Chapter 81: Second Seed Pod

(Tanya PoV)

After 5 months passed, Ray had steadily recovered mentally and cleared the dungeon to keep himself occupied. It helps that apparently the dungeon allows anyone that enters it to gain strength simply by killing monsters and the monsters inside it are strong enough to pose danger to him while simultaneously allowing growth in his strength.

With his base strength without abilities and relying solely on his physical strength, a Rank-A dungeon is challenging to him.

Anyway, after his recent victory from the Rank-S dungeon, Frost Colossus. I started to get busy as other Guilds were now swarming at our Guild to buy the dungeon drops that we didn't need.

After Ray left to do his own things, I summoned one of the vassals of the Einzbern family.

"Yes, Lady Tanya?" The middle aged Magus, wearing a smart suit like a butler, enters my office after a knock on the door.

"It's time to organize another auction." I put on my professional image as the first lady of the Einzbern and look at the vassal. "Here are the materials." I passed him the storage ring that Ray gave me.

"I will get it done immediately, Lady Tanya." The vassal bowed and left.

He had done it for a while and his performance was satisfactory. Thus, I do not need to give any extra instructions. It's great to always have capable subordinates.

"Ah, I also have an information to inform you, Lady Tanya." The vassal said after keeping away the valuable storage ring into his breast pocket.

"Our sleeper agent informed us that America finally ended their hostility towards the Einzbern and they managed to root out the Underground Organization members within their government. However, the organization now found a new nation to take root. The CCP accepted the organization's help to gain a portion of the businesses that we have a monopoly in."

Hearing this, I didn't find it surprising as the CCP is well known for their prideful members that look down on any other nations and see themselves as superior because of their advantage in martial arts after the emergence of dungeons and mana. Their previously fantasy martial arts now become a reality which allow the nation to get quite a big head start as Hunters.

My tone turned cold as I asked the vassal.

"How big is the damage?"

"Our branches surrounding China have been attacked and formally reported as terrorist attacks and our Underground members are being killed while the CCP and the Organization fill in the gap of power with their people." The vassal gulped as he saw the icy stare from me. After all, my title as Queen given by them isn't unfounded.

I might lack strength compared to my subordinates which mostly are stronger than me. However, compensate with my mind. Brilliant tactics and command especially in battle made none question my authority.

"Tell the soldiers to be prepared to deploy at any time. I will personally cull those dogs that dare stand in his way." I ordered with an icy tone.

"Y-Yes, Lady Tanya!" The vassal nodded quickly and excused himself to his errands.

Tch, those ungrateful dogs. It isn't the first time the CCP and their Hunters crossed paths with Einzbern and yet I forgive them because it's important to have enough Hunters to defend a country lest the tragedy in Australia repeat again. Yet, they still can't get the memo.

As if I care about the consequences. Most major nations(Nations with many Rank-S Hunters) already knew the existence of Ray and the power he wield, especially those who are affiliated with former Magus groups like Britain.

Even if I openly declare war and conquer other nations, none of them dare to say anything except the public outrage. That's because the situation is like Einzbern having a nuke while other nations didn't. They don't dare to say anything with a knife held on their neck.

Once the vassal leaves, I use the Teleportation ring that Ray made for me to make my travel between places easier. I teleport to the main residence, the Einzbern palace and find Ray. That's the only way to find everyone else because they always latched to him wherever he went if not staying in his mindscape.

Thankfully, he also has a very consistent routine. During the day, if he isn't clearing the dungeon. He will definitely be in his Workshop, meditating. As for why meditating, it's because his workshop is now the temple that I saw before where he became possessed. He can access it simply by closing his eyes and entering it mentally or activating the authority to enter the Temple of Time with his physical body.

Once I arrived, Ray opened his eyes as he already sensed my presence.

"Hmn? Tanya? What is the matter for you to return before evening?" Ray asked.

Since I also have a consistent routine, Ray finds it weird for me to be here outside of the normal time which is evening when I am done for the day in the Einzbern Guild's office building.

"I'm finding Charlotte. I need her help and also borrow your Legion." I said, Ray's immediate face turned to worry.

"What happened? You rarely need the Legion unless it's dangerous. Let me do it if it's dangerous." Ray worriedly said.

"No need. You are the public face of the Einzbern. If you are discovered doing dirty work, the public backlash will be terrible. We cannot take chances. Besides, isn't that why I am borrowing your Legion? As a safety measure." I sternly reminded him and told him to not participate.

God forbid if the enemies like the organization get something to be used against the Einzbern. That's why I cannot bring anyone but Charlotte as they are well known public figures. Charlotte can turn into a half Wraith so her identity is still hidden.

