CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43

Miles away from the Silvermine complex, in the secure chamber beneath the Starfall estate, Ethan sat in perfect stillness as his consciousness expanded across distances that would challenge even Supreme-level cultivators. To Lysander and Kaelan, who flanked him in vigilant watch, he appeared to be in deep meditation—perhaps using advanced divination techniques or consulting his mysterious system abilities.

They had no idea that twenty-three perfect copies of himself moved across the continent with cultivation levels that matched or exceeded many family elders.

The Ascension System had evolved far beyond its original parameters, but this particular capability remained Ethan’s most closely guarded secret. Where his companions believed he was coordinating his intelligence network through communication crystals and trusted agents, the reality was far more extraordinary. His clones provided real-time intelligence and operational capabilities that defied conventional understanding.

"The situation at Thornwick grows more complex," Ethan said aloud, his voice carefully controlled to mask the mental strain of coordinating multiple streams of consciousness simultaneously. Through Clone Seven’s eyes, embedded with the official rescue force, he observed their final preparations. "My intelligence sources report that the fortifications are more extensive than anticipated."

Lysander leaned forward with interest. "Your sources? The network you’ve been developing has that kind of reach?"

"Carefully cultivated relationships prove their worth in times of crisis," Ethan replied diplomatically, a response that was technically true while revealing nothing about his clones’ true nature. Through Clone Seven’s enhanced perception, he could see what the official rescue force could not—the systematic way their enemies had anticipated every move, prepared for every contingency.

"They’re walking into a massacre," he continued, allowing genuine concern to color his voice. "The Thornwick fortifications aren’t just defensive—they’re designed to channel the rescue force into a killing field where superior numbers won’t matter."

"How can your sources be so certain?" Kaelan asked, his divine senses detecting the spiritual energy Ethan was expending but not understanding its true nature.

"Some information comes at great personal cost to obtain," Ethan said carefully, which was accurate given the dangerous spiritual strain of maintaining so many clones simultaneously. "But the intelligence is reliable. The question becomes: how do we act on it without revealing the sources?"

Through Clone Twelve’s infiltration of communication networks, he had detected the truth that conventional intelligence missed. The real challenge lay in Clone Fifteen’s discovery in the eastern territories—Leoric wasn’t at Thornwick at all.

"There’s more disturbing news," Ethan continued, his consciousness briefly jumping to Clone Fifteen’s perspective. "The entire Thornwick operation appears to be a diversion. While both families exhaust their resources on the assault, the real captors are implementing their endgame elsewhere."

Lysander’s tactical mind immediately began calculating implications. "A diversion of this scale requires enormous resources and coordination. We’re not dealing with opportunistic criminals."

"No," Ethan agreed, accessing intelligence gathered by Clone Three’s investigations across multiple family territories. "The conspiracy extends far beyond simple political manipulation. They’re using our conflict as cover for something much larger."

The system interface, visible only to Ethan’s enhanced perception, displayed patterns of financial movements, troop deployments, and communication intercepts that painted a picture of coordinated action spanning the entire continent.

"What kind of larger operation?" Kaelan asked, his divine intuition sensing currents of danger that logic alone couldn’t detect.

Ethan paused, as if consulting distant sources through communication crystals. In reality, he was processing simultaneous reports from multiple clones spread across the continent. "Intelligence suggests systematic infiltration of family power structures. While everyone’s attention focuses on the rescue operation, unknown actors are positioning themselves to seize control of key institutions."

"The academy," Kaelan breathed, his divine senses grasping implications that pure analysis might miss.

The revelation hit Ethan with stunning clarity, confirmed by Clone Nineteen’s surveillance around supposedly neutral academy grounds. "Celestial Harmony Academy—of course. Control the academy, and you control the next generation of continental leadership."

Through Clone Nineteen’s enhanced perception, he was detecting cultivation signatures that didn’t match registered faculty, communication patterns suggesting coordination with outside forces, and most troubling of all, evidence that some Inter-Family Council representatives weren’t who they claimed to be.

