And So, He Continues

     Back in the Old World, everything was disgustingly poor and corrupted, with little knowledge about the very Earth itself and the things that technology can do. Nothing really changed in the New World, it was still corrupted, despite the horrible situation and the threat of extinction of mankind, but it was more advanced, and more people had discovered the secrets of the Earth and the worlds outside it. Well, of course, everyone knew that life existed in other planets, other moons, other stars, other suns. Because one of them was where the SkyWalkers came from.

     This was the thing that Reina Dominique thought over and over. Unlike the booming scientist named Niell Tanner, or whoever that man is, Reina took interest in the stars, the planets, the million worlds glinting in the dull sky night, behind the thick orange and polluted clouds. About the god's origin. Niell Tanner and his team, the NEXUS Labs studied the gods once because they needed to see if they were compatible with the human body, and honestly, Reina thought that the idea was disturbing. But possible. Very possible, rather.

    Once, Tanner asked her to join NEXUS Labs, to share her knowledge about the gods' origin, about the place where they came from. She declined, of course. Tanner had something different in his mind, and she can't understand the man's obsession with joining a gods' core to human DNA. She never really knew where, not really, and no one really made an effort to know, but she's different. She believes that the first step of banishing the gods of their world was to know where they came from. Their weakness.

     Frowning over the holographic screen in front of her because of its disappointing contents and poor information about this certain life effect outside the world, Reina fixed her black coat and stood up from her chair. She just came from the very unexpected meeting that Aegis held. About Tanner and about his successful project. She didn't even need to come there because the news bombed the whole Den, and she can't cross the streets without hearing about it. But it was a  chance to meet some of the leaders of the Den.

    Suddenly, a holographic human image emerged from her room's main system popped up. The dorky face of the man gave it away. It was Leo, one of her acquaintances.

    "What's up?" He asked, grinning. The usual, irritating grin.

     "Why are you here?" Reina asked, pouring herself a little whiskey that was always waiting for her in her table. "What is it?"

    "Will you come here in the quarters?" Leo asked while scratching his head. Something was up. "Rion was looking for you. He said that there's something he needs to tell you."

     She knew Leo and Rion since the beginning of forever. The two came to her for her help with something, and she remembered it was about something that came from one of the fallen ships of the Skywalkers. The two were trudging along, far from the walls when they found that piece of material. Ever since then, the two kept contact with her even though she didn't want it.

     Reina frowned. "Why don't he tell me himself?" She asked, taking a sip from her chaser.

    "Um, because.. he, uhh.." Leo trailed off, looking his eyes looking upwards. It was obvious that he's thinking about what he should say. What excuse. Reina rolled her eyes, wiring for Leo to finish whatever he wanted to say. "He said that he needs to say it personally, you know?"

    "Right. I'll pretend I believe that so you won't feel bad." Reina replied, a smirk playing on her lips. Leo looked like he's been struck by lightning. "It doesn't matter, anyway. I need to do something so I can't go into your quarters. You're in Tritos, and I can't waste my time going there." Besides, not everyone can just go wherever part of Den they want.

     Leo's face dropped. "You sure? You're just going to lose the best pizza in Arcane!" He said, reaching for something hidden from the hologram, and in a matter of seconds, he's holding a pizza. He ate it slowly, giving Reina a suggesting look like See? Pizza. So yummy.

    Reina sighed, thinking about how she and Leo and Rion even became acquaintances. Although, she's the only one who thinks of them as an acquaintance. Rion and Leo called her a friend. Remembering it made her cringe. Unlike most of the people, Reina doesn't like having others that liked to connect with her. She doesn't entertain the thought of friendship or love or other things that were brought by emotions. It was a bane, a problem.

     Reina nodded, giving Leo a serious look. "I told you, it doesn't matter." She said.

     Leo's eyes shot up. "What if we're the ones who go there?"

    "Absolutely not." She answered immediately.

    Just as she despise the touchy and feely emotions, she also despise other people's presence near her or inside her abode. It was trespassing, even if she knows it. An unwelcome idea. Having the presence of other people near her was just another kind of distraction.

    Leo's face dropped again, like a kid that lost his ice cream. He groaned, "Well, then, okay. But if you have time—"

    "Yes." She said and swiped the sensor to make Leo's   image fade.

