The farther one traveled from the Colony City of Neon, the more Evolutius Beasts one would encounter. Only then would they truly be within the Cenotaph Wild Lands.
At this moment, an unknown number of miles away from Neon, at an undisclosed location.
A Captain of the Royal Lunaris Colony Guards set down a device, seated in a room lit by flickering electrical neon lights.
Surrounding him were various long-distance communication tools, consoles, and, most notably, a Colony Tactical Nexus Relay stationed in the center- a matte black box etched with lines of neon brilliance.
This relay was among the most advanced communication systems under the Dynasty of Lunaris.
The captain frowned, muttering to himself.
"The little princess has completed her challenge and refuses an escort? She wants nothing to do with His Highness' forces?"
It didn't make sense.
She should've been overjoyed to return to the Capital- a triumphant return as the last living heir of the Lunaris Throne who had finally fulfilled her mission. She would be celebrated.
As he pondered, the Nexus Relay in the center of the room lit up, pulsing neon lights converging with a sharp beep.
Moments later, the lights formed the upper body of a regal, middle-aged man in a holographic projection.
The captain instantly straightened, face serious. Then, without any hesitation, he dropped to his knees.
"I greet the Lunaris Throne."
Even though it was just a hologram, the Lunaris Throne's presence pressed down with terrifying gravity. The captain kept his gaze low as the figure of the man, formed from shimmering neon light, spoke calmly.
"The little princess of mine is no longer little as she now entertains thoughts of rebellion against her own father. Worse, she is foolish enough to involve outsiders. Inferior creatures, barely starting to shine, and yet she sees them as saviors?"
The words sent a ripple of shock through the captain as he lowered his head even more.
"The Throne means…?" he asked hesitantly.
The hologram responded, its voice colder now.
"In all my children, I've implanted the Primordial Spinal Appendage. They don't know its true purpose- believing it's just one of many augmentations I granted them. But through it, I can see and hear everything they experience. I know when they eat. I know when they sleep. I know when they defecate. I know when they copulate."
The words rang out cold and clinical, yet laced with a terrifying power and barely restrained fury.
The man continued, his voice thick with menace!
"My youngest daughter…has chosen to raise her blade against the very man who brought her into this world. I always sensed her hatred, but she never acted on it. Never voiced it. Until now. She's recruited a child too as she's beginning to act on her foolish ideas. From this point on, she is no longer my daughter."
The captain's expression changed drastically. Slowly, he raised his head, his tone solemn.
"What would the Throne have me do to this traitor?"
His loyalty was absolute. Like many other captains of the Lunaris Royal Guard, his allegiance wasn't to the heirs, but it was to the Lunaris Throne alone.
"I am at a critical stage in my research," the hologram continued. "I need an influx of fresh bodies for upcoming trials. Tell me, how important is the Colony City of Neon to the surrounding regions you oversee?"
And the captain answered without hesitation.
"In the grand scheme of things, not important. If it holds use for the Throne..."
"Good," the Lunaris Throne said smoothly. "Neon shall now be designated as a Resource Farming Ground."
"The Clockwork Ancient One, Seraphelle the Eidolarch, has one of her working bodies stationed near you, yes? Utilize her. Command her to gather the Evolutius Beasts from the Cenotaph Wild Lands and begin the assault. You and your forces will collect Experimental Subjects from Neon during the chaos. Load them onto Transporter Warships. As for my dear daughter…you shall publicly act as a Judge of Lunaris, Zerrion Draal."
Captain Zerrion Draal of the Royal Lunaris Colony Guards had just been granted a new title.
The Judge of Lunaris.
Upon hearing this, he remained kneeling, crossing his arms over his chest in the formal gesture of the King's Respect.
"It is my greatest honor, sir."
His eyes gleamed with dangerous resolve. If one looked closer, they'd see something striking- the fact that there were no illusory or solid rotating stars above his head.
Instead, nine dazzling solid stars, pulsing with violet radiance, were contained within his body, and flowing through his meridians.
He was a being of the Dharma Manifestation stage!
The Lunaris Throne nodded in acknowledgment, his voice resonating again.
"As Judge of Lunaris, you will publically brand my daughter a heretic- one who has colluded with Ancient Ones. Return her to me after that. Bring back the little slave she dared to entrust with family secrets—Achilles Maxwell, and the rest…bag and tag them. Alive or dead, it doesn't matter."
The voice was increasingly becoming colder and colder as it continued!
"Tell Seraphelle to draw out the battle. I want a sustained supply of bodies for quite some time. And…all external aid to Neon is now cut off, and as time goes on, we'll shut down their power grid. Let everything fall into darkness."
"These children…they have no idea what pain, sacrifice, or survival truly mean in this shifting world. I will teach my daughter what pain really is."
The voice ringing from the neon hologram carried raw menace. Judge Zerrion Draal pressed his arms tighter to his chest and bellowed.
"Mmm. Do not disappoint me."
With that, the hologram shattered into flickering shards of neon light.
Zerrion finally rose.
His face was grim as he exited the chamber and stepped into an encampment hidden deep in the Cenotaph Wild Lands.
Nearby, raised Nanofold Shelter Tents pulsed with purple energy. Meridian Transformation Advanced Humans and Ethereal Physiology Masters moved in and out, all clad in the silver purple gear of the Royal Colony Guards.
Above them, Warships hovered calmly.
And beyond the perimeter?
Throngs of Evolutius Beasts surrounded the camp- not in aggression, but as if it were their own territory.
Not a single beast dared attack.
They knew exactly who was in command!