I Can Assimilate Everything-Chapter 596: Foundations!
Achilles did many things at once.
And he liked this feeling of busyness, this sensation of consciousness stretched across multiple fronts simultaneously while each aspect accomplished something meaningful.
While he Assimilated multiple Principles at once and seemingly integrated the very workings of Existence into his being, while he processed memories from consumed THE entities and planned campaigns against their Sacred Holy Lands, he also had honest discussions with his family.
The foundation of everything he built needed to be solid, and that foundation was the people he loved.
The first one he started with was his Queen.
At this moment, inside a Protected Domain that floated in isolation far from any Shattered Fold that enemies might think to search, a Constellation Dream Body of Achilles manifested in an isolated corner of the relocated Sea of Thalassara.
The blue-gold waters stretched peacefully in all directions, schools of crystalline fish swimming through currents maintained by authority he had established when creating this sanctuary.
It was quiet here, calm in ways that the Sacred Holy Land of Alchemy currently was not.
Achilles looked at the figure of Rose’s main body who radiated an allure of THE Civilizational Authority of Alchemy that she had been consuming since the barrier fell.
She was beautiful, and the power she now commanded only enhanced what had always been there.
"Little Fatty...you have that look. The one that says you are planning something that will make me worry."
Achilles smiled at her perception, at how well she knew him.
"With how things are playing out with Collapsed Civilizations," he began, his tone calm and serious despite the magnitude of what he was about to propose, "I envision something different than their resurgence. Rather than allowing them to recover and continue the cycles of conflict that led to the Age of Collapse in the first place, I want to put others in their place."
Rose’s eyes sharpened with interest as she listened, her fiery green hair flickering with ambient authority.
"I envision you," Achilles continued, "and the Adrastia Emperor Kings. My father. My grandfather. All the others I resurrected from death who now cultivate in safety while I wage war across the Shattered Folds." He paused to let the scope of his vision settle.
"I want to ask if you would be willing to take the helm of THE Sovereign Catalyst’s position. I will do everything necessary to continue having you devour THE Civilizational Authority of Alchemy until you can claim that Civilization as your own, rebuild it according to principles that serve our family rather than the ambitions of a collapsed tyrant."
His purple-gold eyes blazed with conviction.
"And the Adrastia Emperor Kings will all take over the Ways and Civilizations of Life, Necrocracy, Light, Fate, Elemental, and any other Collapsed Civilizations that I manage to consume and redistribute. Rather than allowing THE entities to return to power, we replace them entirely with our own lineage. The Adrastia bloodline becomes the foundation upon which new Primordial Civilizations are built. Across the Shattered Folds, Across Observable Existence...it will only be Adrastia. Adrastia!"
BOOM!
Rose was silent for long moments as she processed the sheer audacity of what he was proposing.
Then her eyes flashed with brilliance that matched the fiery authority surrounding her form. Her head tilted slightly as a smile spread across her features, fierce and hungry and absolutely committed.
"Let’s get started."
---
Far across Observable Existence, in spaces between spaces where only THE entities could project their consciousness without being destroyed by ambient pressure, a meeting was taking place.
The incorporeal domain manifested as vast expanse filled with THE Civilizational Authority drawn from multiple sources simultaneously. Multicolored clouds surrounded this space in swirling patterns that represented the combined presence of beings whose philosophies and purposes had once been violently opposed.
Obsidian from Necrocracy, verdant green from Life, copper-bronze from Alchemy, brilliant white from Light, and other hues representing Civilizations that had shaped Observable Existence during the age before collapse.
At the center of this domain, THE Corpse Hierophant stood like a glorious obsidian pillar, his form towering and terrible even in this projected state. Shadows clung to his manifested presence like loyal servants, and his deathly eyes burned with cold fire that had witnessed the endings of countless entities across eons of conflict.
Around him, nine other obsidian pillars rose from the incorporeal floor, each one representing the consciousness of another Leader of a Collapsed Civilization who had answered his unprecedented call for cooperation.