    She didn't have time to meet up with Leo and the others because she knew what's going to happen. Once she's there, Rion would complain about what happened to him, being rejected by the Liberators as a Defender. There are many things she needed to do. The Liberators called for her, needing her assistance once more. Unlike Tanner, who can she almost imagine grinning manically, she didn't take pleasure or pride about getting summoned by the Liberators. She was stand-alone, someone who takes pleasure and slight joy about discovering things herself.

    Taking another sip of her drink, she waited for another call. Christopher Larson, one of the head Liberators, told her that he'll contact her when it's time for her to be taken to Aegis's core. The Liberators wanted something from her, and it's the new information she had from the gods. If only she can decline their call, she would, but she can't. Even if the Liberators were the ones who saved the human-kind from the gods by building Aegis and the walls, Reina didn't like them. They were corrupt, cruel but was able to maintain a good image in front of the whole Arcane without even showing themselves. Hypocrites were the right word for them.

     But the citizens of the four walls can't possibly know this. They're dependent little idiots that happened to survive the attacks of the gods. Their existence is useless, and they were the feed of the Liberators.

     "Reina Dominique."

    Reina spun around, already expecting that it was Christopher Larson. "Mr. Larson." She said in a monotone.

    "Greetings," Christopher said, giving Reina a political smile. "I assume that you accept the Liberators invitation?"

    Reina would frown and do all the things that would express her resentment about this situation if she can, but all she did was nod and say, "Give me another choice and I won't."

    "I'm afraid I can't."

    "I know. That is why I am accepting it."

    Christopher's smile widened, his eyes glinting. "Very well," He said. "My chauffeur will be there in minutes, then you will be brought in one of our Headquarters. We will be seeing you in minutes. Please be ready."

    Reina stared as second longer in the air, hoping that Christopher's image will appear again and say, "Ha, ha! Caught you. You really don't need to come there. Just continue whatever you're doing." But no such thing happened, and she realized that she there's no turning back.  The thought made her want to curse in different languages.

    Minutes after, just as Christopher promised, Reina saw a holographic image outside, a man standing by her door and a hovercar behind him. He looked like one of those brain-washed people, blank and distant, probably any other workers of Aegis looked like him. Shrugging off her thoughts, she walked towards the door and opened it. She was greeted with a formal bow by the man, a blank look on his face.

     "Reina Dominique, yes?" The man asked even if he's well aware that he's in front of the right person. Reina looked at him, expressionless, and said nothing. Feeling ridiculous, the mad added. "Mr. Larson—"

    "I'm well aware, and this formality is wasting my time."

    The man made a choking sound. "I apologize for that." He said and gestured towards the vehicle behind him. "Shall we?"

     Reina didn't say anything and walked towards their vehicle, despising the act itself. If only she can lock herself inside her abode and spoil herself with information and old books from the Old World, she would. The Old World, she wondered how is it, how everything ran. She's sure that they weren't stuck inside great, big walls. They were able to see the Sun rise with peace, was able to gaze at the stars, and actually see them. In the New World, the weather was abnormal. Everything has altered in a very weird way. Where the moon lied still in the Old World, was the sun in the night now. Sometimes, the day was cold, and the night was skin burningly hot.

      Maybe it was under the influence of the gods, maybe it was because of the lack of things that influence the climate itself. There were so many factors to be considered that Reina started to wonder.

     The chauffeur entered, sitting just in front of Reina, getting his hands all over the control panels. He looked at Reina by his shoulders and said, "Please, make yourself comfortable."

    Inside the vehicle, there were things that were supposed the make the one who's riding it comfortable. It was like a small living room, a couch, a carpet in the middle, and little details that Reina decided not to study. She knew that this shouldn't be the appearance of their vehicle, it should be more..professional. Even so, Reina felt anything but comfortable.

    "How long is it before we reach Theios?" Reina asked, already wanting to leave their vehicle.

    The chauffeur looked back at her again, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Ms. Dominique. We are going to the Core."

    Reina fought back the urge to roll her eyes. "That's what I'm saying." She said. "Theios is the core that you're all talking about. It is its official name. Theios."

    The chauffeur looked dumbfounded, which Reina found   amusing. Making someone realize and know their embarrassing mistakes never failed to bring a sense of joy in her. Proving, showing that she was superior and seeing people squirm or looked at her with amazement and shocked all that, always brought her amusement. And amusement was a kind of feeling that she welcomes.

