Achilles formed a dazzling green-and-gold fruit. It finished its formation within seconds, and he casually tossed it to Dr. Shaw, who caught it in stunned silence, eyes locked on it. Then he turned his gaze to Achilles, a silent question in his expression- What am I supposed to do with this?
Achilles only looked at him and said, "Eat."
Dr. Shaw exhaled heavily and obeyed.
He took the first bite, and the moment his teeth sank in, he felt like he was biting into something impossibly smooth, soft, and ancient. Splashes of golden and purple light shimmered across his lips, painting him in celestial hues.
What he bit into didn't even feel like a normal fruit. The taste alone made his pupils constrict as the contents surged instantly through his body. Above him… a Solid Ethereal Star bloomed.
A star- formed from a single bite.
This was a fruit born from the terrifyingly pure qualities and consolidated authority of Achilles. When placed within the bodies of advanced humans powered only by Evolutius Energy… the result was bound to be nothing short of miraculous!
Dr. Shaw's eyes released a frightened brilliance as the others watched him, stunned, while he devoured the rest of the fruit in seconds.
Bursts of visibly stronger energy erupted from his body.
Achilles observed the scene and the reactions of the other Overseers calmly.
"The goal over the next day," he began, "is to cause the birth of a few Dharma Manifestation Realm Advanced Humans within Neon. We don't know what's coming in the days or weeks ahead, but the least we can do is prepare. The stronger I become, the stronger you all can become. And what I need to grow stronger are Evolutius Crystals and any Aeonic Treasure you can find."
As he spoke, the golden skin of his Primordial Avatar shimmered. He released bursts of radiant golden and purple light, and, in an instant, dozens of fruits bloomed all at once.
They looked like panaceas from ancient legends, and everyone around stared at them with barely restrained hunger. With each passing second, Achilles created more until the fruits formed a shining mountain atop the rectangular glass table at the center of the command room.
As he performed this shocking miracle, he turned to Dr. Shaw and gave another command.
"Stabilize the movements of humans and advanced humans of Neon. Let them resume their normal activities. There should be more movement into the Evolutius Catacombs soon. With the rise in power you're all about to experience and with the help of the Draconic Hybrids, we'll make sure that even if Leyline Fractures occur, the damage stays minimal."
At that moment, if Achilles was looking at himself, he would have realized something.
He no longer looked like just an observer.
He wasn't just someone giving orders.
He was seated like a king in the Commander's chair, carrying an air of undeniable authority.
It was almost identical to the way his father had once sat in that dream- overlooking tens of thousands of loyal subjects.
Except Achilles had only a dozen or so people in front of him.
Still…his words, his bearing- it commanded attention. It demanded belief! And every single person in that room listened.
"Let it be known," he said, "the Draconic Hybrids are not Evolutius Beasts. They are allies. They'll assist in clearing out any festering threats within the Evolutius Catacombs and patrol day and night to protect this city. This…"
He paused, sweeping his gaze across them all.
"…this is just the beginning of something far beyond what most of us understand. But still- we're here. We're alive. And we'll make sure the place we were born, the place we grew up in…doesn't become rubble in the midst of all this change. So let's move forward and get to work, okay?"
His words sparked the room into motion. Overseers exchanged looks, then reached toward the gleaming gold-and-green fruits stacked high in the center of the table- and began to devour them without hesitation.
Inside the Lunaris Dreadnought, waves of power surged outward!
Amidst a sky blotted out by the vast wings and auras of flying obsidian-purple Draconic Hybrids radiating majestic waves of grandeur…
The figures of Achilles and Rose floated side by side. Behind them, Seraphelle, the Draconic Eidolarch, followed with a sigh as though she still couldn't quite believe she was doing so.
Following behind two humans.
"How the mighty have fallen…" she muttered under her breath.
But Rose turned with a sharp gaze.
"Did you say something?"
Her eyes burned with the piercing intensity of a phoenix- daring the Ancient behind her to step out of line.
Seraphelle rolled her eyes and replied with biting sarcasm.
"Not at all, my great Queen. My heart blazes with joy at the honor of following you and King Primal. All my eons of existence as an Ancient One pale in comparison to the story I find myself in now."
Her flowery words dripped with spite, but Rose just stared at her… then smiled- brilliantly.
"Little Ancient Seraphelle," she said sweetly, "you know, as a woman, I have no shame in using my man's power as my own. You seem to respect me even less than anyone else, but…"
She turned to Achilles.
"Little Fatty, what would you do if I told you this Ancient One has outlived her usefulness and needs to go?"
Seraphelle's eyes narrowed, but Achilles simply gave her a side glance and responded as he continued flying forward.
"I'd devour her right after. Her, and all her other bodies."
The weight behind those words was absolute.
Seraphelle's expression grew grim.
Rose looked back at her again—her smile as sharp as a blade.
"What do you think, Little Ancient One?"
A smile that could kill.
Seraphelle looked at her… and instantly crossed her arms over her chest in a King's Respect.
"Apologies, my Queen," she said.
Even if she didn't mean a word of it, her tone no longer held any of the sarcasm from before.
Rose hummed and nodded as the three of them, surrounded by Draconic Hybrids, neared a radiant obsidian mountain- one that, according to Seraphelle, was home to Titan Dwarves.
Even from a distance… they could feel the mountain's power pulsing through the air!