Earth's Core

He floated up to a standing position and walked out the cave, for the open vicinity of Demirva Ridge.

A dark gray, bony and shrouded by a mantle wraith crossed his path. "On your way, poor Being". Sheldon blew and the wraith was gently swept away, before it could shrill.

Demriva Ridge was the place that turned him from a young adventurer to an existence equal to the leader of the five powers, and that was just the smallest benefit he obtained by consumed the G.o.d made perfect dark attribute"s essence… Hence, he appreciated it plenty and its d.a.m.ned residents.

"Zax Zel…" Sheldon expected to be also contacted by him. He of course knew of the apparition that emerged from New Earth and Horn Kikon, General Logan, Archbishop Silternjan and Cardinal Northstar"s intrusion to the land of the aboriginal.

"Friend Zax, for what do I receive this transmission?" Sheldon amiably inquired. He had ideas for Zax"s reasons, but he was entangled by several opposing sides, so feigning ignorance was a recurring approach, which anyways was commonly adopted and generally silently accepted.

"Did the leaders of the five powers contact you?" Zax was in no state to entertain Sheldon.

He had a major concern, the descent of the Immortals, that he feared can sp.a.w.n from two possible outcomes…

In the case the five leaders are aware of the Three Locks formation and that just one remains, they might make haste to invite in advance the troops of the powerhouses behind them. The other possibility was unrelated to their knowledge of the Three Locks formation, but the presence of the Spirits. Should they feel apprehensive of those elemental Beings responding in hostility to either their meddling in the Down Ocean, the collapse of the Heavy Water Pools" formation or the emergence of the G.o.dly Law Template, the five leaders perhaps will take cautionary steps by requesting Immortal aid to deal with Immortal level adversary.

"They did". Sheldon deliberated on is words and answered by what he thought Zax knew. For special reasons he did not want to lie to him, but if the latter wanted to coa.r.s.e explicit information out of him, he would have to ask the right questions.

"You call me "Friend", Sheldon, but I"m not sure if I can call you on as well. If, like Senior Ohar"s, your mannerism is genuine?"

"Dear friend Zax, true we never got the chance to properly meet, however by being who I am, do you think I lack foresight when choosing my friends? Even if I were miserably blind, my trust is fully with Senior Ohar. If his exalted self is valuing you so much, who am I think less of you? Naturally I"d like us to be friends".

"I also believe that we can be friends". Zax loosened his firm tone. "But friendships cannot be casually decided. Therefore, I hope you won"t take offence that I want test this belief".

Sheldon surmounted the nearest summit and overlooked the panoramic scenery of the ridge and the other peaks as the sun shone on his bald head and his beard fluttered in the strong wind.

"I really do want to be your friend…" His expression, which Zax could not see, suggested a deeper implication, yet it quickly resumed its aged and placid countenance.

"Then please be honest with me. Are you, too, after the G.o.dly Law Template?" Zax had zero doubts that someone in contact with an Immortal as prominent as the three powerhouses responsible for the five powers would be oblivious to the most highly sought treasure hidden in this planet.

"No. Only the five powers and Sinister Chain are looking for it, although up until this very moment I a.s.sumed neither you nor the chain knows about the template". His eyes betrayed a thoughtful glint that vanished just as quickly as he discounted the desire to ask Zax how he knew about the G.o.dly Law Template. "I"ll keep it a secret".

"Thank you. I don"t want the five powers to raise suspicion for me". Zax looked ahead to the Western Continent coming to his view.

He exited the Down Ocean first but left its parameter with the Eastern Continent only after he detected the all six fifth level Martial Mortal aura leaving in succession, which is why he contacted Sheldon late and had just made it back to Selivereb.

"The probable location of the template is the Down Ocean". Zax did not mind to divulge if it would a.s.sist him in finding what Sheldon"s motives are, if not the G.o.dly Law Template. The reality was that the Down Ocean safeguarded only the last lock of the Three Locks formation.

"You mean because the Heavy Water Pools? I have people in a lot of places, my friend Zax". Sheldon deliberately refrained from saying "Everywhere", as to not make it sound like New Earth included. If Zax wants to know he will need to ask… and then make the choice whether to believe the answer or not. "The five powers abandoned years ago their excavation sites across Ercas Mir, leaving only those in the Down Ocean operating. What can be the reason if not they are getting closer to finding the template?"

"If you have operatives below the fourth Martial Mortal level and with no understanding of the icy attribute in the Down Ocean, they will fail to detect anything in the pools. Have you gone there yourself?" Zax asked.

