Chapter 146 - STORMS I (2/2)

After all, Raymond believes that what he is doing now is good. They are helping people, saving those who could not save themselves.

'Why? We protect humanity from the threats of monsters, gathered talented people to safeguard Earth and save millions of life. We stand stronger, united. This is why the World Government is formed'

'You could not see it, could you?' Azief said chuckling. And then he began explaining to Raymond

'The premise which this organization is built is a noble one. The intention was pure. In the beginning it is always like this. But do you really think that it will always be that way. Once the threat is neutralized what then?' He asked and Raymond was jolted as he could sense the killing intent inside those words.

'You mean what exactly?'

'What happens then?' Azief asked

'What happens when there is no longer a threat to Earth? What happens when the monsters could be controlled and eradicated? What happens when the threats that you fear is neutralized? What will happen to this organization? Will it just close shop? Give back the freedom it takes from humanity?'

Raymond also doesn't know how to answer this question.

'Right now, you decide who to become what. Hunters, gatherers, magicians, builders. You decide their classes for them and those who did not want to comply will be evicted or worse executed. And they follow not because they fear you but they fear the threats outside the reality of the World Government influence. They follow you because you offer them security, you offer them peace. You might have a good PR team, but I know all about what happens behind the scenes.'

Raymond could not say anything about this since he knows what Lord Shadow is talking about.

'Let me ask you Raymond, when you choose your class, did anybody told you what you had to be? You didn't' he answers the question he asked and Raymond nodded.

'You chose a Unique Class like mine, accept the risk, succeed on the Test and you become the man you are now, just like me. A man…chooses, Raymond. Only slaves obeys.'

Raymond then tries to refute Azief words

'But the World government provides safety and security. Not all men are like us. Not all men are lions. And I'm not saying this because I look down on people. But, I've seen enough to know that there is strength in numbers even for sheep.'

'And are you the shepherd?' Azief asked as he chuckles.

'I try to be. You also seen it don't you? Some people are content in being protected, in being sheep. The World Government for all its flaws provides safety and security, and in turn we ask them only to comply with our laws and rules.'

Azief snorted in derision.

'A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves' he replied.

For a while there is silence as only the sound of their footsteps could be heard but then Azief began speaking

'There is a fine line between security and control. I have never seen a government that does not desire control over their countrymen. Your people are provided with the illusion of security in order to mask your true intention to control. '

'I did not!' Raymond denied

'Maybe. But Hirate surely is.' Azief said as he looked at the frustrated expression on Raymond face.

'Fear mongering. Hate tactics. Conflicts with the Revolutionary Army. The threats of monsters. The promise of security. All I see when I stepped on this island is uniformity. A disturbing and disgusting uniformity. In a world like ours right now, at such a chaotic times, to see such uniformity….is unnatural. To perform only what is required of them isn't this Hirate words?'

The reason why Azief say this is because the reason why he possessed the power he had now is by challenging the common normal thinking.

Doing the same thing that other people doing and expecting a different result is madness.

'Heh' Raymond snorted

'I guess Will even reported you our meetings.' Azief do not respond on that matter since it is a moot point by now.

'How could you step into the starry sky and peer into the path of the Universe if you do not let your heart be free?' He asked Raymond and Raymond did not say anything

'And your army how is it any different than ours?' Raymond asked

'Did I force them?' Azief asked.

'They can leave if they wanted to.' Azief reply seeing that Raymond could not say anything

'How about the rules you enacted?'

'They can break it if they want only there will be consequences' and Raymond becomes frustrated.

'You punish them for making choices aren't that the same as us?'

'Did I say choosing comes without a price? Everything comes with a price. Did you somehow think making choices doesn't come with consequences? Where is such a good deal in this world?' Azief said

'Then where is order if your laws could be flouted?'

'There is none' Azief said with matter of fact tone.

'I don't limit their choices. It is they themselves that limited their thinking. Just because I made a law, does that means they have to follow it? Just because I set up a punishment system do they have to fear it? In the end, choices are made by people. There is no right and wrong choices. There are only acceptable and unacceptable choices.'

'But you are stronger than them, of course they would follow!'

'Of course? Is it?' Azief throws back the question to Raymond

'I've met many stronger people in my journey. Do I bow to them? If I bow to someone and if I follow someone, it is because my heart desires to and not because I am forced to. Until you come out of that line of thinking Raymond, you could never surpass me.'

'There is never an order in this world. It might seem like that, but it never has. Within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns.'

'Hah' Raymond sighed.

'In the end, is this the only answer we can come up with. War?' Raymond asked, his eyes tries to see the expression of the face under the hood

'After all is said and done, more is said than done. Like I said, if you want a war to stop, both sides have to be willing to find peace. This you did not do. I see no action of reconciliation from your part' He said in his deep voice.

