Chapter 319 Great Changes (final) To live in a world outside the influence of the Empire was a dangerous thing, and many worlds employ the assistance of powerful Dominators to aid in their protection. From mercenary companies that numbered in the hundreds of thousands to powerful Dominators and other strange powers in the universe. Yet, the remnants left behind by the obvious battle were troubling, because there were none. No bodies left. Except for the devastation of war signified by crumbling buildings and vast areas of scorched earth, nothing to show millions or billions of people died here could be seen. All the worlds Absomet left behind on her chase after Augustus were silent and dead. This was the work of an Abomination Core, most likely Lamia, but this pattern was uncharacteristic for an Abomination, usually they would find a nest in the foremost world they could pick and then they would slowly devour it, while creating thralls to funnel more prey down their throats. Converting those world into a massive nest where the Abomination Core would settle and feed until it could begin evolving her spawns using all the genetic template it has collected. Even if the Abomination Core was to leave the planet, it would leave massive structures behind and plentiful warriors, but instead what she was seeing was almost as if it was preparing for something much bigger as it was not satisfied with growing at its normal pace. This was a terrifying prospect, for Abomination Core grew too rapidly even on a single planet, but Lamia still felt that this speed was too slow. Population Statistics on these worlds were readily available and from it, Absomet knew the number of mortals on the four planets averaged seven billion, not counting the undocumented migrants and other alien creatures that may have called these worlds home. Every other non-sentient creature and animal on the planets should have all been harvested for their Bio-material, creating the best stores of resources for the abomination Core to use as it needs. After all the horrifying filtration process that goes into creating an Abomination and their higher variants, it was possible that Lamia would have an army of close to a Billion Abominations, and not just weak fodder, for with such a large pool to draw from the weakest of her brood would at least be at the Incarnation Level. Higher Level variants become more difficult to produce, but the Abomination Core could still consistently produce them, and for a special case like Lamia, who knew what her limits might be? Absomet had existed in many forms previously before becoming a Rune Ship, her history was so long and deep she was older than most knew, but she had slowly been crafted and perfected over the endless millennia, and she thought she understood the modus operandi of the gods, it was why she was baffled that a severe threat like Lamia was being left free to roam and grow. She knew of the battle in the far corners of the Empire that destroyed many planets, it was all the rage in the Empire news, but that was the aftershock of a godlike battle and could be relatively understood and even controlled, but what was growing here had the capacity to wipe out the entire Empire, were they not worried about the state of their subject when Lamia began producing Abominations that could rival even gods? More troubling was the fact that the report about Lamia had been submitted repeatedly to the Justice Council at the moment she saw the first dead planet and four more times ever since, but she has seen no hint of any action to stop the Abomination Core invasion at its infancy. The gods must be aware of this, why were they doing nothing to stop it? "Are you getting senile in your youth, dear girl, what is your purpose here if not to stop this catastrophe? Have you received any orders to stop your search? Then proceed ahead, knowing you are the spear of Tiberius!" Absomet cheered herself as she peered down the only beach of the fifth world, once again the trail had gone cold but she was getting closer. This planet was a water world, with 98 percent of its surface covered by oceans. Its inhabitants developed advanced aquatic properties to survive in this world, building great cities below the surface, but was most problematic, however, were their numbers; 24 billion. These people must fuck like rabbits or eat like ants, how could such a relatively small Minor World contain such numbers? This single planet would produce three times the number of materials the Abomination Core had available to it from the four other planets. This was bad news for Absomet, as with every moment, Lamia's Powers inch closer to her own. "Then I guess it's time for drastic actions, anything less would be crazy." Absomet body vibrated with excitement. The way she saw it, if the gods were allowing Lamia free rein to do as she wanted, then Absomet could also go wild with her actions and do away with age-old restrictions imposed on her. There were many restrictions placed on the powerful Rune Ship and her siblings, one of them was that the movement through the Shadow Realm was forbidden to her, it was forbidden for more than one Rune Ship to be in the same location within a million miles, and many other restrictions as well. Almost tentatively stretching her might, she tore through the material universe exposing the layer beneath, she held her breath expecting loud alarms and numerous buzzes from the Justice Council slapping hefty fines and restrictions upon her, but nothing but sweet silence. Absomet grinned and began summoning the thousands of pods she spread all over the planet to survey the world, and like bees returning to their hive, they all entered into the city - sized Rune Ship. "Now the real hunt begins." Absomet laughed, and in a sing-song voice she crooned, "Augustus… I am coming…." Her massive form entered the wide gap she tore in reality and silently disappeared from the dead world. The implications of her being able to enter the Shadow Realm was not lost on Absomet. War was coming, and her leash was off. Oh, what a glorious time to be alive.