    The man recovered, looking like she just slapped him and said, "I apologize. I'm not quite familiar with names. I'm from Antes." He said like it was Antes's fault that he doesn't know that's the official name of the Core.

    How a man from Antes happened to be in Sequi, she didn't know. As far as she can remember, not everyone can just cross the walls and migrate to another. If you're born in Antes, you will die in Antes. That was the rules. Or maybe, the rules have changed. Being inside her abode for almost all her life made her outdated with all these things.

    But, hearing Antes made Reina think of the things that happened when she last got there—which was days ago, right after Aegis made their big announcement. There was a girl that she caught robbing one of the biggest houses in Antee, who, even had the nerve to ask Reina what's wrong with her. Reina grimaced at the thought, remembering how the girl even had the audacity to glare at her with her smoldering amber eyes like Reina was the one who just robbed a house. At that moment, she became thankful that she's living in Sequi.

     Reina didn't say anything to the man and just continued to stare outside. In Sequi, everything was distinct and specific, somehow. Sequi was a place where everything is alive. Always buzzing with people and the buildings seemed to dance with different and flickering lights every night. It was the place of having fun, as the commoners called it. The leader of Sequi, Rina Yamagashi, was praised because of this. It was the most productive part of the Den, and the people say that it was where everything you need can be found. Not for Reina, though.

     She didn't like buzzing places and dancing lights. Didn't like the noise and the restlessness of the place. She wanted somewhere more solid, somewhere orderly and uncluttered. To put it simply, she wanted to be in Theios.

    Passing the gigantic buildings and the people trudging along the lanes, they became nearer and nearer towards the gigantic walls surrounding the whole city. Back at her abode, the walls are almost invisible, clouded with mist and air, but now, it was so close that Reina couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. The walls reached the skies, and she wondered how men in the Old World even had the time to build it. Or maybe, it was built with machines? Nevertheless, it was the second thing that overwhelmed and amazed her. The first thing was her own discoveries.

     When they reached the end of the wall, where no structures and anything that was built near it, Reina noticed the specific part of the wall where countless men in black uniform stood beside it. It was wide, put two soccer fields from the Old World together, and that would be how wide it is. Reina got the sense that the wall will move itself to make a way towards the other part of the Den, Theios, even though she hadn't seen it.

     "Hmm," Reina hummed. "I always thought that the ways towards the parts of the Den were located underground."

    "Who said it's not?" the chauffeur said, flipping and flinging something in the panel in front of him. "There are ways under the ground, and also in the walls themselves. The ways on the walls are made for specific measures. Say, bringing someone to the Co—Theios. But there are more reasons besides that. It's also for emergencies."

    Emergencies? Reina thought, a tugging urge to ask the chauffeur about emergencies developing inside her. But she said, "I see. So that's it."

    The chauffeur nodded. "They're going to let us in in no time," he said, talking about the men in black uniforms. Guards, maybe. Then, "I hope."

    They waited there for a moment and noticed that two figures were walking towards them and then they stopped. Reina can feel their eyes on her and the chauffeur. They were silently demanding for someone to come out, which was absolutely not Reina. Cursing under his breath, the chauffeur grabbed something beside him and left their vehicle. Outside, the two men approached the chauffeur and said something. The chauffeur only nodded and spoke one word. Immediately, the two man's eyes widened, nodding repeatedly and left.

     Reina can see that the chauffeur was suppressing a grin as he walked towards their vehicle. Once he's inside again, he said with resentment, "Keepers."

    "What happened?"

    "They didn't let us pass through the wall. We have to use the underground passage, Ms. Dominique."

    "Why?"

    The chauffeur hesitated. "They did not say anything."

    Talking a little detour, they drove along the underground passage, using a clear way for other vehicles other than the bullet train. Apparently, they were the only one who was having a trio towards the other parts of the Den. The trains are on a stop, and Sequi's own underground passage was clear. They drive along with the balustrades and the voices of reporters from the holograms felt like forever for Reina.

     Then, she saw something up ahead, a gigantic pair of metal gates clamped together. It was not her first time seeing it, but there's this sense of urgency that's building inside her. Just pass that door was Theios's underground passage, and right after they reach the upper ground, the chauffeur will bring her towards the Headquarter that Christopher mentioned. How she resented the Liberators' ways, how she despised them. Reina could t jnsgine what she would do once she met the Liberators. Maybe she'll throw something on their faces and curse them like the Old World's curse.

