Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 59: You’re really a Knight Errant

Slya didn’t let the silence linger. "Wait! You’re really a Knight rank? And an Elemental? I thought your power would be in the realm of the Dark Order! Isn’t that it? What are you? Wait, with your core, wouldn’t your power be stronger than the average Knight, and...?"

"Slow down, Slya!" Tiber laughed. "You’ll kill him with questions! But I’m also curious as well."

I smiled. "Let’s just say my power isn’t like normal powers. I have more than one sub-essence. It’s a unique sub-essence that makes it possible to use related essences."

Slya’s eyes widened. "I’ve heard about this before! A sub-essence that grants access to related sub-essences in the same Essence Order. Wow, you’re really a beast."

"You don’t know half of it." I decided not to mention the other things I saw and understood behind the door.

"So what’s your main essence? Your Order essence?"

I understood what she was asking. Like a Fire Elemental Knight, the main essence would be the Fire essence, while sub-essences could include Heat, Broad fire Control, or Combustion. Such Knights might be able to burn something down without starting an actual fire. Knights with strong sub-essences were always more powerful within those sub-essences.

And that was one of the differences between them and me. Every essence under the Infernal Dominion was like a main essence to me. I might even be considered an Order by myself, Infernal Dominion Order.

"My main essence is the Infernal Dominion," I answered.

Tiber shook his head. "I’ve never heard of it. But with a name like that, shouldn’t it be under the Dark Order? That’s where almost all the unclassified and very dark Knights are."

"That sounds very powerful," Slya said, not hiding her jealousy and disappointment. They’d come here for a Construct, but the events that had unfolded since then had dashed any hopes of that. Not to mention, she should just be glad to still be alive. "So what are your sub-essences? How many types of power can you use?"

I shrugged, not answering. In truth, I’d only know the correct answer once I claimed all the inheritances out there.

Instead, I asked what had been bothering me since. "Where’s Kren?"

The two of them recoiled.

It was Taiwo who answered from her place. "He’s gone. He disappeared from this place after you went into that door."

I let it sink in. I knew something like that must have happened since I didn’t see him here. He’s not the type to just give up, though, so what’s really going on? Is he afraid of my new powers after he failed to get an oath out of me?

I’ll think about that later, but for now... I faced Taiwo. "What’s wrong? You look as if you just saw a vicious outlaw."

Taiwo raised her head, opened her mouth, then shook it. "I... why did you kill all the workers?"

I knew it would be something like this. "Because I was curious about this power Kren said was behind the door," I answered truthfully.

Taiwo’s eyes flashed. "You did... all this for that?" She sounded baffled. "You mean you could have saved all of them?"

"Maybe? I didn’t try to find out. Besides, I was more concerned about saving Tiber and Slya," I shrugged. I didn’t forget the deal I’d made with those two.

"That’s a horrible thing to do," Taiwo said faintly. "I... I thought you just couldn’t save them."

I looked at her. "Indeed."

I didn’t deny it, but I didn’t elaborate either. I remembered when I’d challenged Kade on how he treated me and bullied the workers.

*You don’t know what you’ll do until you’re presented with the options. Besides, it was the only way I could think of to save myself. If it ever comes to that again, I’m ready to fulfill the promise I made to myself...

I won’t kill myself.

Taiwo nodded as if she’d seen what she wanted. She stood up and bowed. Then she said in a solemn voice. "Thank you for saving me again. My life is yours. What will you do with it?"

Tiber and Slya watched the two of us with curiosity and mild awkwardness. How, and when had the conversation suddenly turned this awkward and heavy? To them, this was the Borderland, and it was always every person for themselves. They waited for my response because it could determine their own fate as well.

I opened my mouth to dismiss her but then paused. Now that I’m a Knight rank, I have to carefully think about my next steps, not only about the Borderland but about the organization behind Kren... and Arvas

The one thing I know is that I don’t want to be used by anyone. I don’t want to be a plaything for anyone or any organization. I want to be an existence that stands above everyone else, not only in power but in status

My blood shimmered, and my eyes brightened. I understood what I wanted to do. It was a simple thing, really, something I’d dreamed of since I was a child. Something no one else had ever done except for one person....

The First and Last Emperor of the Eternal Skies.

I opened my mouth and said, "I want to be the Emperor."

"That’s....wait!"

"What?"

"What!"

"I knew you were crazy!" The last part was from Slya.

I repeated it again, this time with a smile as I thought about the mountains of challenges the word carried. "I want to be the Emperor of the Eternal Skies."

They looked at me as if I were insane. The Eternal Skies was vast, with countless Clans possessing the might of high-rank Knights. In fact, the Hinterlands, where the Athrimir Clan resided, were regions for only small Clans. And they are regarded, by the Great Clans, as small flies.

There were still the Middle Clans and then the High Clans in the central lands. Compared to all of this, I, the Borderland, and even they were nothing but specks.

That was why Tiber laughed and said, "You’re crazy."