Then Azief said

'Hirate couldn't trust me so he will not release Will. I could not let my brother rot in your Prison so I could not back down. In the end, this is our positions and we both couldn't budge. It is a game of chicken. Hirate is betting that I wouldn't kill all the people inside the Island just to save my brother. He is betting that I could see pass this one transgression and think about the bigger picture. And I'm betting that if I damaged this island bad enough, he had no choice but to hand Will to me. So, the battle must be fought. But one question remains. How many had to be sacrificed?'

By now Azief is only one kilometers away from the end of the tunnel pathway.

'You know, if your troops started attacking me, I will have no choice than to rain upon them my wrath. And millions will die.' He stated it as a matter of fact.

'You know this? Fighting you five didn't even make me sweat and I didn't even use my full power.'

Lord Shadow stopped and looks at Raymond underneath the covers of his hood.

He paused his words and take a deep breath, as he was about to warn Raymond of something very important.

'Tell your troops to run. Warn your loved ones, warn your people. If Hirate wanted to use that Eight Energy Disperse Stage to delay me fine. I could feel that there is no life in them. Killing them would be a great exercise for my sabers. It has been a long time since they felt blood on their steel'

Azief face at this time has changed from his cold expressionless face. Underneath the hood, his face turned furious and fierce.

Raymond nodded as he knows what those Eight Energy Disperse Stage users are but he doesn't understand what Azief is getting at.

'I will leave you with a promise.'

Then with his face fierce like a predator he look towards Raymond and Raymond could see his face underneath the hood.

An intense feeling of danger filled Raymond heart and mind. And Azief said

'I will burn this Island to nihility. Because, I will no longer restrain my power. The moment I stepped out from this tunnel, I will demolish your Quorum Council, your buildings and your villages. I will burn…..and destroy. I will engulf this island into flames. I will burn and burn until only ashes are left. Until I see my brother. Until my anger are sated. I will consume this island and people will know…..that I was here. That I….am not to be provoked.'

'I will destroy your pride. I will crush your arrogance. I will bring you down to your knees. And the world will see my power when I lay my vengeance upon you. This…. is my promise.'

Then Azief look at the remaining path he has to walk.

Azief is now 500 meters away as he slowly walk to the end of the road. Raymond no longer follows.

He stops at his positions and produces a Sound Transmitting Stone and records his orders then he breaks the Stone.

Inside the recording he orders that all military personnel must immediately powered up the Emergency Teleportation Formation.

With Executive Authority he enacted Emergency Protocol and the people underneath the Quorum Building began relaying orders to power up the gigantic teleportation array underneath the sea bed.

Azief keep walking and the light is blinding as he come closer to the end of the tunnel.

Then he reached the end and he stepped out from the pathway and he could see with his eyes Eight Bald Men with a piece of necklace in their necks waiting for him on top of eight buildings.

All in line on a narrows street, standing there with their robes. This Eight Energy Disperse Stage is all bald and all have the same face.

They are muscly and their posture is sturdy, their face is clean and there is even some sacred aura around them, making them look like a holy monk.

These eight men then put their hands together and then hummed indecipherable words that turns into a solemn song before their body turns golden.

Tempest of wind formed around them, destroying the building around them as they were floating down to the ground, as the roof of the building gave out and was swallowed by the tempest.

When they reached the ground, they stomped their feet and the tempest exploded and their body turns golden and their golden light pierces the clouds above their heads creating a cloud circle.

Haloes as large as a mountain formed behind them as tribulation lightning gathered around the island and begun roaring.

The lightning then strikes towards this Eight people, the haloes destroyed and the tempest stand still,.

BOOM the sound of the thunder shocked the sky.

But when it reached twenty foot near the Eight people, the Song that the eight holy monks hummed produce a gentle wind that soothes the lightning and the lightning slowly dissipated and the tribulation clouds dispersed as the haloes shines brightly again behind them

Eternal Spring Body Stage. Their body could not be destroyed by normal means.

And the Song is weird. Like it could hold off Tribulation Lightning.

But Azief only harrumphed. After all if he is still at Energy Disperse Stage he might be afraid but he is now at Seed Forming.

He knows now that while ordinary means of destroying a body of Eternal Spring Body will not work, there are things in the universe that could destroy such physique.

If not why does people still have to reach to other level if Energy Disperse Stage Physique body is really that wonderful?

Azief was limited in his knowledge before and truly thought he as invincible as he possesses the Undying Body Physique but then he knows it is only because he was limited in knowledge and wisdom.

There are so many godlike beings in the vast universe that could destroy such physique either by manipulating the mind or using some special means.

With Azief divine sense he could feel and see that millions of people in the residence area on the other side of the island are running, leaving only the military to guide the Quorum Building pass this street.

'I guess I could let loose now!' He shouted before the barrier on top of the Island is vibrating and the clouds over Azief head exploded into mist.