CHAPTER 181: CHAPTER 180: GETTING SETTLED PART 9

After their chat, Gaia, Bahamut and Leanna returned to Mirage and spent the rest of the day working to ensure everyone was notified of rules and regulations, when an incredibly excited Alysse sent a message through the emergency messaging system just as everyone was getting ready to call it a day.

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE RECEIVED : ALYSSE HERE! I’M GOING TO NEED EVERYONE ON MIRAGE EXCEPT YOU GUYS WHO ARE OUT DOING WHATEVER IT WAS YOU YOU WERE DOING. MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT! FIREWORKS! CELEBRATIONS GALORE! EVERYONE ON MIRAGE ASAP. P.S. TIAMUTAEL CAN YOU PICK ME UP PLEASE I HAVE LOTS OF STUFF WITH ME.]

For a split second, Omedra began dreading some grand display about the two of them, but then she realised that Alysse simply wasn’t built that way and breathed a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, due to the current situation, Tiamutael did not. His powers were incredible, but as vast as they were, they had limits and the night he sensed he was in for would be pushing them.

He did as asked, but the moment everyone was gathered, he promptly went to sleep for a bit in Alisha’s arms.

Alysse was stood in a wide open space, surrounded by three massive orbs that seemed to contain an undulating mass of live nanites, but it was almost indistinguishable from bubbling tar in the quickly dimming evening light.

Each one was roughly eight metres in diameter and seemed to be tempered glass or something similar.

Aside from the orbs, she was steadily releasing an army of the livestream drones she had used during the evacuation that were displaying a dead screen and a special set of four that formed a gargantuan screen facing the residents of Haven.

When she was sure everyone was present and aware she tapped into the tower network and linked the displays in the tower suites, including those in lockdown, to the massive display before all of them started broadcasting at once.

On the displays in the suites and the massive projection were a series of schematics that were strangely familiar to everyone watching, but just different enough that they couldn’t put their fingers on it.

"Hello everyone! I really don’t like being in the spotlight, so I tried to avoid stuff like this. Unfortunately, everybody’s favourite clown is currently away, so I’ll do my best to entertain you with awesomeness instead! Can I please get a hand from the handsome Aldra, the beautiful Omedra and Lord Bahamut!?"

The three who had been requested moved towards her, curious as to why they were being called to assist, except for Aldra who was just appreciating the orderly control and methodology of the machines.

"Now my lovely assistants! If you could please transform for me please!"

They looked at each other, then after a quick shrug they did as requested.

"Wow! Bahamut is a big boy, in that case you can probably handle a few, which is good because there are dozens!..." She retrieved several dozen of the massive orbs from her armlet, before continuing. "...Now if you would be so kind as to launch these into space, I would be most grateful!"

Suddenly laughter erupted from Tiamat, Lillim, Faylorna, Gaia, Equinox and perhaps more surprisingly, from Leanna and they all stepped up to join.

"So, you’re really going to show why you’re my chosen heir amongst the eighty-three thousand daughters I sired?"

"I don’t remember accepting that mother, but I owe it to my grandchildren and family to at least accept myself." Leanna tried to sound resistant, but Lillim was too happy to bite.

When they all transformed, except for Tiamat and Gaia who had enough strength for the task in their more human forms and as they started launching them from the ground into space, the only two who actually needed to use their wings were Aldra and Omedra.

"Well, that was certainly a show everyone! Leanna, have to say, we always wondered how you got so much done and six arms definitely explains it."

The immortals, particularly Lillim, let out an ear piercing laughter.

The laughter was contagious and soon everyone watching was laughing with them as Leanna changed back and asked Alysse to get on with it.

Alysse nodded and then several unique projection units flew into the sky before taking over the livestream feed, showing all the orbs that had been thrown into space.

"Okay, I guess I probably should, I think everyone has waited long enough! Activate nanite model Unity Station Mirage!"

