Chapter 43: Chapter 46 – Coronation

“Is he awake?”

“Don’t shake him Aries!”

“Come on kid, wake up already!”

Theseus blinked and looked around him. All ten Elders of Oceanus surrounded him in his hospital bed. Elder Gerald forced his way to the bed through the individuals with entire realms of aura above his own.

“Theseus, Theseus! I’m so glad you’re okay.” He cried out as tears poured down his face. Gerald went in for the hug.

“Ouch!” Theseus grunted.

“Get off of him. You’re hurting him.” Elder Virgo lifted Gerald with one hand and put him down.

Every Elder was beaten to a pulp. There was not a single person in the room, besides Elder Gerald, who didn’t have major injuries.

“What happened?” Theseus asked.

“We did it. We won.” Aries said with a smile.

“Eww,” cried out Elder Jezebel upon seeing the revolting yet rare smile of Aries.

“Shut up bitch! We’re trying to have a moment here.” Aries yelled and lurched at Jezebel. Gemini and Lord Scorpius held back Aries as Theseus laughed from his hospital bed, coughing in pain.

The one in the worst condition was obviously Theseus, but his injuries weren’t permanent. After a few months of rehabilitation, he would be as good as new. With zero casualties thanks to Theseus’s gamble to coerce Lord Darkin, they all lived. Perhaps the one most injured was Elder Scorpius, who drove himself further than his limits to face Lord Darkin.

“What of Lord Darkin? How long have I been out?” Theseus asked after everyone calmed down.

“Dead. His body was incinerated in the explosion. I could tell from the remnants of his Shade Core. He is dead without a doubt.” Aries solemnly said.

“I see.” Theseus responded. Although Lord Darkin was a lost cause, Theseus hoped somewhere in his heart that the Suzerain Lord would repent of his evil ways.

“You care too much about evil people, Theseus. You’ve been in a coma for three weeks. Next time, you might not survive.” Capricorn shook her head. Taurus and Virgo nodded in the background, agreeing.

“If I never gave most of you a chance, would you have changed your ways?” Theseus countered Elder Capricorn. During the fight, the passion and progress she showed was inspiring. Against all odds, her foundations and passion for Oceanus caused her to survive and even injure Lord Darkin’s shoulder.

Elder Virgo and Elder Jezebel looked at each other instinctively. Even the former Suzerain Lords, Taurus, and Scorpius, looked at each other. If not for Theseus, they would all be evil still. In all likelihood, they would have killed each other before Lord Darkin even arose from his slumber. Given, three of the four were delusional due to their Shade Cores, but regardless, Theseus took the time to offer them a second chance when they didn’t really deserve it.

“What now?” Gemini asked from the back of the crammed hospital room. Doctor Iaso sat in a chair in the back of the room, watching the crowd of Elders in awe.

“Now, we unite the Oceanic Realm under Oceanus.” Theseus said with a weak smile.

“What about the doubters and rebels?” Former Suzerain Lord, Taurus, asked. Of all the Elders, Taurus was perhaps the most tentative about joining Oceanus and only did so because of his fight with Gemini. Following his whims, he was able to survive the calamity of Lord Darkin. This was actually his first time talking to Theseus.

“Nice to finally meet you, Elder Taurus.” Theseus grinned. Taurus tentatively nodded.

“About them… I propose a similar situation to the former borderlands between Lord Virgo , Jezebel, and Achilles. Anyone who doesn’t want to join Oceanus can stay between the barrier of the Desolate and Lord Darkin’s former territory. I can imagine there won’t be anyone besides the selfish or suborn who will want to go back the Suzerain ways.” Theseus suggested.

“Woah, woah, woah! Theseus, you need to rest. Stop working. You probably can’t even move.” Jezebel protested.

“The Borderlands, hmm, it could work. I predict a weaker version of a Suzerain Lord will dominate that land, but they will never be able to pose a threat to us and will stay in a permanent state of revolution.” Elder Taurus concurred with Theseus, ignoring Jezebel.