While I am the brain of the group. Charlotte is the hidden blade, Artoria is the blade and shield in the open.

Ray agreed although still worried and reluctant.

Charlotte appeared beside Ray with her sword float in front of her, being summoned along. Then Ray's shadow moves as if alive and enters Charlotte's shadow.

"What is the job this time, Sister Tanya? The usual?" Charlotte stretched her limbs after exiting Ray's mindscape, definitely lazing around again.

"Yes, the usual. Exterminating pests." I replied which made Charlotte's eyes widen in excitement.

"Great. Been quite a while since I got some action." She said before turning her eyes to the side to glance at Ray. "He always preferred to use us as weapons and deprived me of actions in the dungeon." She added dejectedly as Ray looked apologetically at her.

"I'm joking. I'm joking. I feel happy to be of use to you." Charlotte quickly tries to correct herself when Ray looks sad.

Ray rarely makes jokes well lately. If Charlotte didn't explain it was a joke, he would have thought Charlotte actually disliked it when Ray wielded her sword. Something that happened after his self-exile. It doesn't really count as an issue right?

Anyway, after I got Charlotte and borrowed the Legion. I reassure the worrywart Ray before teleporting along with Charlotte to the military base.

———

(Ray PoV)

I am still worried about Tanya and Charlotte but with the Undying Legion with them, I can monitor them remotely. So my worries lessened a bit.

Anyway, back to what I was doing before being interrupted by Tanya.

I was manufacturing gears for my Undying Legion. As their rapid growth in numbers, there is a severe need of gears to equip each of them.

Thanks to the introduction of dungeons, better materials become accessible. One of such is my own brand of alchemical metal composite alloy made from both magical metal and organic material, mainly Kamish's bones.

The alloy is not only sturdy, flexible and conducts magic very well. It is also suitable to be enchanted. Kamish's bones contributed the effect of magic conductive and storing many enhancements.

The Demon God Pillars work tirelessly to produce the material and then forge it into weapons and armors.

Thank goodness the Legion have consistent size for each kind of Wraiths, like the horseman cavalry and the giants. These two are the only kind of Wraiths existing in the Legion. Thus, the gears manufacturing is made easier.

Then, after the gears are forged, the Demon God Pillars will once again work tirelessly to enchant those gears before the gears are distributed to the Legion.

For now, only 60% are equipped with the latest gear and 20% still wearing older gears and another 20% have none, sticking to their default weapon made of mana through Tracing. As for why I didn't just Trace those gears, Gaia's influence makes those gears not permanent and will perish with time.

Still, having the Demon Gods is very convenient. They can help me do time consuming grinds like this.

"Ray." Artoria, sitting on the floor next to his marble throne, called him.

"Hmn?" He was pulled away from his thoughts and looked at her.

From the passionate and hot gaze she shot at him, it's obvious what she wanted. From the way she is fidgeting and her breath getting heavier. It's obvious she is in the mood.

It's rather concerning that her estrus cycle is very abnormal. Not that basing information from common animals to a dragon is any help but she had been in heat for more than a month and not showing any sign of stopping.

"No, Artoria. You have to learn to control yourself. Wait until night time." Ray dismissed her attempt and gave her a head pat to console her.

Artoria looked deflated as she gave a defeated while and lay her head on Ray's lap.

Anyway, where was I?

Oh yeah, equipping my Legion.

Well, I actually received another signal from one of the seed pods I spread. However, something abnormal happened to it.

Instead of a sign of maturing, it was a distress signal that would be sent if it was tempered or the vessel somehow broke free of my control.

It happened a week ago and from Future Calculation, I guessed the reason for the distress signal and it was anything but relief as it was caused by interference of higher power. Meaning that some god or some being probably discovered it and temper with it.

I rather not have a potential hazard wander free out there in the multiverse and I want to eliminate it immediately. However, I hesitated.

What if this was a trap? A trap to lure me in and kill me later? Since the one that tempers with it is of higher power than mine, the possibility cannot be dismissed.

Thus, the preparation.

I am preparing a solo expedition to hunt down this rogue vessel of mine and at the same time, devour a universe that hopefully has nothing like Counter Force or anything that tries to stop me.

Of course, because of this expedition's dangerous nature due to involvement of a higher power. I will not risk bringing Tanya and Charlotte. They are the weakest of my familiars(Weapon Soul).

(They are turned into weapon soul and forged a soulbounded contract as Ray's familiar or summons whichever is suitable.)

