Judge Zerrion Draal had arrived!
The words thundered from the massive Dreadnought floating above, making its grand entrance as a reddening, transparent barrier sealed tightly around it once more.
The moment Achilles and the others heard the announcement, their faces grew grim. Every theory Nyxaria Moonveil Lunaris had laid out was coming true—faster than expected.
And they didn't have to wait long before the booming voice echoed again from the lunar-shaped vessel.
[The Last Daughter of the Lunaris Throne, codenamed "Monster," has colluded with Ancient Ones and has been stripped of all authority by the Lunaris Throne. Henceforth, she is known as a Heretic!]
The skies above Colony City Neon erupted with the explosive weight of those words.
Nyxaria Moonveil Lunaris closed her eyes, lowering her head as her fists clenched. She had expected it, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
Her own father—the one truly colluding with the Ancient Ones—had sent his judge.
Someone she'd grown up with, someone who'd stood beside her during her loneliest moments. Now, that same figure hovered over the city, falsely condemning her.
But the voice, amplified by threads of Evolutius Energy, wasn't finished.
[Other Heretics working alongside her include Achilles Maxwell, codename King Primal, Rose Adrian, Overseer Luna, Selene…]
Name after name was listed, and the faces of Luna and Nyxaria paled even more.
Achilles, on the other hand, listened with an eerily calm gaze, his focus turning inward.
He assessed his current power level.
This terrifying moment was the true test—what power did he currently wield, and what more did he need to overcome what was coming?
The Dreadnought hovered above, continuing its grim proclamation.
[Judge Zerrion Draal will move to apprehend all Heretics within the City of Neon. Any who resist or assist them will be killed on sight, for the prosperity of all Colonies.]
A death sentence. Plain and clear.
Even the Overseers of Neon emerged, stunned by this unprecedented declaration.
Down below, the citizens stared upward, disbelief etched on every face—especially when they heard the name King Primal.
The one who had saved them from multiple cataclysms—how could he be a Heretic?
But in the chaos of yet another world-breaking event, very few could even understand what was truly happening. Most could only watch.
Achilles observed himself.
Organic and Inorganic Terrestrial Planetary Body | Echelon 3 (89%)
Planetary Forcefield III, Gravitational Field Manipulation III, World Healing III, Limited Astronomical Physiology III, Ecological Empathy III, Territorial Domain III
Organic Crystal (Evolutius Crystal) | Echelon 4 (98%)
Regeneration IV, Energy Conversion IV, Flexibility IV, Light Manipulation IV, Biological Nurturing IV, Crystal Manipulation IV, Crystal Vault IV, Evolutius Core IV
Primordial Energy Source | Echelon 3 (77%)
Primordial Energy Generation III, Peak Foundation Physiology III, Accelerated Growth III, Atavism III, Primal Energy Control III, Primordial Avatar III
Organic Phanerogam Lifeform | Echelon 4
Dermal Armor IV, Regeneration IV, Photosynthetic IV, Lightning Physiology IV, Abnormal Endurance IV, Vine Generation IV, Pheromone Generation IV, Fruit Generation IV
Nirvana of the Sun and Moon | Echelon 3 (0%)
Ascendant Solar and Lunar Generation III, Ascendant Nirvanic Teleportation III, Mythical Star Beast Aura III, Nirvanic Rebirth III, Nirvanic Regeneration III, Water Saint III, Ascendant Size Alteration III, Nirvanic Phoenix's Healing Flames III, Descent of the Nirvanic Sun Moon Phoenix III
Organic Arachnida Lifeform | Echelon 3
Poison Generation III, Appendage Generation III, Exoskeletal Armor III, Physical Adherence III, Thermoreception III, Camouflage III, Predator Instinct III
Organic Reptilia Dracona | Echelon 5 (1%)
Dragon King's Haki V, Dragon King's Breath V, Lineage Parasitism V, Parallel Thought Process V, Draconian Pathogenicity V, Lineage Memory V, Atmospheric Adaptation V, Peak Endurance V, Impenetrable Scales V
Organic Homo Sapiens Homovorus | Echelon 3
Vampyrism III, Blood Empowerment III, Supernatural Beauty III, Undead Physiology III, Supernatural Lifeforce III, Echolocation III
[Existence Corruption Value]: 30%
[Complexity]: Average Terrestrial Lifeform
His assimilation list had been growing longer and longer. But now, combinations were simplifying it. Some forms faded—Inorganic Water, Luminous and Non-Luminous Stellar Bodies—replaced by the Nirvana of the Sun and Moon Echelon III.
Achilles scanned it only once, locking onto the traits he needed for the coming battle.
Because no matter how impossible the odds, he had to overcome them.
He was the Ninth Adrastia Emperor King.
The last Adrastia Emperor King!
He couldn't fall to a Judge of Lunaris—a lackey of a man who dared to call himself ruler while massacring his own people.
And then there was Rose. He would never allow anything to harm her!
He glanced again at the qualities within him. The passives stayed, but his focus sharpened on three.
Primordial Avatar III, Ascendant Lunar and Solar Constructs III, Draconian Pathogenicity V.
That last one made his eyes glint dangerously.
If they chose to declare him a Heretic and planned to kill him and Rose, then so be it.
He recalled the golden throne of his father, the sea of tens of thousands paying homage—and felt his own lineage cry out at the injustice of being hunted by lies.
He opened his eyes and looked around Fort Cape of Hope.
Luna's face was held eyes filled with confusion and despair.
Nyxaria, even with her defiance, knew the futility of resisting a Dharma Manifestation Entity.
Only Rose stood calm, rage simmering silently beneath her eyes.
The others were searching for someone, anyone, to lead them through this storm.
Achilles slowly rose, feet lifting from the ground. His voice echoed, laced with veiled fury, as he looked skyward toward the colossal Dreadnought above.
"As we dedicate our lives to fighting the Ancient Ones, today, we're being labeled heretics for supposedly colluding with them. We know the ones branding us are the true heretics. So all we can do now…is fight!"
His voice carried the weight of Royalty. It echoed across the ears of Luna and Nyxaria Moonveil Lunaris.
The latter wore a conflicted expression as she asked quietly, "Is it possible? Is there even a chance you could stand against that power? Against Zerrion Draal?"