    "I get what you're feeling, Ms. Dominique." The chauffeur suddenly said, glancing up to her, seemingly sensing what Reina was thinking and feeling. "I hate them, too."

     Which was not surprising. Everyone just seemed to gstehe Liberators these days, but they can't possibly admit it or protest about it because, first of all, they were the ones who basically saved humankind from being extinct, and secondly, they will delete anyone who actually shows their hate towards them. They were cruel, everyone knows that, but not everyone can say it.

    Reina nodded as an acknowledgment of the chauffer's words. Reina didn't know why the chauffeur was trying to make start a conversation with her, so she didn't say anything more.

    When they finally reached the metal gates, it opened by itself after a moment had passed. Beyond the gates was Theios own underground passageway that looked no different from Sequi's and from the others. Slowly, the gates emitted lights, and at the end of the passageway was where it came from. Reina wuinted her eyes, seeing the figures of buildings that were still far from them. A feeling of dread filled her. She was really here. There was no turning back. Yes, I wanted to be in Theios, Reina thought. But not under this horrid circumstances. Sighing, she plopped her back on the backrest of her seat, wishing that she was still in her abode, frowning and making theories by herself.

    You can't just lock yourself out, Reina. She remembered her professor told her, fixing his glasses like it was the most fragile thing in the world. Reina's eyebrows knitted, wondering why her professor's words came back to her. It was from a long time ago.

     "Will you look at that." Reina murmured under her breath, trying o cast off the feelings inside her.

      "You haven't been here before, Ms. Dominique?"

     "I've been. A couple of times, actually. But not under this situation."

    They continued driving along the underground passage of Theios that looked no different from the other until they reached the end and reach the upper ground. As many times as Reina saw Theios, she was always amazed still. Unlike in Sequi, Theios's streets are empty with buzzing noises. The buildings looked orderly and neat. The people were trudging along the lanes obediently without making much noise. Theios itself had a sense of authority. You can feel it in your bones and taste it in your lips. This was the place where Reina wanted to be, a place with solitude and order. She couldn't help but marvel at it.

    If they say Sequi got everything anyone wants and needs, they clearly haven't gone in Theios their whole life. Unlike in the three parts of the Den—Sequi, Tritos, and Antes—Theios was the center of it all, oversees all. It's where authority lies. It never fails to amaze Reina.

     "Where is the Headquarters located at?" Reina asked the chauffeur, ripping her eyes off the gigantic and orderly-looking buildings and uncluttered streets and lanes of Theios.

    "At the last city of part of the Core—I mean, Theios,  Ms. Dominique." the chauffeur answered, keeping his eyes on the road. "Klave, I think. That's where Mr. Larson said."

    "I've never heard of that place."

    "That's because it's hidden, Ms. Dominique. They didn't disclose the place to Theios and the other parts of the Den. It was  a private place."

     Minutes passed and they finally reached the place that the chauffeur was talking about. Just as he said, it was hidden and also barred with tall fences. There was no structure on sight but the big mansion standing in the middle of it all. It looked like an estate, a manor. It was mostly built with glass, but it's impossible to see what's inside. Standing wider than the other buildings in Theios. Reina can almost imagine the Liberators sitting around the table, discussing what they would do and all that shit if the Liberators even show up personally.

     Reina thought that it would be impossible. The Liberators never disclosed their identity, always working behind the scenes, pulling the strings and controlling the leaders of every part of Aegis.

     Suddenly, the fences opened, welcoming their vehicle. Their vehicle hovered over the smoothened ground—how ridiculous—occasionally bumping on small statues that looked like some Greek gods, which Reina didn't find surprising. Pantheons were where the Core's name came from, Theios. Even if it was in a discreet way, the Liberators thought of themselves as gods. Reina scoffed loudly at the idea, glaring at the statues. Yes, she's weird.

    Once they neared the building, two Keepers approached them, a serious and stern look on their faces. They had a brief conversation with the chauffeur and nodded, gesturing their arms and hands towards the glass doors of the building like it's some kind of a prized possession.

    The chauffeur looked back at Reina, his eyes filled uncertainty that Reina couldn't understand. He said, "They will escort you inside, Ms. Dominique."

