Breakthroughs

Early Spring, year 677, Age of the Ascended.

The Kingdom of Endora, still known as the Kingdom of Blood to the rest of the continent, already had over 2000 first shell ascended.

Unbeknown to every other kingdom on the continent, as they were trying to deal with a sudden blood plague that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, a force deadlier than any other kingdom had ever imagined was slowly brewing in the far south.

With the new boost of ascended, Endora’s speed of progress skyrocketed overnight. A gigantic capital city, surrounded by over 50 feet tall walls and acres of plantations, had appeared over the last year in the kingdom’s center.

The kingdom only missed people, its population falling short over all the other kingdoms, but Seth knew that was only a temporary problem. With Paxon’s help and the future takeovers, that problem would get fixed on its own.

Seth was sitting on his throne, eyes closed as popping noises surrounded his body. Maya was sitting by his side, a loving smile plastered on her lips as she kept watch over him.

After another popping sound, his eyes snapped open a few minutes later. A suppressive feeling spread over the entire kingdom, making every ascended fix their eyes toward the palace.

“The King has broken through.”

“Long live Endora.”

“Love live the King.”

Cheerful yells kept resounding throughout the streets, but none reached Seth’s ears as he glanced at Maya with a serious look.

“I broke the four fundamental ones. Two more.”

“We’re ready if you need us.” Replied Maya, an equally serious look in her eyes.

Seth nodded and said: “I’ll start with perception. Keep your energy ready. I don’t know what will happen once I begin.”

A thin membrane of water energy surrounded Maya’s body as she nodded back, and Seth closed his eyes again.

‘How is my perception?’

<The population is constantly feeding host with good perception, and the rampage of the blood race is bringing an equal amount of bad perception.>

<The conditions are optimal.>

Seth took a deep breath, and all his perception source started spinning in reverse, forcing all the energy inside to press against the fourth shell. The fourth shell started slowly breaking apart under the pressure of Seth’s energy, but since his theory of perception could have been better, he had no idea what to expect or watch out for during the breakthrough.

“Who has brought this curse upon us?”

“Please, not my children, spare my children.”

“Noooo.”

———————

“May the gods bless our king.”

“Thank you, King Seth, for saving me.”

“I hope to marry King Seth one day.”

All sorts of voices, filled with blessings and curses, started resounding in Seth’s head, making him frown as a terrible headache appeared along with them.

Seth fell on one knee, his fists clenched tightly, pushing Maya to quickly rush towards him.

“NO. STAY BACK.” Yelled Seth, his eyes looking directly at her.

Maya froze mid-step, her body shaking once in response to Seth’s eyes and words. One was pure gold, while the other was pitch black, but that was not what made her stop. It was the energy that seemed to seep through her water membrane following his words and look.

Her body froze on its own, unwilling to listen to any more of her commands. She gritted her teeth, and her source started spinning faster, her water energy covering the entire capital, making the atmosphere wet and hard.

Her effort worked, and she could now move again, but she still listened to Seth’s words and moved back, not daring to come closer to him anymore.

A portal opened to the side, but Maya didn’t allow the intruder to walk in as she focused her water energy, breaking it immediately before continuing to watch Seth.

The frown on his face only intensified, and his entire body started shaking from time to time.

As much as Maya wanted to come closer and show him her support, she didn’t dare go close to him after what happened earlier.

Seth continued kneeling in front of his throne for another ten minutes, watching the notifications appearing in his vision while trying to ignore all the voices speaking in his head.

<Breakthrough at 10%>

<Breakthrough at 20%>

<Breakthrough at 30% perception energy leaking.>

…..

<Breakthrough at 90%, minor influence spreading, confined by Maya’s water energy.>

<Breakthrough at 100% percent, perception energy back under control, retreating into host’s source.>

Seth puked a mouthful of blood as he supported his body with his hands, a relieved look on his face as he looked towards Maya with a smile. With all the blood flowing at the corner of his lips, his smile looked as ugly as it could, but it was enough for Maya to heave a sigh of relief, knowing he was alright.

“What was that?” she asked, coming to help him and quickly cleaning all the blood on his face.

Smiling wryly, Seth shook his head and said: “No clue. These two energies seem to be more trouble than I ever imagined.”

“My energy started operating on its own, trying to influence everyone. If not for you, I might have turned the entire kingdom into nothing more than mindless puppets. Thanks Maya.”

Maya nodded, still a worried look in her eyes as she asked: “Are you sure you shouldn’t crumble these two sources? They don’t look safe at all.”

