90th Adversary: Gremlin-Aeon Dragna

Primus Dominion, Dragna Branch. Miko and his group were flying to Xia, where the Primus Branch members reside. Miko was using his wings to fly, while Momo and Sasha were riding Momo's Fenghuang, Huan.

"It's been a long time since I've come here with the two of you. It's even been longer since I came here with Tessa and Kristen too."

Sasha said.

"Speaking of which, why haven't they returned yet?"

Miko asked.

"Because even though things are calm now, there's no telling when hell will break loose. Just now, we were attacked; this shows that things might get really tense real soon. I want them to stay outside the empire, so it will be easier to leave the country if push comes to shove."

"You're still planning on leaving the clan, Auntie?"

"Only if they decide to abandon my son. I want nothing to do with anyone who would try to harm my child for their own benefit."

"Is the reason why Nana's still around but staying hidden because she wants to see how things play out?"

Sasha nodded.

"Ugh….Just thinking of having Lady Kimiko as an enemy is giving me a stomach ache."

Momo held her small stomach. They quickly reached Xia and landed near the palace.

"That's strange. It's quiet."

"Yeah. I was expecting to see Gramps and Uncle pouncing at us the moment we arrived."

Miko looked around.

"Maybe they're busy with something for once."

"If you're looking for the old man and uncle they're at a meeting with the other branch leaders and elders of the clan."

Someone stepped out of the palace shadows and approached them.

"Aeon."

Miko called the name of his cousin.

"Yo, Miko. It's been some time since we've talked."

"Yeah, it has. I came here to meet you actually."

"I know."

An apple appeared in Aeon's hand. He took a bite of it with a smile on his face.

"You came here for advice, right?"

"As expected, you were keeping tabs on me."

"Of course. You're my little cousin. It makes sense I would want to know how you're doing."

"Aeon."

Sasha stepped forward.

"Since you already know what we're here for, don't beat around the bush."

Aeon showed a nervous smile when he saw Sasha moving towards him.

"Alright, auntie."

He turned around and walked towards the palace.

"Let's talk in my room."

Miko and others followed him. They entered the palace. Countless paintings and statues decorated the halls.

"I came here earlier to meet Raven and Gallu, but this is the first I've entered this place in a while."

Miko looked around and mumbled.

"By the way, your room is still available. It has been maintained by the servants in case you ever want to come home. It's not like you were chased out or anything."

"…I might as well have been."

They stopped in front of a door with Aeon's name on it. He opened the door and they all walked in.

*Tick Tock!* *Tick Tock!* *Tick Tock!* *Tick Tock!*

The sounds of clocks reached their ears, causing them to look around. They were inside a white room filled with giant clocks floating in the air. These clocks all showed different times and had different shapes. Other than the clocks, only a bed with white sheets was present in the room.

"Your room is creepy as always."

Momo said.

"How rude. Clocks are wonderful you know? They're the materialization of man's desire to control and understand time. You should respect time because nothing can escape it, for it's the most precious and cruelest thing in the world."

"Yeah, Yeah. Don't try to justify your bad taste."

Momo replied.

"Time is the cruelest thing in the world, huh?"

Miko stretched his hand out held one of the clocks and looked at it.

"It's true that when someone dies people would say their time has come."

His face reflected on the glass face of the clock.

"I know you would get it, Miko."

Aeon said with a nod.

"Come on, and get to the reason why we're here."

Sasha was becoming impatient. She had this odd feeling that something was happening behind the scenes.

(Daddy would easily skip a meeting with the branch leaders if he heard I was around, and yet he's not here….Something's up.)

She thought to herself.

"Aeon, I need my own shadow organization. I need your help."

"I'm surprised you didn't think of creating your own covert ops a long time ago."

Aeon sat on his bed.

"I mean you have all you needed to create one the moment you captured Jara."

"As I thought, I should use them."

Aeon nodded.

"You have dryads who can travel through plants and even become one with them. Then there are the Parasite Demons. You've already used them to replace the border patrol officers in the Aloe Kingdom, right? These two races of monsters are perfect for spying. Throw in the pixies and you're set."

"But-"

"There's a limited amount right?"

Miko nodded.

"I understand that even though you have them, not all of them are fit for the covert jobs you have planned for the future. There should be around 100 maximum, right? But that's not bad for a start."

"It's still not enough."

"You want information from all over the world right? It's true you'll normally need a lot of people to achieve that."

Aeon showed a smile.

"Normally, that is. There's a way to overcome the lack of personnel."

"I just need to recruit skilled operatives that are worth a hundred people."

Aeon nodded.

"This brings us to what you really want help with. After all, you're smart enough to figure out all that I told you earlier."

Aeon showed a grin.

"You want me to recommend those skilled people."