     Reina only nodded, wrapping her black trench coat around her for a  moment and left their vehicle. Almost immediately, the two Keepers approached Reina and gently ushered her to come inside. From the outside, Reina could see the warm lights deep inside the building which probably came from a chandelier. There were couches and other things that seemed utterly pointless for a building like this.

     Another figure was waiting for her inside. It was a girl, much younger than Reina. The girl smiled like a ghost, studying Reina from head to toe, not bothering to hide it then lifted her chin in a regal way which she failed to do. A way of showing dominance, Reina thought. The act just made her smirk. How amusing it is to witness people trying to show dominance, and fail miserably. The smirk seemed to throw the girl's act off, her head lowering for some inches.

      "I assume you're Ms. Reina Dominique?" The girl asked Reina, her eyes slightly wavering. Reina didn't answer and just stared at her. Why do people ask questions they already know? It was ridiculous. "We've been waiting for you. Please, follow me."

    The girl, or whoever she is, turned around, most staggering for no reason at all, and began to walk deeper inside the building. Reina followed her immediately, not talking her time noticing how grand the building looked like. How the intricate designs were carved right on the ceiling, telling the story if Aegisbutself and the elegant lines and shapes that are combined together on the wall, creating figures that were mesmerizing to look at.

     The girl led her towards a big, rowen wood door that was much higher s larger than a commoner's dream. Reina couldn't believe that she can actually feel some presence behind the door. If she was in some kind of useless video game, this door would be the entrance to the current level's boss.

     The girl looked back at Reina and asked, "If I may ask, are you ready?"

    "Do I look like I'm not?"

    "I apologize. Earlier... The other guest acted strangely, now I need to make sure."

    "Who's the guest?" Reina asked, curious.

    "Niell Tanner."

    Reina fought back a groan. It's not like she hated Tanner, no that's not it. The man was just too arrogant for her, too greedy for power. He had done things to achieve his dream, discovered things that he didn't even want to discover just to be noticed. Nothing changed about him since her last encounter with him when she was in her younger years. Tanner, being her professor's assistant, was too obvious that he wanted to replace Reina's professor. Fortunately, he didn't succeed, leaving him in a situation that Reina know.

     Still, she was not oblivious of the man's capability, and the things he can do just to achieve his dreams and vision. An ambitious man, what's wrong with it? Now, look at him, getting noticed and acknowledged because of his mind-blowing project that probably shook the whole Arcane. Reina also had her fair share of ridiculous and dangerous things that she did just be in the position she's in right now. No, not in the position of having to stand in front of the door, but the situation of her life.

    The girl gave Reina a confirming look, discreetly telling Reina that she's about to open the door. Reina kept her face poker, and the girl pushed open the door.

    The first thing that came into view was cool lights emitting from the glass table, where only two physical persons sat around it, and three holographic images of people also sitting on the chair, although not physically. Reina could almost give a smug smile for herself when her guesses turned out to be right. The two persons who're actually sitting were Christopher Larson and the other one was Niell Tanner.

     They all spun around to see who entered the room, surprise actually lighting up their faces. Especially Tanner, who looked troubled. One moment, he was surprised, then a smile crept into his lips, then his eyes turned accusing. The others, the Liberators, as Reina would have guessed, kept their face just like Reina's. Impassive, steely, an iron mask that showed no emotion.

    Despite the presence of the Liberators, Reina felt nothing. Was this one of the people that kept Aegis in place, that saved humankind from extinction? She felt no authority from them, only irritation for they didn't seem to impress Reina just by their looks and their very presence. Maybe they weren't the Liberators, maybe they're just like the Aegis spoke person, Yuka Kirishima. Tanner, on the other hand, looked like a child that was given with ice cream and candies when he managed to dismiss his expression when he saw Reina. His eyes were sparkling, glinting with pride.

    "Gentlemen, Ms. Dominique has arrived." The girl behind Reina said, quite late. Even Reina can sense the girl's nervousness, a feeling that Reina didn't welcome.

    Only Christopher Larson nodded, seemingly pleased that Reina actually came. "Yes," He said. "You may leave us."

    Behind Reina, the doors shut close. Reina, with steely composite, approached the men and gave them a slight nod. She can see them appraising her, and sense them staring at her even with her eyes closed. This was another thing with Reina, she had a sense of authority around her. Just a look, a simple gesture, and words never failed to show it.

