Chapter 52: Certainty

It was not arrogance that allowed Trint a hidden smile. It was a certainty. He was confident he was meant to get here or somewhere that would lead to his rise. He did not feel entitled to rule, but it provided a sense of satisfaction. Like a glove fitting just right.

This new role would prove whether he was made to rule or be destined to fight alone to get to his family. Trint watched as Pneuma played around on the territory controls. No sweeping changes were made, but proposed plans were laid out and considered. The ever-firming results were looking good.

Trint was brought out of his thoughts when a guard on his platform turned and whispered to him.

“That is the city ruler, Sovereign,” The lead guard covered his mouth and whispered. But he remained in his provided seat.

“What is going on here? Move! Make way for the City Lord!” A contingent of guards and several powerful creatures pushed through the crowd inside the temple. They made it past the bulk of the crowd. Now with a clear view of the golden stepped pyramid with Trint, Pneuma, and four guards on thrones, all of the City Lord’s contingent, down to an assistant, stopped and stared. Some with open jaws. Many turned back and forth, looking at the spectacle and back to the City Lord.

There was no comparison when looking at the display of power and opulence. The temple was currently occupied by the City Lord but was commanded by someone else entirely.

“Welcome, City Lord,” Trint boomed with Spiritually reinforced sound, like a subwoofer; everyone present felt his words in their chest. “I wished to speak with you, and now here you come.”

“Yes, well, I heard there was a sight to see,” City Lord said, “I find that they were correct. Something shiny has appeared in my city.”

“Oh, I hoped you would understand the gravity of your situation,” Trint condescended to the former city lord. “Let me be clear. I am now in charge. What role you play in the future of Joppa Territory or the Subsystem depends on your following words. I don’t need you, but I am willing to work with you.

“What I need is a structure of leaders that will swear loyalty to me and work to fight the system. So I ask, what will you choose when I make my offer? Death or a new life?”

‘Pneuma, offer our contract to the leader, then everyone else in the territory.’

Immediately, system messages were sent to the City Lord, then everyone else in the territory. There was a moment where the City Lord froze reading their first system contract and then a collective gasp as the present crowd received similar agreements and offers.

“As you can see, I am a recognized Sovereign of the System, and I now have the authority to control this city and this whole territory of the Subsystem. The offer to contractually follow me will provide you with the opportunity to avoid going to the trials. You will follow my leadership and be granted additional Classes or Professions. My goal is to see this territory flourish. I will also allow you access to Spirit and Exp while in the Subsystem.

The only changes are that you will be contracted to me and become human. I leave the choice to you but know there are consequences for turning down this offer. You will stay the same creatures and races you are now and stand out among the humans. I don’t plan to kill you, but you will be passed over for new opportunities.

I will rule not only this territory but also travel to others and take control there. So believe me when I say you are important to me but are expendable, and I give you all one day to decide.”

‘Pneuma, start the countdown on the contracts,’

Trint saw the expressions change in the crowd. Pneuma not only added a countdown but also sent Trint’s speech as text and a video for all in the territory to read and watch. They would have the same benefit as the present crowd. The contracts were set to allow acceptance by the subsystem citizens of Joppa territory, but the contract’s finalization would happen in one day. That is when Trint would officially seal them, and the contracted would become human and be free of the system under his rule.

The Joppa City Lord seemed livid. She was not happy but was restraining herself just barely enough. It appeared to Trint that she still thought she stood some sort of chance against him, despite his system power.

Trint raised his hand from the throne armrest. And turned his gold and black-covered palm up. As he did, the floor beneath the City Lord rose. The rising liquid Spirit encased her legs and lifted her above the crowd on a pillar. The pillar slid through the crowd and towards his raised throne. Keeping the city lord at about one tier below his feet, she still had to look up at him.

“Now, I will not be so patient in the future. I can tell you are not completely convinced, or maybe you are reluctant to relinquish your power over this city. I will offer you the chance to continue to rule but under my authority. I will make Joppa the greatest it’s ever been, but I need a strong leader to rule in my absence. I will offer you a system profession of City Lord and grant you the ability to use Spirit to create these.” Trint shared a system message with her.

Available for Creation via Subsystem Controls:

Water and Waste Management Systems

Academy and Education centers

Hospital and clinics

Centralized Police Force

Entertainment

Restructured Tax system

“How?” She said, “I don’t have the ability or resources to undertake such construction. The sects, warlords, and slave lords all contest my rule and make such an organization impossible. Will you back me if they rise against us?”

“You still don’t understand. I am more than just called a Sovereign. I am truly Sovereign in this place. No one is granted higher authority, and any challenge to me will be met with destruction.”

“Here is the Class and Profession I think best fit for you. I will allow you to choose another if you wish, but I think your current class and level are insufficient for someone I will entrust this city too. Any who opposes you after this will not be able to compete with you as my chosen City Lord.

