18. FACTIONS
"The hell... man, you really went through a lot," Kevin remarked, his voice laced with sympathy as he patted William's shoulder. William lost in thought, stared blankly at the ceiling as if he had lost all meaning in life.
Kevin's words pulled William back to the present moment, prompting him to refocus his attention on his friend. With a sigh, William shook his head, realizing that his initial assumptions about the "Tutorial" had been completely off base.
It dawned on him that Kevin, along with the two women in the room, had also undergone their own versions of the "Tutorial." However, unlike William's experience, their 'Tutorial' had been a happy amusement ride compared to him.
Their lives had never been threatened, their positions were all stable after their simulation of a Tutorial. But all was said and done. There was no need to lament anything. William dealt with the hand his life had given him.
Kevin had passed his tutorial with flying colors. According to him, he was first transported to a black space, where a message had notified him that he was chosen as one of the Lords of the Galaxy.
From there, he found himself in the life of an orphan, where he discovered latent powers within himself that were previously unknown.
Much like the prompts and statuses found in web novels, Kevin's journey had been guided by a series of prompts and indications, leading him on a path of gangs and the underworld.
William was surprised that Kevin had shared his 'Talent'. His talent was that he could store genetic materials inside his body and replicate and imprint the same gene into another human body.
Which meant that Kevin's rise to power in the simulated world had been nothing short of extraordinary. By acquiring the genetic material of a bull and infusing it into two thugs, he had unlocked a formidable force of were-bulls, fantastical beastmen with the combined traits of human and bull.
But Kevin's ambitions didn't stop there. He expanded his ranks further by incorporating other were-creatures like werewolves, werebats, and weregoats, enhancing his arsenal of loyal followers. With the ability to imprint these genetic traits into his own body, Kevin gained unprecedented control over his powers, allowing him to grow stronger and more formidable with each passing day.
William watched in awe as fur and claws sprouted from Kevin's arms, a testament to the extent of his abilities. However, beneath the surface, William couldn't ignore the implications of Kevin's newfound power. His Talent not only granted him control over those he converted but also ensured their unwavering loyalty and subservience.
Despite Kevin's claim of receiving a B+ rating in the tutorial, William remained skeptical. The information he provided, coupled with the way he described his abilities, hinted at a much greater influence and power than he let on.
It was clear to William that Kevin was not merely a minor player in the underworld but potentially the head of a formidable force, one that commanded respect and fear in equal measure.
Elizebeth, known affectionately as BethBeth to Kevin, held a prominent position as the head of a merchant company in the galactic trade. William was taken aback when she revealed her Talent, which allowed her to discern those who possessed fortune and those who did not.
However, it was Linda, who despised being called Lin by Kevin, that truly astonished William. Her revelation sent shockwaves through him.
"Wait, did you just say that the Emperor you follow bears the insignia of a Lion with multiple snake-tails?" William's disbelief was palpable as he turned his gaze toward Linda.
Linda squirmed under his scrutiny, a hint of discomfort evident in her expression.
"Why? What happened?" Kevin's surprise mirrored William's own astonishment, while Elizebeth regarded William with a puzzled expression.
"Y-yes... And just to note, I am not just following the Emperor, I am HIS most favored consort!" Linda responded with a smile, seemingly proud of her position as a consort in the imperial court.
However, William's agitation was palpable as he leaned in closer to Linda, his tone urgent. "What was the color of the eye of your emperor?"
Linda visibly stiffened at the mention of the Emperor's eyes, a reaction that did not go unnoticed by William. In that moment, he realized that Linda was not merely associated with an Emperor in name only, but rather with one of the ten Emperors who wielded authority on a galactic scale.
The Golden Emperor was the sole imperial family permitted to bear the insignia of a Lion with multiple tails. Any other family flaunting the same emblem in the Galaxy risked facing extermination.
As William sank into the plush sofa, he stared at Linda in disbelief. She held the position of consort to a man whose influence extended across the Milky Way galaxy.