"My sources at the academy report anomalous activities," Ethan said, translating Clone Nineteen’s observations into language that suggested conventional intelligence gathering. "Some of the family representatives at the emergency council may be sophisticated imposters."

Lysander’s eyes sharpened with alarm. "Doppelgangers? If they control council proceedings, they could manipulate academy policy, access restricted archives..."

"Even gain proximity to the Headmaster’s research into higher cultivation realms," Ethan finished, his consciousness accessing Clone Eight’s investigation of the imposters’ true identities. The scope of the conspiracy was staggering—what appeared to be a kidnapping was actually an elaborate heist targeting the continent’s most valuable resources.

"How certain are your sources about Leoric’s true location?" Lysander asked, recognizing the tactical implications.

Ethan consulted Clone Five’s surveillance of the real prisoner facility, seeing Leoric bound within sophisticated containment arrays but alive. "Highly certain. He’s being held as bait—they want the rescue force exhausted at Thornwick, then they’ll offer his return in exchange for academy access."

Kaelan suddenly placed a concerned hand on Ethan’s shoulder. "The spiritual strain you’re experiencing—consulting so many distant sources simultaneously is pushing you beyond safe limits."

The divine healer’s observation was accurate. Maintaining twenty-three clones across continental distances stretched his spiritual essence to its breaking point, the system’s enhancements barely maintaining cohesion. But the intelligence was too critical to abandon.

"Some knowledge comes only through risk," Ethan replied, pushing through mounting spiritual fatigue while appearing to activate communication crystals. "Lysander, we need to prepare emergency protocols for the Starfall branch. This situation extends far beyond a simple rescue operation."

"What kind of protocols?" Lysander asked, his strategic mind already calculating deployment options.

"Full mobilization, but covert," Ethan said, his clones beginning coordinated counter-operations across the continent. "If my sources are correct, we’re facing a continental coup disguised as a family conflict. Traditional responses won’t suffice."

Through Clone Eleven, he began immediate extraction protocols for the real Leoric. Clone Seven started subtle intelligence insertion to redirect the rescue force away from their doomed assault. Clones Three, Eight, and Fifteen coordinated to expose the academy imposters before they could complete their infiltration.

The coordination required superhuman mental processing, but to his companions, it appeared he was simply managing an extensive but conventional intelligence network through advanced communication techniques.

"Elder Marcus needs to understand the scope without learning the sources," Ethan continued, his voice showing controlled strain. "Can you brief him on the mobilization requirements while I coordinate our... intelligence assets?"

Lysander nodded, recognizing the delegation of responsibility. "And if he asks about the sources of this intelligence?"

"Tell him we’ve invested heavily in information networks that prove their worth in crisis," Ethan replied. "The truth, if not the complete truth."

As Lysander departed to coordinate with Elder Marcus, Kaelan remained, his divine energy providing spiritual support that helped stabilize the dangerous spiritual strain Ethan was experiencing.

"The power you’re wielding," Kaelan said quietly, "it’s beyond what you’ve shown before. Are you certain you can control it?"

Ethan met his ally’s concerned gaze, recognizing the moral anchor Kaelan provided amid the intoxicating potential of his abilities. "Control is the key to everything," he replied. "Power without restraint leads to the same tyranny we’re fighting against."

Through Clone Twenty-Three, he could sense the conspiracy’s leadership gathering at a secure location, confident their elaborate scheme was proceeding flawlessly. They had no idea their entire operation was being observed and systematically dismantled by capabilities they couldn’t comprehend.

"Final phase coordination beginning," Ethan said, ostensibly to his communication crystals but actually commanding his dispersed clones. "Priority objectives: expose the conspiracy, rescue Leoric, preserve continental stability."

To Kaelan, it appeared that Ethan was coordinating an impressive but conventional intelligence operation. The reality—that twenty-three perfect duplicates of a twelve-year-old boy were implementing a strategy that could reshape continental politics—remained his most carefully guarded secret.