    "Ah, Ms. Dominique, we have been waiting for you." Said the man on the end of the table, giving an appeasing look at Reina.

    He looked much older than Reina, wearing a formal suit that didn't even match his appearance. Reina had no idea of who was talking to her for the Liberators always kept to themselves. Maybe that's what they're lacking—publicity. Maybe that's why Reina couldn't sense the authority in them. Or maybe they just couldn't take a portion down from Reina's personal wall to make her feel something about their presence.

    "You came a little too late, I'm afraid so." Another man said, looking identical with the other one.

    Hold it.

    They all look the same. That caught Reina off guard, and she felt her eyebrows knit a little. Why didn't she notice it right away? Things swirled inside her mind. Of course. It's a way to still keep their identity and faces hidden. The Liberators would never show their face and disclose their identity. They could use names that were never theirs in this meeting. The only thing that Reina could rely on was their voices and the places where they positioned themselves.

     "I believe it does not matter for I am here now," Reina said, smoothening her face again. She took a seat between two empty chairs without the men's permission, and their eyebrows raised at the act. Reina didn't get why, though.

     "She's right, gentlemen." Christopher Larson said. Then, he looked at Reina. "I forgot to introduce them to you."

    Reina nodded. She wouldn't let this finish without knowing what to call them.

    "That's quite alright, Mr. Larson. We can introduce ourselves." One of the non-physical men said who's sitting at the end of the table. He looked at Reina, giving off a thin, almost ghostly smile. If Reina can remember correctly,  he was the first one to talk to her. "I am Orion Pazela. One of the head members of the Liberators."

    Reina never heard of him.

   "You must have already known me." the other one said, sharing the same face as Pazela but not the same voice. Reina quickly registered it in her mind. "I am the leader of Theios."

    If Reina was surprised, she didn't show it. The leader of Theios was also one of the Liberators. Soren Zhang was his name. Just like the other Liberators, he never showed his face and didn't make contact with his people, always working behind the scenes and letting his spoke person say the words he wanted to say. He was so inactive in public that even his own people forgot about him occasionally, thinking that his spoke person was the leader of Theios. Even Reina forgot about him. Zhang gave a light smile like he could read what's inside of Reina's head.

    "Arthur Struther." the third man said simply, lacking details, unlike the others. He was more reasonable than Reina credited him for. Being reserved is everything. He looked at the others suggestingly and said, "Shall we start the meeting?"

    They didn't even have to answer. A smile crept on Tanner's face, knowing that tgissould be the time here he'll explain everything about his project and his ambitions. Reina wanted to scoff at the idea.

    The whole room dimmed, leaving the table and its floor glowing with cool lights. It's glass, Reina realized. The floor was made of glass. A second and they were not in the same room anymore. Their surroundings changed, millions of pixels creating a new surrounding. In a heartbeat, they're in the middle of a wide room, too wide for them to see the end. Anyone could go on and on and on, run as fast as they can but they would never reach its end. They're now inside the hologram.

    Reina saw her professor use this once in one of his classes, the things he was saying materializing right in front of them. A war between governments and kingdoms in the d World, the assassination of emperors and empresses, kings and queens, presidents. Like you're inside and experiencing the situations themselves. She was so young back then that seeing it made her gape. Now, all she can feel was boredom.

    Struther gestured at Niell Tanner, telling him to start whatever he's about to do. Tanner's thin smile became more pronounced, letting some ounce of his pride show in it. Reina fought the urge to roll her eyes and say how ridiculous and dangerous his project was—assuming that it was the thing that he's about to talk about—which she successfully did.

    Dusting off his formal suit that actually looked spotless, he tears himself off his seat, and suddenly, they're all sitting in sphere position, with Tanner in the middle. Reina could never forget the feeling of disorientment in that sudden change. Imagine yourself being in your room, and then you're on top of a tree after a second.

    "I take that you're aware of my successful project, yes?" Tanner started, his voice filled with air and pride.

    "I don't believe so," Struther said, interrupting Tanner. His cheeks are upturned, his eyes squinting. "I don't know a single thing about your project, Mr. Tanner. I apologize. I just came from Europe to do some business."