"As expected of someone who has fun toying with people. You really understand what I want."

"I have a feeling you're sneak-dissing me, but I'll let it slide."

Aeon said with a frown.

"The Newgate Country."

"Huh?"

"What you're searching for can be found in the Newgate Country."

"Wait a minute, Aeon. The Newgate Country is at the other end of the continent. You're telling Miko to travel there just to recruit people he doesn't know?"

"Whether he goes or not is entirely up to him, Aunty. Also, it's not like I'm telling him to go there immediately or anything. He can take his time to decide."

Aeon quickly tried to calm down Sasha who was glaring at him.

"The Newgate Country, huh? If I remember correctly it's a country that's funded by MYTH and is said to have technology that's decades ahead of the rest of the world…."

Miko suddenly remembered the MYTH representative who called herself Mari.

"Have you ever felt like this world, this era of arrogant gods using mortals to play their sick game, have you ever felt like everything was wrong and needed to be corrected?"

Those were the words she said to him yesterday.

"New Era, huh?"

Miko didn't notice but the look in Aeon's eyes changed when he mentioned New Era, but he quickly returned to normal. This didn't escape Momo or Sasha's eyes though.

"Speaking of which, Bloom Newgate, that's the name of the current queen of the Newgate Country right?"

Aeon nodded.

"The Gravity Queen, Bloom Newgate. I heard she's a weird one. Are you interested in her?"

Miko shook his head.

"I just remembered hearing her name before."

"I see. So, are you going?"

"Not now. For now, I'll use the Dryads, pixies, Parasite Demons, and the others to make my own shadow organization. Controlling the information in the empire and the surrounding countries are enough at the moment."

"I see. Then, do you have a name in mind for your new organization?"

Miko nodded.

"I think it's a fitting name too."

"I see."

"Aeon."

Sasha approached Aeon.

"What's the meeting with the branch leaders about? Don't tell me that you don't know?"

"I seriously don't know. Gramps and uncle didn't mention anything about it."

Sasha silently stared at Aeon who only showed an innocent smile.

"….Fine. I'll take your word for it….For now, at least."

Aeon chuckled a bit in response.

Meanwhile in Secundus Dominion. All of the Branch Leaders sat around a round table. The elders of the clan were sitting by the walls and surrounded the round table.

"Now that everyone's finally here, we will now discuss something that I'm sure you all have heard a few rumors about…. New Era."

Everyone wore serious expressions on their faces after Rouge spoke.

"So I take it their existence has been confirmed and they do exist?"

An elder asked.

"That's right. They are something that we discovered by accident but they truly do exist."

Alexus stretched his arm which had a watch on his wrist. The watch lit up and started projecting something for everyone to see. It was pictures of a barren land filled with corpses and skeletons.

"This is the Domani Kingdom located on the Night Continent. I'm sure you've all heard about it. Its king was someone who was seen to be a future Deicider since he had already killed two Divine Proxies from the Hero and God factions."

"That's the Domani Kingdom?"

"Don't tell me…"

Alexus nodded.

"We've confirmed that the kingdom was destroyed by New Era and it took only one night."

This news alarmed everyone there.

"How are you sure?"

"I'm acquainted with the Domani King. He contacted me asking if he could hire some of my troops to help him deal with a troublesome enemy. He described the enemy as a single woman claiming to be from an organization called New Era."

Andreas responded.

"Wait, don't tell me that woman destroyed the kingdom by herself?"

Andreas nodded.

"I spoke with Domani hours before the country became no more. I didn't even have enough time to rally my troops and send help."

"My god…."

The elders were becoming pale.

"Destroying a country being lead by someone who's on the level of a Divine Proxy…."

"I think it's safe to assume that woman can rival us in strength."

Rouge said.

"What became of the Domani King?"

"He's currently missing but it's best to assume the worst."

Andreas replied.

"Why did New Era destroy the kingdom?"

"I think the Domani King was invited to join them but refused. Since he knew about their existence, he must've been silence."

"Why isn't this being talked about? A country with a powerful leader was destroyed you know?"

"Information control, I guess. It's not like the news hasn't gone out, it's just that it's been contained on the level of a rumor. There's no news article about it available on any major news platform anywhere. So unless you go there yourself, most people wouldn't notice."

"Is it possible to contain news on that scale?"

"If multiple countries work together, it's possible."

"This brings us to the question of how large New Era is and who is a part of it."

Nero who was silent the whole meeting lifted his hand.

"Before that, shouldn't we discuss what countermeasures we're gonna use?"

"Shouldn't we find out our enemies' strength before doing that?"

Rouge said.

"Not if we prepare for the worst. For example how about we prepare for a battle against a group as strong as the Coalition Army of Gods that destroyed us way back then."

"….It's true that I can't think of something more powerful than that."

Ecko said.

