The Call of the Forces

by Yuri Ajin

  “Hold on, what is this Sphere?”

  “The fourth level of any Force. Think of it like this... Once you’ve mastered all the Forces, it’d seem like further development is impossible, right? However, this is just the beginning! After they’ve perfected their knowledge of the Fusion Force, a cultivator has a chance to create their own Sphere — a special zone, within which their Forces prevail over all others!”

  “What about the Twin Blades Sphere you mentioned? What kind of Forces are those?”

  “You see, the Walker Stage isn’t really the last one. There’s also a legendary stage of true cultivation, when one can become a Strider. When you refuse to be carried by the Force and carry it instead. Well, at least they say so… But to reach it, you need to delve deep into the knowledge of your Sphere and discover your own, special path. You know that the Paths branch out. For example, the Path of Mist is a branch of the Path of Water, and the Path of the Body is a natural branch of the Path of Life and the Path of Weapons. You can create your own Path, one that doesn’t exist in the universe by itself. For example, the Path of the Twin Blades, which I suspect, was wielded by the man from the memory,” Rune’Tan explained. “He must’ve been able to reach this point of development.”

  “Did you reach it?”

  “I wish! As I’ve said, it’s legendary. I was able to create my Soul Sphere, but my further development came to a halt,” he said with a touch of sadness. “In the entire history of my homeland, only its founder, as well as the last emperor, reached that stage. You got very lucky with this Luke fellow. I didn’t think he’d be so weak. I know of only one person — the young Emperor — who beat an Exorcist, while being at the Soul Stage. I didn’t even know that you unlock an achievement for doing that, though it makes sense...”

  “Maybe people can just ask Exorcists to succumb?”

  “Do you think that the System is that broken? I’m more than sure that it checks whether the battle was real.”

  “I see... By the way... Any idea as to why I was looking at that man from aside, like it wasn’t his memory?”

  “Heh, boy... I get the impression that you seem to think that I know everything. But that’s not true,” Rune’Tan replied. “I can only assume that it’s the System’s doing. If you want, next time, try to change your position or try to look from his perspective. I’m sure that you’ll go mountain exploring more than once since this is a truly incredible reward! You now have a good chance to advance on the Path of Sword.”

  Chapter 9

  DIAMOND EVANS

  Washington was strikingly different from Montreal and Boston, looking as if the appearance of the System hadn’t affected it at all. It was the embodiment of peace and tranquility, even though just a couple of miles away from it one could easily be killed by a Demonid or some other monster.

  All this indicated that the military was doing its part to protect the city and make sure that its residents could live in safety. This peaceful view of the city and its citizens made Kai remember his past life, which made him even more eager to meet with Lieutenant-general Evans.

  While Kai was looking out of the window with an aloof look, the man sitting behind him thoughtfully observed him. It was Colonel Christopher Lowe, one of the nine Exorcists of the Union, whose help turned out to be unnecessary as the Lord had been killed by the time he arrived to Boston.

  When Christopher found out what happened, he was puzzled. When they asked for his help, nobody informed him that a group of people claiming to be from another world had appeared in Boston. The news hit him like a ton of bricks. He would’ve probably doubted his colleagues if he hadn’t been given a video of the battle, which left him baffled. It was still difficult for him to believe that someone at the Source Creation level was able to defeat an initial-level Exorcist.

  His new order was to get to know Kai, as well as his friends. Which was easier said than done, having in mind that he had a hard time finding a common language with strangers, and was a bit antisocial. But no matter how determined he was to get over this obstacle, he still struggled with carrying out this order. Kai had decided to sleep to make the trip fly by faster, which was strange since someone like him could go without rest for weeks. And since he didn’t manage to talk to him during the flight, now it was too late. Also, the fact that he couldn’t sense the young man’s aura made him a bit apprehensive to approach him. As an initial-level Exorcist, he relied on his power and developed intuition to help him determine someone’s level, but with Kai, he got nothing.

  Kai’s companions didn’t make him feel any less anxious. If the young man was so strong at the level he was on, just how strong were his friends then? He was especially worried about Elize. He couldn’t even imagine how powerful she was. He felt chills run down his spine every time she’d look at him.

  Finally, the car stopped in front of the place Kai had only ever seen in pictures and movies — the White House. It was there that the elite of the Union settled after most of the US government had turned into Demonids.

  ***

  It was getting dark. The sun was sinking below the horizon.

  There were eight representatives of the top of the Union in the Oval Room — the former office of the President of the United States. Today’s agenda was the recent events in Boston.

  “So,” the commander-in-chief said loudly, “Miss Baggins, please tell us everything that your analysts have managed to gather.”

  Seeing the gazes directed at her, the only female Exorcist in the Union rose. Walking over to the projector, she turned it on. The thumbnail of the prepared video appeared on the next wall.

  “This is a recording of the fight that occurred between one of our guests and the Lord,” she said, returning to her seat. “Only Colonel Lowe and I have seen it.”