“Wasn’t that how the Oceanic Realm operated up until now?” Theseus said and looked intently into Taurus’s eyes. Taurus didn’t budge. Being an Elder was an uncomfortable experience for him since his identity and skills were tied to his role as a Suzerain Lord.

“I disagree.” Aries spoke out.

“Huh?” Leo and Gemini were confused. It sounded like a good idea to them.

“Unless we solidify our power and way as law, we can’t permanently change the Oceanic Realm. Any defectors should be exiled or imprisoned.” Aries ruthlessly suggested.

Everyone contemplated the suggestion but made no direct rejection; they wanted to hear what Theseus had to say first.

“I propose something a little in between.” Elder Virgo spoke up now.

“This realm has always been shattered in seven pieces. Even with each Elder governing the former territories as smaller states that make up Oceanus, our unity will be shaky.

I propose we solidify a strong central government to imprison the defective officials of Lord Darkin and other rebels while maintaining a weak Borderlands. We can allow some of Darkin’s old Captains to flee, but we need to maintain a tight fist on Oceanus. For this plan to work, we need a central figure. Theseus, will you be the King of Oceanus?”

Everyone gasped.

“I can’t accept that position. I nominate Aries.” Theseus immediately shot back.

Aries laughed.

Theseus agreed that taking a balanced approach between the carrot and the stick in the form of punishing strong rebels while allowing a borderlands would be smarter, but he didn’t want to be the unifying figure. Even if it was selfish, Theseus true goal was always to create a home for Leo and his friends to share together. With no interest to rule, he tried to force it on Aries in the decisive aftermath of Lord Darkin.

“We’ll take a vote then. I nominate Theseus.” Aries smiled deviously.

“I vote Aries.” Elder Scorpius countered from the back of the room. Aries glared angrily at Scorpius.

“I vote Theseus.” Elder Jezebel winked. Theseus cringed that she was still trying to flirt with him.

“I vote Gemini.” Laughed Lord Taurus, trying to spice things up.

“What? I vote Theseus!” Gemini retorted.

“If Theseus votes Aries, I will trust his judgement.” Elder Gerald nodded to Theseus.

You are reading story Dungeon Rulers at novel35.com

“I vote Theseus, as I said in my proposition.” Lord Virgo spoke up again.

“Leo says he votes for Gemini because it’s funny.” Theseus remarked with a sigh.

“Why is that funny?” Gemini stood up and tried to wrestle Leo. As the two played, Aries addressed the situation. 

“That’s four votes for Theseus, three votes for me, and two for Gemini. It all comes down to you, Capricorn.” Aries turned to Capricorn.

“And what happens if it’s a tie?” Capricorn giggled.

“I don’t know, maybe we’ll do rock-paper-scissors.” Aries shrugged.

“This isn’t a game Aries! This is for the fate of Oceanus!” Theseus yelled in a hoarse and weakened voice. It was maddening enough that Leo wasn’t taking this seriously.

“I know it’s not; that’s why I voted for you.” Aries laughed.

“I have an idea, why can’t we let Doctor Iaso decide? I vote Aries,” giggled Capricorn, not wanting the responsibility.

Iaso was dumbfounded. This was supposed to be a checkup for Theseus, who was about to awaken, not a formal meeting! All along, he patched up Theseus and his friends as an experienced medical professional, but this was too much.

“I vote Theseus…” Iaso sighed out. How did things come to this?

***

“Today, Elder Theseus is the Head Elder of Oceanus, the Founder of Oceanus, King Theseus!” Aries declared to the world. Clapping and cheers gave way to a new era for Oceanus. Theseus lived for years in Hell, but time flew quicker after the Great Suzerain War.

Theseus and his Elders went along with their plan, and the borderlands between the Desolate and Lord Darkin’s former territory was formed. Anyone unwilling to stay in Oceanus left through the Runic Gateway that connected the two realms. Time flew by as the day-to-day activities of running the Oceanic Realm took its toll on Theseus.

In a blink, Theseus entered his fifteenth year in Hell.

“Did I really die fifteen years ago?” Theseus wondered. It all felt like a strange dream sometimes.

