A lean, almost skinny man with gray skin emerged from the energy pool. His natural presence was mighty, his movements graceful, and his gaze was sharp.
He wasn't anything like the usual Summons Michael summoned. But that was to be expected from an 8-Star Summon.
The man was clad in a familiar regal attire that reminded Michael of ancient pharaohs. He wore a headpiece featuring an unfamiliar symbol. The headpiece resembled the pharaoh's crown of the Second Epoch, just like the Undead Pharaoh's. However, the unfamiliar symbol on the headpiece was only one of the differences that separated the Summon emerging from the Summoning Gate from the Undead Pharaoh.
First of all, the Undead Pharaoh was dead. He might have resurrected once, but even his Undead form had been destroyed. The World Serpent and the Wolf Curse ensured there wouldn't be a trace of curse power left in the Undead Pharaoh's corpse.
Michael was sure that the man before him wasn't anything like the Undead Pharaoh. He smiled brightly upon discovering Michael and greeted him in a way unfamiliar to Michael. The man made a hand sign and pressed his hand against his forehead before leaning forward.
Michael tried hard not to frown when he saw several valuable ornaments falling to the ground following the man's polite gesture.
The man cursed quietly when he discovered that the ornaments had fallen to the ground. He picked them up swiftly and straightened his body once he got up again.
"Why would the Will summon me with an attire like this? I'm the Starhaven Pharaoh, a Warrior. Born in war and died in combat. What's the use of this disgusting..." The man trailed off and continued talking to himself. He seemed to have forgotten that Michael and Hulas Nead observed him intently.
[Starheaven Pharaoh? I heard of that guy!]
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})'You did? Can you tell me about him while he is...busy with himself,' Michael asked his brother, who began with a summary of the Starheaven Pharaoh's grand history.
[Before I entered the Primedival Pyramid, I had to research the Second and Third Epoch. The Starheaven Pharaoh was the last Pharaoh of the Second Epoch. He is also the Pharaoh who managed to end the reign of the Supreme Pharaoh. Supreme Pharaoh is the name of the Undead Pharaoh, who was still alive, by the way. At least, we can trust that the Undead Pharaoh told the truth when he said he was the strongest Pharaoh of the Second Epoch. He might have lied to us.]
'So, the Starheaven Pharaoh killed the Supreme–Undead Pharaoh. That's pretty interesting. The Will has some humor.'
[The Starheaven Pharaoh is a powerful Pharaoh, but his whole life was filled with battle. He didn't have much education or knowledge. He is a powerful Warrior but not a great scholar. I think you can tell that the Starheaven Pharaoh has a...unique personality...]
Michael's eyes landed on the Starheaven Pharaoh, who was still not done speaking to himself. He turned around and walked left and right as if he was an impatient kid on a call with his friends. He walked around excitedly, a vibrant smile on his face.
[Either way, his death started the Third Epoch. He didn't leave behind any heirs, which destroyed the land he'd painstakingly tended. Well, his subordinates tended the land. The Starheaven Pharaoh was mainly busy expanding his territory. When he died, his land was split up. Countless Lords desired to obtain his treasures, but most failed to procure anything. The start of the Third Epoch was very chaotic. That's partially Starheaven Pharaoh's fault, but I guess we shouldn't blame the death for dying.]
Michael chuckled and fell deep in thought. His eyes fixed on Starheaven Pharaoh, and he tilted his head. Starheaven Pharaoh looked somewhere far away. His vibrant expression had been replaced by pensiveness.
"Nyx is still out there? Oh, my little baby. You must have been so lonely..." The Starheaven Pharaoh exclaimed all of a sudden.
Michael frowned deeply, but he got closer to check where the Starheaven Pharaoh was looking. He used Spirit Eyes in addition to 10 Enhancement layers to check if he could see something. Michael could barely see anything other than sand, but he discovered the Burning Sand Mountain Range far at the horizon.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"What are you looking for? There is only sand, dunes, and more sand. Well, and the mountain range," Michael asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"We...are in Paradise Valley, aren't we?" The Pharaoh asked, his voice cracking. Tears welled up in his eyes, catching Michael by surprise.
"Yes, we are."
"Nyx...No. The Primal Phoenix...is she still out there?"
'Ah. I get it now.' Michael nodded in half-understanding.
