บท 112: Chapter 111

After the meeting, Ray and his group returned to their mansion with a somber expression. The prophecy and Nyx being injured sullen his mood. But he still tries to figure out the enemies they would fight against.

Godou said he will ask Ena to arrange a meeting with Susanoo in the Netherworld to ask for insight. But Ray has a more reliable method by going into the Temple of Infinite Time that he usurped from the Persian God, Zurvan. He brings along Nyx to heal her injury using Zurvan's authority that can rewind time to the point of erasing people out of existence by simply rewinding time. He is also going to relocate everyone into the temple as that is a private dimension only he can access and Haruhime and Bella will be safe in there.

"Thank you, Nagato." Ray noticed a cup of tea put in front of her by Nagato in white apron and hugging a circular tray on her chest.

"Don't mind it, husband. Rather, I heard the news about sister Nyx's injury and an enemy that was just being told by a prophecy." Nagato said with a sad expression. Even after the King of The End was defeated, they still cannot live in peace.

Ray sighed after looking at the drooped pair of ears and put his hand on her head before rubbing it. The ears instantly stood back up.

"No need to worry yourself, Nagato. We will definitely win. Just like usual. Nothing will stop me from achieving the peaceful life we wanted." Ray assured her with a bright smile. After all, after everything he went through to seize back his wish. He will not let it go that easily.

"Anyway, did you finish packing up your belongings?"

"Yes. I have little to begin with." Nagato nodded and then went back to the kitchen to help EMIYA and Haruhime with cooking after serving Ray his tea while he was waiting for lunch.

Ray soon joined with the two sister goddesses and the Nyx that had recovered well and were playing her online game as if nothing happened with her online friend that somehow includes Athena amongst the normal human friend. He learned from Eresh that Artoria is training and sparring with Bella on swordsmanship in the courtyard as usual.

"Ishtar…" Ray trailed and didn't continue.

"Hmn?"

"What did you feel about the soldiers? I sense something familiar about them but I could put my hand on it." Ray consults to Ishtar because as Inanna, she has great insight in battle and war related things.

"I think Eresh is more knowledgeable than me in that regard." Ishtar quickly passed the question to Ereshkigal because he can sense the similarities of the Wraiths to undead spirits.

"Eh? Ah…" Ereshkigal was shocked when her name was called and quickly tried to answer the question. "Hmn… they felt like undead spirits, more specifically Wraiths. Collection of weak malevolent spirits fused to form a stronger evil spirit. Usually happens in places like battlefields or places with mass deaths. But… to have such powerful Wraiths and on such a scale… I cannot imagine the amount of sacrifice needed to create them."

In Ray's mind, in the Warhammer universe where death tolls can go up to billion each day, such a feat isn't impossible. In fact, it's very much possible. He is almost 90% sure his opponent is a Necromancer type of mage that controls the dead and with Solomon's power. Against Necromancer, who has possibly nigh inexhaustible troops, means he needs something of equal value to counter it. In Nyx vision, he also saw his opponent have strong psychic power which is expected for a strong mage that demands a great mind to control the undead spirits.

His brainstorming session came to an abrupt halt when Haruhime came to inform that lunch was ready. Everyone moves to the dining room and enjoys their lunch.

———

Ray, who sat on his throne while pampering Sif that has been demanding his attention, watches as his mini universe is very close to the Campione universe and in a few more seconds it is going to ram straight at the bubble that shields the universe from beings above its limit.

Such restrictions were put in place to prevent beings that aren't supposed to enter from entering like Ray and plenty of other Cosmic entities that roam the void.

"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"

*CRASH*

*CRACK*

The collision caused a large crack on the bubble and fractured the barrier but still not large enough to force his micro universe from passing through.

Ray told Sif to wait for a bit and then Traced the Emperor's Sword that turned into a gigantic blade that dwarfed the micro universe and wielded it with his psychic power. Fire burst out on the blade of the sword, covering it in yellow golden flame and cleaving at the crack on the bubble.

