Although Vlad’s eagerness to test his newfound strength burned hot within him, a brief conversation wouldn’t hurt. Lifting the gem, he spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Yes? You were seeking me?"
Almost immediately, Agamenon’s voice crackled through the gem. "Brother Vlad, yes. I’ve been meaning to talk to you. There is something very important we need to discuss, but I’m afraid doing it through this method is a bit too risky. Could you come to my residence in the middle ring?"
A flash of curiosity stirred in Vlad’s eyes. Agamenon was not typically one to be so secretive, which suggested that whatever he wanted to say must be urgent. After only a second’s pause, Vlad nodded to himself and replied, "I’m on my way."
He wasted no time, exiting the inner ring of the military settlement and heading toward the middle ring. When he arrived at Agamenon’s residence—a modest, compact structure slightly smaller than Vlad’s own—he wasn’t surprised. Accommodations here were assigned strictly according to military rank, and though Agamenon had status through his lineage, it appeared he chose to stand on his own merits rather than reside in the luxurious Solaris estate within the inner ring.
Vlad knocked on the door, and it swung open almost immediately to reveal Agamenon, who wore a faintly anxious expression. "Good, you’re here. Please, come in," he said.
Nodding, Vlad stepped inside. The interior was sparse but well-kept, containing only the essentials. Agamenon led him down a short corridor to a small study-like room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Agamenon produced a strange device with intricate metal carvings and glowing sigils etched along its edges. With a quick press, he activated it. In response, the artifact generated a shimmering forcefield that enveloped the entire room, making the walls flicker with faint arcs of energy.
Vlad narrowed his eyes in interest. Even without his A.I. Chip, he could sense the device’s function: it was designed to repel eavesdropping attempts, blocking any prying eyes or ears that might be using scouting spells or sophisticated technological means. This only fueled his curiosity. No one would bother using such a high-level magic device for mere small talk.
Agamenon cleared his throat. "Sorry about the secrecy, but we can never be too cautious. This fortress is home to many powerful individuals, including Legends and even some Sages with very unusual scouting abilities." He paused, letting the significance of that statement settle. "I’d rather avoid having the wrong parties overhear this conversation."
Vlad merely nodded in understanding. While he wasn’t fearful of such individuals, he recognized that secrecy could be valuable. Agamenon continued, taking a deep breath as though preparing himself for a difficult topic. "Brother Vlad, are you familiar with the people who used to inhabit this world before it became the Land of the Three Calamities?"
Vlad shook his head. He had heard scraps of history—that the Land of the Three Calamities had once gone by a different name, back when it was a thriving realm. Eventually, the Vorometallicae race descended upon it and, according to official Graecia Empire records, committed genocide, nearly wiping out the native inhabitants.
Then the Empire arrived and the war began, finishing off whatever remained of the original population in the ensuing chaos. Of course, the Vorometallicae might have their own records painting a different picture, possibly claiming they arrived second and that it was actually the Graecia Empire that perpetrated the annihilation.
’The real truth,’ Vlad mused, ’had probably gone to the grave with the original natives.’
Regardless, Vlad was not overly concerned about the question of who was at fault. Morality was a fleeting concept in a war-torn Doomsday World where survival was paramount. He had chosen to ally with the Graecia Empire’s forces out of necessity and self-interest, not because he believed them to be unequivocally righteous.
Agamenon nodded at Vlad’s reaction. "The original inhabitants were, by all accounts, a very peculiar species. There’s some debate about their lineage; many believe they had draconic qualities, but in unusual ways that set them apart from typical dragonkin. What truly mattered was their level of sophistication. They built advanced cities and formed complex organizations. Some suspect that if they had remained hidden for even a few more millennia, they might have risen to the strength of a super-civilization."
He said this in an unemotional tone, as though such a grand scenario was routine within the Empire. Vlad, however, understood that "super-civilization" status was not something thrown around lightly; it denoted a realm or empire capable of contending with the very strongest powers in existence.
Agamenon exhaled, then continued: "The reason I’m bringing this up is that a few days ago, a scouting team discovered a hidden dimension—something like a secret plane—believed to have once served as headquarters for one of those ingenious organizations. According to our preliminary information, it’s unstable due to the passage of time and can’t withstand the radiation and energy signatures of Legends."
He paused meaningfully. "That means only Sages are allowed to enter without risking a complete collapse of the dimension."
Vlad felt his heart quicken. The chance to explore an ancient hideout belonging to a civilization that was almost on the brink of super-civilization? Such a place would undoubtedly contain artifacts, wealth, and knowledge beyond measure. He could already imagine rare and powerful relics, or perhaps even advanced technology and runic items that might accelerate his own progress—or be sold for staggering sums. Resources were something he perpetually needed to further his own ambitions, whether forging new runes, strengthening his demon soul path, or nurturing his bloodline.
"Just how powerful was that organization?" Vlad asked, his gaze intense. The stronger they had been, the more valuable the spoils would be.
Agamenon’s eyes gleamed with the same fervor. "I can’t say for certain, but rumors suggest that their leaders had at least stepped into the realm of Legends—maybe multiple Legends. The fact that they established a hidden plane that endured thousands of years of cataclysm and infiltration attempts is proof enough of their capabilities."