Seth sighed and shook his head. “I thought about it too, but I need them. I need their will to fight off the will of destruction inside my body.” Caressing her cheek, he smiled and continued. “As well as all the wills that would try to influence you in the future.”

Maya frowned and asked: “What does that mean?”

“If any of you girls are ever going to get a throne for yourselves, I can’t have you all turn into slaves of your wills.” Seeing that Maya was about to ask more, Seth kissed her lips and said: “That is all for the future. No need for you to worry about it now. We still have one more problem.”

Maya looked silently into his eyes before nodding, not digging deeper into his subject change. “Before that, you should know that someone tried to portal in. Since you told everyone you don’t want to be disturbed, something major must have happened.”

Seth frowned, not having noticed the portal while breaking through.

‘Who was it and why?’ He knew it was probably Henrietta since Lisa would still not speak to him, but he needed to confirm it with the system.

<Henrietta. Before Maya’s intervention, the people passing by the castle were touched by host’s perception energy and were forced to their knees. She wanted to come in and let you know as well as check on the condition of the breakthrough.>

‘Damn. What happened after Maya intervened?’

<The perception energy was crushed, and everyone apparently forgot about it. They rose up from their knees and continued with their day like nothing had happened.>

Seth heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Maya. “We’ll check on the others and proceed with the lust breakthrough right after.”

After a quick nod from Maya, Seth teleported them both to the palace courtyard, where Henrietta, Hollie, Tiana, Seth’s knights, and his students were waiting.

The non-ascended were calm, not knowing something might be wrong. Still, the ascended had all felt Seth’s perception energy trying to affect their souls, making them mobilize their energies to protect themselves during the breakthrough, so they all looked worried.

A collective sigh of relief resounded throughout the group with Seth and Maya’s appearance, Henrietta rushing towards him with worry clearly written on her face.

“Are you alright?”

Seth smiled and kissed her lips before nodding toward the others.

“I’m fine. Sorry for making you all worry. My perception energy went a bit out of control as I broke through, but I had Maya force it back under control. Everything is fine now.”

After some more time assuring everyone, Hollie asked from the side: “What about your Lust source? When are we doing it?”

By this time, everyone there already knew what sources Seth had, so a knowing look appeared on everyone’s faces. On the other hand, Henrietta, Tiana, and Aleena blushed at her question.

Seth chuckled and said: “Soon, but after the incident with the perception source, I want to take extra precautions.”

“Like what?” asked Hollie with a raised eyebrow. “Do you want to get more women?”

All of Seth’s students looked at each other, already having an idea of Seth’s plans for the future, and small blushes appeared on most of their faces.

Seth shook his head, laughing silently at the other’s reaction, before saying: “I don’t think that’s necessary. At least, I hope not. As a precaution, I mean to change the place where I’ll break through. If my lust energy leaks out just like the perception, I don’t want to imagine what would happen to the city.”

“Can’t Maya just block it again?” asked Hollie.

Maya blushed and shook her head: “I don’t think I can during…”

“Oh…” muttered Hollie, realizing she didn’t consider things properly. If she were to satisfy Seth’s lust, she didn’t think she could control her energy either.

Feeling the subject was slightly awkward to discuss with everyone there, Seth looked towards the ones not part of his breakthrough and said: “We’re going to be away from the city for a while. I don’t know how long it will take, so keep everything running in our absence. I’m counting on you.”

After Sal and Winston nodded, a small white disk extended from Seth’s feet. The next moment, Seth, Maya, Hollie, Henrietta, Aleena, and Tiana disappeared from the group.

In a small forest, far off towards the city’s north, an identical disk appeared on the ground, along with the small group.

Hollie looked around with interest and asked: “Is this area teleportation?”

“Yeah. At the sixth shell, I should be able to teleport the entire capital of the kingdom. Quite handy.” Replied Seth.

Hollie looked around the forest covered in snow and asked with a raised eyebrow: “Are we doing it here?”

The city was clean of snow and quite warm, but that was because Maya kept the snow from falling over the capital, and Tiana warmed up the air all around, but the rest of the kingdom was still covered in a blanket of snow since it was just early Spring.

Seth chuckled and looked toward Henrietta.

“Of course not. Now that I’m in the fourth shell and Henrietta the third, making a quick love nest would only take a few moments.”

Henrietta chuckled, and both their energies spread around. Their destruction energies quickly leveled the forest before their creation created a large round building with no doors.

After teleporting everyone inside, the girls looked with curiosity at the place. The entire building’s inside was just one big mattress, even the walls being covered in soft materials, with one large window at the top for light to come in.

Seth looked at everyone and said in a grand tone: “Welcome to our Royal Fuckdome.”