Chapter 704: Approaching Climax

[Moments Later]

"I... really don't feel any different."

Justin and Ater stood face to face in the vast hall that was the Grand Calamity Class Dungeon. Indeed, just as he said, the former didn't look any different from how he always was.

He still had his handsome face, dirty brown hair, and overall tall and lean build.

He seemed the same.

"Adrien will try to make contact with you soon, so you're going to forget a lot of what happened here until the due time." Completely ignoring all of Justin's concerns about his body, Ater simply went straight to business.

"You will be loyal to Adrien for the time being, until I am ready to use you for certain plans I have..."

"But—"

"If you're wondering how Adrien won't notice that you aren't tethered to him, it's because when I surgically severed your connection to that Soul, I copied a portion of it and linked it to Adrien's copy. In essence, he still thinks you are linked."

"H-how can you do all of these things...?" Justin wondered aloud, staring at Ater with sheer stupefaction.

"That is not for you to know. Your limits will never allow you to attain that height."

Upon hearing those words, Justin's face sank deeper. It almost felt like he was stomped on, but with words.

"Don't be so downcast. You should be grateful for your lot and be content with it. That is what Nature has determined for you. Seeking any more would be venturing deeply into greed?"

"Is greed such a bad thing?"

"For those who cannot possibly attain anything greater... greed is useless. It leads to hollow hubris that tends to drive men into madness and destruction."

"... Eh?"

"Just remain where you are and allow yourself to indulge in the desires afforded to you. Chase after your purpose and do not seek out a wider ocean outside your pool. That is the best way you can find happiness." Ater smiled at him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"In essence... I should know my place?"

"Correct! You really are quite sharp, aren't you?"

For some reason, despite hearing demeaning words in the most brutal of ways, Justin felt a certain kind of relief wash over him. There was a strange sense of pride derived from Ater's words that caused him to smile.

"You're very mean with your words..."

"I prefer it this way." Ater shrugged, removing his hand from Justin as they both smiled at each other.

"Me too."

For a moment, silence reigned between the two of them as they simply stared at each other.

"What exactly are you up to? This grand scheme of yours... when does it take place?"

A chuckle escaped Ater's lips as he stared keenly at Justin. Before he responded, he walked away from the young man and took a few steps forward.

Crackles of energy danced around him, as well as Justin, as the world around them seemed to change and distort at a rapid pace.

"That is a surprise."

**************

The clacks of polished black shoes hitting the ground echoed softly as Ater walked within a hallway, both hands in his pockets as he smiled.

He had several thoughts flashing through his mind—about his new pawn, his plan's progression, and most importantly, his Master.

All of these thoughts were neatly organized and immaculately calculated, just as the steps he made as he approached the door that stood in front of him.

'Once this is complete, all that's left is the big one...'

Ater felt the knob of the door twist in no time, and before long he entered into the room to meet a few people already occupying one portion of the room.

He already knew who they were, so he merely smiled as he walked in.

"You all finally made it." The girl who sat at the center of the huge sofa grinned as she looked at Ater's surroundings, but not directly at him.

She was clearly seeing something that wasn't real—something he constructed.

"Well, it's been a while indeed Justin." The other girl in the group of deserters giggled, blushing slightly as she tried to hide how happy she was.

The others around her rolled her eyes as they trailed invisible newcomers to the sofa that existed opposite them. Ater watched all of this in silence, already realizing what was happening.

He was the one who orchestrated everything, after all.

'Right now, the Deserters think they are having a conversation with The Otherworlders. They see Justin, Belle, Clark, and Trisha right now.' His thoughts trailed as he watched them converse passionately.

'They'll do their best to convince the Otherworlders to join their side, and Felicia will go as far as kissing all of them to make sure they do as she commands. Of course, in order not to make the whole thing suspicious, she'll have to do it discreetly, meeting them one on one right after the meeting.'

Ater already knew her line of reasoning, and he planned on making it so the illusion they all experienced flowed according to her expectations, just as everything thus far had been going for them.

'Once all the Otherworlders agree to join their side, the deal will be sealed. Then, all that is left will be the promised day... the climax of this little game I've made.'

He could feel his lips curling upward as he displayed visible signs of excitement towards the results.

As he concluded that line of thought, he proceeded to another.

'Master and Adrien should have already reached some sort of compromise by now, if not even striking an alliance. That should lead to some rather interesting turn of events over there, and I hope it goes as predicted.'

His eyes narrowed as he remembered one key figure in the whole thing, and for a few seconds, he remained motionless.

Even as the voices of the Deserters grew louder, and echoes constantly filled the air, Ater remained steadfast in his thoughts.

Everything seemed fixated on that one entity.

'Don't forget the deal we made, Emil. I'm counting on you over there...'