New Game+

The name Lourca Oviili did not register in Seeker's memories.

"I do not know of that name. I am the Leader of the Progenitor's Seeds. I'm not sure if you know of me, as I am somewhat of a celebrity up there,"

"We know much about you, Seeker. Even though we are down here, we're pretty much connected with the world through various means given by the Progenitor."

"Hmmm... You're a Pioneer, right? Arthur theorized that one high-ranking officer within the Aragarian should have been taken, imprisoned, or forced by the Progenitor to work for him. Which one are you?'

"None of them." Lourca smiled.

"None? Then what are you?"

"The best way to put it is to call us sleeper agents. Seeds of the Progenitor within Aragar itself."

"Seeds in Aragar, your home planet? Are there more of you?"

"We don't know. If there are, they don't know it yet."

"It looks like we have a lot to talk about, but as you can see, a Presider lies outside your doorsteps. Have your men use the escape pods. We have to sink this place. I am fooling the Presider outside to make it look like I am a human experiment of the Progenitor. And we successfully made it look like that the Progenitor is at least on the Principal level. The best way to lie to her and make them believe that you have died is to bring a Presider here as a witness."

"I see. For a young boy, you sure are smart. We will complete the preparations. Men, ready the self-destruct protocol. Also, we need each family to contribute nearly half of their members to die and be buried underwater. Diversify the age of the people."

Seeker was startled at her orders.

"That wouldn't be-"

"Oh, but it is, young Seeker. We have to create a path of deaths that explains how you destroyed this place."

Seeker looked at the other soldier and saw their resolution.

"We have completed the list, Matriarch." A soldier reported.

"So fast?!" Seeker was astounded. Were some people immediately willing to die just like that?

"We are Seeds. We are destined to die. You are the fruits that will cover this Earth after we die. This is our resolve." Lourca smiled.

"Make preparations. The destruction and deaths must be believable."

"This is insane! I did come here under the guise of destroying this place! The Presiders won't waste time searching for dead bodies here. It's too much for you to sacrifice!"

"Why so compassionate? We've read the reports of what is going on up there. Your team has created havoc and thrown the world into chaos. Death, hunger, pestilence, conflicts, and rebellions occur now. What's half of my team compared to that? You yourself managed to enter this building with ease. We were already prepared to kill ourselves to hide the secret of the Lost Primordial."

"The Lost Primordial has arranged my life to have two forms. I have a past that occurred in the future. The Lost Primordial sent me back here by his multiple preparations. So those that are suffering on top are our enemies. They will side with the Lost Primordial. Those sufferings, pain, and the destruction of their societies can become their salvation. It was their yearning for power and the lust for a good life that made them betray humanity. We have preparations for the future that will use all the pain and suffering to produce hope. And that hope that will be our weapon to fight the Aragarians. But down here, surrounded by allies, I have a distaste of deaths."

"That's exactly why we have to do this. Seeker, you said that you are from the future? We are not surprised."

"Oh? So you knew that the Progenitor had time-traveling powers?"

"They can't time travel. Or rather, they wouldn't if they could. We are being cautious and will even allow half of our men to die here because we fear the powers of the Principals. We have a few seeds back home, sending a certain signal to indicate if a Principal is headed here. As of now, we've had two pings. One sent a few months ago, and another, just a few days ago."

"A few days ago? Lanterk, huh?" Seeker guessed.

"How long will it take for them to be here?"

"Progenitor gave us the estimates. Depending on the urgency and speed, they could travel here in three short months but can go as long as a year. Normally, principals don't use techs that hasten their journey to go here since it consumes energy. We also have a tech that allows us to detect if a Principal or someone higher is near Earth. Thankfully, we don't have that yet. But since a Principal comes, we have to be thorough. Killing half of our group should do."

"No! That's too much. I have a weapon that can destroy and create great desolation here. If I use that, it will make these Aragarians forget about checking on the deaths."

Lourca shook her head.

"I've already told you. It's not that easy to hide from Principals. If they come here, they have a way to see it. Now that you're standing here before me, it reminds me of the Progenitor. Do you have abilities that alter the soul?"

"Yes."

"Then that's why I have to kill a lot of my men. Souls must be found here. I don't know what their powers are, but Principals can figure out what's happening here."

"Fine. But change it to less than a fifth of deaths. Can you send a broadcast signal to the World Governing Trading Hub from here?"

