Chapter 109: Celebration & Departure
(The Chapter 107 is modified for anyone that doesn't know.)
At Earth, a celebration was prepared for Ray's return. A small celebration for close friends and acquaintances. However, Ray suddenly went missing again which returned almost six hours later with unknown people. Venti recognised them as people from the Imperium as she met Roboute Guilliman a few times before.
On Mars, a gigantic Teleportation Gate was created by Ray to allow ships to use them under the Adeptus Mechanicus request.
"Hello… Did I make you all wait for too long?" Ray asked his lovers and the people they invited to the little celebration party.
Everyone nodded but didn't really lash out at him except Kiana who was sulking because she was eager to feast but Mei said they had to wait until Ray arrived.
Outside of everyone expectations, Ray transport everyone that tag along with him from the Imperium into the Kaleidoscopic void, then returned again to the same place except the people still rushing to make the preparation and almost complete it.
"This…" The Primarchs and the High Lords frowned and looked at each other to confirm what they just saw.
"No need to look surprised." Ray looked at them and said. "Manipulation of Time is within my ability. It's part of this Magic, called Kaleidoscope, Operation of Parallel Worlds. I simply transport us to a parallel world where I didn't get late." Then Ray turned to his lovers and greeted them.
"Ah, you came at the perfect moment. We are celebrating your return." Tanya turned her head to Ray and said while helping Mei set the dishes on the table while Mei also fending off Kiana who tried to get a taste before the party even began.
Within the party's roster, he saw people from Schicksal, St Freya and Anti Entropy. People from World Serpent were missing though.
People greeted Ray and vice versa while Ray introduced the Primarchs and the High Lords. This is done because of governmental leadership, unless military. Ray will not intervene and push it all to Tanya since she is best at bureaucratic matters.
Suddenly the matter was brought up by the Primarchs and the High Lords. "Which is the empress?"
Usually the Empress is the first wife of the Emperor but Ray and Tanya and the rest of his lover never bothered about marriage or planned to become there. There isn't a need for it, to segregate between his lovers. But his lovers almost instantly pointed at Tanya with an unanimous answer.
As the party begins, Ray sat down with everyone and introduced his lovers one after another and included their background.
Tanya and Charlotte were former soldiers, Artoria is former King which surprised Roboute Guilliman who learned the history of Terra to recognise Artoria's legend of King Arthur, then Venti who is a god or goddess now. For Dvalin, Ray loves her more as an endearing sister than lover despite Dvalin herself claiming she loved Ray as her mate.
After the introduction was done, Ray let them enjoy themselves and moved on to the people of Honkai world and greeted them with small talk mostly asking what they were up to.
An hour passed as everyone enjoyed themselves in this little celebration. But Tanya took this opportunity to address his wish to go on a war and conquer worlds and universes as everyone related is present in this party. Most instantly frowned when they learned of Ray's desire. This includes the people from the Imperium but they didn't question him and are ready to serve if that is his wish. But Roboute Guilliman still wants to know the reason.
"Believe it or not, I do not intend on using living people as my vanguard. My own personal forces are sufficient especially after absorbing the forces of the Chaos Gods as my own." Ray said and summoned a Chaos Marine that he dismissed soon because of their presence that caused discomfort as they were soaked in Black Mud that consumed them. "The living soldiers required only after annexing a world to become a garrison and control the population."
However, many still show disapproval as Ray is causing needless suffering to clueless people. This forces Ray to explain about his conflict with Ray Elliot.
"Know this. I will not force anyone to participate or do I need to. If senseless death is what you fear then I can assure you it's a baseless worry as soul is what I command and proficient the most. Death for me is but an inconvenience as I can resurrect anyone at whim." Ray said but he does show disappointment that people of the Honkai world disapprove of his plan. For Imperium, it's the opposite.
"Your will is our purpose. Your wish is our command." The people from the Imperium quickly kneel down.
The reason why Roboute Guilliman is on board with the idea is because the livelihood of Imperium is tied to Ray. Without him, the Imperium is no more as the universe is him and if he died the universe goes down with him, making the Imperium a hostage whether Ray did it on purpose or not.
Unfortunately the party ended unpleasantly. Though Ray did promise it wouldn't affect them if that is enough of a reassurance.
———
After the party, Ray returned home. To the house he created when he stayed in Honkai world, the traditional Japanese mansion. Sakura still lived there and remained a housekeeper despite Ray saying she was free to go if she wanted. But with how Higyokumaru or RIN are bound to him, it's unlikely for her to leave.
Ray moves to his room along with his lovers, intending to get some action considering how each of them were very eager to get some action after being left dry for five whole years for them. As soon as he slid open the room.
"What the fuck?" Is all that Ray could say. Ray looks at his lovers. Especially Tanya and asked. "Didn't you say Kyuusyou went missing? How the heck is she like… this?"
