Chapter 319: A Hiveminds Potential (1/2)

I gripped my hands into fists, ”Not if I carry the keys to connect those worlds. I'll have to figure out how Schema's holding me down and stopping my abilities. At the same time, I'll need to know how to use primordial magic and well. You'll be helping me, Plazia. You'll be my tutor, and we'll cross these limits Schema imposed on me.”

I raised a hand, primordial mana oozing out of my palm. The dense streaks crystallized on the floor like dark blue gems,

”And we'll be doing it whether that AI likes it or not.”

Plazia tapped his throne, ”You'll be testing and developing your magic via the dimensional connection we have planned, correct?”

I swirled the primordial mana, reveling in my control of it, ”Yeah. That's the idea. I'll need time magic first. That takes priority over everything else.”

Plazia stood and snapped his fingers. The floating warps and dimensional construct withered while the temporal field dissipated. Plazia turned towards me, ”Chrona Carsiary knows more of time manipulation than I do. As for warping, the same may be said of Helios. There are few authorities on dimensional creations, but we may find those dispersed across the galaxy.”

I pointed where his dimension was, ”You just made one. You could give me the basics, right?”

He waved his hands, ”I am versed in it but still no expert. You saw how exhausted I became after creating even a small domain. A larger one may overburden me and destroy my entire body.”

I peered at his Sentinel armor, ”That's what you're using as your carapace, right? I'm guessing you killed a Sentinel for it?”

Plazia tilted his head, ”I killed no one, but I created the circumstances leading to the guardian's death.”

I deadpanned, ”That's the same thing.”

Plazia raised a palm, ”What you've said is true, but it isn't as if the Sentinel treated me with any fairness or equity. It attempted to eradicate me, so I enacted the same will unto it. In the end, we were enemies, and I, the victor. His death leaves history while I still live to create my own.”

I leaned back, ”Speaking of plans, when are you taking out the Elysium camp? It's been a week, but I figured getting out of Svia was the main priority for you.”

Plazia met my eye, ”It will be finished later this day on Earth, moments from now, actually. I needed several days to establish the insinuating circumstances to derail Elysium's investigatory attempts. They'd uncover your intentions otherwise, and so, I've established a suitable excuse for their outbreak.”

I raised my eyebrows, ”Like what, exactly?”

Plazia raised a hand, generating a viewpoint maintained by magic. Plazia gestured to it, ”I researched your planet's previous infrastructure for nuclear power sources, finding many nearby along the great lakes. Within the cook and palisades plants, I commandeered the nuclear power sources. I planted them onto a dungeon near the Elysium camp.”

Varying viewpoints appeared in the portal. An overhead map of the Elysium hub popped up along with the surrounding area. Plazia gestured at several coordinates near the headquarters,

”Once made, I created a breeding ground for exceptionally powerful eldritch. After feeding and implanting them with my insects, I'm having the beasts raid the encampment using a variant of metal eaters. They'll naturally be drawn to the Hybrids, and with my assistance, it shall be a slaughter. Casualties will be minimal as I've devised a specific countermeasure to ensure no deaths result.”

Plazia shrugged, ”I targeted my assault around the circumstances, ensuring even a poor escape will be highly successful. In fact, the incompetence of our enemy will never come into question. It is a moot point.”

I furrowed my brow, ”That's...Impressive.”

Plazia waved his hand, ”I've done something akin to this many times. Manipulating a system-based society is actually quite simple, should you pursue the viewpoint of those dwelling within it. The same may be said of the eldritch, but their needs are far more virulent. Controlling them is the true difficulty.”

I leaned towards the camp, ”Are you actually going there?”

Plazia scoffed, ”There's no need.” He rumbled, ”I've planted several eldritchian generals to lead the charge, each of them controlled by psionic constructs. You've seen those constructs interspersed throughout Svia, but they carry on more purposes than merely bringing magma to life.”

Plazia spread his arms, an image of the camp coming up, ”If you wish to watch, you may. This is my design brought to life. It will be a demonstration of sorts.”

I peered at Plazia, an inkling of fear forming in my chest. Even if I outdid him in direct strength, which wasn't a certainty by any means, Plazia's wit outdid mine. In fact, Plazia seemed even better at tactics and strategy than Torix even. Torix's logistics probably matched Plazia's own, but the hivemind carried more options at his disposal. More importantly, Plazia read people like a book.

And I worried I was one of those books on his shelf.

Reading my mind, Plazia tilted his head down at me, ”Intimidated?”

I frowned, ”Of course. This is a lot to organize in a few days. It beats what I could do.”

Plazia shook his head, ”You constructed well over a hundred golems. They've dispersed across the Northwest region surrounding Springfield. You established the largest settlement for hundreds of miles. That was done in the same time frame, and That exceeds what I've done, to my estimations.”

I peered at the visual of the Elysium camp, ”We'll see about that.”

We gazed at the viewpoint created by Plazia. The Elysium headquarters expanded since I last viewed it, though not by leaps and bounds like Mt. Verner. We signed ceasefire a few weeks ago, not months, so Elysium hadn't bolstered the encampment's defenses yet.

That being said, the Hybrid production area reached up and out. Matrices connected large pillars of steel. The disgusting monsters leaped within the contained field at an alarming density. They no longer moved as individuals, the various races devolving into swarms. Peering at the people within the camp, most of them had Hybrids.

Children rode on the back of the abominations, the kids kicking their feet on the Hybrid's shoulders. The abominations carried produce and goods in mass. They offered power, pulled cars, and constructed an entire way of life. People put enchanted flowers over their faces, many wearing wreaths over their necks.

They gentled into domestic oddities compared to the monstrosities lingering in my own memory. Plazia silenced at the sight of them, one of his hands squeezing into a fist. The insects within Plazia's armor writhed in torment as the hivemind seethed,

”And they call us cruel...To them, death is mercy, and life is pain. I will work towards their eradication after this ploy of ours plays out.”

I winced as memories of what Elysium did to eldritch and silver alike flashed in my mind. I grimaced, ”Maybe I could've kept fighting them. It's...It's hard to look at.”

Plazia let out a hollow laugh before turning his head to me, ”I never said anything about you, did I, Daniel? You carry guilt like a cloak, establishing responsibility for issues outside your control. It's a quick, fierce method of self-hatred and agony. It also speaks to true arrogance.”

I furrowed my brow, ”Huh. Maybe. I think I haven't used my time and abilities perfectly. And no matter how you phrase it, I could've done better, and that much can't be argued against. If that's the case, I hold responsibility for that difference.”