    There was humor in Struther's voice, and Tanner looked   like he's just been shot. No one spoke for a moment, their eyes trailing on Struther. Reina couldn't read what they're thinking. It's either they're disappointed or Struther's word struck their sense of humor. Never in a million years that Reina thought that this moment can even happen. Reina wanted to throw a party or something. Another moment had passed, and no one still spoke.

    Struther made a groaning sound and said, "I'm kidding." He said, his voice complaining.

    Now, everyone, except for Reina, looked like they were struck by lightning. Especially Tanner. He flushed red, his lips rigid in place and he seemed like he wasn't even breathing. He just stood there, keeping his eyes on Struther like he's planning how to kill him right after the meeting. A smile played on Struther's lips, and Reina speculated that he was younger in person, and also younger than how he sounds. No one in their right mind will make jokes right in a meeting that was concerning about gods. No one would joke in meetings. That's it.

    Tanner made a choking sound and said, "Continuing... Just like I said, the Gods Implanting Project has been successful. We learned that human DNA can match a god, and we have proof." Tanner gestured in front of him, and suddenly, a figure of a man materialized. In the middle of the girl's stomach was a glowing piece sphere. A gods core. "Of course, we made some modifications on the core because if not, it might kill the human subject."

      "Why is that?" Orion asked.

     "A god's core is a god's everything," Tanner answered. "It's behavior, characteristics, strength, weakness, diet, etcetera, etcetera. Remove it from them and they will wither and die. If we don't remove some of the substances and parts that can affect the factors—which was quite a challenge, actually—and put it inside of our human project, it can devour them."

     "You're saying that they can become gods." Reina speculated. Tanner just gave her a thin smile. Reina looked around the room, her eyebrows knitting. "Can't you see how dangerous this is?"

     No one answered.

     "It's not exactly like that, Ms. Dominique," Tanner said, and suddenly the man figure in front of them changed into something different. The man was now holding a long blade... that's connected with the nerve of his wrist. "That's why we removed some of its dominating qualities and turned it into something controllable, especially by humans. The gods aren't exactly that different from us. You noticed that in every passing time, they're developing human characteristics and human intelligence. They're also adapting."

    "You're saying...?" Pazel asked, his eyebrows knitting and his eyes squinting.

  Tanner repressed a frown. "With that evolution, it was made possible for them to match a human's DNA."

   Reina wouldn't deny that what Tanner saidade sense for   her. But there's something wrong. The gods aren't that exactly human-like, contrary to what Tanner was talking about. With their evolution, their monstrous side also evolved.

    "Are we really ready to face the risks?" Reina said, her eyes steely. "There is no doubt that god's DNA is stronger than humans. You said it yourself, Mr. Tanner. If a god's DNA took control of their instincts and their mind, you basically made another bane that we would face. And how do you kill them, exactly? Human intelligence and the strength of a god's. They would be formidable."

    "That's—"

    "Look," Reina focused at the figure of a man and willed it to change into something. It was still man, but slowly, it's back spouted with spikes, countless tails, and a deathly mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. It was one of the common images of a parasite. Then, slowly, it sprouted wings that's made with steel, it's bare chest armored with iron-like skin.   In no time, the man looked like a god itself, a hybrid of some sort. "What if the bane that I'm talking about will look like this, or worse? What do we call them, then? Hugod? Godum? What?"

    Tanner glared at her, his eyes turning cold. "That's not even a possibility, Ms. Dominique."

   "You know it is," Reina said. "Just like a god's core, our DNA is our everything. And what if a god's DNA took over ours? Everything would change. Physical, emotional—if they're even capable of feeling something right after they starve for human flesh—and intellectual."

    Their surroundings changed. One minute, they're inside an infinite room, and the other, they're now surrounded with eaten and crumbling buildings. The Old World's Arcane. Everything is destroyed, and the sun was blazing hot on their skin even if it's not real. Suddenly, the human-god hybrid came into life, moving from where it stood, making deafening noises from its trapped mouth. Like a cry of some sort. The hybrid noticed them, and in one quick slash with the hybrid's sharp iron claws, Pazela fell from his chair with a shriek. Of course, the hybrid didn't really attack Pazela, but Reina made sure to shake their hearts with terror for them to realize what she was talking about.

    Everything vanished and once again, they're inside the infinite white room. Pazela looked like he was about to cry or wail in fear. In a short span of time, he's covered with sweat and his face had gone pale. Just the reaction that Reina wanted to see.

