Empire Of Souls - Chapter 160

No matter how much Aleks thought on the existence known as ‘Babel’, he couldn’t come up with the answer. He had some theories of course, but each was more outlandish than the other. There was no way for him to prove that any of his theories were true. Either way, it didn’t really matter. Perhaps when the time was right, ‘Babel’ would reveal everything to him. For now, he had to deal with his immediate concerns.

“Babel, show me the information on the Dwarven race. Hmm, the Dwarves have one of the lowest aptitudes for magic, but it isn’t entirely non existent. Gnomes are not really capable smiths, so even though they are excellent engineers and inventors, they have to procure most of the parts and materials from elsewhere. Dwarves on the other hand are natural smiths and crafters. Those with some magical aptitude make great enchanters and runesmiths and they are the only race that can smith some of the highest tier of armor and weapons. They are also skilled in making delicate mechanical parts and can pretty much build anything with the schematics. Dwarves and Gnomes really complement each other well, but they don’t always have the best of relationsh.i.p.s. That isn’t too important since I will have complete control over them.”

Aleks considered the many positives and negatives of each of these races and also the classes available to them. He would need to create Gnomes and Dwarves which had classes focused on engineering, alchemy, enchanting, runesmithing, weaponsmithing, armorsmithing, general blacksmiths, and a couple others. Each of these specialties would focus on the development of weapons, armor and all manner of mechanical devices which could complement his armies and civilization.

It would take a considerably long time to develop these technologies and was not something which could benefit him in the short term. At least with the Dwarven smiths, he could begin producing higher tier armor and weapons for his soldiers. Also, the development and production of potions and magical tools were also a necessity. This was just the beginning of his work force, these would be the managers and leaders of divisions focused on research and development. They could also teach other talented individuals and he had no lack of manpower that could be allocated. Even if they couldn’t do the more difficult work, there was plenty they could do to help production and development.

This was why beings were called a ‘Master’. They were a master of their craft or chosen profession, whether it be through martial prowess, the magical arts, or any number of crafts and skills. A ‘Master’ could teach disciples, manage industries, lead departments in government, be generals in an army, etc. They formed the backbone of a nation and were a much larger group of individuals than ‘Legendary’ beings.

‘Legendary’ beings were the pinnacle of a society and very few could reach that level of power and ability. They were the guardians of nations or the greatest weapons of a church. Saints and Saintesses were essentially more powerful than ‘Legendary’ beings because they are vessels of deities, but they were extremely limited. ‘Legendary’ beings were rare, but still in greater number than Saints. While ‘Legendary’ beings handled most of the more difficult tasks, ‘Saints’ would only be used when there was no other option available. They were usually tasked with handling calamities which might affect the destruction of a church.

It was because of this very reason that one might suspect Tihr’s motives in making use of his ‘Saintess’ in the events that took place on the Steppes. Of course, no one really knew that she was in fact a ‘Saintess’. Initially, it was thought she was a candidate and there is a world of difference between the two.

Aleks’s situation was truly unique and he was not like any other being which existed in the mortal plane. Who else could create new subordinates like he could? The Gnomes and Dwarves would never choose to serve someone of another race as their master and bring their knowledge and technology outside their race. It would be impossible for anyone else, but because of Aleks’s system he could do what no one else could. The Origin of Life was one of the most integral parts of the Universal truth that governed all creation.

As he spent time going through all of the data presented to him, the prisoners were finally brought to him. Since he hadn’t specified any particular type of prisoner, his maid had chosen six female prisoners and six male prisoners. She wasn’t sure what Aleks wanted them for, so she also made sure they were young and attractive. Some masters had perverse tastes and she didn’t know Aleks well. It was already strange enough that he had asked for twelve prisoners to be brought to his living quarters.

There were also a few guards who had escorted the twelve prisoners to Aleks. These were all previously human warriors he had purchased as slaves, but were now personal guards. Each of the guards was well equipped and were at least Intermediate class with their commanding officer being an advanced class. It wasn’t as if Aleks needed personal guards and they were more for appearances sake than anything else.

The maid bowed before saying, “My lord, I have brought the prisoners as you asked.”

Aleks was taken out of his thoughts when they finally arrived and nodded while shooing them away despite their disagreement. They were unwilling to leave these prisoners unguarded, but when they considered their masters power, they realized it wasn’t necessary for them to remain. Also, they didn’t know what their master wanted these twelve for to begin with.

The twelve prisoners eyed Aleks with hatred and disgust, but they were gagged and couldn’t speak. Some of them grunted or attempted to say something but it wasn’t coherent words. Aleks didn’t care about their stares or their anger. He wasn’t even looking at them as if they were people, instead he looked at them like test subjects. He walked around them and noted a few things, mumbling a few words to himself.

“Hmm, okay. Well I suppose you all will do. Unfortunately, this is going to hurt. A lot. But, good news, once it is over you will no longer feel pain. You will be someone new, someone of use to me. You won’t have to be afraid, or suffer any longer.”

The group of prisoners continued to struggle despite the fact they were bound and gagged. They looked at Aleks as if he were crazy, or a monster. Aleks didn’t mind and soon the sound of screams followed. The screaming and m.o.a.ning of pain continued for a very long time and the guards and maids who were waiting outside of Aleks’s room shivered and gasped. They had never heard such sounds before and they could only imagine what exactly was taking place in that room. Although they revered Aleks, they were filled with extreme fear as their minds came up with a variety of fantasies of what could be going on in there.

Aleks had never tried to create a new life from someone of one race to someone of another before. He had only created one being since he gained this power, Lenia. But, he had used a human female to do so, and so while there may have been pain, it wasn’t significant. He didn’t have to change the anatomy or drastically change her physical form. Grobak and Nelay had been respecced rather than created from scratch so there wasn’t any pain involved. This time, things were very different. He was using humans to create gnomes and dwarves which were much smaller and had either more petite or more robust frames. It was a complete remodeling of their bodies and their minds.

After a couple of hours, he had finally completed his objective and finalized all of the new beings he had created. Standing before him were three n.a.k.e.d males and females of each race, both gnomes and dwarves. He had expended a large amount of ‘Soul Potential’ and created a master class runesmith, weaponsmith, armorsmith, enchanter, alchemist, and engineer. The other six were advanced class beings who had classes similar to those and could complement them. They would work together to train others and form the backbone of his industrial endeavors.

Once Aleks was satisfied with what he had created, he called out to those who were waiting outside his room. When they entered, they were completely shocked to see the twelve n.a.k.e.d dwarves and gnomes standing in front of Aleks in the room. They looked everywhere but couldn’t find the prisoners and they gave questioning gazes towards the gnomes and dwarves. They noticed the number of gnomes and dwarves were the same as the numbers of prisoners they had previously brought in and grew suspicious, but they knew better than to ask. They just couldn’t wrap their heads around it and it seemed too absurd to think those prisoners had now become these gnomes and dwarves.

While they were trying to figure this mystery out, Aleks cleared his throat.

“Take these twelve and get them some clothes and then find them a place to stay. Inform Lariel that we now have talented craftsmen who can be put to work soon. They will just need a period of adjustment before they are ready. She will understand and know what to do.”

Although the guards and maids couldn’t figure out exactly what happened, they didn’t delay any longer and led the twelve beings out of the room. Aleks watched them leave with a far off look. His mind had already moved on to the next task, considering whether or not he should create an avatar.

“My ‘Soul Potential’ is running low, but the amount of SP I am receiving from my worshippers should give me enough in a couple of weeks. Another slaughter would do too.”

Aleks sighed, there was much to do.