"The Primal Phoenix is still out there. It – she – protects the Blazing Sand Mountain Range to ensure that nobody can invade Paradise Valley. She has been doing that for a long time already. At least, that's what I've heard. She came by earlier, right before I summoned you."
Michael thought about something as he kept staring at the Starheaven Pharaoh. The Pharaoh stared back at Michael, barely able to contain his tears.
"Did you raise the Primal Phoenix? Or maybe it was the other way around? I don't know what relationship you have with the Primal Phoenix, but you can visit her. It's not like the Burning Sand Mountain Range is far from here," He offered the Starheaven Pharaoh, who could only shake his head in sadness.
"No. I don't even know if Nyx remembers me. And…I cannot return to her after everything I've done…"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Michael had to suppress a deep groan and shrugged instead. He wouldn't force the Starheaven Pharaoh to do anything other than grow stronger and be useful. He had to be useful. After all, the Starheaven Pharaoh was an 8-Star Summon.
He felt like telling the Pharaoh to get his act together if he didn't dare to meet the Primal Phoenix, but Danny urged him to stay silent. Instead of doing something foolish, Michael focused on the Link of Loyalty that formed between him and the Starheaven Pharaoh. The Link of Loyalty wasn't thick yet, but it was already firmer than his Link of Loyalty with Cleave Fenrir. That was a good sign.
Michael retrieved a messenger crystal and connected it to Rebecca Zauber.
"It's time to start building the Portal Attachments. I need two of them. I grant you permission to install one of the Portal Attachments for the Intermediate Summoning Gate. Bring the other attachment to the other Basic Summoning Gate." Michael uttered the moment Rebecca accepted the call.
["Huh? M-Michael? What are you speaking about? I mean, I can issue the construction of the Portal Attachments, but don't you need a second Summong Gates for that? Aren't you occupied in the Sacred Dese—.... You activated a Summoning Gate in the Sacred Desert, didn't you?! Are you sure that's a good idea? What if your territory is found, and what if someone powerful comes to get you in the Origin Expanse?"]
Rebecca continued blurting out dozens of bad scenarios that may or may not happen now that he activated a Summoning Gate in the Sacred Desert.
"There is no need to worry about that. Nobody in the Sacred Desert is strong enough to deal with me. I will ascend to a Higher Lifeform soon, either. Furthermore, this place is quite secure. Nobody will be able to invade this part of the Sacred Desert, except if they're strong enough to deal with a Sacred Beast. That monster is definitely stronger than an ordinary Divine Lifeform," Michael laughed lightly, "I think I will be fine."
Rebecca was still not convinced, but she chose not to say anything. At this point, Rebecca knew it was better to stay silent whenever Michael did something. She was still unsure how Michael managed to do certain things and what he must have done in his past life to make such outstanding achievements in this life. Every single time Michael called her, he had some grand news.
Sometimes, his news was about Superior Soul Techniques, other times about exotic potions, and then Spirit Armaments and their production method. At some point, Rebecca lost count of how often she'd been surprised. She was getting used to it, though.
She wasn't shocked beyond the norms when she heard that Michael went to the Sacred Desert to strike the Undead Ruler that had been bothering everyone in the Sacred Desert.
Nonetheless, she couldn't hide her surprise at all times. She was still an ordinary woman, and she was not ready to keep listening to his surprises and the excitement that flowed out of his voice when he planned to do something dangerous and foolish.
Rebecca sighed deeply.
["You will get your Portal Attachments as soon as possible. It might take a while, though."]
Michael grinned brightly in response, "You're the best!"
Rebecca didn't respond and cut the call. All Michael could hear was a pained groan from the other side of the messenger crystal before it turned dim.
[You're torturing that poor woman. Shouldn't you give her some rewards as well? She has been researching Soul Techniques with her Soultrait and Inheritance Technique for a few months now. Her work is quick and precise. She never disappointed you, yet you never provided her anything in return. Meanwhile, everyone who'd fought for you on the frontlines has been rewarded with multiple Soultraits. Don't you think that's unfair? She doesn't work less for the territory!]
Michael lifted an eyebrow at his brother's lecture.
He bowed slowly, "You're right. Rebecca deserves some rewards."
Then his eyes widened.
"Don't tell me you like Rebecca, brother!"