    "Ms. Dominique.." Pazela called weakly, sitting on his place again. "Do you really have to do that?"

    "I apologize," Reina said without meaning every letter of it but managed to sound like she was.

    "If that creature ever comes to exist, assuming that's how it will look like, even all of the Defenders cannot slay them.  Our weapons are nothing, and the proof was the last time we tried to fend off some of the Parasites and the Skywalkers off the wall. Almost everyone died, becoming god feeds. We have no chance of surviving if ever." Soren  Zhang thought out loud, frowning. He looked at Reina, his eyes questioning. "But how can we be so sure?"

    "I have studied the gods and their origins for a long time, gentleman. You have to consider what I said since that's the reason why I'm here after all." Reina said, realizing her purpose here.

    The Liberators looked at her, appraising her again, while Tanner was simply looking at her with blank eyes, his lips set into a hard line, probably plotting her murder or something. Reina didn't mind him.

   "The gods are nothing like us. They came from a different place, you all know that. The Skywalkers and the Parasites. The Skywalker's ships are enough proof for their immense intelligence. While the towers of Babel are everywhere, sprouting millions of Parasites. Our kind will end if we make another specie of gods, right inside our sanctuary. If we take that risk, it would be the last risk we'll ever take.  Because we're dead."

    The others seemed to consider this because their identical faces were talking to each other in low voices that even Reina couldn't hear. Seeing this made Tanner's face drown in horror and fear. Reina was about to destroy everything he worked on. And if she did, Reina wouldn't even feel guilty. Everything she said hit home, and she's absolutely sure that her words are ringing inside the Liberators' head.

    In front of Reina, Tanner's glare was slowly burning off her skin, and Reina held his glare with an impassive one. She wondered what Tanner was feeling right after what she said. Reina declining Tanner's offer to join the NEXUS Labs was already an insult. She wasn't oblivious of what Tanner can do when something or someone stands in his way. A powerful, ambitious, and greedy man is dangerous enough. But with his pride crushed and his beliefs trampled with the facts? Deadly. Still, Reina remained calm.

     Tanner seemed to get the hold on his muscles again when he started to pace in slow circles, his face turned downwards.

    Then he grinned. An unnatural, distorted grin. Reina felt like he was seeing a mad clown from the Old World instead of the scientist Niell Tanner. His usual lackluster eyes were now squinting and glinting because of excitement about whatever he was thinking about. Reina wondered how can anyone grin at that moment, and she wished she didn't know.

     "Don't turn with your tails between your legs that fast, gentlemen," Tanner said, getting everyone's attention. He spread his arms like why? Hear me. "I still haven't finished my piece. Don't away too much and too fast, because you're going to lose our last chance of survival."

    "What do you mean?" Struther asked, raising his eyebrows.

    "Ms. Dominique, you're talking about the possibility   before I made everything perfect," Tanner said, his lips twitching. "I understand where you're coming at. Risks and dangers and threats. Absolutely terrifying. But what if I tell you that everything is the other way around?"

    This caught everyone's attention, including Reina's. What is he saying? Reina though. What does he mean? Now that everyone's attention was completely on him and Reina's words are nulled, Tanner's grin became more wide and genuine than the last one. The glint of pride was back in his eyes, and the sense of control was surrounding him again with air.

    Tanner looked around, making eye contact with everyone. "What if I tell you that it was the god's DNA that was influenced by a human's? What if I te you that it was the one who took dominance, maybe matched them? Nothing more and nothing less. A perfect synchronization. God's strength and instincts, human's intelligence and emotions, in one body."

    "That would be—" Reina started to say.

    "Impossible? Risky? A threat to our kind?" Tanner interrupted Reina, making air quotes, obviously mocking her. "Well, Ms. Dominique, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, because I have proof. Unlike your cowardice wrapped in convincing and flowery words of backing out."

     For the first time, Reina had nothing to say.

     The room changed into its original form slowly, pixels flying off into nowhere until the dark wood walls, the table, and everything was back into place. It was Tanner's doing. From the other end of the table was Christopher, smiling thinly all of a sudden. He didn't say anything much in the debate,  but it's clear that he's siding with Tanner.

    With a smirk, he said, "And the proof I am talking about is here."

    Suddenly, the big doors opened, revealing Anael Price.