The fracture instantly shattered like fragile glass upon impact that created a large hole which leaked out the energy of the universe, causing the Void Spawns nearby to be agitated like sharks that smelled blood. They quickly swarm over to the crack but Ray kills each of them because after killing his target, he wants to claim this universe too. He releases half of the former Chaos forces that have spacecraft or starships to guard the crack from any invading Void Spawns.

———

In Honkaiverse, only two months had passed during the entirety of the journey.

"Lord Emperor, we ask for your opinion regarding the combat readiness for the whole Imperium. As stated in the document, almost 60% of our GDP was channeled directly into the military as according to the practice of Imperium during the reign of the previous Emperor."

"Is it still necessary to maintain this much budget for the military when we hardly need our military forces except for occasional policing duty. According to a survey conducted by the newly formed Adeptus Intelligentia for the purpose of better understanding the Imperium in micro scale, the Imperial Navy isn't even necessary for policing duty any longer as Teleportation Gate can deliver any amount of forces anywhere in the Imperium in less than ten minutes. Yet, the Imperial Navy"

"Preposterous! Are you suggesting we dismantle the Imperial Navy? The pride and honor of the Imperial Army simply because we had transitioned into a peaceful age!? Please reconsider, Lord Emperor." A man with a very decorated battle dress of the Imperial Navy jumped up from his seat with anger directed to the fellow High Lord in incharge of finance.

In truth, not everyone accepted Ray very well including most of the military and the Imperial Navy is the most affected as they are currently the most irrelevant military forces that have no need anywhere in the Imperium without enemies to fight. The best they could do is fight occasional pirates that in truth, local PDF is sufficient to deal with such a threat. All because of the Teleportation Gate and now the Imperial Navy is protesting against the budget cut as the Adeptus Mechanicus is refitting their vessels with latest technology that eats up a giant chunk of the GDP according to the survey.

Ray can't ask help from Roboute Guilliman or Tanya since it will affect his credibility as a ruler because this session is broadcasted live in a public palace in Terra for Ray to deal with domestic matters like this. Like, why the fuck is Imperium of Man have an absolute monarchy but somehow mixed with democracy? The theocracy part is still understandable but democracy?

Ray looked at the Master of the Administratum incharge of civilian bureaucracy and asked. "So, the root cause of this issue is the Imperial Navy eats too much of the budget, correct?"

"Yes." The Master of the Administratum nods.

"By taking away the Imperial Navy's budget, you can better improve the development of the economy and accommodate the population more comfortably, correct?"

"Yes." The Master of the Administratum nods again.

Ray remembered from the document that almost half of the Imperium's civilians didn't have proper housing which is obviously a priority than a military force that has no enemies to fight against.

Seeing the favor tipping against him, the Lord High Admiral gritted his teeth fiercely like he is going to lash out soon which made the Custodians that accompanied Ray to be prepared.

"Then, cut the budget. The people of the Imperium is a high priority." Ray gave his verdict.

"Lord Emperor, please reconsider! Are you going to throw us aside after our great sacrifice for the Imperium's sake?" The Lord High Admiral shouted and immediately two Custodians sprung to action to restore order to the palace.

Ray sighed and said. "Unfortunately, it is the truth that the Imperial Navy is not a priority in a peaceful era. There are no enemies for you to even fight against. Meanwhile the people, the backbone of this giant machine called Imperium deserve better than to be treated as mere expendable numbers just because we have a near endless population growing across the galaxy."

"This is unacceptable! To throw us away simply because we are no longer useful!" The Lord High Admiral shouted in protest.

Ray stopped the Custodians with a lift of his hand and looked at the Lord High Admiral.

"Who said I am going to remove the Imperial Navy?" Ray asked sternly at the accusation. "While the economy will be hurted if I simply start printing more money. But for the Imperial Navy, I can create material out of thin air and fabricate entire starships without consequence." Ray showed by creating an entire battleship by transmuting his mana directly into a construct.