"Then let me ask, do you guys think we can stop such an enemy as we are now?"

Everyone was silent, it was obvious that if they really faced something on the level of the army which took down the great Augustus Dragna and his comrades, they had no chance of survival.

"Of course, we can't. That's why we tried to make preparations; preparations you ruined."

Rouge said.

"Hey, how am I to be blamed because an ancient weapon was already taken? Besides, you failed as well. didn't you? I heard from Raven that he couldn't find Tiamat's other 6 Supreme monsters who didn't stay with the clan."

"You two stop your fussing. We're facing a dilemma."

Alexus said.

"Gamiko, knowing you you must have a plan or two in motion."

"You make it sound like I'm always scheming something."

"Because you are."

Everyone in the room spoke in unison causing Nero to look around in shock.

"So that's what you all think of me? Someone who is always scheming? I'm hurt, shocked, and disgusted."

"So do you have a plan or not?"

"Of course I do, but that's not the point!"

"Yeah, Yeah. Just tell us what it is. Considering that it's you, I'm sure it's pretty crazy."

"I'm starting to think you guys don't appreciate me enough."

Nero mumbled.

"Anyway, as you said I've made several preparations in case New Era comes for us. The first one is to form alliances with nations that have connections to myself. This includes Niflheim, the Golden Fox Country, Pandora, and so on."

"Alliances huh? I take it you exchanged information regarding New Era with them."

Andreas asked. Nero nodded.

"In the case that New Era attacks us, they'll come to our aid. It's vice versa if they're the ones to be attacked. We're already constructing arrays to travel between countries in an instant if needed."

"That's a good move. We'll do the same with countries we're connected to. I'm sure the Quartus Branch has the most connections of the five branches."

Ecko added. Nero and others nodded.

"What other preparation did you make, Gamiko?"

Alexus asked.

"I can answer that one."

Raven walked into the room and said.

"Raven? You came here as well."

"Of course. I'm here to represent the five guardian beasts and their proxies. Protecting the five branches are our responsibility after all. So I'm here to pass you all some news."

Raven approached the table.

"Miko has confirmed that he indeed possesses the power that you all wanted."

"?!"

This news immediately caused a huge uproar.

"Are you serious?"

Rouge narrowed his eyes. Raven nodded.

"He brought it up himself when he came to meet with my mother."

"Why did Miko meet with Gallu?"

"To give her and indirectly everyone in this room an ultimatum. I'm sure you all know what I mean."

"If we turn against him he'll use the ability on us, huh?"

Ecko started laughing.

"Hahahaha! I really love Miko. He sure knows how to keep us on our toes."

"Gamiko, you knew this and was planning on using your own grandson as a weapon against New Era?"

Alexus asked.

"Don't say it like that. I'm fully aware of the consequences that ability will have on Miko if he uses it. That's why I won't force him to use it."

"But you're counting on him to use it if push comes to shove."

"I won't deny that. If he has no other choice then Miko will definitely use that ability to protect his family and friends, even if it costs him his life. Hence I don't need to force him to use it."

"…You're a horrible grandparent."

"Hey, it's not like I'm pushing him off a cliff or anything. I'll follow him if needed."

"Gamiko, you don't mean…"

Nero places his hand over his chest.

"Miko is my adorable grandson. If he's willing to give his life to protect us, I'm willing to accompany him to the fiery pits of hell."

Everyone's eyes widen as they saw Nero's expression. It was obvious that he was serious.

"Let's calm down for now. No one needs to sacrifice themselves for anyone."

Ecko said.

"We just need to win, don't we? And win we shall. There will not be a repeat of the tragedy that happened all those years ago. I won't allow it."

"Of course. Since I love my life I have other plans in motion."

Nero clapped his hands and someone was seen entering the room. It was a young boy who looked like he was about to enter adolescence. He had purple hair, brown skin, and blue eyes like the rest of the Dragna clan.

"Is that…Aeon?"

Everyone recognized the boy as Aeon Dragon.

"Greetings everyone. I'm Aeon from when he was 12 years old."

"Aeon" replied.

"I heard Aeon had time-based abilities, but I didn't expect he could make past copies of himself."

Andreas said.

"Chronos' Log. That's the name of the technique I'm using. It's an application of Time Magic. I'm able to store timeless copies of myself allowing me to exist in the past, present, and future all at once. Just so you know, for me this is the future."

Aeon explained.

"Gamiko, what are you planning to do with Aeon?"

Rouge asked.

"We have a problem that's been going on for a while now. It's recently peaked, so I've decided to have Aeon settle it while we're focusing on New Era."

"Are you talking about the tension between the three clans?"

Aeon stopped forward.

"Leave that to me. The present me has already set everything up."

He smiled.

"All that's left is to wait and see how Miko will react."