Chapter 1173 - Returning To Asharia
Waking up in the morning, Shiro gathered everyone in preparation to return to Asharia.
"So you're telling me that we'll be going to a giant floating city the size of a country with multiple races including demons living in harmony?" Nine asked in disbelief as Shiro nodded her head.
"Yep, it's my own personal domain. Something that all Queen's have but this was made before I 'reset' my level." Shiro smiled as Nine nodded his head.
"Well it's obviously going to sound a little crazy but everything will be proven soon. I did want to go to the north but I'll be able to monitor the situation from Asharia anyways. I have quite a few researchers stationed in the north." Shiro shrugged while making her way out of the castle.
"Let's see… everyone's here so we can just teleport to the main plaza. Nine, you'll get training from someone called Misu.. Iris I also want you to join someone named Silvia for a while. She's also a healer than will help you improve massively. Plus, I think there's also something she can learn from you. Arnea, you can get some training from someone I know. She's called Shiina and she's a control mage so you'll be able to focus on improving your power. As for Aoi… You can go with someone called Aarim. She's a researcher and she'll be able to help you out. I'll come occasionally to run some tests but otherwise you'll act as her assistant for now." Shiro said as they all nodded.
Seeing that there was no problems, Shiro pulled out an orb and activated it. In front of her, a giant portal opened up as everyone could see a peek of a giant city with tall buildings through the windows of the teleport hall.
Stepping through the portal, Shiro pulled out her phone and sent a message for Samuel, one of the spirit elders that now works as someone that organises the new resident for her.
"Welcome back your highness, did you enjoy your journey?" A void rang out as Samuel had immediately activated a teleport orb to send him to the main hall.
"Yes I did, it was rather insightful. But guess what? I have a new job for you, I want you to show these new residents around as they work for Aoi, another Queen that I've welcomed to our alliance. I'll get Nan Tian to prepare a living space for them later." Shiro grinned as Samuel glanced past Shiro and shuddered. Looking at the mass of people that he needed to show around, Samuel massaged his eyes and sighed.
"Very well your highness, I shall make sure it is done." Samuel nodded.
"Perfect. I'll give you a holiday soon don't worry." Shiro chuckled. However, Samuel was a little doubtful since there was a warning in his mind, telling him not to trust.
This instinct was rather spot on as the second half of the new age was literally around the corner. Once it arrives, there'll be a lot of work for him before his long awaited holiday. But this was something he didn't know so he could only ignore his suspicions for now.
Watching Samuel leave with the residents that lived with Aoi, Shiro gave them a small wave.
"Welp, come along, I'll show you to your new mentors I suppose." Shiro smiled as she snapped her fingers.
Now that she's back in Asharia, she's gained access to more of her powers before her 'reset' which includes teleporting to anywhere she wanted within the city.
That's because she's not using her power of nanobots but rather using mana to access the nodes she's placed around the city. It's akin to paying the bus for a ride when you don't have a care, a quick transaction.
Arriving at Aarim's mage tower, Shiro glanced up and whistled.
Compared to what it was before, the mage tower is now floating within a rift in space. It is both connected yet detached from Asharia and there seem to be a mirror like surface that reflected the entire tower, connecting the two at the base.
Rather than a tower, it's more akin to a floating pillar with parts sticking out.
"Well, this is certainly not what I expected." Shiro muttered. Currently, there was a camouflage around everyone so none of the residents of Asharia could see them.
Watching the mages conjure a mirror staircase, Shiro found it a little boring.
"Follow me, we're going to take an express way." Shiro smiled as she closed one of her eyes and targeted the top of the tower.
Creating a needle with her mana, she fired it to the top and marked everyone with a rune.
Snapping her finger, they suddenly traded places with the needle and the five of them were now speeding towards Aarim's window.
Before they could smash the window, it opened with a slam and welcomed them in.
"Honestly, the moment I sensed your needle targeting my window I realised that you were probably going to catapult yourself. Seems like your little week long journey didn't change much of you." Aarim sighed as she looked at her new guests.
Sticking out her tongue, Shiro hopped up and dusted herself.
Looking at Aarim who had messy hair, an unbuttoned mage robe, a sports bra, long skirt paired with stockings and some boots, Shiro was surprised at her outfit since she usually kept herself well dressed. Sticking out of her mouth was a white stick that was similar to a cigarette but Shiro could tell that it's created from pure mana.
"If you're wondering about this then don't worry, it's something I managed to create. It's a stick of pure mana that stimulates you awake. It works better than coffee and has zero adverse effects. I've been awake since you've left. I do prefer to have a nap now and again though." Aarim waved her hand as she conjured more mana sticks and offered one for Shiro.
Grabbing one, Shiro placed it in her mouth and was surprised by the constant stream of mana entering her body and warming her up.
"Oh my, well isn't this rather handy. It tastes sweet too." Shiro remarked while activating analysis and scanned the composition of the mana stick.
Once she got a full scan, she decided to make one herself.
However, her's was a little bigger compared to the small ones that Aarim created.
It was twice as wide and three times as tall as Shiro. The giant white stick of mana was now firmly planted in Aarim's office.
". . .I was about to warn you since with your mana, even if you compress it, it'll probably be f*cking massive. If anyone was to try use this as a shot of energy, they can probably forget about sleeping for the next millennia." Aarim sighed as she grabbed her stick, snapped it into several pieces and started to chew it like candy.
"So, what brings you to my lab, I'm rather busy and as you can see with the changes to my tower, the research was rather fruitful." Aarim smiled.
"Ah right, business." Shiro nodded absentmindedly while staring at the pillar of mana.
"Say, before we talk about business, is the mana stick supposed to act as a high power viagra?" Shiro asked as she was scanning the composition of the pillar.
"Pardon?" Raising an eyebrow, Aarim was confused about Shiro's question when she decided to scrape off a piece of the pillar.
Snapping her finger, magic circles started to appear around her as she scanned the piece.
At the same time, they both saw the root cause. Hidden within the tiny strands of mana, was a foreign influence in the form of Aphrodite's crest.
". . ."
"Don't ask, I didn't use her blessing." Shiro said, massaging her eyes.
Trying to dismiss the pillar of pure concentrated Aphrodisiac, Shiro discovered that she could not.
"I'll… repurpose this as medicine I suppose. It might help those with difficulties in the bedroom." Aarim said with an awkward expression as they probably shouldn't smell the fumes from this pillar.
Waving her hand, she teleported it to a spare storage room that she had set up for now and ask Silvia's help in this later.
"Anyways, setting aside whatever the hell that was, would you mind helping out with Aoi's condition? You see, she was unfortunately a bit too close to one of my fights and it reduced her body to this state." Shiro said as she disinfected her hand.
Meanwhile, in the realm of gods, Aphrodite pouted in front of her panel that showed Shiro and Aarim sealing away her gift.
"Tsk, what a waste. I had just found good inspiration after seeing the mana stick too." Aphrodite complained as she waved her finger and created the mana stick but used her blessing in the creation. Holding the pink stick of mana, Aphrodite smelled the fragrance and licked her lips.
"Athena should like this." She grinned as she immediately left her room in order to look for Athena.
As for what she created…
[Celestial Aphrodisiac – Ambrosia]
A concentrated mass of mana in which the Goddess of Lust had placed her blessing on during the creation. Due to its creation method and the use of divine energy, it has ascended to the rank of Ambrosia, the pinnacle for consumables. Even Gods will have a hard time repressing this. If they do manage to repress the 'heat', their resistance will be lowered, making it easier for charm to take effect.