Surviving The Myriad Worlds (A Multiplanar LitRPG)

Okay. I knew this was coming eventually. I just need to stick to my story, and everything will be fine. Of course, that ignores the fact that I am essentially facing a sentient lie detector. No problem.

"You have mentioned several times to your companions that your homeland is called 'America' and once a moment ago," As Ahzi continued speaking, Dante's gaze wandered to the stack of parchment beneath her hand. He wondered how much information about him was contained within. "This doesn't seem to be a lie, but how is it possible? Do you feel no loyalty to the Empire?"

Dante frowned, confused. "I don't understand, my lady. My home is America. I was born in a city called Seattle, far away from the Wulian Empire."

Now it was Ahzi's turn to look confused. "That is impossible. [One With The Realm] does not work on foreigners and yet they work on you. However, you are also not lying." Her look turned suspicious. "How is that possible?"

A swelling of hostility pressed upon him from every direction. It was like being plunged into the ocean so deep that there was nothing but pitch-black water in every direction. He was insignificant before her presence. In the back of his head, Dante realized the feeling was coming from his aura. It was being overpowered and forced to compress. He was completely and utterly outmatched.

Is this what an aura contest is? I had no idea it could be used like this. No wonder all high-level people have such a presence to them! This is so oppressive.

To buy himself some time, Dante activated [Temporal Reactions] and [Hyper Focus] while praying that Ahzi wouldn't feel it. She didn't appear to, but the period between her question and the current moment was already uncomfortable.

Let's assume that Ahzi knows what she is talking about and that I somehow register as being born in this country. How could that be possible?

Dante played with a few possibilities but one immediately leapt out at him. He considered it for a few seconds and it seemed probable, but he had no true of knowing. There was no time left, he could see that Ahzi was preparing to speak. This would have to be enough.

"I have a theory. If you would allow me?" Dante waited for Ahzi to close her mouth and give him a nod before continuing. "I think this discrepancy is because of my unusual method of arrival in this country."

"To be clear, you are talking about teleportation?"

"Yes, my lady. I believe that the teleportation spell utterly dissembled me and then resembled me here. In a twisted way, that might make your ability register as me being born here."

The pressure on him retreated and a disgusted expression crossed Ahzi's face. "That is a horrifying and cruel spell. Why would you ever use that over the traditional method? Could you even call such a spell teleportation? If anything, it's more like replication."

"I wouldn't know first Princess. I was caught up in it by complete chance."

"Wait, that would mean that the original Dante died and you are…"

"A clone?"

Such a possibility had crossed Dante's mind a long time ago and he had done his best not to think about it since. What Ahzi was talking about was possible and it haunted him. The thought of being a clone … well it was more than a little unsettling. However …

"Perhaps, but I have it on good authority that the soul exists and that it came with me. When I was caught in the spell, I was aware the entire time."

His time in the space between flashed through his mind. It was difficult to describe with physical senses, but he remembered existing as a mind in the void surrounded only by others of a similar plight. Most of all, he remembered that powerful being transporting him and placing him in this world. What else could have been left of him then but his soul?

"This explanation is satisfactory for the moment, though I know several researchers who would like to hear about that particular experience of yours. Curious to think that my birthright could be fooled by such a spell. We will have to develop a counter. Hmm, this is a dilemma. You are part of our military without being a citizen of our country. What to do …"

Ahzi tapped her chin with one delicate finger while Dante fought to keep his face straight. Could this be it? His opportunity to get out of this war? Should he say something? The opportunity was taken out of his hands as Ahzi's finger stopped tapping with an 'ah!'.

"Why overcomplicate this? In light of your exceptional service, Dante Embry, I grant you citizenship in our great Empire. Continue as you have been and titles may await you in the future." Ahzi nodded to herself. "That should cover any bureaucratic problems. I will have Moeris handle the paperwork for that and for you joining my retinue."

Dante stared dumbly at her.

That's all? A citizenship for an evil ass Empire that has forcibly drafted me? No asking what I want? Did it even occur to her that this is not what I want? Would she care if she knew?

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As much as Dante wanted to so speak thsse thoughts outloud, he couldn't. While Ahzi was acting much more pleasantly in private than in public, he couldn't risk offending her. Instead, Dante offered a plaintive smile.

"You honor me beyond words, First Princess."

"And yet you are not satisfied?" Asked Ahzi, tilting her head to one side. She was utterly impassive.

He really should have known that wouldn't get past her. At least she didn't seem angry. Though, Dante still didn't trust her with his true feelings.

"Sorry, First Princess. More than anything, I long for the end of the war and the peace it will bring. Until that, everything feels like one more step in a long road."