Currently Kyuusyou is kneeling in a dogeza, totally naked with her clothes neatly folded in front of her. Fidgeting and rubbing constantly.
"I'm sorry Ray. I made you very angry that day and-"
"No I am not. Now get back to your room and put on your clothes." Ray flicked his fingers as her clothes instantly returned to her body and teleported Kyuusyou back to her room.
"What is that about…" Ray grumbled.
"Uh… She is apologizing because we made you angry and left that day…" Artoria replied flatly and without beating the bush while Venti scratched her cheek sheepishly.
Ray frowned. "No, I am not angry. At that moment, I just felt tired and wanted some alone time for myself. That's why I left. Definitely not because I am angry at any of you at all… Maybe a little but that's not the point. W-"
Ray could finish as Artoria already pushed him down to the futon that already conveniently laid down on the floor neatly.
"Enough talking, dear. I cannot hold myself back any longer. Your power is so overwhelming it's intoxicating." Artoria purred and took a deep whiff of his scent as she playfully bit the ears.
Ray noticed someone was attempting to teleport into his room and the only person he knew would do it is Kyuusyou. Ray warded off the room from teleportation and transferred to another dimension so he can enjoy his time with his lovers without disturbing others.
(Sorry, not writing +18. Not in the mood.)
———
While Ray's soul in the artificial body is enjoying his time with his lovers. His real body controlled by his mental Partitions were physically traveling the void towards a Ray that settled in Campione verse.
Ars Paulina is a micro universe created by a reality marble type noble phantasm. Ray uses it like a ship to travel the void propelled by his own power.
Traveling the void has its own danger. During the early times, Ray traveled with his physical body instead of having a shell that protects him because it provides stealth. These creatures of Void wouldn't easily detect beings with very small energy signatures. But stealth isn't invisibility. He still can be detected.
With the protection of Ars Paulina, the micro universe is easier to detect indeed but Ray has firepower to deter or kill any that dare to approach. The reality marble is like a warship with 72 God Pillars raining firepower against any Void Spawns or Dimensional Horror that dare to poke the wasp nest.
A gigantic creature with an insect-like body and six giant limbs like praying mantis. Its body is almost jet black but the light reflection on its carapace shows purplish shine. It roared and blocked Ray's path.
All 72 Demon God Pillars rose up from the ground and opened their eyes. Another defender, Sif was beside the throne but unable to participate as it sat down and witnessed the battle unfold.
[Mental Override: Combat Mode.]
Ray muttered as his listless eyes glinted before looking at the creature that was probably five times the size of the micro universe itself. After all, this was a creature that eats black holes for lunch and planets as snacks.
The Demon God Pillars already started their bombardment of devastating laser beams, causing explosions like fireworks when they impacted the Void Spawn. Definitely hurt it but it's like stabbing needles on a whale to kill it. It simply is not enough.
Ray immediately uses his best moves in his arsenal after analyzing the damage caused by the Demon Gods.
[Ars Almadel Salomonis]
Ray uses his own mana reserve and shoots the beam at the creature's head, causing it to recoil back in pain and make an ear busting screech before raising its claw to slash the reality marble.
"Conceptual attacks have the most effective effect." Ray muttered again when seeing a hole that punched through the creature's head but the beam is too small against such a big creature.
"Woof?" Sif barked and caused Ray to look at her for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, but you cannot follow for your own safety." Ray said and stood up from the throne.
Sif whimpered sulkily and stole the throne for herself as revenge for being denied.
Ray didn't spare another look as he floated up to the sky and Traced the Emperor's Sword from his memory that automatically shrunk to fit his size. Wielding the sword, Ray's psychic power condensed into an aura that sheathed the blade with blazing Warpfire created by his condensed psychic force.
With a single slash, Ray cleaved into reality. Causing a vertical line to appear across the creature body and burst into flame seconds later. An unholy screech or rage and painful howl released by the creature that echoed the void.
Ray remained unconcerned as he cut more and more while pitch black ichor gushed out from its burning wound.
Rather than an epic fight, it's more like pest extermination, an extremely big pest. It didn't help that the majority of the Void Spawn or eldritch creatures often look insect-like. It either looks like worms, slugs, parasites etc with too many tentacles. Those with humanoid shape are extremely rare and the Great Old Ones are entirely different things compared to those that wander the void aimlessly.
Other than its size, the creature isn't much of a threat and Ray absorbs its corpse and turns it into a collection for the Undying Legion. Then the journey continues.
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(Next chapter will be invading the universe. I am unsure how to start. Ray does have a grudge on those Rays that caused his reincarnation and wanted revenge. But in truth, the reason I put in this story for Ray to seek out other Rays is because other Rays contain fragments of Ray Elliot's power and our Ray is trying to take it for himself. As insignificant as those fragments were, power is still power and of course, our Ray will kill other Rays. No negotiation. No mercy. Our Ray is a villain after all. Mercy to his people and death to his enemies.)