"Yes."

Seeker took out a small comm device.

"Link it with this. I'll give the instructions. I'll blow up this place and tell my allies to 'arrest' your team that escaped. The Presiders may figure out that this is your base. So I'll make it look like this place is under the Lost Primordial, and by some preparations made by the Progenitor, we managed to sneak up here and destroy your base as your main army is elsewhere. The deaths that you need to leave are the deaths that would happen from my attack." Seeker ordered.

Lourca was silent and continued to ponder on what to tell Seeker.

"I need your men alive than dead. They can still become trusted soldiers. Since we are making it look like the Progenitor is fighting the Lost Primordialm, then the evidence of your people appearing in our bases as prisoners will make it all the more believable. They will know that we are successful in hunting down the Lost Primordial's bases."

Lourca thought for a bit, and then she turned to her men.

"Do as he says. Make the necessary preparations. Minimize the sacrifices to that amount and execute the people on different places within this base."

The soldiers nodded and moved out.

Seeker couldn't help but give a reluctant sigh to what he heard.

The soldier later asked those men around the area who would want the honor to die. When he did, all the soldiers raised their hands almost immediately. 

Seeker watched the brave men and could not help but reflect.

"I guess I still lack in the area of dedication and sacrifice." Seeker thought to himself.

As all soldiers raised their hands, it was that very soldier who decided who to die. His expressions remained calm, and the soldiers he picked had an almost serene and relieved expression.

"We will need several minutes to complete what you said." Lourca spoke.

"It's fine. Send some ranged attacks to that Exoskeleton at a distance. But don't use those water attacks, but something easier to evade."

"Done."

Gunshots echoed around the hall as the soldier shot some of his men.

"You have... very brave men. Even unto death, they seem calm."

"You could say that they await death. We have seen the techs of the Progenitor. Though he bestowed a very small amount of it, the powers he revealed gave us a greater understanding of this world. The implications of the existence of our soul prove that there is a life after death. So why worry?" Lourca laughed.

The gunshots echoed out, and Seeker had an uncomfortable expression. Those that were shot didn't utter cries of pain. And this scene somehow reminded him of the scene from long ago.

"Since we have time, give me a brief summary of what the history of the Lost Primordial is. With that Presider around, I won't have the luxury to talk to you anytime soon. My allies may hear of it even before I can. I'll send some of my men to retreat ahead and stall Zeraphine in case she tries to chase after some of the escape pods."

Seeker turned towards the Unlocked soldiers.

"Go outside and pretend to be sending a message and receiving confirmation that the Emperors will be moving to retrieve them and that they have found their location. This should stop Zeraphine from acting on her own. Inform Zeraphine that I will also be deploying a powerful phallic attack that will blow up this base." Seeker ordered.

"Yes, General. Erm... Should we shoot you now? Or will you allow yourself to get shot by the nearby soldiers?"

"Hrm... Go ahead and shoot me. Use the prototype that launches Typical's bullets. That way, Zeraphine won't be able to trace what shot me."

"Yes, General!" The soldier nodded and raised his Exoskeleton arm that revealed small holes at the forearm.

"Lourca, go ahead and tell me the details of the Lost Primordial. We don't have much time." Seeker turned his attention towards Lourca and ignored the guns pointed at his direction.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The soldier shot one round, but suddenly, the attack that should have imitated Typical's power had strange blasts similar to Meryl's power.

Seeker was knocked back. He was able to harden his body through various Path's but his right shoulder was practically destroyed.

"What the hell?"

"I'm sorry, General. That was General Lynd's orders. He told me to tell you that one date is enough."

Seeker cursed. The attack contained desolation and was gnawing its way in Seeker's shoulder. It was impossible to recover his arm, and he would have to leave showing that wound to Zeraphine.

"Well played, Lynd. Well played." Seeker knew Lynd secretly made this arrangement to make sure that he won't be able to go on another date with Zeraphine.

"Are you... alright?" Lourca asked. The injury that Seeker received was horrifying. 

"I have a cultivator's body. This won't kill me. Go ahead and tell me the tale of the Lost Primordial."

"I see. The legend of the Lost Primordial and the wars that occurred in our world is one that happened thousands of years ago. Very few know of the true history of what happened then we estimate that the events that have happened here. But the Lost Progenitor told us. Let me start at the beginning. The origin of the Aragarians. It starts back in the days of Nimrod."