Nearly six months had passed since Arthur had started to research and come up with ways to strengthen his soul. But even till now he was unable to find any way even after scouring the whole of Thyrandel multiple times.

Time moved differently between the two worlds, he had spent three months in Thyrandel and three months in his home universe, for the two worlds only three months had gone by. There might not be any progress in his search for methods to strengthen his soul but the progress in other areas could not be ignored. 

He had spent nearly half of that six months in Thyrandel, training relentlessly with Steve, testing his limits until even he felt exhausted with his immense stamina. Through repeated sparring sessions that pushed him to the edge again and again, he had finally reached what could only be described as the peak of the Demigod realm in terms of raw physical power.

But reaching the physical strength of a demigod didn’t mean he could step into Godhood, and it was not a triumphant realization. Even though he reached the peak of Demigod, he still felt he could further improve his strength which he chalked up to his strange soul.

Although he started to notice the increase in strength was getting lower. His strikes no longer carried that familiar sense of incremental growth. His reflexes, strength, speed, everything had reached an immovable plateau. He had known this day would come eventually, the feeling was subtle, less like crossing a threshold and more like reaching the top of a steep incline and realizing there was no further slope to climb. 

His body had reached what Adaptive Evolution could give him under the current constraints of his soul. Still, he had not been idle in fact it was far from it.

In his home universe he still continued his search for the Entity. For the last three months the Chimerians stopped their invasion of The Milky Way, but from the probes he sent to spy on the Chimerians he noticed they had been attacking one of their neighbouring galaxies. They were like locusts, destroying everything they were going to, Arthur felt he needed to deal with this Entity as soon as he could. 

On the other hand, Avalon had transformed into something unrecognizable from what it once was. The ten satellite cities surrounding the main island had been completed over the past months, their infrastructure seamlessly integrated into Avalon’s core network. Massive transit systems connected them through well planned transport systems like maglev trains, and bridges.

People had begun to fill those cities slowly but steadily.

Some were refugees, families displaced by the ongoing war, or monster outbreaks. Others came willingly, drawn by rumors of safety, prosperity, and technology that felt almost mythical. There were even nobles now, people who had once scoffed at Avalon’s independence, requesting permission to purchase estates within its borders.

Arthur had allowed them, Avalon was open to all, but only under its laws. There would be no hereditary privilege, no favoritism, no noble immunity for them here in Avalon. As in Arthur’s book, power should not be inherited, it had to be earned. And those who thought they could import their old world’s corruption into this one learned quickly that Avalon did not bend to their whims.

Aside from that trade routes had also flourished. Because Arthur had been absent for decades in relative terms, many of those networks had already matured on their own. He rarely needed to intervene anymore. The administrative systems of Avalon were self-correcting, adaptive, and efficient in managing the island with the help of the Guardian AI.

But one request had caught his attention, it was from the Elves of Drakmire.

Their request was not merely for trade, but for long term cooperation. They wanted Avalon’s infrastructural blueprints.

They wanted to understand how Avalon had built the cities. Which was why their delegation was arriving today, and Arthur had agreed to meet them personally.

…

Arthur walked beside Selene as they made their way through the upper corridor toward the conference hall. The halls here were open, lined with glass walls that looked out over the lower districts. From this height, Avalon looked less like a city straight out of a modern world, vehicles gliding along well maintained lanes, and people moving between cities through super fast trains.

Selene’s expression was calm, but Arthur could tell she was already assessing the information she got about their meeting before it happened.

“You look like you’re preparing for battle,” he remarked lightly.

She glanced at him. “Negotiations are battles, they just use smiles instead of blades.”

Arthur shrugged quietly. “Fair.”

She studied him for a moment longer, her gaze lingered on him. By now she can guess what was going inside his head by just a look from his expression after spending all this time with him. “You’ve been tense lately,” she said with concern.

He didn’t deny it. “Things are changing too fast,” he admitted with a frustrated tone. “I am reaching the limit of my growth… for now.”

She stopped and smiled faintly while caressing his cheek. “You will find a way around it. I believe in you.”