Kevin and Beth voiced their confusion, prompting William to explain the gravity of Linda's revelation.
"The Hell!?"
"You serious?"
It became apparent that his fellow 'Lords' were unaware of the implications of the treaty or lacked knowledge of the galactic network. Such ignorance was understandable, given that their simulation had spanned six months.
They just knew their positions and had little time to familiarize their positions and their environment.
"Mmm... That was the reason why the guy seemed to exert so much absurd pressure," Linda mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Kevin and Elizebeth took a moment to process the information before excitement dawned on their faces.
"This means..." Elizebeth's cheeks flushed with anticipation.
"That we have a chance," Kevin interjected, his expression turning solemn.
Now, it was William's turn to feel out of the loop. If they were entertaining the idea of hugging the thighs of the Golden Emperor, it seemed like wishful thinking. There was a saying in the galactic network:
"If you want to talk to an Emperor, then ready your belongings."
It wasn't that the Emperor held disdain for those beneath them; rather, it was the daunting prospect of holding one's own in conversation with such an influential figure. If one were to converse with an Emperor, they would likely find themselves feeling hollow both financially and emotionally, all at your own discretion.
Emperors were a breed apart, viewing time and the world through a lens inaccessible to regular humans. Their intellect and cunning surpassed that of ordinary mortals, making them impervious to manipulation.
Yet, as William explained these truths to Kevin, Elizebeth, and Linda, they shook their heads in disagreement.
"Ahh, I forgot that you were... different," Kevin shook his head before delving into his explanation.
"Will, there is a reason why these phenomena are happening," Kevin leaned in closer, his tone growing heavier. "There are things far scarier than anything out there, both inside and outside the galaxy. And that's why all of this is unfolding." He reached for a canned beer, downing it in one swift gulp.
"There are Factions within and beyond the Galaxy that dictate your status and interactions with others," Kevin struggled to continue, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
"There are many Factions if you go into detail, but there are basically three major factions inside the Galaxy," Elizebeth began, stepping in to assist Kevin.
"First, there is the Order Faction," she raised her index finger, launching into her explanation. "This faction encompasses the majority of the human population and stands for life and order. While conflict and violence are not uncommon within human societies, there are limits to how far we will go."
"As it turns out, 'Humans' is an inclusive term that encompasses all races with humanoid shapes and similar ideals in the galaxy. Elves, Dwarfs, Fairies are all considered 'Humans'," Elizebeth paused, allowing William to process the information.
She herself struggled to comprehend it, evident in her pause before continuing at William's prompting. "The term other races and species use to refer to us is 'Manling'. That is the common name for our race."
Elizebeth raised her middle finger as she continued, "Then we come to the Chaos Faction, who follow the 5 Daemons of Chaos:
The Daemon of Plague and Diseases, The PlagueFather.
The Daemon of Blood and Skulls, The BloodBorne.
The Daemon of Desire and Excess, The One Who Thirsts.
The Daemon of Hunger and Gluttony, The Devourer.
The Daemon of Sloth and Indolence, The Tomorrow."
Elizebeth paused, dropping another bomb on poor William, who struggled to digest the revelation that spiritual entities were real. He should have known by now.
"The next faction is the War Faction. These factions are a little bit... how do I put it... special?"
"Oh, come on, you guys are too slow to explain anything. The third faction is the War Faction, which consists of races and species with eccentric needs. One way or another, they cannot physically live without battle and warfare, or something of to the similar degree." As she explained, William noticed her tone was not half-hearted, and somehow, he found himself more attentive when she spoke.
'It's her talent...'
"For example, those green bastards," Linda gritted her teeth as she continued. "Those green little shits gave me so much trouble in the Tutorial that it was unreal."
She waved her hands as though trying to erase something hanging in the air. "Orks, Krocks, Draconians, Beastmen, Necrons are all in this category."
With her explanation complete, she blushed upon realizing she had spoken the longest.
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