After a bit of back and forth, summoning water and things like that, we all heard the sound of a notification.
{DING: Jace and 6F99HD-28OHDE-4MDI2K have increased their comprehension in the water element by 0.1}
Everyone looked in wide-eyed shock. After everyone looked at their notification, they realized that they hadn't gained any proficiency in the water element at all. As for John and Jace?
Their water spells had become much cheaper to use all of a sudden.
Once they were done trying to figure out the situation, they all turned to John and Jace. Eventually one of them spoke up.
"Hey, could you teach me that water spell? This could really help me develop life on my surface," Io asked.
Io was the shy one. Even when she spoke it came out in whispers. John made it that way because she was technically as big as a small planet, so he wanted her to be shy and quiet. In fact, she was about the size of Earth.
She was named after the moon that orbits Jupiter. A planet that he shares the most commonality with.
"Sure, in fact, you should all know how to create water. Obviously bacteria is the most important factor in all this, but water is definitely a high priority," he stated that like he knew everything about evolution or biology.
Most of the women looked excited. It was women like Sofie and the reclusive members that sighed with boredom. Of course, since John was the one that asked, it was only expected that they would listen.
Soon everyone was there practicing how to create water. Of course, not everyone was good at it. Even Io, the one who asked to learn, was having difficulties.
After a few hours we had all heard the constant sound of system notifications going off. Mostly because Jace and John had a firm grasp of both the science and the philosophical understanding of water.
It would surprise many, but John actually loved the sea. He loved to fish and he had a firm grasp on how to respect the ocean. Maybe even more so than those hippies back on Earth that got him killed.
After what felt like hours John was forced to stop. He had realized a little too late that his place was getting wetter and wetter. There was a literal pool in the stands that some of the girls were splashing each other with.
He couldn't help but chuckle when he saw that.
Sadly he had to ask them to stop. He was beginning to understand that they should be trying to create water on their own surface rather than his.
In fact, he had plans to go to the places who were struggling the most to create water. He didn't feel comfortable creating water on his own planet after all. As far as he knew the thing already had a crap ton of water and they were all as hard as diamonds.
'How the hell can life spread on a planet with such a high concentration of gravity?'
{NOTE: Thanks to qi, or The Power Of Heaven, life evolves at an increased rate depending on what rank planet/moon you are in.}
Oh?
These were all new terms for him. He only knew about qi thanks to his old love for anime. If only he didn't stop.
"These days anime has become so convoluted and weird. I haven't watched any since middle school."
Now that he thought about it he hadn't tried to learn much about that. Actually he hadn't tried learning about anything.
Maybe it was time for a good ol' fashion info dump.
"So System, what is this star system called anyway? And are there any worlds here besides us?"
{This star system is called Temper 5. But the locals call it…}
Somewhere in Temper 5, otherwise known as Grinders Dominion.
A council meeting consisted of 17 alien individuals stood around a chamber made of white stone and ice. The race occupying it was an ice-dominated race of people called the Fourchans.
It's said that they possess the best scryers and oracles in the universe. At least by the standards of this galaxy.
Why were 17 of the elite among the elites gathered here today?
Well, to discuss the recent find of course.
"Our scryers have discovered a precious artifact on a nearby moon known as P379. This one orbits around 6F99HD-28OHDE-4MDI2K."
This scaly beast of a woman was over 9 ft tall and from her looks she was as frail as a stick. Of course, in the world of cultivation, looks can be deceiving. This particular woman was a Dragon-rank cultivator after all.
The was one of the strongest individuals on this planet, and a protector of their ancestors' homeland. Grinders Domain was a highly insular and reclusive star system.
Not many alien foreigners come to visit primarily because there's nothing worth noting.
Even the former natives are primitive morons who are only capable of traveling to other planets using nothing but their bodies. An impressive feat if it weren't for the fact that just about every cultivator above the Grandmaster rank could do that and more.
Those primitives didn't even know basic science and physics. Much less know anything about life in space. Unlike the current occupants.
"So do we know what this artifact is?" another tall lanky Fourchan spoke up.
This one was clearly a Grandmaster considering that he had difficulties controlling his aura.
Yet nobody cared for him as they too were mostly Grandmasters, except for a select few.
"We don't have all the details. All we know is this artifact is drenched in the water element. What makes matters more interesting is that it's giving off high energy signals. We believe it to be an 8th order artifact and that it is currently active." The scaly woman gave a vicious smile.
Everyone around the table all gasped, some immediately getting ready to head out until they realized the obvious problem.
They can't fly in space!
Only those that stood at the Dragon-rank or higher could do that. Which means…
"My lady! Are you planning to retrieve it?! That would be suicide! If we could find it, there is no doubt the other factions have found it too. And we don't have nearly as much manpower as the Ice Brigade!" one member fiercely panicked as he attempted to change her mind.
Others wanted to follow suit but she quickly unleashed her own aura, easily shutting them all up.
"My mission is different. As a former holy maiden and concubine to the deceased Lord Grinder I have many connections. One of which being the second wife and widow to Lord Grinder himself." She smirked as she spat those words out.
She had no love for the man. She was one of the rare few who knew the true story of their race. How their lord was just a forsaken prince at the Earth-immortal rank, and how he made it illegal for any outsiders to trespass into their star system.
Not that anyone would. This place is a dump.
The story of their civilization is long and filled with war. Sadly her own faction has been labeled heretics after revealing the truth upon his death.
Not that this helped. In fact, the first thing others did was label her faction as rebels and heretics.
Thankfully she had enough connections in high places. One of them being the former wife and greatest oracle on the planet.
And what did she say when asked for help?
Of course, she answered in the only way an oracle can. By giving vague and nonsensical answers like they already knew what you wanted the moment you walked through the door.
So the woman told the group the same thing she was told.
"My mission will be different. I need to go to the moon known as P728. I must meet with a woman known as Maria."
What she just said was a major shock! Maria isn't a Fourchanian name! Could it be an alien?! If so, then their master was planning to conspire with the enemy!
Everyone looked at her like she was crazy! None of them paid much attention to the happenings of the local star system, much less beyond it, but the one thing they never cared for was making alliances with aliens!
So why would she speak with this… Maria?
"Did the oracle give you any specific instructions, my lady?" one asked.
Everyone looked up in anticipation, waiting on bated breaths for her answer.
"She said that if we want to survive the coming war we must be prepared to kill the future champions. Only then will we gain the power to overthrow the current order. We must ignore the treasure and slay the treasure hunters." She spoke with such certainty that others began to fear her more.
Everyone began looking towards each other, some were even worried this might be a trick.
The older and wiser ones knew that an oracle was never wrong in their predictions. Yet years of indoctrination had taught them that aliens were to never be trusted. No matter the race.
They knew on an instinctual level that the only reason they thought this way was because Lord Grinder was ultimately defeated by aliens and shunned by his own people for it. So they were taught that no matter what, aliens were dangerous.
Before things could get out of hand their lady spoke up again.
"Don't worry. We have a secret weapon I've kept in reserve for such occasions. In fact, this secret weapon will allow all of us to venture forth and slay the enemy!"
She spoke with so much confidence that it scared everyone. A secret weapon that could fight off Dragon-ranks?!
Some of the people here were debating on asking for more information but knew better than to ask.
"Treasure or no treasure this is still our chance to slay as many enemies as we can," she spoke with a feral tenacity. "I will gather all the other allied factions and we will go for the kill! For the queen!"
"For the queen!"
"For the queen!"