Arthur smiled seeing the confidence in Selene’s eyes, but then he grimaced internally knowing he most probably had to leave this world for some time to find a way, and he doesn’t know how to break that news to her. He had hoped Selene would come with him, but he didn’t want to take the risk of taking her to a dangerous place, so he decided against it. He first decided to explore where ever he would land and then take her there,

As he was thinking that, they reached the massive doors of the conference hall, and before they reached in front of it, they slid open.

Inside, was a long, curved table that dominated the room, its surface a composite of crystal and metal alloy. Holographic projections hovered above it, displaying a miniature version of Avalon, and architectural models.

Several of Avalon’s upper administrators were already seated. Across from them sat the elven delegation.

When Arthur and Selene entered the room, everyone stood up. The Avalon officials bowed lightly in respect and the elves inclined their heads with a graceful gesture.

Arthur nodded and took his seat at the head of the table, Selene settling beside him.

Only then did the elves step forward. One of them, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties by human standards, with long silver-blond hair tied at his back and eyes the color of polished emerald, moved ahead of the others.

He placed his hand over his chest in the traditional Faelindorian greeting.

“Greetings, Lord Arthur,” he said, his voice smooth but not rehearsed. “I am Elyrion of Faelindor, the Elven Kingdom of Drakmire.”

Arthur returned the nod. “Welcome to Avalon, please have a seat.” Elyrion smiled at that and took his seat.

Arthur then gestured lightly toward the table. “Let’s not waste each other’s time, tell me what you’ve come for.”

Elyrion raised a brow seeing the straightforwardness of Arthur, but he did not hesitate.

“Our forests are ancient,” he began. “Our magic is refined and our craftsmanship is peerless in certain arts. But our cities… are still bound by old infrastructures. We have seen the cities of Avalon you have built and are eager to incorporate these kinds of infrastructures to our kingdom.”

He gestured subtly, and one of his attendants stepped forward, producing a wooden case.

Inside the case there were multiple fruits, which were deep blue in color, they were also faintly luminescent, glowing with natural mana. Another opened a velvet-lined case containing several slender blades etched with runes.

“These are offerings from Faelindor,” Elyrion said. “The fruit is called Starbloom fruit, which can even restore the mana of a Sage realm expert rapidly and enhances mental clarity.” He then pointed towards the weapons and said, “These are enchanted weapons, They have self-regenerating properties if they are not too much damaged and can be attuned to their wielder’s affinity.”

Arthur’s eyes flicked toward Selene to which she raised an eyebrow slightly.

Elyrion continued. “In exchange, we seek the blueprints of your cities. Your transit networks and other infrastructures.”

Elyrion hesitated for a second and said. “We wish to learn how to build these infrastructures and acquire those blueprints.”

Arthur folded his hands together. “It can’t be learned.” To which the elven delegation stilled.

Arthur continued, “The designs rely on specific materials composition, computation systems, and extreme architectures that magic alone cannot replicate,” Arthur continued. “Even if I gave you every blueprint, you would fail to replicate what I have built.”

Elyrion frowned slightly. “Then what do you propose?” He didn’t feel Arthur was just boasting, with his centuries of experience in handling negotiations for his kingdom, he had acquired the skill to read a person’s expression accurately, and he sensed Arthur was telling the truth.

Arthur turned one of the holograms with a flick of his fingers, showing a partially constructed city segment.

“We can help you build them.” A ripple of murmurs spread through the elven group.

“You will not just receive plans,” Arthur continued. “I can provide you with a team and the machines to help build anything you desire. And they would even teach you how to maintain them”

“And the cost?” Elyrion asked carefully.

Arthur glanced at the offerings again. “I want a steady supply of these fruits and your enchanted weapons.”

Silence followed, then Elyrion exhaled slowly. “…This is not what we expected.”

Arthur smiled faintly. “That tends to be the pattern in everyone’s life.”

The negotiations continued for the next two hours. Terms were refined, and clauses were rewritten according to the two parties’ needs. 

Eventually, Elyrion extended his hand. “We agree.”

Arthur clasped it and a pulse of light rippled outward as the magical contract sealed itself.

The Faelindorian delegation was then guided into the city for a tour as Arthur and Selene watched them leave.

***

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