Transcendence?

***Norfolk, Sarn-Valley***

***Ascathon***

“~Ahahaha. I just came to say hello!~”

The Immortal Empress immediately takes a defensive position, while the other two hide behind her. I ignore their behaviour and refill my glass with wine.

“That's... THAT ONE WAS FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION!” The Empress calls out and runs towards me and snatches the bottle out of my hand.

“That's ok. Feel honoured that I am paying you a visit.” I take a sip from the wine in my glass and smile. Changing bodies has another benefit. I can drink as much as I like without punishment.

The Empress scoops the documents from the table and takes a step back. “How much did you read?”

“The important stuff.” I smile without explaining further. “But that's not why I am here. I wanted to propose something to you.”

The Empress draws a sharp breath.

“You shouldn't propose in that body! Why did you snatch a female body again!? It can't be... are you?” The spy girl takes another step backwards and hides behind the headmaster.

What the hell is going on in her head? I shrug my shoulders. “I think you misunderstood me. To be truthful, I took this body because she was the best looking one. But it was also a matter of chance. I like my own body better, but I take what I can get.”

“Parasite!” Tjena calls out.

I purse my lips and turn towards the Immortal Empress. “You can call me Ascathon. And I want to bargain a little secret alliance between us. As you can see, my ability allows me to come and go as I please. Having me as an ally would be beneficial to you.”

The Empress squints her eyes. “Call me Jazira. What's this secret alliance of yours?”

“I want that we don't try to trip each other. And I want you to attack Mislow, while I deal with the Nation of Mist.” I place a map, which I found earlier in Jazira's documents, on the table. I point at Mislow.

Jazira bites on her lip. “That won't work. First, I am not sure if I can trust you. Second, I can't control Mislow!”

“It's enough if you attack them and cause havoc. As long as they are busy with stopping you, I can accomplish my objective.” I grin.

“And that is?” The headmaster steps closer.

“I want to save someone whom I believe the mysterious four wanted dead!” I point a finger at Jazira. “You informed me of a mysterious power behind the scenes. I got a short glimpse at them. Four people with long ears sitting around a big table with a map of the world on it.”

Sagittarius gasps. “You saw the gods?”

My expression becomes confused. “Gods? What are you talking about? I thought they are from the Nation of Mist.”

Then Sagittarius starts a lengthy explanation on his theory about the gods and their actions throughout the world. After a while he ends his speech and the room becomes silent.

“~BWAHAHAHA~”

I can't hold it any more and get a fit of laughter. “That's hilarious! There are no gods. And if they really are beings which are responsible for such myths, then the real deal lacks some skills.”

“How can you talk like that about the gods!?” Sagittarius gasps.

“Because I've travelled the multiverse longer than you've been alive! I've lived countless lives on countless different worlds. And all I ever saw as a result of religion was war. If there are really beings in this world which are responsible for its state, then they don't deserve to be worshipped, much less to be called gods.” I empty my glass.

“Do I look like a god to you, old fart? I could probably play with the world like them if I wanted to. I just want to find them to give that bearded guy a beating! He destroyed one of my toys!” I shake my fist while thinking about my flying flagship.

“If I heard right, it was originally my toy.” A few veins seem to pop up on Jazira's forehead.

“For the chosen ones to be such heretical people...” Sagittarius continues to mumble something incomprehensible.

I turn towards Jazira and Tjena. “Do you really believe this bullshit?”

“I think that he might be on the right track. But I don't believe that they are gods, though they seem to be very powerful.” Jazira places a hand on her cheek and smiles.

“Then they must be like us. Just older and maybe more knowledgeable.” I fold my arms to show off my chest to disturb Saggitarius.

“Hey! That's not your body!” Tjena shouts.

“As long as I am inside it, it is.” I smirk.

“I can't believe that you are a man!” The spy girl continues her rant.

I purse my lips. “You aren't always reborn with the same gender. Actually I want to see a male version of hers.” I arch an eyebrow and look at Jazira.

The spy girl's jaw drops and her face becomes expressionless. Then she drops to her knees. “I don't want to hear any more. He is just a genderless parasite to me from now on. And a pervert on top...”

“Hey! I am married!” I hit the table. “I have a fine woman and a daughter. Don't spew such nonsense.”

The spy girl drops to the ground like being completely defeated. Hearing this out of the mouth of a fellow woman broke her.

“That brings me to a point which I wanted to confirm. Your wife? Is she an Immortal too? And why is she the new Jarl!?” Jazira looks at me with interest.

“Yes, she is. And she is the new Jarl because she wanted to. I have no interest in the position anyway. Controlling everything from behind the scenes is much better.” I nod. “So back to the topic, would you be so nice to distract Mislow for a while. I would even give you this.” I take the crystal globe out of my pocket and dangle it in front of them.

Jazira starts to play with her long hair. “If you do me another favour in return, I will consider it.”

***Floating somewhere above the Sea of God***

***Lidith***

He rolled a thirty! Not now, damn! Fuck you Aneth. What will he do with the casting points? Does he have something nasty like a Wrath of God in his hand?

He pulls a card from his hand and places it on the battlefield. But not on his champion. He casts the spell on Wynne's elders in the Nation of Mist instead. “Divine Blessing! Let's see how your Immortals far against the elders. Now they are blessed by three gods.”

“And this is a little bonus!” He places a trap card on Fingulf's mansion. The mansion starts to glow red. Traps are actually very powerful cards. The downside is that they to nothing until certain conditions are met. The more activation conditions you give them, the more powerful their effect becomes.

I smile at him. “Aren't you a nice one.”

“I am interested in how they will deal with this. I was very surprised when Ascathon managed to counter my meddling. He even managed to follow the mana line back to us. He may be just a step away from awakening.” Charon plays with the dices in his hand.

“Another reason to deal with them. I was always of the opinion that it's stupid to involve people like us in this game.” Wynne nods.

“It's your own fault. You were the ones who summoned one of the older souls.” I grumble. Being an Immortal is the last step before becoming a god. The stronger a soul becomes the more powerful your mana reserves get.

At some point you arrive at a breakthrough and ascend to godhood. That involves access to huge amounts of mana and being able to see the pathways.

The pathways enable us gods to walk wherever we want. Just holding onto one is enough and you are instantly transported from one point to the other. Walking between worlds and even different universes isn't a problem at all.

“Are you sure that you don't want to give up Lidith? All three of us placed so many buffs on the elders, they are able to crush your Immortals by now.” Aneth smirks at me.

I show him my tongue and look at my hand. “Do what you want. I will win in the end!”

Then I peek with one eye at Aneth's hero. I haven't forgotten that one. Even if he is just sneaking around and planning conspiracies for the moment.

.