Being a Magus Alliance Council mber was not rely a goal-it was a cosmic proclamation. A declaration that one stood among the one thousand figures who represented over fifty thousand civilizations scattered across the Magus Universe. It was to sit at the table where destinies of entire realms were decided.
Which was why, when Ery calmly stated his goal, the entire lounge fell into speechless silence.
Rosia was the first to find her voice.
"Even reaching a Grade 3 faction wouldn't guarantee a seat..." she whispered, almost breathless. "And... thirty years... Ery, that is impossible."
Her reaction was not an exaggeration.
At present, more than half of the one thousand council seats were held by the five hundred Grade 3 factions. Another three hundred were dominated by Grade 4 and Grade 5 factions. The remaining seats were granted through special anointnts-ancient sects, elite academies, and prestigious enterprises. Even the weakest among these groups possessed power and influence that rivaled Grade 3 factions.
And Earth?
Earth was rely a Grade One faction, led by a half-blood born on a lower-realm planet.
Annara crossed her arms, flicking her tail with irritation. "The two monsters sparring outside-your shiny new guardian golem and that old Tartarus brute- should place Earth at the level of top Grade 2 factions. Isn't that enough?"
"No," Rosia said sharply. "This is not about raw power. Even if we suddenly had a Supre Being and jumped two grades overnight, that still wouldn't secure us a seat."
She leaned forward, voice low and steady, as decades of political experience surfaced.
"To be recognized, we need high contributions to the Magus Alliance, large enough dominion, economic influence, sponsorship from upper factions, and support from local planetary governnts." She sighed. "And each of those steps is drowned in bureaucracy."
Nyx added with a frown, "And let's not forget backlash. The mid-grade factions crush anyone who tries to climb their path. They don't want competition."
Ery was once again reminded of the threats posed by the top factions lurking in the shadows of Centauri City, they would undoubtedly obstruct his path the mont his ambitions beca visible.
The room grew heavy, the crackling mountain winds outside muffled behind enchanted glass. Yet through the oppressive air, Ery did not waver. His expression remained steady, resolute.
Tessa, who had been quietly observing, finally raised her voice.
"Do you have a particular reason why it must be within thirty years?"
Ery nodded.
But he stated nothing more.
Tessa's gaze lingered on him, pointed and knowing. "...It seems you do."
A faint smile touched her lips-not mocking, but acknowledging the gravity of his goal. She exhaled deeply.
"Well... it's not completely impossible."
Six heads snapped toward her.
"Earth does not lack support, Tessa continued. "You have the half-bloods, the academy, alliances with lower factions, and from us-the Karats." She stop with a smile and added "You also have your apothecary chain. With that foundation, you can join the rchant organizations. And it's true-you have powerhouses hidden among your ranks."
She paused.
"But the thirty-year deadline... that is the true obstacle."
Despite her youth, Tessa was a rising pillar of the Grade 4 Karat faction-her words carried weight even Rosia respected. Her eyes sharpened with calculation.
"We need to apply for Grade 2 advancent imdiately. If our friends from the Tartarus realm join Earth faction, it will speed the process significantly." Ery turned toward Kayelin.
The fey priestess bowed her head. "As I said, I am committed. You may add Feyanor and myself to your faction records. As for Soltz..." she smiled faintly, "ask him. I doubt he will refuse."
"Thank you," Ery stated sincerely.
But Tessa's expression remained cold.
"You understand this will expose your Tartarus expedition. My grandfather has been covering the incident, but once we move forward, more will know."
"I understand" Ery answered. "And it's fine."
From his future self, Ery had learned that once the Nether Realm threat erged, more and more sealed realms would inevitably open. When that ti ca, even the Tartarus Realm would no longer be so unique, especially given
how perilous the journey to reach it truly was.
"That's good," Tessa said after a mont, turning toward Rosia. "We can proceed with that first."
She folded her arms, eyes sharpening with her usual practical calculation. "To properly administer our Tartarus realm friends will take two, perhaps three years. And the grade two faction advancent will take at least ten more before approval. During that ti, we must prepare the rest-wealth, networks, influence... but the trickiest issues will be territory and people."
Her gaze drifted pointedly to Ery.
"You certainly don't intend to apply for council as a tenant renting this desolate mountain estate, do you?"
Ery chuckled, unable to help it. The remark was sharp, but true.
A Magus Alliance Councilor could not represent the universe without representing a domain-land, citizens, culture, all bound under their governance. And while Earth boasted billions of lives, the hard truth was.
inescapable: to the higher realms, lower-realm natives were not recognized as proper citizens. They were categorized as workforce, or resource. Never
equals.
If Ery wished to stand in the council chambers, he needed a new domain-a world recognized by the Alliance itself. A world within the higher realms. A
world he could uplift, govern, and defend.
Just as Julian had once done when founding Nova Roma.
Across the table, Gwen blanched, shoulders stiffening. Compared to these interstellar titans and ancient factions, her holand of Britannia seed painfully small-a tiny island among vastness of stars.
Annara spoke up, hopeful. "Utopia still has vast unmark lands. With the planet neighboring the Utopia city-one of the few places truly welcoming to half-bloods-that could work to our advantage. I'm sure the Zodiac Faction would support you in establishing sothing there."
But Tessa shook her head before Ery could answer.
"It is a good option... if all you want is to reach grade three." Her tone hardened. "But becoming a councilor-representing the half-blood community? That is far, far more difficult."
The room fell quiet. Rosia's lips tightened. The weight of the challenge settled like a storm cloud over them.
Then Tessa's eyes narrowed slightly, noticing Ery's unshaken composure.
"I see..." she murmured. "You've already thought this through, haven't you?"
Her voice beca more cautious. "You already have a planet in mind?"
"I do," Ery admitted. "But I'm not entirely certain it will work. Still... if it does,
it will solve many of our problems at once."
"And which planet is that?" Tessa asked slowly.
Ery spoke the na.
The reaction was imdiate.
Both Annara and Nyx went pale, their eyes widened with disbelief.
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