I Can Assimilate Everything

General Lydia was taken aback, her composed facade cracking to show genuine surprise. She turned silent, processing the implications of his confidence.

"You speak as if you have armies waiting," she said finally. "As if you have powerhouses ready to step into the positions of those you would remove."

"Better than armies," Achilles replied, leaning back in his chair with confidence of someone holding cards no one else knew existed.

"That's impossible," Lydia said, though her tone suggested she was already considering the possibilities. "The power required to be a General…it takes centuries to develop, bloodlines to support, and most of all…a Mastered Retulations. Regulations are the pillars of the Star Seas. After attaining enough stellar awareness, one has to make sure they can manipulate Regulations freely. Time, Space, Destruction, Fate, Light…there are many regulations, but a few Regulators!"

…!

Regulators.

Achilles closed his eyes as he let this word flow in his mind.

Past Galactic Nexus Embodiment, those who exceed were those who Regulated their surrounding reality based on their existence.

A person with the Regulation of Water…everywhere he went, he would be able to alter those surroundings to take on the rulings of water.

And as one became more powerful and proficient…those Regulations became even more terrifying

He has…a combined multiple Regulations that produced Inevitable Entropy as this…was a terrifying Regulation others did not have!

As he Assimilated more space-time, destiny, and carnage…it would continue to go higher.

This was part of his confidence!

He opened his eyes.

"I can easily carry out revenge against those responsible while replacing them with those more powerful," Achilles confirmed. "It will strengthen everyone and maintain defenders against Outsiders. The defense will be better, stronger, more unified because it won't be built on weak fucks."

…!

General Lydia now became quiet for a few seconds before she replied.

"You'll have to make some concessions," Lydia said, her voice taking on the tone of negotiation. "There are beings you cannot kill. Or even try killing. Powers that, corrupt or not, are essential to maintaining stability. Chancellors. Pillars of the Star Seas. Can we at least agree on that?"

Achilles considered her words, his expression thoughtful. "I understand there are some rats and poison that need to be taken out, but to a level, and if it is done right. If it is someone I cannot replace, I won't touch."

…!

He didn't add the word yet. Here, he lied!

But what was wrong with a lie here and there?

"Then we need proof," Lydia said, leaning forward with sudden intensity. "A test case. One target, one replacement. If you can do what you claim, kill a corrupt power and replace them with someone better, then I'll work with you on the rest."

She paused, clearly making a difficult decision.

"I'll give you the location of one General who became a General after betraying the Last Adrastia Taboo."

…!

The temperature in the room seemed to drop, though the sensation had nothing to do with actual cold.

"We use him as an experiment," Lydia continued. "If you can kill and replace him successfully, then I'll work with you on the rest. But I must caution you…I don't know how much you have mastered the Regulation of Time, but all Generals are Masters of Regulations. Terrifying Master Regulators as some…are even Grandmaster Regulators with multiple Regulations under their belts. Beings who can birth or collapse suns with a blink. In this front, you may be weak. You may be killed instead. Will there be another Adrastia Emperor King after you?"

…!

She began making fucking jokes.

Achilles laughed internally at such words, the sound echoing through dimensions that only he could perceive.

The idea that he would be weak against a General, that mastery of a single Regulation would be enough to stop him, was almost endearing in its ignorance of what he had Assimilated.

"You don't have to worry about me," he said aloud, "What is the first name?"

Lydia was silent for a long moment, clearly making final calculations, weighing risks against possibilities.

When she finally spoke, her voice carried the weight of a die being cast.

"General Kaelus Dravenhold," she said, each syllable placed with careful precision. "He used to be a close confidant of the Last Adrastia Emperor King…your father. His betrayal of your father, the information he provided…that gave him his current position."

She fixed Achilles with her amber gaze, ensuring he understood the full implications.

"He is the test to see if any of this will work out. A betrayer of the highest order, but also a legitimate General with all the power that position entails as over the years, he has made merits in the Butchering Grounds and saved many. If you can remove him and successfully replace him with someone better, someone who can hold that position against Outsider threats..."

She let the implication hang in the air between them.

Achilles stood slowly, his movement causing his crown to pulse.

"General Kaelus Dravenhold," he repeated, tasting the name like wine he was about to pour out on his father's grave. "The test case. The proof of concept."

He looked down at General Lydia, and for a moment, she could see in his eyes the full weight of what he was.

"You'll have your proof," he said simply. "And when I deliver it, we'll discuss the rest of the names. The rest of the changes that need to be made."

"Another thing."

She added.

"I did all of this to reduce the casualties of the Butchering Grounds. I will need a body or clone of yours there for you to see for yourself how it is and pick a region to defend. To show why the Outsiders schemed against Adrastia. Can you do that?"

…!

Can he send a body to the Butchering Grounds.

Achilles smiled as he thought of the Draconic Hybrids he had sent out long ago that had been traversing across the Star Seas as he replied calmly.

"I…am already arriving in the Butchering Grounds."

…!