Elaris' pupils constricted after hearing the archmage's response. Hurriedly, he pleaded again, using sound arguments to move her. "The citadel's firepower is of the arcanist tier. Nothing above the adept rank can go unmonitored!" He said, his left hand resting on his chest and his right clutched tightly.
"Your mythical artefact is above the fifth tier, too. Unless you use it, we won't mind it as we won't mind the flying bastion as long as it doesn't open fire," replied Vivian, impatiently tapping her foot against the exquisite marble floor in annoyance.
"But the threat still exists! If you wait for it to attack, you'll only find smoking rubbles and pools for melted bodies!" The elf king said, his convincing voice reflecting his dismay. 'Why is she unwilling to dispose of the floating island before it is too late,' he thought, failing to understand the rule's logic. However, the ruler of the sky's answer wasn't what he hoped to hear.
"I gave you my answer. Bother the Beast Emperor if you are unconvinced," she said, lazily swinging her wrist. Accompanying the soft movement, the wind suddenly roared in the elves' ears as a furious gale blew in their direction.
They struggled to keep their footing, eyes squinting against the collapsing pressure as their cloaks whipped violently around them.
"You are sentencing us to death!" Elaris roared against the buzzing wind, despair clutching his heart. The weight of the uncertain future pressed on his shoulders like a mountain as the wind pushed him back before the Gate. Little did he know that at the same time, another discussion that would give him a heart attack took place on the Sunfire bastion.
"Open your Gate. I want to speak with your leader," a regal voice thundered in every citizen's mind, adding to their dismay after their territory rose to the sky.
As everyone wondered if the successions of shock finally vanquished their sanity, Adam and Julius' eyes widened at the familiar voice. "What does that monster want?!" The boy yelled in shock, his heart pounding and his hands trembling. He dreaded standing before him again, the memories of their last encounter flashing vividly in his mind.
Simultaneously, the sunlight cast dancing shadows on Selene's frowning face. As he prepared to answer the arrogant voice, Adam rapidly cautioned him. "He dislikes lack of decorum and is powerful enough to destroy the island. I suggest peaceful negotiations."
'An archmage?' Selene thought, a confidant smirk tugging at his lips. Unafraid of the man, he still accepted the ghost's advice, preferring peace. "Follow me to welcome our guess," he said, smiling at the duo before floating out of the gorgeous tree.
Soon, the thick mana veil covering the towering construct of the Gate hummed and billowed as a lonely man stepped out. His regal robes, embroidered with golden magical beasts, fluttered in the wind, weaving tales of conquests as his obsidian skin glistened under the sun.
His piercing blue eyes scanned his surroundings, briefly constricting upon seeing the unconventional duo. After a moment of surprise, his lips curled into a smile, his demeanor shifting from guarded to welcoming as he approached them with measured steps.
"Who would have thought?" he said, his voice carrying his amusement. Somehow, he felt they lived adventurous lives, always finding trouble and mingling with powerful beings and achieving the impossible, like negotiating with him as equals.
Then, he gazed at Selene's ghostly frame. "Are you the island's owner?" He asked, seeking confirmation before delving into negotiations with a polite but firm tone.
Astounded to see an archmage not order him around with arrogance, Selene nodded before pointing at the central tree towering over a thousand meters tall. "Please follow me inside," he said, returning the man's respect by introducing himself formally.
Next, they returned to the throne room, the citizen's confused eyes following their departure.
Seated comfortably on wooden thrones built by Lily, the man introduced himself, causing the curiously spying family member's eyes to roll in their sockets. The youths almost fainted as the oldest dropped to their knees, praying for their ancestor's protection from the terrifying Beast Emperor. Yet, the granduncle shook his head with a wry smile.
"Who are you praying to?" He asked, gazing at Selene's radiant face with a smile.
"To what do I owe your visit, Beast Emperor?" Selene asked, his voice echoing his confidence despite conversing with the most feared individual on the planet.
"I'm interested in your island. Thus, I came with three offers," the archmage started, raising his fingers. "One, I'll buy it from you. The price won't be a problem even if you request tier seven material or a mythic artifact of the sixth tier," he continued, lowering his index.
"Two, I'll buy the construction method or hire you to build one. I can pay you using territories the size of a small kingdom on the southern continent," he added, lowering his major. With his territory's vastness, giving a small part of it didn't bother him much, especially if he got a flying bastion in exchange.
"Three, you can sign an alliance treaty with me. Under my protection, only the magus can stand in your way," he concluded, balling his fist with a smirk. He believed Selene was smart enough to understand what would happen if he didn't pick any of the three offers. No matter the method, he always got what he desired. In his hands, wars and conquests were only different forms of negotiations.
A pensive frown covered the ghostly elf's forehead as he pondered. Truthfully, he innately disliked anyone standing above him on the power ladder. So, the third was unthinkable. After all, nothing stood above the sun.
"It took me three hundred years to create the Sunfire bastion. Will you have the patience to start such an enormous project?" He asked after eliminating the first option for obvious reasons.
"That's too long," the emperor said, shaking his head as he tucked his fingers around his chin. "I'll need it in fifteen years," he added, his mind racing for solutions. Of course, Selene could be lying. But somehow, after witnessing the island's scale, stability, and energy consumption, he didn't believe he could end up with a decent product in a few short years.
Meanwhile, Adam's face grew somber. 'Three centuries?!' He screamed inwardly, hearing his dreams shattering in morsels in his mind. Yet, he rapidly recomposed himself, unwilling to give up! 'Would the time shorten if I become a magus?' he added, thinking for the first time about the elusive tier no one reached beside the elusive world guardian with newfound determination and a sense of possibility.