Collect your belongings your stay is over

In the crossroads of cultivation, a man laughed.

He was Sahib.

"So I didn't kill you after all, Thales Miray. How then did you survive?"

He was on a chair, thinking of what should now be a true test.

On the Mountain of Harmony, a woman sat at the peaks that soared into the heavens.

She was Sophie Vidya.

"So much chaos, in the end I will bring goodness and order to this darkened world, to serve perfection itself that is my duty"

In the Jungle of Karma, ruler of two realms Thales Miray made a bold prediction.

"It's time for us to crush the venerable and then defeat our father"

Anyone who was not under the protection of the venerable would be consumed by a great flood; a light that would burn the sky and eat everything would make sure no one remains.

This meant for Sahib, Sophie and Thales this was an opportunity to fill the roster.

With those who remains in their territory, Sophie had not lost as much people as Sahib who was indifferent in fact he declared he won't move back to the labyrinth.

He would simply wait for the coming storm.

Sahib faction: Jugal Kingsley, Chance Berkeley, Magnus Logos, Chrissipus Septimus-Void-Quintus.

 Sophie faction: William Blade (defected to Thales), Jeanne-Jacques Indira (defected to Thales), Bithiah Kant, John Clavius, Augustine Colt, Hera Anaya (defected to Thales)

Thales and Beatrix faction: William Blade, Al-Gha Bagdad, Jeanne-Jacques Indira, Beatrix Hecate, Hera Anaya.

Lone cultivators: Wilhelm Ultima-Catto, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius and Cleo Assos.

Each would have to pick either Thales or Sophie since Sahib abstained as he had no need for weaklings clinging to life.

The latter two went with Sophie while Wilhelm went with Thales not by choice he happened to be in the sands hoping for an oasis, the sands were Thales's territory so he directly threatened him.

Into joining, this meant Thales had the most members.

Followed by Sophie with Sahib barely in last

Thales also had the most territories, while Sahib theoretically had the most manpower, Sophie had the element of surprise however, since she had made Bithiah and John abstain from combat along with their guardians.

Chance's guardian was actually killed through martial arts on the mountain of harmony and Chance spared by Sophie wishing to taunt Sahib. Amanavir guardian met the same fate too, with him following a while after. They should have not gone back when they left Mavis in the sands.

Jugal Kingsley had his guardian killed by Zeno, both Zeno and his guardian was now enslaved by Thales.

Sophie also had concealed her guardian it seemed.

But Sahib still had 3 Exalted Venerables counting himself.

This was the epic finale of the first round of Darwin's game, who would win?

Thales did not have a mind palace canvas supposedly, while Sahib and Sophie did. As well as Magnus and Jugal

All 3 Leaders and Beatrix squared off against each other here at the citadel of synthesis.

The crossroads of wisdom cultivation

"Hello there Thales, didn't expect to see you alive, but I can see now in the flesh that was not you I put down like a dog, surely that means you are at least a world path venerable to conceal from me"

"It seems that the first 4 parts of the citadel are simply standard challenges after that the real fun begins where we will rip each other to shreds"

"That will do Sahib, if you won't willingly lay down your life for your family then I will make you do it, this is all for fathers ideal world"

"Shut up you wench; I don't need to hear you it's just me and my new playmate, my new technical equal Thales Miray"

"But you certainly heard the screams of your fallen comrades"

Sophie retorted calmly.

"I have no qualms kicking aside a puppy like you, b*tch I hope you know that"

"Wouldn't have it any other way, how's Chance by the way"

She smiled smugly.

Sahib frowned.

"Ask him yourself, for his sake he will redeem himself"

Thales interjected

"I don't care for either of you weaklings, I'm glad you said technical equal Sahib Yes we are both venerable but the difference is like crushing ants underfoot. I barely notice your power, good job you beat a homunculi"

"Yes Miray, that name suits you well, but however I will let that snide remark slide, because you'll be dead soon, I am curious on how you made that, cloning yes but an artificial life, now that is something"

"Maybe I'll show you, experience power be graced and blown away by it"

"Thales I have no idea why you're being rude to me, Sahib the imbecile I get it but I thought I was rather nice to you when we met"

"There is no nice, only what will be, who cares for what was"

With that remark these 4 began the first Stage as actors in the citadel, the final cast.

They went in the mirrors of reflection.

Sophie met abandonment, she conquered that fear.

Sahib met lies and betrayals specifically.

He was also nearly hanged whatever that meant.

Thales was met with many demons, but he smiled with them and called them his friends.

Beatrix met nothing, a void.

Thales pulled her out the depths of that hole.

She also saw a tiger, but she petted it.

These were not difficult challenges for those who had come this far.

Sahib was puzzled at why his guardian wasn't allowed but Thales was then realized Thales guardian was also a competitor.

He was glad no one else decided to play that move.

Sophie had an invisible guardian and Sahib theorized it may be someone as grand as an eternal sage, of course he had been contacted by one, but he declined for he needed no handouts.

They moved into the next stage, a great bridge that must be understood.