Chapter 495: Planning for the next step

Tsukiyomi and Silika stared at each other while smiling. Even though they had already lowered their weapons the atmosphere still felt a bit tense. It was as if any moment now the two would suddenly strike at each other.

Ren who was watching sighed as he felt a tiny bit disappointed that the two didn't fight, but he understood their reasoning. It was obvious that if the two of them clash in one instant, the winner would be the one who was faster between the two, which was Tsukiyomi. 

Silika might have a larger array of skills, she also had more power and has more experience, but Tsukiyomi's speed and technique far surpassed Silika's. In a fight with a rule of one-hit wins, Tsukiyomi had the overwhelming advantage, but if the two of them went all out and fought the outcome was still unclear. As the two continued to stare at each other, Ren approached them and spoke in a rather excited tone. 

"Hey, how about you two-" 

"NO!" Tsukiyomi and Silika answered in perfect unison. 

"You haven't even hard what I was going to propose," Ren responded while looking at the two with his eyebrows twitching. 

"It's pretty obvious what you were going to say," Silika sighed. 

"Yeah, even though the body you have is different. Even though the experiences you have are something unknown to me. Even if this is our first meeting... I know you." Tsukiyomi looked at Ren with nostalgia in her eyes. On the other hand, Ren hearing what the two said, asked. 

"So what do you think I was going to say?" 

Tsukiyomi and Silika looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders and giving out their answers in sync. 

"You were about to say, how about you two fight me?" 

Ren scratched his head as he looked at the confident faces of the two who gave out their answers. He then sighed as he spoke in a more solemn tone. 

"I see... Yeah, you two are right, that is what I was going to answer, but... Silika, Tsukiyomi, and even you Lara. I'm pretty sure you already understand this, but I just want to warn you one more time. I am Ren, I am not Leonard Tranor, I am not Edge Regius, I am not Rei Kuraki, nor am I Gabriel Lightbringer. We may share one soul, we may have nearly identical personalities, but I assure you we are still different people. If you understand that, and still want to be mine then speak now." 

"I already answered this long ago Ren, I might see Leo in you but you should know by now, I see you as Ren as well," Silika answered with no hesitation. 

"Kukuku, do not look down on me. I have already been through this twice now. I know you are a different person from Rei and Edge, no matter how similar every incarnation is they have their own wills. Still, no matter what, only the incarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul is worthy of my love and devotion. To me it matters not who you currently are, I will forever love you and only you." Tsukiyomi answered with a smug look on her face. 

"Unlike the two of them, I am completely different. I might have the memories of all my past incarnations up to Evangeline the greatest alchemist to have existed, but I am still Lara. I know only you Ren, and I love only you." Lara gave her answer filled with her conviction. 

"Kukuku, you just copied what I said at the end, also aren't you embarrassed calling yourself the greatest alchemist to have existed?"

"What's there to be embarrassed about, since that's the truth. How about you, aren't you embarrassed that you keep on adding Eternal Moon before proclaiming your name?" Lara responded with a look of indifference. 

"Well, I guess I am embarrassed to keep on saying that. Why must I compare myself to something like the Eternal Moon, no I guess the Eternal Moon is being compared to me." Tsukiyomi smugly answered. 

"That doesn't make any sense!" Lara shouted at Tsukiyomi. 

"Kukuku, of course, it doesn't make sense to you, for I am beyond your understanding." 

While Tsukiyomi and Lara were bickering, Silika had already grabbed hold of Ren's arm and two were walking into New Grenton. 

"Hey Ren, you know Hilda and Ashley have been worrying about you. I think you better meet them before doing anything else." 

"I'll pamper them later, for now, call everyone to the throne room. I have something important to announce." Hearing Ren's response and seeing the vicious smile and excited look on his face, made Silika sigh. 

"Very well." 

...

After a few minutes, everyone had gathered in the throne room. Iselv the supposed King of New Grenton was there, but he was not the one who was sitting on the throne, it was Ren. Beside Ren, on his left stood Silika and Tsukiyomi, on his right were Lara and Valdel. 

Ashley and Hilda were standing in front of the throne were Ren sat. The two had many things they wanted to tell Ren, but they held back for it wasn't the right time for that. Iselv, Kithra, Lance, and even Sepchel, Nezzard, and Stephan the leader of the Regalcrags were there. 

Seeing that everyone had gathered and were now looking at him waiting to hear what he had to say, Ren stood up and spoke. 

"I don't really want to explain too much, but here's a summary of things. At this moment, I have conquered most of the human kingdoms, and even the Elven Kingdom is under my control."

When the others heard what Ren said most of them weren't that surprised as the news of the different kingdoms falling and being conquered by the Serbek Kingdom have reached their ears. 

"Even the mighty Holy Kingdom is now under my rule." 

This time many of them were surprised to hear this piece of information, as the news of the fall of the Temple of Light hasn't spread yet. 

"Now I've been thinking since I now have most of the Kingdoms on this continent under my rule, why don't I just conquer them all. So I've been wondering who should I conquer next, the dwarves or the Dragons. What do you guys think?"