Like, they literally have a godlike being that can create almost anything out of thin air and they worried about money? Ray could even create the infamous fortress monastery, Phalanx out of Auramite just to flex.

"From today onwards, the military budget will be fully discontinued. Instead, I will fund it out of my own coffer." Ray gave his decree which made the Lord High Admiral go 180 from screaming out injustice to singing praises for his great wisdom and generosity.

Roboute Guilliman had a complicated feeling regarding a system that fully relied on one entity. While it is not wrong to do so. But to completely rely on a singular entity to produce something is very bad for the case if something were to happen to Ray suddenly. He cannot imagine something more powerful that can hurt Ray but he can imagine the consequence.

After the meeting with the Council ended.

"Lord Ray, is it really wise to completely remove the reliance of the military on the Imperium's budget?" Roboute Guilliman confronted Ray later after everyone had left except the Custodians.

"Personally, no. But I do it because I can and it's a waste no to when I could do it yet decided not to." Ray replied. Roboute Guilliman could understand the logic behind it.

"Don't worry, it's just a temporary solution until I have a better one. For now, the Imperium is back at the development stage where we should really dedicate ourselves to the industry and economy. When both our industry and economy have developed to a stage where it can sustain the military, I will reinstate the military budget."

Roboute Guilliman said no more as Ray had made his decision. While he is still mostly taking care of the Imperium's government, he is slowly giving Ray the control over the decision until he can fully be freed from his position and retire.

———

Returning to Earth from Terra, Ray told Tanya that he had arrived at Campione universe and his preparation is done just as head up.

"Do you really have to exclude us from the fight?" Tanya asked suspiciously that Ray is quite insistent that he will fight against other RAYs alone.

"Yes. My answer remains the same and will never change."

After all, each RAYs is a protagonist of their own story and has plot armor that can turn tides of battle. So, why would he risk exposing his weakness to his enemies? Tanya knew this but still felt dissatisfied that she cannot be alongside him in battle.

"Then, share with me your power. If I am strong, you don't have to worry about me being captured by your enemies." Tanya spoke her thoughts out loud for Ray to hear.

"You know it isn't as easy as giving away power. Especially power that you wouldn't be able to control." Ray sighed but Tanya counter with teary eyes, landing critical hits on Ray who raised the white flag immediately.

Ray produced a dark orb in his palm that he pushed into Tanya's chest, granting her access to his Undying Legion. Since she is a strategist type of person, giving her an army to lead is the next best thing he could give after his literal divinity.

"Happy now?" Ray grumbled.

Tanya is the only one that will make demands and he cannot reject them. The others will follow his arrangements even if they are dissatisfied. Especially Artoria who is even more eager than Tanya to fight alongside him but backed down after Ray said no to her once.

"Very happy." Tanya responded with a bright shining smile on her face and gave him a kiss before professing her love once more.

"I love you too…" Ray sighed again like an old man as the excited and energetic Tanya is dragging him to walk quicker and returns to their home so she can test the power Ray gives her.

—————

(Author Note Below)

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~Author Note~

So, I know. May will ask what is this chapter? Where are the actions? Why did Ray not nuke the world?

Well, I felt that I had been focused on action too much that there is very little screen time for others like the cast in Imperium, Tanya and etc.

The takeover of the Campione universe isn't going to be lengthy. Obviously, Ray is powerful enough to stomp them like ants if he wants. But he purposely wanted to make his enemy suffer rather than a swift death.

The Prophecy is what is gonna happen in general but not exactly. A Netherworld contains memories from another timeline that isn't necessarily the timeline of the current one. As for Ray being able to act like usual is because he is literally a higher dimensional being that time hardly matters to him. He can look simultaneously into the past, present, and future like an Eldritch God by warping time.

Sounds very OP? Well not exactly. He syncs memory with the Ray in the vision to tell the Ray in the vision what's up but cannot take control of the action of the Ray in the vision.