As she spoke the command all the orbs exploded and for a minute everyone that didn’t know Alysse winced, thinking they had just witnessed the most embarrassingly publicised and theatrical failure in history.

Those who did know her however, smiled.

Alysse may be a hybrid, but she had more pride in her work than any gnome, she would never reveal a creation that she considered faulty and her standards had only become more stringent since Carl got injured in The Carrion tunnels.

The explosions were absorbed almost immediately, acting as a jumpstart for the nanites replication and reformation and they changed into thousands upon thousands of panels which then pieced themselves together.

Leanna suddenly looked at the massive display. "That’s it, It’s the upper section of the SAT-Station. When did you finish the designs?"

"The last few hours, a lot happened, I actually have Omy to thank for the inspiration..." Alysse suddenly remembered that she was transmitting the conversation and flushed. "As you can see everyone, I have officially completed the first orbital station in the factions arsenal!

I’ll be honest, I did, feel a bit bad. Everyone put some serious effort into the reception station here. It isn’t about us though, we’re putting this effort in to make you all feel welcome, happy and comfortable.

I, personally, love this faction we’re building and want to see it gr-..." Alysse started wobbling slightly, she didn’t know it, but everyone watching was suddenly gripped as they wondered what was wrong.

[ SYSTEM NOTICE : FIFTH STAR ACHIEVED, ASCENSION WILL NOW BEGIN. ]

"...Oh, wow, guess I just became immortal. Ha! Screw you Carl, I got one of those bad boys myself!" With those final words she passed out, Arti catching her for a moment before puddling out himself.

Lillim retrieved the transmitter. "Hello everyone, it is I, the mother of demons. Unfortunately, we have no idea how to shut these machines down without her, but what you are watching is a sacred thing and no disrespect will be tolerated."

The immortals gathered around her, including Ki-ko and Raziel and together they formed a barrier to contain her aura release. They didn’t feel the need to call Nergal since unlike the last time they weren’t containing several simultaneous ascensions, but they did take the time to teach the children about aura control, except Tiamutael who was still asleep.

The ascension was the perfect representation of the person changing, an energetic burst of everything she had in one go, the energy smashed into the barrier, the ground, like a child eager to explore the world beyond their home.

It divided and reformed and scorched the ground wherever it touched, leaving Alysse completely unharmed until it finally smashed into her and her body exploded into what looked like shards of shattered glass.

"ALYSSE!?" Omedra and the children, as well as Leanna and everyone watching, was suddenly terrified that it wasn’t the ascension they thought and she had been destroyed until Lillim addressed everyone yet again.

"Remain calm everybody. Whilst far from common, I assure you that she is fine, simply evolving to a more adequate form, the same way Gaia is made of earth. Though it seems we must host the Gnomish lords, as she is no longer of their kin."

Almost as if waiting for her to finish, the moment Lillim had, the glass-like shards were suddenly pulled back together like magnets and resumed their original form.

"Alysse, you’re okay!" Omedra and the children shouted as the barrier dropped, running forward to hug her.

"Yeah, course I am, I’ve survived worse just messing about in the workshop..." Alysse said with a yawn. "Oh right, sorry everyone, I had a full display worked out for this but I’m tired and bored now..." She hit a button and countless fireworks suddenly launched into the air from the projectors.

Every colour perceivable flared in one brief moment, loud and bright enough that it nearly overwhelmed everyone’s senses and then Alysse took the transmitter and addressed the audience.

"...Well, that’s it. Enjoy your night everyone." The moment she finished speaking she got a message.

[ GROUP MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM CARL : SORRY FOR THE DELAY ALYSSE, NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY THIS, BUT I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH YOU DATING MY DAUGHTER... I’LL CREATE AN ARMY OF NANITE EATING SPORES IF YOU MESS HER AROUND THOUGH. ]

"Alysse? Come on, we’ll cook you dinner."

"Nah, I’m good to cook, but just make sure I don’t drown in my dinner. Your dad finally got back to me and gave his blessing. Let’s gather up the kiddly-winks and get some grub!"