"I"ve told you. I"m not after the template, so why should I bother dipping into those dangerous waters. My people are sufficiently trained to stay inconspicuous and all I need them is to track and report".

"Fine. I believe that you aren"t searching the template, but not that you will dismiss an opportunity to cultivate with it".

"Will you throw to the trash a pie that fell from the sky just because you are already full?" Sheldon laughed. "But for me to obtain such opportunity can only happen by forming an agreement with the five powers".

"Then… have you made one?" Zax withheld the specifics.

"All sorts". Sheldon responded vaguely.

Zax sighed inwardly. "The five powers know the frequency they use to communicate with the Holy Palace, Planetary Battalion and Voltic Star is monitored by Sinister Chain, but not yours. Have they asked you to pa.s.s on the transmission for them when the time will come?"

"They did. And that"s, in essence, the only request they made with an implicating factor to New Earth". Sheldon clarified so Zax will not probe the other requests.

"For the prosperity of this newfound friendship, will you refuse them I"d ask you?" There was no basis for the friendship, but Zax resorted to accepting it, even if it can just prolong the inevitable.

"How fast will it take them to unearth the G.o.dly Law Template? We are talking about an object that eluded the top hierarchy of the Immortal realm for countless years. Mere Martial Mortals, even those in the Mortal Enlightenment state, will likely fail to notice it right away even with their snouts pressed against it. The time consumption of being on the threshold of suppressing the restrictions before the template isn"t even worth mentioning". Sheldon disdainfully said, but in his heart he ruminated on the notice he gave Bin Bin several months back…

"Say that I will comply with your request, what then? With the added variable of the Spirits, those five should already experience the dilemma of what"s more important, their lives or a chance that only one or two of them will have a morsel of time to study the G.o.dly Law Template. Refusing them might propel them to select their lives and forfeit the rewards promised to them by their Immortal leaders, but in contrast they won"t have any more reservation for initiating contact on their own, even with the chain"s threat".

"It sounds like you will do me a favor by refusing me and compiling them".

"Isn"t it?"

Zax stayed silenced. He reached Rising City; saw the situation in the pathway to New Earth. The formation was being remedied. His line of sight shifted above with a gaze penetrating past the clouds and blue, to the all consuming black, where the Star Scavenger had gotten too far to communicate with.

"You realize the position my people are in?" He opened. "For better or worse I don"t separate myself from them. Their fate and mine are intertwined".

"Shouldering too many pose the risk of burdening you". Sheldon remarked.

"Many in New Earth are oblivious to it, but for the longest time we have been living atop the shoulders of giants, three in particular". Two men and a woman sprang to mind. "Never they complained or asked for something in return. In this day and age of my people, I"m the one who attained the greatest power, an achievement that will amount to nothing should I shy from bearing the weight off my predecessors".

The elaboration generated from the question he presented after the silence and Sheldon, without disappointing, interpreted his meaning.

"Senior Ohar has his reasons for appreciating you, and so am I. Extending his chivalry to your family and even friends would be a minor gesture among friends. Your entire countrymen and countrywomen, beasts too, I suppose you wish, them, I can"t a.s.sure he will guarantee".

"How certain are you?"

"I can ask him, but don"t expect an alternative response. Hence, the best I can do is offer up with a.s.surance is time".

"In a conversation between friends I can say to you it"s not enough". Zax hissed, though ultimately reluctantly succ.u.mbed. "Comply with them".

"They won"t immediately come". Sheldon consoled. "The Immortals of the Holy Palace, Voltic Star and Planetary Battalion are notorious figures. Their endeavors are constantly watched by daring small figures or some of their own caliber. To leave their seats they will demand a confirmation of the G.o.dly Law Template precise whereabouts".

"Be that as it may, their descent is unavoidable and by pa.s.sing on the five"s messages, prompt more than ever… Nevertheless, the chain"s threat did not lose its venom". Zax retorted.

"Using the Galactic Communicator to spread the coordinates of this planet in outer s.p.a.ce would result in the decent of many more Immortals rather than just three". Sheldon warned. "It will incite a war this planet won"t be able to recover from".

"That"s why I"m waiting to witness the type of scenario that will unfold". And whether he will be ready by then to face it as an Immortal!

Sheldon shook his head. "I can"t comply with what you want this time. For something else… I"d like to prove to you that the word "Friend" doesn"t come out emptily from my mouth. Till you seek me out again, I"ll just recommend again for you to consider the consequences of impetuous behavior".

"Of course, but in the end it would be just as I"ve said before… For better or worse".