  The camera was focused on the Lord and his people, around whom the remains of the destroyed outpost were burning. For the first minute, nothing happened. And then a young man entered the stage and talked with the Exorcist for a while. The video was shot from afar, so the audience could neither hear them nor read their lips.

  In the next moment, the Lord attacked, but the young man dodged, after which a fight ensued.

  For six minutes, deathly silence hung in the office. When the video ended, one of the Exorcists, who had arrived in Washington just a few hours earlier, broke the silence.

  “And what’s unusual about this?” he asked, not understanding the surprise and shock on the faces of his colleagues. “He certainly has unusual abilities, however, the Lord was never famous for his strength.”

  “The young man, Kai, is at the Source Creation level,” Laura replied calmly, shocking not only the general who asked the question, but everyone else as well.

  “Impossible!”

  “Are you kidding us?! Is this a joke?”

  “Calm down,” Diamond said coldly. “You’ve seen the video. Kai and his friends arrived in town this afternoon. Colonel Lowe was so kind to accompany them.”

  The eyes of those present turned to Christopher, which made him grimace. Although he was an Exorcist, he had never been one for the military. If it wasn’t for his family, he never would have joined the Union at all. As for the title, it was given to him purely for show. Even so, he still had to attend these uncomfortable meetings.

  “It’s true.” He nodded. He didn’t have the habit of talking more than was necessary or talking at all unless he was asked something.

  “Miss Baggins, continue,” the commander-in-chief said after a moment of silence.

  “Basically, we know the following. The group consists of six people.” A photo of Kai and his comrades, taken back in Boston, appeared on the wall. “Five of them are at the Source Creation level and one is an initial-level Exorcist. Yesterday morning, they met a group of fugitives that was trying to escape from the Lord in Montreal. These six helped them to deal with their pursuers, after which they all headed to Boston together. There, they were detained at the checkpoint, where a small-scale
conflict broke out between them and the soldiers. The people in question were three senior officers of the Source Creation level, whom Kai instantly suppressed. The fugitives were allowed into the city, and these six went to the local HQ. There, they met with General Clark Denil, who promised to send them to Washington. However, the flight was canceled, as the Lord and his people attacked the city. And then the events from the video occurred.”

  “From another world? Really?” someone asked.

  “Yes,” Laura answered sternly. “That was what Kai, their supposed leader, told us.”

  “He’s strong, there’s no denying it, but why isn’t the Exorcist their leader?”

  “My people interrogated everyone, and one of them said that Kai had allegedly been to Earth before. I assume they rely on him to lead them through an unfamiliar world.”

  “Unfamiliar world. Yeah, sure...” someone muttered.

  “After the System and the discovery that we’re on the periphery of the Ecumene, the idea of other worlds doesn’t seem that crazy...” the commander-in-chief calmly commented. “This could explain the sudden appearance of our friends in the south.”

  Upon their mention, the faces of all those present darkened as they were reminded of another pressing issue of the Union.

  “Let’s not change the topic... I’m more interested in the goals of our guests. What did they want from General Denil and why did they come to Washington?”

  “They said that they were looking for some kind of a dark tower, which was supposed to have appeared with the arrival of the System. General Denil told them that the Union would help them find it,” Laura answered.

  “Does he have the authority to do that?!” a couple of them exclaimed.

  “Of course not. But he did the right thing, as he minimized his losses and solved the problem with the Lord once and for all. Although he does deserve to be reprimanded.”

  “Speaking of which, isn’t the Western Alliance, or rather its leader, angry about this?”

  “He’s displeased, yes, as he has invested many resources in this Lord of his. He even found a Breakthrough Sphere somewhere so that his subordinate would manage to become an Exorcist. We wanted to make a deal with the Lord, but he had too much power over Montreal, posing a threat to us from the north. Now that this threat has been removed, we can take the city. The leader of the Western Alliance is too far away to do anything. He’ll no longer be able to cause us trouble.”

  “In that case, we must decide whether or not we should use our resources to find this tower,” the commander-in-chief said.

  “The fact that the Lord is gone is a good thing for us; however, in order to find this tower, which we haven’t heard about until now, we need a proper connection with the other continents, which means that our people will have to focus on different matters,” Laura stated.

  “Though... If this tower appeared along with the System, then it could be useful for us as well.”

  “Besides, these guys are already here. We saw how strong Kai is, but what about the rest of his crew? I doubt they’re weaker,” Christopher said, surprising his colleagues with his wordiness. He usually stayed quiet. “They kept their promise. And even though General Denil had no right to promise them what he did, I doubt that our guests will take no for an answer. In all honesty, if they turn against us, I doubt that we’ll be able to defeat them. Not without suffering colossal losses.”

  There was silence in the Oval Room.

  “In that case, I propose a compromise,” the head of the Union said.

  “We will allocate resources and people toward finding the tower and connecting with other continents, but we’ll also ask our guests for a favor. We need to use their strength to solve the problem in the south,” the commander-in-chief said. “I’m more than confident that, in this case, Operation Purification will be successful.”

  “Do you think they’ll agree?”

  “It’s impossible to say for sure, but there’s a chance that they will,” he replied. “After all, we do have a trump card, sort of.”

