that memory that Cliff recalled. His recollection was so powerful that when Seeker began to tread on Cliff's Path and even used the soul ability of Nogard, Seeker felt the wet lips of Primer Elionios.

And now, Lynd felt a strange feeling on his lips. His observation was so profound that he felt it too.

Lynd erupted in anger and charged Cliff and delivered a kick.

BANG!

The kick sank, and a depression appeared on Cliff's shoulder.

Horrified at the sight of Cliff's body, Meryl stood in front of the two men and used her Path.

"Stop!"

The magnificent light stopped both from continuing the attack.

"Totally worth it!" Cliff's broken body laid on the floor, but his laugh was extremely joyful. 

In the Throne of Emperors, Nogard continued to discuss more of the actions that the WGP would be taking, and Charm and Lara continued to listen.

Nogard suddenly frowned and looked elsewhere.

Zeraphine managed to hide her surprise but could sense powerful fluctuations somewhere in the room.

"What happened?" She wondered.

Nogard sighed.

"Looks like the Progenitor is up to more experiments. I wonder why they continued despite all the guests in this place." Nogard asked himself. He was truly puzzled why that happened.

On another room, Lanterk fell on his knees.

He coughed up a lot of blood. He was secretly trying to create a link to send an important message to the rest of the Four Pillars, but suddenly, he felt a fluctuation in the dimensions. It was of fire, power, and great hate.

Thinking that it was the Progenitor taking notice of his secret attempts, he immediately canceled the link and caused him to weaken greatly. The energy he wasted there was immense. But fearing the clash of another Principal, Lanterk canceled it when he felt the fluctations.

The timing was just too weird! Lanterk purposely chose to delay his secret link, but that fluctuation came when he made his link.

"Damn it! He's this powerful?! Am I just going to be a lamb led to be slaughtered here?!" Lanterk cursed.