His past was coming back to bite him.
One of the king's wives had heard a rumor spreading: the Commoner Sect was now one of the most advanced continents. It was said to be more advanced than both the Middle and Noble Sects—stronger than the two combined—and, perhaps worst of all, more luxurious.
Naturally, the opposition grew curious. As the wives gathered to discuss the matter, the third wife turned to the first and said, "We should wage war on the Commoner Sect. If we don't, we'll be the ones under their control."
The first wife was tempted by the idea and brought it before the king—who was the first son of the late king. However, he saw no reason to start a war.
"If we attack first," he said, "we'll look desperate. Our position as nobles would be shattered. Let them make the first move. As long as we don't enter their territory, they won't enter ours."
The wives were disappointed. (Note: these are not the late king's wives but the new ones, as the current king followed in his father's footsteps, marrying multiple women.) The second, fourth, and fifth wives decided not to interfere; they didn't seem to care what happened to the king, the kingdom, or the power struggle among the wives.
The scene shifted back to Leo, who was seated on his throne. One of his robots was delivering a detailed analysis of the current situation in the Commoner Sect.
The robot reported, "So far, the Commoner Sect is slowly becoming feared by both the Middle and Noble Sects. Our technological advancement is gaining attention. The other sects are clearly jealous, and some are considering whether they should wage war. However, they still seem unsure. The drones we deployed have captured extensive data on their manpower. According to our simulations, if war breaks out, we have a 98% chance of victory—that's assuming they manage to get past the barrier we've set up around our sect."
Leo asked, "How's the ID plan coming along?"
"So far, so good," the robot replied. "The process is running smoothly. By the end of this month, the entire Commoner Sect will have resolved all ID-related issues. And one last thing you might want to hear: our detector, which we placed outside Acheron's orbit, is picking up some strange fluctuations. There's no way to explain it in words—it's as if something is coming from outer space."
Leo nodded. "Contact my kingdom. Let's set up a magnetic field around Acheron's orbit."
"With that handled, this concludes my report, your majesty."
"Drop the formalities," Leo said. "I don't like being called 'your majesty' or 'king.' Just call me Leo. Make sure all the other advanced robots get the message. Now, how's production of the neck chips going?"
"Very well," the robot replied. "Combining magic and technology has enhanced both production and chip capabilities."
"What do you plan to do with those chips once they're ready, my lord?"
"Well," Leo began, "with war approaching and potential extraterrestrial threats on the horizon, we need to ensure people have the power to protect themselves. It will increase their capabilities and improve user affinity. We can't always protect them—they need to learn to protect themselves."
"What a splendid idea, my lord."
"I want you to design elite chips for anyone willing to become a soldier of our kingdom. Make sure the chips vary based on rank or position. And, of course, do not force this on any citizen. When the time comes, they will make their choice. For now, let's keep working hard."
"Understood, my lord. I'll pass this along to the rest of our forces. With that, I'll take my leave."
"Alright. I'll call if I need anything. Until next time."
After the robot left, Leo pondered the fluctuations. Something—or someone—was coming, with the aim of wiping them out.
"I am the protector of Acheron," Leo said to himself. "I won't let that happen."
He contacted the AI and informed them that he was going into seclusion for training. Until further notice, the most senior bodyguard would take charge. His return time was uncertain, and he instructed them to remain vigilant and uphold the mission.
While Leo trained in the outskirts of space, a force was gathering—planning to wage war on Acheron.
A mysterious being, seated on a massive throne, turned to his subordinate. "How long until we reach Acheron?"
"At our current speed, we'll arrive in five years."
"Very well," the being said. As the subordinate exited, the being clenched his fist and declared, "In five years, Acheron will be added to my garbage list," unleashing a terrifying aura.
Meanwhile, Leo—deep in training—felt the distant force.
"I need to grow stronger... to protect the technologies I've created. I must keep Acheron safe. It's my duty."
He created a hyper-advanced dimension to train within. There, he decided to max out his blessings from the god of technology. Then he maxed out his blessings from the god of war. After that, he did the same with the god of the circle of life—and eventually, every other god. He spent 50 years training in Reality 1.5.
Then, the goddess of rebirth and reincarnation appeared before him.
"You've fully utilized the potential of the system," she said. "Do you wish to become a god?"
"No," Leo replied. "Not yet."
"As you wish. But this is not negotiable—you won't become a god, but you will become a demigod, Leonard. And you need to know: beyond this threat lies another—one even all the gods combined couldn't defeat. He is of the werewolf kind. After our great battle, he disappeared. Even now, with your current stats, you are nothing to him. In his eyes, you are but bacteria."
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"Be careful. He isn't a threat yet, but you must grow strong enough to be worthy of facing him. That's all I'll say for now. You need to return—your sect is currently under attack."
As Leo exited his dimension, he said coldly, "Let's see which ants dare disturb my kingdom. Wherever you are... prepare to be snapped out of existence."