  “We do?”

  “I’m talking about Lieutenant-general Evans. They want to see him, don’t they? This Kai knows about him, which is why he came here.”

  Diamond raised an eyebrow.

  “Maybe he’s thinking of another Diamond Evans?” he said. “I don’t know any of these people.” He nodded at the projection of the photo.

  “Out of the question,” Laura said. “My people interrogated Kai. He knew too much about your appearance and personality for this to be a coincidence. The conversation was recorded. I can say with confidence that he’s looking for you.”

  “And what now?” Diamond frowned.

  “We must use this to persuade them to help us. After all, they clearly want something from you.”

  Everyone stared at Diamond, waiting for his answer.

  “Damn it.” He sighed. “Alright, I’ll do it…”

  ***

  Christopher and Diamond walked down the hallway, heading to the room where Kai and his companions were accommodated.

  “What should I do exactly?” the lieutenant general grumbled.

  “Calm down.” Laura’s cold voice instructed via the hidden earpiece. “We’re here to help you. We can hear what’s going on, so our experts will assist you.”

  “I hope so...”

  Finally reaching the right door, Diamond froze. Looking to the right, he saw Christopher walking away, giving him a thumbs up.

  Fuck you! I thought you’d have my back! Diamond thought, unhappy with the ongoing situation. Goddamnit, what do these people want from me?

  He raised his hand to knock, but before he could do so, the door opened on its own. A handsome, tall young man with long black hair and unusual purple eyes appeared on the threshold. His heart skipped a beat.

  Another coincidence? he thought.

  “There you are.” Kai smiled. He had sensed the two approach before their actual arrival. “I’m sure you have questions for us. But before we talk, I suggest we spar.”

  Diamond took a step back.

  Why is he talking to me like we’re buds? And why the hell does he want to spar? I’m no ordinary fighter! I’m one of three Exorcists who have reached the middle stage! Does he not realize that I’m levels above him?!

  “...Lieutenant, don’t just stand there,” the voice in the earpiece said. “This is perfect. I don’t know what came over him, but you need to accept the challenge. Use this as our bargain chip.”

  Diamond pulled himself together and cleared his throat.

  “I came to tell you the Union’s decision. We’ve agreed to search for this dark tower of yours even though General Denil had no right to promise you such a thing. However, we’re currently facing a threat that prevents us from using as many resources and as much manpower as we’d like for this task. Therefore, we ask you to help us. To sweeten the deal, I’ll also agree to spar with you.”

  With the smile still on his face, Kai paused to think about his suggestion. His gaze fell on Diamond’s right ear, which made him tense up. Even his friends couldn’t have imagined that he could hear the quietest of voices.

  But Kai didn’t care that their conversation was being monitored. He was overwhelmed with joy because he had finally met the man whom he believed he’d never see again. Looking at Diamond, you wouldn’t give him more than twenty, even though he was already in his late thirties. As all cultivators, due to the process of processing energy, he aged slower and thus looked younger than he actually was.

  “Wait here,” Kai said.

  Retreating back into the room, he closed the door shut behind himself, and informed his friends that he’d accept the deal, but that he’d leave it up to them to decide if they’d join him and help the Union.

  The discussion didn’t take long. The first to agree were Lily, Ivsim, and Jiang Yong, who couldn’t leave the debt he owed to Kai go unpaid. Jiang Si also agreed to help. There was only one person left...

  “Thes
e people are greedy. You help them once, and now they want more. You think they’ll pay you back in full?” Elize said and snorted. “But fine, I’ll help. I need the tower as much as everyone else does. But mark my words, if they break their promise a second time, I’ll make them pay. Bear in mind, Kai, that I’m a proper Exorcist. I’ll unleash hell on this city and no one, not even you, will be able to stop me.”

  “I won’t have to,” he answered calmly, smiling.

  ***

  Once everyone was informed about the decision and the conditions of the deal, Kai proposed that the sparring match take place immediately. Diamond saw no reason to refuse and immediately accepted it.

  Within an hour, the preparations were done and the two found themselves in the hallway leading to the HQ training area.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Diamond asked. “I’m not a weakling like the Lord...”

  Kai looked at him, pleasantly surprised to see that he was approximately at the level of the elders of the Fallen Star Sect. There was a chance that he’d have to go full-out in this fight, and even then there was a chance that he’d lose.

  “Actually, what I had in mind was a regular spar. Just good ol’ hand-to-hand combat. Nothing fancy.”

  Oho, are you scared? Diamond thought, smiling on the inside. “Yeah, sure... That sounds fun.” He shrugged and headed into the locker room.

  Ten minutes later, the two stood in front of each other.

  “What about the Cover? Mine is much stronger. Maybe I should remove it?” Diamond suggested.

  “No need. It shouldn’t be a problem.” Kai chuckled and assumed his fighting stance. His opponent frowned ever so slightly. Something about the pose seemed eerily familiar.

  Is he underestimating me? I hope he’s ready to lose! he thought and attacked without warning.

  Closing the distance between them in one leap, he swung and...