Charles launched a powerful attack at the approaching gorilla.
His fist shot out and contained powerful cancerous cells that made his attack stronger than most Ranked Heroes.
But suddenly, the fist struck nothing and the gorilla passed through him.
"An illusion?!" Charles was stunned. He was an Unlocked that had reached the levels of Ranked Hero. His perception was far greater than the most advanced sensory techs the WGP had. His eyes could see in numerous wavelengths. His ears were attuned to all frequencies. He could feel minute vibrations and his mind was trained to react to the smallest of things.
And yet, his advantages failed him. He believed the creature before him.
The entire room warped and they were once more brought into the same room where Garenjazz was.
"What?!" Charles was surprised.
"You weren't brought into a dream world if that's what you're thinking." A voice was heard.
Charles turned to see an exhausted young man approach.
"Lowengren! That was you?!"
"Yes. It worked. My lies fooled you there."
"But... how?! I felt it all! I thought it was all real!"
"I was finally able to harness my Path and spread it out in the form of a realm. Garenjazz created a world of luck. And with his help, I managed to create a world of lies." Lowengren laughed.
Charles was shocked.
"You... now have the power to create lies!"
"I did use a bit of Garenjazz's dream technology. But unlike Garenjazz which can create things, mine is just illusions and bending of light."
"It felt so real! I even smelled the scent of that ape!"
"Yes. That part is my lies taking form. Hopefully, we can reach a point where the powers of Garenjazz would become true. Truth and Lies in one mix. That would pack quite a punch."
"We'll need that when they do come."
"How formidable. I thought it wouldn't work. But if this Ranked Hero was easily fooled, then it could fool Presiders." Garenjazz chuckled.
"Garenjazz? He's awake?"
"He's very, very cooperative. You could even call him an ally."
"I just want to stay alive, that's all. Besides, this whole bible thing really is surprising. To think that it even predicted me! Although, in my case, Nebuchadnezzar served as a typology and a forerunner to me."
"Ah, the lion with the eagle's wings who had his wings plucked and now stood on his two feet and was given by the Lord the mind of a human. You truly are Nebuchadnezzar! Now you have the mind of a man just as is stated in Daniel 7. Here to aid humankind in their battles against the beast. Eagle's sermons continue to prove themselves to be true." Charles smiled as he observed Garenjazz.
"I guess I should have started reading the bible when I got here..." Garenjazz sighed.
"Where is Seeker, anyway?"
"Talking to Zeraphine, of course. And since my powers have worked on you, I have to go down there and lie to that girl and create visions that will push her away from the truth."
"I have to admit... of all the things that made me lose, I never expected Seeker's New Game+ to be the solution. I do know that Primes and even Principals have ways to alter time. But I always thought it would all be voided as everyone will time travel. But it seems that the Lost Primordial made a lot of preparation and used powers that could only be called predestination." Garenjazz glanced above.
"If you guys survive the Principal, then it may be, that this Prime Wars is just another plan for the Primordial to give rise to a powerful Prime for his own purposes. The Lost Primordial predestined you all to be this Prime that will fight, but the Primordial is hoping that you would be strong enough and unlock more secrets for him to get to those dimensions." Garenjazz chuckled.
"Whatever the case, I'm out of luck. I wonder what my future holds. The Bear is said to be the weakest of all Principals. But while there is truth in that, I feel that his being in the bible as the next beast to come would indicate an arrangement by the that is a lie to get him to be here. Will you conquer the bear? Or will it devour you and turn this whole Unlocking thing to be mere tributes to be offered to the Primordial?"
"That's why we are going to have the Bible study." Seeker's voice echoed as he rose from a platform.
"So? Do I need to go down there?" Lowengren asked as Seeker rose.
"Eat up so you can go down there and present yourself as that Presider Enderks."
"Renkerdis." Garenjazz corrected.
"So that's the guy you wanted to come out as the victor, huh? If you want to convince Zeraphine that this guy won and was the real plotter of everything and had allied with the Lost Primordial, you'll want to make a proper show. Enderks is actually Renkerdis."
"...Oh. Does he look the same as he did when he fought?"