“We’ve been too busy lately, Leo,” thought Theseus to Leo in their crevice. Leo nodded and sat on a comfy bed in the Soul Link. After incessant begging, Theseus was able to conjure up lights and décor for their crevice, and it became homely over time.

“You haven’t grown all that stronger since taking the whole Oceanic Realm for yourself. What happened?” Leo curiously asked.

“When I entered the D Rank, I did so out of necessity, not out of choice. These past years, I’ve been consolidating my foundations.” Theseus responded.

The Oceanic Realm had about 30 million people living in it. With his subordinate’s growth and the vast numbers of Oceanus, he was able to mark more and more Captains and soldiers with the Oceanus Founder skill.

“So, you’ve still been growing then?” Leo wondered how high Theseus could go. He didn’t even realize Theseus had grown stronger.

“Yes, but this is my maximum for now, the C Rank.” Theseus responded. Leo gasped, not knowing Theseus secretly broke through while they traveled around Oceanus on business trips.

“Now that Oceanus is stable, we need to think about the future, Leo.” Theseus seriously told Leo.

“What do you mean Theseus?” Asked Leo. Wasn’t the threat of the Suzerains gone? What was there left to worry about?

“The Desolate and the Moirai won’t stay put forever. Also, our food situation is unsustainable in the long run. Even with the new farmlands developed in Virgo’s territory, the growth of Oceanus will become too large within the next ten years.” Theseus sighed. As the new King of Oceanus, his responsibility grew exponentially.

The past few years were the Golden Age of Oceanus. Everyone praised Theseus, but it felt empty at times. Soon, the Deities would strike, or the growth of Oceanus would collapse in on itself, like a dying star. Because the Suzerains weren’t killing the weak and some new arrivals like before, the population of Oceanus grew exponentially as well.

“We are running out of time, Leo, but now, we have more liberty to move about. My plan is simple, we need to expand past the mountains or into the Desolate.” Theseus explained.

“Can you face the Deities?” Leo wondered.

“No. I’m nowhere close. I’ve been developing some plans, but it’s finally time we started growing a bit stronger.”

Theseus and Leo headed to their vacation home on the outskirts of Oceanus City. Ju Long was there, waiting for them.

“Ju Long, you’ve grown stronger.” Theseus smiled. Ju Long had almost fully recovered his old Aura Realm. Now at the C Rank Sage Realm, Ju Long was as strong as Theseus back in Heaven. Their time together in Heaven felt like a lifetime ago.

“Theseus, you’re here!” Ju Long exclaimed.

“I’m just here to create a new prosthetic arm Artifact and hopefully a new skill. It shouldn’t take more than a few months. I’m planning on getting an expedition party together to explore the Moirai Dungeon and the Desolate soon.” Theseus explained, hiding nothing from Ju Long.

“Can I join the expedition team?” Ju Long fervently begged.

“Maybe, but the forces there are too powerful. I have to think about it.” Theseus explained further. Ju Long nodded his head, glad Theseus would consider him at all. After years of training, he was still not able to catch up to his former self. Compared to the likes of Gemini and Theseus, his growth was just too slow.

Three weeks passed.

“Ju Long, come and see.” Theseus attached his new arm Artifact. Compared to the first one, the new one looked more menacing and complicated. Jet black, the Artifact replaced the old arm, which was shattered in the battle with Lord Darkin.

“Wow, that’s cool.” Ju Long tried to touch it. Theseus allowed him. After all, Ju Long was the one he knew the longest in Hell.

“Yeah, this one looks even better!” Leo agreed.

“It isn’t actually that much better, practically, than the old one. But I did make it look better!” Theseus put his hand behind his head in embarrassment.

“Who cares? It looks cool,” remarked Leo with a stifled giggle.

“It’s time to use the new skill too. Ju Long, do you wish to watch?”

You can find story with these keywords: Dungeon Rulers, Read Dungeon Rulers, Dungeon Rulers novel, Dungeon Rulers book, Dungeon Rulers story, Dungeon Rulers full, Dungeon Rulers Latest Chapter