THE Slumbering Genesis manifested as massive draconic elephantine presence, his verdant scales and curved horns radiating Life authority even in this reduced state. His expression showed wariness about this gathering but also pragmatic acceptance of necessity.
THE Endless Dream was notably absent and excluded.
THE Elemental Monarch appeared as figure composed of constantly shifting elemental forces, fire and water and earth and air cycling through his form in patterns that never repeated. His presence crackled with primal authority over fundamental forces.
THE Bastion of Light manifested as towering humanoid figure wreathed in radiance so pure that it hurt to observe directly even in this incorporeal space. His armor appeared forged from crystallized illumination, and his features held stern judgment that suggested he viewed this gathering with considerable skepticism.
THE Weaver of Fates appeared as androgynous figure surrounded by countless threads of silver light that connected to points beyond this domain, each thread representing destinies being woven across Observable Existence.
THE Primordial Forge manifested as massive figure whose body seemed constructed from living metal and eternal flames.
And others filled the remaining pillars, Leaders of Collapsed Civilizations whose names carried weight across Observable Existence even in their diminished states.
THE Bastion of Light was the first to speak after the gathering had fully assembled, his voice carrying judgment that cut through the diplomatic pretenses.
"What a ridiculous creature you are, Hierophant."
His radiant form pulsed with barely contained hostility as he addressed the one who had brought them all to collapse through his war of supremacy.
"You caused us to go through an age of weakening. You shattered Civilizations that had endured since the earliest times of Observable Existence. You murdered allies and enemies alike in pursuit of keys that you refused to share." His voice rose with accusation.
"Only to now turn around and reverse course, calling for cooperation as if the countless eons of suffering you inflicted can simply be forgotten."
He gestured broadly at the assembled THE entities.
"Will it all be so simple? We let bygones be bygones and pretend that you did not doom us all through your pride and greed?" His luminous eyes narrowed.
"What concessions are you making to ensure this actually proceeds? What guarantees do we have that you will not simply use this cooperation to position yourself for another betrayal once you have recovered sufficient strength?"
The challenge hung in the incorporeal air with weight that made several of the other assembled consciousnesses shift uncomfortably on their pillars.
THE Corpse Hierophant responded with calm that seemed inappropriate given the accusations, his shadowed form remaining perfectly still as his deathly voice emerged like grinding tombstones.
"If you want concessions and for me to pay for what I have done, if you want a driving force to motivate you beyond simple survival..." He paused, and something that might have been dark amusement colored his tone. "Let it be this creature."
His shadowed hands moved with deliberate gesture.
"He can devour you regardless of your power just by coming into contact with you. He consumed my manifestation and THE Sovereign Catalyst’s manifestation within minutes of each other, and neither of us could resist or escape once he established connection." His deathly eyes swept across the assembled THE entities.
"Is that motivator enough to set aside past grievances? Or would you prefer to wait until he finds your Sacred Holy Lands and consumes everything you have spent eons rebuilding?"
...!
BOOM!
THE Corpse Hierophant waved his hand with gesture that made the incorporeal domain tremble, and an image manifested at the center of their gathering with clarity that allowed every detail to be observed.
The figure of Achilles appeared before them, captured in moment of terrible transformation. His purple-gold eyes blazed with hunger that seemed to have no limit!
All THE entities who had sent their consciousness into this realm became stern and somber as they observed what they faced.
This was not exaggeration or manipulation. This was documented evidence of something that defied every principle governing how beings advanced through Scales of Existence.
THE Slumbering Genesis leaned forward with expression of deep concern. THE Elemental Monarch’s cycling elements stuttered momentarily before resuming their pattern. THE Weaver of Fates reached toward her threads as if checking whether destinies she had woven were being unraveled. THE Primordial Forge’s flames burned lower as he processed what he was seeing.
Even THE Bastion of Light, who had been so hostile moments before, fell silent as he observed the creature that had prompted this unprecedented gathering.
The image of Achilles smiled with expression that seemed to look directly at them despite being mere recording, as if he somehow knew they would eventually see this moment and wanted them to understand exactly what was coming for them!
