Chapter 288: Who Is Stronger

Right... Of course these guys were enslaving the powerless people... Why am I not surprised?

I suppose that’s why the other survivors we met were so defensive about their positions since they expected us to be the same.

Now I’m even more surprised that they actually took my offer to come to our base since we could very well have been lying to them and trying to enslave them as well.

Either way... What do we do with this guy?

I crossed my arms, "Why do you even need slaves? What’s stopping you from just living together normally?"

He stared at me for a good few seconds before letting out a laugh, "Ahahaha!! Why? Did I not make this clear already? We, the ones you so spitefully call mutants, are the Ascended! We are the next stage of evolution and the monsters are sent to cleanse the world of impurities like you! We will rebuild from the ashes an even greater civilisation and become the new gods of this world! And despite the fact that you don’t have a place in that new world, we are willing to grant you our mercy and bring you with us as our slaves! That is already something you don’t even deserve!"

Sigh... I believe this is a case of absolute power corrupting absolutely...

Another question came to mind, "I understand you’re a duke right? Are you the one with the highest position in this city?"

He smirked and puffed up his chest, "Haha! That’s right! You have the honour of standing in front of one of the three Dukes of this city! Whatever I say is the law here! It is your good fortune that you ran into me!"

"Who decides that you are one of the Dukes? Are you elected or something?"

"Hahaha!! Elected?! Hahaha! You think there’s a place for such a thing?! In this new world order, power is all that matters! What’s the use of a few squabbling nobodies complaining about rights when they don’t even have the power to defend it?! They can whine and complain about how unfair this is but when they would fall at the first horde of those monsters and can only live under my protection, who really has the power?!"

Well... I have to agree with him partly there...

Our own world also operated by these rules, just that we weren’t as extreme as them.

I guess partly because of the fact that everyone wanted to keep the status quo as much as possible and the Mortal Gods enjoy the privileges without the responsibilities.

Because I’m pretty sure if there was a Mortal God who just decided to take over the country they were a part of, the people would just let them do it anyway.

The only people they have to worry about are the other Mortal Gods around them who might not agree with that action, though I would say that Mortal Gods already stand at the top of their faction to begin with so there’s not really a need for any of us to do something like this.

I think I prefer our way of doing stuff though it could just be my bias.

"So does this mean that the strongest person gets to be at the top?" I asked meaningfully.

He smirked at me, "That’s right. Because it’s only the strong who are able to carve their place in the new world! Only the strong can survive! The weak can only rely on the mercy of the strong to live! Without the strong, the weak will perish! Who else deserves to stand at the top aside from the strongest?!"

He then turned to reach out his hand towards Olivia, "That’s why... I can already tell at first glance you are strong! There’s no need for you to hide anymore. I know you are just using him as a mouthpiece to hide your strength but there’s no need for that here! You can join me and I’ll grant you a place at my side as my right hand!"

I thought Olivia would just continue to ignore him again but I guess that comment finally made her snap as she turned to face him directly.

"So... You say that the strongest stands at the top, right?"

Thinking that he might actually be getting through to her, Khar’s smirk got even wider and took another step towards her.

"That’s right. I can sense it. You are strong. Strong enough to stand beside me."

She cracked her fists in front of her, "In that case... If there’s someone stronger than you... Then it means that you have to abdicate, right?"

He paused, looking surprised by her words.

Really? Did he not think that was a possibility? If you were going to base your society on pure power, then that means your position could also be lost if a stronger power comes into the equation, right?

When that happens, you would become one of the ’weak’ that you have been looking down on while you were the strong.

His demeanor changed as his smirk disappeared to glare at her, "Are you challenging me? Even after you’ve seen the fact that I’m an Elemental Ascendant? I saw you fighting them, you’re just a Physical Ascendant, you are no match for me."

I’m assuming they have different tiers to the type of powers they awakened in this World and he thinks that Olivia’s power is just super strength.

To prove his point, he reached out his palm to let a ball of fire appear, "Do you really think you stand a chance?"

I thought she would show off her powers here but...

Olivia’s smile turned a little feral, "You didn’t answer my question. If someone stronger were to appear, does it mean that you would abdicate from your position?"

Khar dematerialised the fireball and sneered, "If it was that easy to find someone that strong, then they would already be known throughout the world by now. But if someone like that really appeared. Hmph!! They would have to beat me first and make me submit! But I respect the strong so I would follow them!"

Olivia then gestured towards me, "Perfect then. Because my Lord is way stronger than you."

Olivia?! Why are you giving it away right now?!

Hmm... Then again, I guess we’ve already reached the deepest part of the city and if we can secure his cooperation, we would be able to move around the cavern easily and potentially find out more about it through this position...

Also... Why are the rest of the Guardians not here yet? How long does it take for them to ride the lift up here? Did the lift get stuck or something?

Khar turned to me, his eyes narrowing, "You? You’re telling me you’re also an Ascended?"

I didn’t even get to say anything before he immediately scoffed at the thought, "Tsk. You could have come up with a more believable lie instead. I do not sense any power from you. You are definitely not an Ascendant."

I raised an eyebrow, "How are you even able to tell?"

"Oh please. With my capabilities, I would be able to sense someone with powers instinctively, especially when they are weaker than me," He scoffed before turning to smile at Olivia. "That’s why I could tell that you aren’t as strong as I am."

Err... I’m very sure that Olivia can absolutely wreck him if she wanted to... And I have a feeling that he believes I have no power because I was so far above him in terms of power level that he wasn’t able to sense anything.

Which also explains why he thought Siti and Diana were also normal people as well.

I let out a sigh, "Alright... So you’re saying that if I beat you, I will become the leader of this place, right?"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, "If you can even withstand my fire, I’ll lick your shoe right now!"

"Eww... I don’t want that... But alright, let’s see you deal with this."

I clapped my hands together, summoning two of my floating arms above my shoulder.

He blinked in surprise, most likely not expecting me to even have any powers to begin with so the sight of my floating arms was enough to surprise him to that state.

I then shot one of my arms forward and grabbed his neck, lifting him up into the air to dangle him above me.

The women who had been kneeling on the ground were just looking up at the sight in terrified wonder, their jaws hanging open as they watched their tormentor reduced to this state.

Khar gasped and reached out his hand to shoot a ball of fire at me.

I reached out my own hand and tore off a piece of the wall with my geomancy powers to hold that wall in front of me, using it to block the explosion and leaving me unscathed.

Now... Are you going to surrender, mister duke?