The Rise of the Black Plain

When Minos heard that level 100 woman talking about a partnership, he smiled because what she really meant was, "kindly give me your technologies in exchange for me not taking them from you.

Aurae wasn't there to make a deal with him but to get what she wanted and pretend to give him something in return!

There was no choice, and Minos' answer could only be one.

"Establishing a partnership between my state and the Elven Island would be an honor." He said as he looked into the green eyes of this beautiful woman who was a little smaller than he was.

"What do you need?" She asked him. "I already know about your advancements, so you don't have to list what you have to give me. I want you to give me everything your empire manages to develop over the next ten years concerning the models you brought here from the North Sea."

'What a naughty woman!' Minos looked at her, pretending that everything was fine, thinking about what he could ask of her in return, but also how much of an advantage it would give him against the elves.

'So basically, I have 17 years left to try to outdo the elves before the war... Tsk, as little as it may seem, that's the same as nothing for ordinary people. She wants to limit my state's development level to the same level as Elves Island!'

Seventeen years was no small feat for Minos and the Black Plain Empire. But Aurae didn't know how that state worked, nor Emperor Stuart's theory, or how that theory implied local technological development.

In 10 years, the state of Minos should be close to the maximum it could reach before the aliens arrived due to the Understanding Curve.

The Understanding Curve was a special model developed by the elves that indicated the maximum a cultivator could understand in a given time interval.

Once a certain limit was reached, even the most talented elves could not continue learning. In other words, even if the whole world were to study alien technology right now, at some point in the future, about 10 years from now, most or almost all of the world would stop making progress.

After reaching the critical point of the Understanding Curve, one would have to make a qualitative advance. In other words, one would have to advance one stage to continue advancing and understanding the enemy's methods.

However, after these 10 years, there would be less than 17 years until the aliens arrived. In the meantime, it would be unlikely that the vast majority of the world's cultivators could advance any further, let alone focus on the enemy's techniques.

Therefore, Aurae's words to Minos were very clear from the perspective of anyone who understood the Spiritual World. She wanted all the knowledge he was supposed to get from the alien technologies and had only not asked for the next few years until the enemies arrived to limit what Emperor Stuart could ask.

In a way, she was taking everything from the Black Plain Empire without even showing it!

For a high-ranking elder, this was perfect for protecting her honor!

'I will probably be a Demigod by then, so my chances will change... Fortunately, she underestimated my importance in developing the empire's technologies.'

He then replied to her. "If that's the case, I would like to ask Your Excellency for three things."

"What are they?" She asked as she crossed her hands behind her back and began to fly back to Dry City alongside Minos.

"First, I would like your protection in case another God decides to make similar or more demanding requests on my state in the future."

"Another God? You mean the leader of the Sky Whales?"

"That is correct. He's mighty, and I don't know what he might want from my homeland in the future." Minos nodded as he spoke. "As much as it's in my interest to protect the world, I also want to protect my state and my legacy. I cannot give everything I have and have nothing to protect my own people.

I have already recognized with my men that certain alien technologies cannot be replicated in large numbers. So, if I'm forced to give away everything I have, I'll end up with nothing for my state.

That's why I want you to help me. Maybe this guy won't even waste his time on me. But if he or one of the other two Gods decides to demand something of me, I'll either spend it on having Lady Aegolor speak on my behalf and even act if necessary."

"I can speak on your behalf and plan things to keep them from coming to your state. But I will not fight them." She said.

"All right, that's enough," Minos said before making two signs with one of his hands. "Secondly, I would like the elven tribe to share their progress with us. Perhaps we have perceived alien technology in a different way due to our origins. It's possible we could develop faster if we shared information."

"Oh?" She liked that and saw no problem in sharing information with someone as advanced or more so than her people. "Very well. We'll cooperate until the ten-year deadline I mentioned."

"Third, I would like Lady Aegolor to grant me access to the Tree of Life. I would like to visit that place during the Continental Tournament."

The Continental Tournament was still scheduled to take place about five years before the arrival of the aliens.

It would no longer be as expected before the alien invasion was discovered. On this occasion, which would take place in about 22 years, the world's powers intended to use the event as a major test before the alien invasion, where their most talented high-level warriors would train together and receive tips from top experts.

There would still be prizes and stakes for such a competition, which would still be held on Elves Island, as planned.

Aurae became more serious after hearing this, for the Tree of Life was a place that only the strongest elves or very strong beings from the Spiritual World could enter.

She asked him. "What are you going to do there?"

"I am going to test a theory, but mainly to cultivate. I believe that by having access to such a place, I'll be able to advance one level further than I could without this chance." Minos said without revealing too much of the truth but without lying. 

Looking at Minos' serious look, Aurae felt it was worth taking a chance on this human who had inherited the legacy of the God of Time.

All current Gods knew about it at this point.

Then she said. "Very well. I can allow you to do this."

"Then we have a deal."