"Wear Tiana's body instead. With her defeat, Renkerdis must have worn her body and taken over her Nefilus suit. But may I ask why you are doing this? Why continue to lie to her? Why continue to keep her in chains? The techs you got from me are more useful. And I've already told you, her power is that of the soul! If she found out about Seeker being from the future, what harm will it make?" Garenjazz then stopped as a strange thought entered his mind.
"Shackstress has seen her soul," Lowengren explained.
"And boy... it was weird. You already know that her power is from that of a Prime and that there were many secrets about her soul body, right?"
"What did Shackstress say?" Garenjazz frowned.
WARP!
"Why not just ask, little ol' me, Garenjazz?" Shackstress appeared. But her appearance was that of Zoe.
"Shackstress? You're finally alive..."
"It took a week, but yes. Lennox had to pull me ought with the help of the Tyrant Empress. Nogard's soul technology allowed me to have this fake life. As long as Seeker lives, I will also live. In some way, I'm just like you, Garenjazz. Someone who has... the mind of a man!" Shackstress chuckled.
"I sure miss having you around my head, Zoe." Seeker sarcastically remarked.
"Your life is very unstable."
"Yes. And you have to feed a lot since you're living off Amir's wolfish cells, and the lifeblood of Akasha." Charles noticed the strange elements within her.
"Basically, I am alive thanks to the Truth. The Way prepares it, the Truth sets the foundation for Life to appear. But I wonder who among the present Overcomers will get that title?" Shackstress laughed.
"Oh? So it's possible for me to live a life beyond human."
"Like we will release you. The reason why we haven't released Zeraphine is also the same as why we haven't released you."
"The curse of the Primordial. I'm aware of that. But so what of it? Me, I understand. I am more of a Conqueror than her. But she took allies. The curse is weak on her."
"I thought the same thing. But her soul has something much more than that. I don't know what Prime Zephirus did. But the curse will threaten us because it's related to the Lost Primordial. Seeker and the rest are the sprouted seeds that will bear fruit. But she is the bird that will pluck the seed."
"How complicated."
"It's much more than that. You see, this curse is quite powerful. Right, Seeker?" Shackstress smiled.
Seeker was silent and turned around.
"Wait... You can't mean... You and her?!" Garenjazz laughed.
"I saw it when I hid my soul inside Seeker. The memories of these two and the betrayal that followed. Zeraphine is a mystery. She doesn't appear to have the Conqueror's will. But she has a certain drive that even you don't have Garenjazz. She will not allow earthlings to win."
"Is that so? Odd."
"It's very odd. I became free of the curse when I died and a wisp of my soul found life within Seeker. But during that battle against you, when I poured my soul into her, I felt that. Whatever it is, it's dangerous. Zeraphine is no conqueror. She should not have betrayed Seeker in that past life. So why did she?"
"Charles." Seeker spoke as he ignored the two Presiders' talk.
"It's high time that I learn the foundation of THAT sickness."
"Are you sure? Lynd nearly died trying. Just like him, you are a firstborn after all. If you get its foundation, you might die as it would lead you to a worse state than Lynd. This disease is deadly, Zeek. And I have made it a disease that can kill even those who are Unlocked."
"I'm not sure of this. But we need to start now. If this disease is weaponized by the enemy, we need a cure. This one isn't an average disease. It's like an angel of death is out to strike and kill. A power that moves beyond the three dimensions that we cannot see even with everything we've achieved."
"...Fine. I guess if you put it that way, we have to risk it. I'll give you one cell. One cell and pray to the Lord Almighty that it won't smite you as it did to those in Egypt. I don't even carry that cell around and isolated it from my body. It's hidden in my ship." Charles sighed.
"Thanks. Get it ready. And... it seems that we have to go. Tell everyone who is anyone to pack up."
"So... it's starting, huh? All Emperors and Empresses are gathering?"
"Yes. I'll start studying that dangerous plague of yours after the Bible Study. Let's go guys. Time to destroy the World's Helm." Seeker began to move.
Far out in the ocean, a gathering of Emperors and Empresses of the world was about to start. All Emperors and Empresses were called and all that had a Rule to sit on moved to discuss the next point of action on what to do with the approaching alien mothership that had entered the Sol System.