The ones I will bring are Artoria, Dvalin and Venti only. Along with my newly outfitted Legion with new gears. The 40% with new gears are left behind to guard Tanya and Charlotte just in case even if I technically didn't leave more than a few seconds with Kaleidoscope allowing me to freely exit and enter the current dimension at any moment.

"All of you can halt the production for now." I ordered the Demon Gods which obeyed without a word. I need them to be ready for combat as soon as I enter the other world.

After double checking everything, I made a mental nod and opened a powerful portal that bridges between universes with a Kaleidoscope and entered it along with my physical body.

———

(Unknown PoV)

Somewhere, an observer of the Imaginary Tree was doing his usual boring but also incredibly task of finding a way to ensure humanity's survival. However, an abnormality occurs and all the world he observes is doomed by the existence of a spiritual seed which drifted to one of the bubble universes on the Imaginary Tree.

He worked tirelessly to find the cause of it and saw the cause was the seed which carried a malevolent entity along and was tasked to destroy the world and allow a higher dimensional being to devour the universes, the Imaginary Tree itself. Until another variable enters the fray.

The newcomer tears open a spatial rift into the dimension where the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta are located.

To say he was shocked is downplaying his reaction. It was a common knowledge between all wanderers of the universes that no being can enter the space where the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta are located without being killed instantly. That's the rule and yet this newcomer isn't affected or using any form of protection like he did which uses a bubble universe created by an artifact to shield him from harm.

———

(Ray PoV)

Upon exiting the portal, I was once again greeted by the familiar tree. The tree that I saw before entering Teyvat.

"Interesting. It's the root of a self contained multiverse." I look at the purple glowing tree with infinite branches that spanned the entire sky, not even my eyes could see the end.

Then I look down to see a body of water which stretches infinitely within this realm.

Both are fighting to devour one another. The tree absorbs the sea as nutrients to create more branches and leaves while the sea wants to submerge the tree. Both are sentient beings but without intelligence. Both are acting through instinct alone.

I am incredibly lucky to hit a jackpot. The Counter Force are without intelligence. This is indeed a world ripe for harvest. Yet, I can feel it. The presence of another being with the same thought as me. An outer god, slowly drifting through dimensions toward this place to devour it whole.

Not on my watch.

Kaleidoscopes allow me to manipulate even dimension itself and without hesitation, I want to grab it and hide it away. Where? In the Temple of time.

It might sound ridiculous but Ars Paulina, the Temple of Time is no longer just a grand Workshop which Goetia once used for his Human Order Incineration Ritual but a proper world that expands infinitely as Ray wishes. An infinite plane of existence which Ray expands by stealing land from dungeons and pieces it to the Temple of Time. This time, Ray takes the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta and slaps it on the Temple of Time.

Since the Sea of Quanta is infinitely generating nutrients from nothingness to feed the Imaginary Tree and the Imaginary Tree produce universes. Then harvest the energy by converting human history into energy. Each branch on the Imaginary Tree is a universe itself and there are countless of them. Which means, I can just siphon a small amount from all which focuses more on sustainability than just for one use.

As I do my deed, one horrified observer watches within his bubble universe as I refine the entire dimension and steal the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta under his nose.

Unsurprisingly, refining it wasn't easy. I have a plan nonetheless. Using Spiritual Subjugation, I subdue both sentient but non-intelligent entities. It should be easy because they offer zero resistance but what I am trying to do is like trying to swallow a lake. Not an impossible feat but definitely not an easy one either. But, I had made my mind and such minor obstacles cannot shake my tempered willpower.

I sat cross-legged in mid air, floating there while I focused my entire mind on the task of subduing and refining the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta.

—————

(The Solo Leveling never meant to be a focused world as it was a logical conclusion to Ray sucking away Nasuverse universe's energy. He will go back to hopping dimensions without much worry now he has a Kaleidoscope so those that he left behind won't be separated for long.)

{⚠️ WARNING ⚠️}

{SPOILER AHEAD}

{READ AT OWN RISK}

Anyway, time to get what I planned to be done with. Retrieving his 7 seed pods that he scattered then be an omniversal being like Ray Elliot, fight him and conclude.

This is what I have in mind for the plot. Then I start another novel which is related to all my previous fics. If all the previous and current fic is like the Start to Climax. Then the next one is the Conclusion. The scene where a man laid on the bed and another person telling him to wake up.

Like this idea has been sitting in my head for months. As I expected to complete this book by chapter 150 but I underestimated it 😂 probably will be double or triple the size to finish all if chap 80 and we only retrieved one seed pod.