CHAPTER 560: THE SAME STRENGTH

[Alex, everyone has arrived.]

Xex informed Alexander as instructed. Just as he had planned for his best friend and fiancée, Alex intended to do the same for his main vassals.

Lord Zol and his companions had been away from civilisation for a long time now, and while Xex closed that gap through the universal network, it was not the same thing.

Regardless, these forces were not kids.

Each one of them was a force to be reckoned with, and were leagues apart from the rest of the universe that was still stuck at the peak of the Venerable level.

Zol and his close companions had recently crossed the boundary from the Semi-Immortal level to the Immortal level, a feat made possible by accelerated temporal fields.

They had been defying all odds and rules to speed up their growth in ways that would have taken thousands to hundreds of thousands of years of effort.

Coupled with the monsters and void creatures they battled, Zol and his colleagues had all the experience they needed to familiarise themselves with their growing abilities and strength.

Most importantly, their sped-up growth was not without purpose. Knowing the kind of threats Alexander faced as a Veilwalker, his vassals had every intention of aiding him.

And although they understood Alexander was a ’walking universe’, they didn’t want him doing everything by himself.

Alexander didn’t have to carry the burden all alone. He had people who wished to help him in the fight against the increasing threat of void creatures.

Because of this sentiment and understanding the base desires of all sentient life forms, Alexander — who could have done everything by himself — chose to entrust various tasks to them.

But to do that, they needed the corresponding strength. Fortunately for everyone, they were no longer under the Omnisoul’s rules; they were under his laws and power.

"Alright, let’s go."

Alexander stood up with Julia, the redhead following beside the duo to the conference chamber.

***

The main vassals seated around a long, rectangular table in the conference chamber, patiently waiting for Alexander to arrive.

When they received the summons from Xex, none of them questioned its rationale and made their way to the UAC base.

The conference chamber was a grand, spacious area with high, transparent glass walls that offered views of the outer walls of the expansive base and the mesmerising hues of the surrounding space.

Spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people at once, the conference chamber had everything anyone would need for discussions and meetings.

At the head of the elegant table were three seats for Alexander and his companions, the centre chair a uniquely designed one fit for a monarch.

It was not too simple or too grand, just right for the setting of a conference meeting.

As some of the vassals made small conversations in an attempt to understand the intent behind this meeting, the doors to the hall slid open.

"Lord Alexander."

The vassals paid their respects to Alexander and his companions as they made their way to their seats.

Many of the vassals immediately noticed something different about their lord, but could not put their hand on it.

Then again, Alexander was in a completely different league, so many pushed those thoughts aside... for now.

And despite telling them not to bow to him whenever they met, the vassals ignored his words, insisting that his status and position demanded at least that much.

"Please, sit."

Alexander said as he took his seat with Julia to his right and Ross to his left. The vassals sat only after Alexander sat down.

Amongst the seated vassals, Lord Zol and his companions, along with the former heads of the Empire, sat to Alexander’s right.

In contrast, Lady Elina, also known as the Oracle, sat to Alexander’s left side with her companions.

Glancing at the seated people at the table, Alexander noted the expressions on their faces. Every single one of them wore a look of admiration and curiosity.

Throughout their journey exploring their universe, everything that they needed to grow their strength came directly from Alexander.

Whenever they got stuck on grasping their concepts, the well-prepared and organised notes he installed in their minds guided them until they broke that block.

To them, Alexander was not just some kid granted unimaginable power, but someone who had earned their respect through his actions and disposition.

"I see everyone’s experience over the last year has been fruitful." Alexander smiled as he sat forward, clasping his hand on the table.

"It’s all thanks to you, Alexander." Lord Zol replied as the others nodded in agreement. "The resources you’ve made available to us only require that we put in the effort."

"I’m glad to hear that." Alex nodded, his expression slowly turning serious. "However, getting a status report isn’t why you’re all here."

Hearing his words, the vassals gave their undivided attention. Most exchanged glances before refocusing on Alex.

There was no point in wondering what the meeting was about. They were already here, and Alex wasn’t going to keep them guessing.

"About an hour ago, you all should have felt something within your existence change, correct?" Everyone nodded with serious expressions on their faces, trying to recall the sensation.

Indeed, they had wondered what that change was, leading many of them to believe that was what the meeting was about.

Turns out their guess was right... more or less.

Instead of explaining the events that had transpired, Alexander raised the index finger of his right hand, a soft white glow emanating.

Simultaneously, the eyes of all the gathered vassals glowed the same hues. Promptly, the expressions of the vassals began changing.

From surprise and curiosity, the vassals witnessed the events of the Chief Enforcers visiting their universe to seek Alexander’s help in dealing with a horrible mess they had created.

Curiosity then turned to shock and disgust as the vassals felt traces of the abhorrence the corruption invoked in sentient life forms.

Disgust morphed into horror and terror as they witnessed the devastation brought to universes that fell to the corruption. These battles shattered said universes and ruptured the veil of reality itself.

Many of the details were excluded, but the picture was vividly painted. Finally, the vassals saw a glimpse of what their Universe Lord faced out there.

However, what had shaken them the most were the events that had nearly destroyed their universe. Colour drained from their faces, their breathing grew ragged, and sweat marred their faces.

As shivers ran down the spines of the vassals, they realised just how close to death they had been. Even when Alex appeared to save their universe, the vassals could not regain their composure for several seconds.

These were the kind of things Alexander dealt with. Ah, how measly their strength was in the grand scheme of things.

Ah, how petty their struggle for galactic dominations was. How preposterous!

While many of the vassals were still reeling from the shock of the events, Lord Zol and a few others clenched their fists beneath the table, their expressions a mask of anger and shame.

They were still weak!

What they had did not matter at all. The revelation nearly shattered the motivation and pride of the gathered vassals.

Thankfully, someone was there to make sure no one lost their drive.

Finally, the glow in their eyes dimmed as they witnessed Alexander’s final actions in separating their universe from the rest of reality.

Realisation dawned on them as many quickly deduced where that abrupt change in them came from; Alex made sure they connected the right dots.

Silence settled within the halls for several minutes as the vassals took time to digest what they had just witnessed.

Many of their worldviews had shattered, their lofty ambitions and ideals doused like weak flames.

"What you just witnessed isn’t meant to break you," Alexander said as many of the vassals refocused their shaken gazes on him. "It’s to show you what you’re up against; what I am facing."

"..."

"Haha, so we’re simply playing around, huh?" Lord Mason, who sat next to Lord Zol, muttered weakly, his expression forlorn.

The others would be lying if they didn’t feel the same sentiment. Every other being they had seen in that feed was an extremely powerful Veilwalkers.

They were beings they had no chance of ever standing up against. Even the weakest of Veilwalkers from a low-level universe would snuff out their lives before they even noticed what had happened.

"I understand how you all feel." Alexander’s soothing voice roused them from their messy thoughts. "And I also know you want to help in any way you can."

"With our measly strength?" Charlotte Lane, one of Zol’s closest companions, scoffed dejectedly.

"That’s why we’re gathered here."

The vassals weakly looked at their lord strangely, unsure of what he meant by his words.

Despite their interest being piqued, many of the vassals could not extricate themselves from their drowning thoughts.

What they had witnessed was just too much for their Semi and Immortal minds to comprehend and accept.

Sitting forward once again, Alexander’s eyes roamed the faces of all the vassals and stated calmly: "I can give you the same strength you saw from the chiefs..."

Abruptly, every vassal felt their heart skip a beat, erratically beating in shock and disbelief. It felt as though their hearts threatened to beat out of their chest!

"T-T-The s-same strength...?"