"A worthy dream indeed. This ceasefire with the Ahsmati will only last as long as our mutual enemy and the conflict will ignite anew. It is only after victory that we can consider resting and rebuilding. If the Empresses wills it."

"If the Empress wills it," Dante repeated back, relieved that he had escaped that one. He knew better than to account that to his own skill. It almost seemed to him that Ahzi was running down a list and not pressing too hard.

"Still, then the question becomes what kind of land is your former home? If it is able to use such strange methods of magic, it must be an enlightened place indeed. Do you happen to know where in the world it is?"

The questions just do not end!

"I am afraid not. I have not even seen a map except for the one on the back of coins."

Dante had hardly finished his sentence before Ahzi had fished a large scroll out of a drawer and spread it across the table.

"Does anything look familiar?"

Dante drank in the map, committing it to memory. He would likely never find such a complete or well-drawn map again. In the center of it, was the Wʉlian Empire he had seen on the back of coins — because of course it was. However, it was a small portion of the map. Perhaps only an eighth, which made it the second-largest nation. It pictured two continents, one of which was not fully defined and appeared to be across the ocean to the south of the Wulian Empire.

So they haven't circumnavigated the globe yet. That's good. There is a lot of blank space on this map where 'America' could be.

There were three nations bordering the Empire. To the North, separated by a mountain range save for a single pass was Mosoon. Dante didn't know much about it save that it was considered a very rich land in both trade and culture. He had heard that it was all the rage for the aristocracy to get an education there. To the east was Ʉonan, which was a desert nomadic nation known for its warriors and, If Ren was to be believed, its spicy food. Compared to the Empire, it was vast indeed and took up nearly a quarter of the continent. That wrapped up the extent of his knowledge about the lands beyond.

I still know almost nothing about this world. I probably know less than a child.

To the west, was where Dante had been fighting all along. An area a fair size smaller than the Empire was simply labeled Ahsmati. In red ink, clearly new and distinct from the rest of the map, was a new subset of Ahsmati and Empire territory labeled 'Crystal Scourge'. It was mostly hemmed in by a western ocean, though the second continent was not too far away. By the looks of it, it had been redefined several times.

That can't be good.

"Well?" Asked Ahzi impatiently.

Dante tore his eyes away from the map to glance at her, just now realizing how rude he had been. Thankfully, she didn't seem offended. Perhaps there was an exception to the staring rule for things like this? He was still confused about how everyone was not tripping constantly due to it.

"I can't see anything I recognize," he answered carefully, which was the truth.

"Are you sure? According to our astronomers, this should be the vast majority of the world. And our seas are well sailed."

Dante cast a skeptical eye at the map. Either these continents were way bigger than he estimated or this planet was tiny. It was hard to tell, he couldn't read anything on the map, much less a scale.

"Pretty sure. My homeland is far, far away from anything like this. Perhaps the reason it hasn't been discovered is because it is dangerous to travel there. We are … isolated by horrors that you can scarcely imagine."

I suppose that an uncaring void of space could be considered that.

Ahzi met his gaze for the second time this day and the pressure returned.

[Deception] has advanced to Level 5

Specializations are available

Dante opened the specialization menu in front of Ahzi's face so that he could maintain unbroken eye contact and glanced at the titles.

[Mimic Persona]

[Inscrutable]

[Glib Tongued]

Dante picked [Inscrutable] without hesitation and felt alien knowledge wash through his mind. He slowly relaxed his face, letting his expression go blank. Keeping it tense would only highlight his tells and would exhaust his facial muscles besides. Rather than looking at Ahzi, he kept his eyes on the menu in front of her face. It was easier to look nonchalant when he ignored the person in front of him. A trick of perspective, but it made all the difference.

A few uncomfortable moments passed before there was a loud knock on the door and a womans voice came through — the female attendant he thought. "Ahzi? Third Prince Luren is getting impatient. He is demanding what could be so important to keep someone of his station waiting."

Breaking eye contact first, Ahzi sighed and called back: "Be there in a moment!"

She stood up and gestured for him to follow, which he did. "We arrive at the capital tomorrow whereupon you will have half a week before the audience with the Empress. I will be adding etiquette to your training. While I have relaxed standards compared to my brethren, most are not. I prefer you whole."

Ahzi opened the door to reveal the female attendant, who looked at him with disdain. "Princess, Luren is quite incensed. You will need to soothe his ego if you want his support."

"When is he not vexed? I swear he enjoys it." The pair began walking away, leaving him alone with the two door guards. "Oh, and Dante?" Called Ahzi without looking over her shoulder. "Do not disappoint me."