Offered Profession:

City Lord: City Lord is given limited access to the city infrastructure interface by the Sovereign. City Lord may control a force of 10% of the population for city management and 10% for city protection. Other abilities and roles will be granted as this additional class is leveled.

Offered Class:

War Lord: War Lord is given command of the battlefield. Any forces lower in level or authority are subject to your rule and sacrifice 5% of their Exp gains to you as tribute. You, in turn, provide them with a buff for 10 hours for 5% increased stats.

War Lord Added Abilities: Lead by Example

Ability grants War Lord who fights with their forces a 20% boost to stats while fighting. The ability stacks if fighting under the banner of a Sovereign and their active buffs.

Additional Class benefits can be unlocked as the class is leveled.

Trint reviewed the offered Profession and Class information while the City Lord did.

“Do you still oppose my rule? I will give you 5 minutes to accept, or this offer will be given to another.”

“I don’t need 10 minutes. I accept.”

In the next moment, she began to change. She previously was a bulky gray-skinned orcish creature, at least to Trint’s earth-based mind. But she decreased in size to a human form as the crowd watched. Her body would have been naked as her armor became increasingly too big and fell away, except that Trint formed spirit clothes and a couple pieces of noble-looking armor for her.

Above her head was a new identification that Trint could see. He also pried a bit more to confirm the added class and profession.

Name, Title: Erica, Joppa City Lord Level: 753 Exp: 17% Classes: Berserker, War Lord Professions: Administrator, City Lord

‘Pneuma, why do they keep getting Earth names, not only that but English ones?’ Trint privately asked.

‘Not sure, but you are their progenitor, and being a Sovereign makes sense,’ Pneuma considered.

“Thank you for seeing reason and siding with me,” Trint thanked Erica. “As a way of thanks for setting an example for this crowd, I will also grant you access to Spirit.”

As Trint “flipped the switch” and returned the access to Spirit for Erica, Trint could see the changes as no other creature besides Pneuma could. Erica’s inner spirit pathways lit up as they were flooded with the dense Spirit prevalent in the Subsystem. She gasped in rapture as if refreshed from a cool drink in a desert. Her hands and head raised to the ceiling like a child reaching for the sun. After a while, she lowered her raised hands and looked at Trint’s masked face with a smile.

“Thank you, Sovereign. This is more than I ever imagined.”

“Good. I will use your example to gain more followers. Now, I ask you to get busy transforming Joppa into a paradise for our people and a center for this region. I not only want a fighting force but also want the people here to thrive, level, and become more. Thank you, now. Please rest and quickly get Joppa to a state worthy of my rule. We will send you more instructions soon.”

‘Trint, I am sending the video of Erica’s conversion to everyone in the territory, and I believe it will aid many in accepting before the 24-hour countdown ends.’ You have also been changed. I feel that when you claimed this authority as Sovereign, it shaped you. You are still the Trint I knew, but you are also now a ruler. Congratulations, young Sovereign. Somewhere along the way, you grew up.’

Pneuma and Trint kept up outward appearances of stoic silence. While Pneuma congratulated him with a slight poke at his past childish behavior.

‘Pneuma, how about you speak, so they know you speak for and are with me. Tell them to return to their homes to consider my offer.’

“Go, return home, and consider your Sovereign’s offer. Do not take this decision lightly.” Pneuma’s voice boomed as Trint’s had, and there was a predatory growl. The crowd flinched but seemed frozen in fear.

“You may go,” Trint graciously offered, but his Spirit projected it no less powerfully.

‘Thank you, Pneuma; together, we make a great team.’

The crowds left, and once Trint knew, he and the four guards were the only ones left in the central area of the temple. He finally removed the face covering of his armor and looked at the four.

“Follow me,” Trint said as he walked to the edge of their level. As he was about to walk off the edge, steps formed, allowing each of his boots to land on a newly formed step until he reached the ground level. The guards followed behind.

“As the first to help me and show you are true believers in my Sovereignty, I wish to offer you a few choices. You may take command of the forces and lead a Temple or Governmental fighting force, or you may have your pick of any profession and class I now have access to. Do you have a preference?”

“Sovereign,” the leader of the four spoke. “I don’t know about the others, but I would like to be your guard, assistant, or whatever will serve you best. I have served your temple faithfully my entire life, and I wish to serve you now.”

The other four dropped to one knee as their leader had and repeated their commander’s request.

“Well, I will give you a moment to consider your options. Some classes would allow you to be near and help me. If you wish to accept the new contract, you will also change to a human and be tired afterward. Please find a place to rest before accepting the now available contract.”

“Yes, Sovereign, we will take this assignment seriously. Do you want us to retire for the night? Can we stay at your side?

“No, I am fine here. Please retire and consider what I am offering.”