The Empyreal Gem Master

Families held each other close, whether it was those closest to the walls and heard the roars of beasts the most, or those in the depths of the city that were more well off.

All faced an equally terrifying fear ever so briefly on this day.

A few hours had passed since the heavy and shocking battle outside the Walls of Carthage, with stories beginning to spread about a mysterious Gem Master from the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline coming down to push back the Beasts that were invading their city.

Very few knew that one of the Mortal Branch Leaders of the Galanis Bloodline was killed, and one was captured.

Even fewer understood the titanic Beasts that had taken the Tides of Beasts back into the Den of Corruption, nor what would happen next!

Within the City of Carthage.

Near the Walls, there was a Command Center surrounded by Barracks where ready to deploy Gem Masters would be stationed.

Inside the Command Center, which looked like a dome-shaped black building made of reinforced bricks, Alexander stared out of the glass windows as rain continued to fall on them ceaselessly.

Beside him, the Caladrius Minion was doing its best to suck up to its new master, perched on a table to his right as it also looked out.

"Have you decided?"

Behind him, his Father’s voice took him out of his reverie as Alexander turned around and nodded with affirmation.

His voice was low as he looked at his father and spoke.

"We can’t sit back and do nothing. If we will all be killed by powerful Beasts so long as our power doesn’t match up…then I will do what I can to increase our power. And there are still the Elven Beasts of Corruption for me to pay back what they have done!"

…!

His revenge.

His survival.

Alexander stated his affirmations loud and clear as his father nodded behind a desk filled with documents.

He smiled towards his son.

"You have grown immensely in a short period of time. In power and in mentality. If I can give you any more lessons, my son, it is that in our world, power decides everything."

He rose from behind the desk and came towards the same windows Alexander was staring out of as he continued.

"Power decides survival. How people look at you, treat you, and what position you hold."

…!

"You were an Unawakened Human days ago, and yet now, you have gained a power that drastically changes your position. Do not be hesitant to lean into this power and position. My status as a Branch Leader…what is it compared to the power of Beasts I couldn’t withstand if you weren’t there? So do not feel any reservations when making decisions for the City you protected."

His father came to stare at the rain beside him as he said such words.

Alexander only listened while nodding towards his father, and a voice echoed out behind them as the iron doors opened into this room.

"It’s just been hours, and you’re already handing off your position to your son?"

The gruff voice of Branch Leader Axel rang out with a sense of frustration as behind him, Claire Asmodeus walked in with her hands twirling with her green battle robe.

Julius raised his eyes towards Axel and asked calmly.

"What’s gotten you riled up?"

"What? Oh not much. Just my own daughter defying me to run off with a man. Because why not?"

His voice carried a trace of anger and frustration as beside him, Claire remained quiet while looking towards Alexander, eventually walking towards him while her father shook his head with incredulity at the scene.

Claire had made it clear that she didn’t just wish to sit inside Carthage doing nothing, and that if Alexander was leading an incursion out there to make themselves stronger, she would follow!

No matter what her father stated, she stood by this decision.

This was what caused the frustration within Branch Leader Axel.

Alexander looked towards Branch Leader Axel. He didn’t exchange many words with Claire’s Father aside from the occasional respectful greetings whenever their two families got together, or whenever he happened to follow his father into any meeting.

He only saw him as the powerful and distant father of the childhood friend who was always around him.

But now, their roles seemed very different.

He looked towards the figure of Claire coming to stand in front of him as he reached out to pat her head while speaking.

"She’ll be safer next to me than anyone else. I have seven massive Beasts that can eradicate even Tier 4 Beasts within seconds, and that’s not even counting myself."

"...!"

His words made it so that not s single possible argument could be given, Branch Leader Axel adopting a weathered look of defeat as he slumped down on the chair behind the desk that Alexander’s father was just on.

"Just…keep her safe. Please. I cannot lose her too."

A father earnestly pleaded for his daughter’s safety.

Alexander nodded as he looked out into the ongoing rain, gazing into the distant skies as there…

CAA!

The cry of a Flame Crow whose flames were not extinguished by ongoing rain appeared near the Walls of Carthage, turning its ferocious face and staring out protectively towards the direction of the Den of Corruption.

"I’ll leave one of the Titan Beasts here just in case anything comes. But for now, we will set off towards the Den of Corruption…and then into the gateway leading towards the lands of the Mortal Branch of the Galanis Bloodline."

The plan had already been refined and gone over a few times as they broke down the knowledge that the Caladrius let out.

Alexander’s father nodded as he spoke out.

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"Take Azazel and a few others. As of right now, you are their Commanding Gem Master as they will follow your orders."

…!

Plans were made.

Now, they would be carried out!