"I don't want to take too much of your time, and all of us know why we are here. Any requirements or wishes?" Magnus said, as he laid out the cards.
Neither the researcher and historian seemed like the type of pretentious people and he doubted that they needed every second.
The scientist was the first to respond as his eyes shone.
"I want to examine you. Then I'll join, but I won't be holding the fort all the time. Though you can request my assistance a few times from the future me. He is a bit too powerful for the present and should be able to hold anything back." The researcher said.
"Oh, and you can call me Richard. The names of your planet are somewhat intriguing..." Richard said as Magnus felt slightly uncomfortable.
Monique let out a sound as if to display her displeasure, but didn't make any big moves. The historian sighed and looked at them.
"I would like to have access to the goblin instructor's creation as well as funding once the faction kicks off." Historian said and explained a bunch of things he needed.
Magnus was quite surprised, as the requests weren't too outrageous and the prestige alone would be enough.
3 of the top 5 in one faction is quite the frightening line up of talents. They talked a bit and Richard explained that as long as one didn't reach the origin or had a good treasure on them.
It was an easy task to see their present as well as a big part of their past. Of course, he didn't scan Magnus' past entirely.
The reason for it was Monique. Her being so close to origin allowed her to see the rough outline of what the researcher did and blocked it off.
Historian wished to be called as it was and said that his name was a bit complicated. Topics of names aside. They talked about the development a bit and decided on something akin to guest elders.
They would get support from the faction and, in need, they were required to respond and defend it. This position gave them a large amount of anatomy they needed.
Even spared them from paperwork. Which was something no one in the room enjoyed. So far, Magnus hoped to find a soul that enjoyed such work.
He'd be even willing to let them do almost all the work. That aside, he noticed that although amicable. There was tension.
He still had no idea why they didn't join any kind of faction. The historian would be understandable if he wished to experience Gobo's creation.
However, it didn't make it any less weird. Although the situation could be incredibly complicated. It could also be as simple as their background being so big that no one dared to invite them.
But that didn't matter too much for now. They had no enemies, and there was no need to arouse their animosity for no reason.
Magnus scheduled a few meetings with Richard, though Monique insisted on being present to ensure that nothing fishy would happen.
He was quite thankful for her help. Although he had no idea why she helped him so much. It was appreciated.
After their meeting, he went straight to work. The faction, banner and such were made and ready to get registered.
Registration itself was quite easy, and soon a new faction knocked the top 1 from its position. This was a sign of the power an individual could hold.
Soon there were many others who went in for screening and a day later. The top 1 faction, Enigma, was born.
Thanks to Magnus' pleas, the name was changed to her part of the name, as it was much better than hers.
To his surprise, many top 50 appeared and said that they were interested. This began to change a bit when many noticed something.
Monique was not running the faction. It was Magnus, who, although interesting, had yet to prove himself.
The situation wasn't to off what he expected, and he calmly continued. Ranks filled with new talent and blood and soon a skeleton of administration was erected.
Thanks to his 'training' he had on Earth. It wasn't too difficult to get the ball rolling and the ones who gained big positions were further screened by Monique.
And thanks to a bit of persuasion. Gobo had approved the limited use of the machine for higher ups of the faction.
Something he had intended to do anyway, and it wasn't too bad to help his own disciple. He had given him a warning, though.
Or rather, a reminder. That Monique wouldn't hang around forever and her going into the inner academy would weaken her influence here.
There was no saying how long the faction would hold if it didn't have a bunch of loyal followers or an equally powerful person at its helm.
He had also warned him from Richard. His future self had long surpassed the origin and was the strongest 'student' on the campus.
And the future would get more powerful as Richard gets closer to the origin. He was the first candidate that would swallow the faction up if the first crack appears.
It wasn't doomed, though. Magnus had some time, and Gobo used this opportunity to temper Magnus.
If he failed, then so be it. The rise of the faction was smooth. A bit too much, so much that Magnus wondered what kind of plans other leaders had in their mind.
His second mission being hard was an understatement. But the rewards were worth it, especially when he looked at his monthly salary.
Monique said that she didn't need such currency anymore and thanks to her. His own salary was basically 100% profit.
The historian and Richard were satisfied for now, and all was well. All good until others finally made their move.
The God Phoenix faction actually collaborated with the Gold Dragon faction and the Seven Sins faction. They formed a pact and a tri alliance was born.
Once they did, the transcendent alliance catapulted itself to second place. They pushed the Bone Legion to third and some spots in top 10 were opened.
A day after the Eternal Moon faction submitted to the Bone Legion. At first they resisted, but the lich somehow forced them into a duel where they miserably lost.
The Bone Legion reclaimed its second spot position and the transcendent alliance eyed up the World Tree faction.
They were thrown into an awkward situation. The leader turned into a turtle and kicked out any member that wasn't an elf before going into a seclusion.
Their position dropped, and they left the top 10, even though they had a top 10 leader at its helm. The transcendent faction began to swallow up the factions outside the top 10.
At that moment, Lemon appeared. The spirit quickly stopped any kind of disputes and everything calmed down.
Several warnings were sent out to all leaders. The time for the battle for supremacy would come in due time.
With the calm restored, there were 3 factions left which held the majority of the top 10s or had an actual influence. Others were seen as soon to be branches.
[Top 1 - Enigma | Leader - Enigmatic Witch]
[Top 2 - Bone Legion | Leader - Bone Commanding Lich]
[Top 3 - Transcendent | Leader/s - Flaming Lava Red Phoenix - Ice Ocean Blue Dragon]
There were others like the myriad weapon faction, which was composed of weapon enthusiasts wishing to reach the peak of their respective weapons.
Outside of that, others held little to no actual influence. Many even crumbled just because there was not a top 10 holding down the fort.
Top 20 competent leaders barely held together their own factions. Which proved their competency. Thus, it became a boon for them as well.
To slow down their inevitable rampage. Lemon introduced a new soon to be event. It was centered around growth and not total power. This meant that even the weakest factions could rise to the top.
The weaker students became somewhat of a hot commodity as their growth could be the quickest. Gobo told Magnus to just be content and to focus on himself.
He had explained that teachers were bound to make a move, too. The 'chaos' the students created was nothing compared to the slaughter fest the teachers can unleash.
To them, it was laughable. Only when the first graduations begin would they show their fangs. For many, the goal was not the inner academy, as it was too hard.
Therefore, they pushed for graduation and the chance to be recruited.
It was then when the teachers would be like hyenas. To Gobo and the goblins before him, it was just ridiculous.
Unlike them, they became neutral and held important political power just because of their existence. They were trustworthy, useful, and the neutrality gave them a unique protection.
If someone dared to take them. Their enemies would sweep in to ensure nothing like that ever happened.
That aside, to Magnus' surprise. Lemon would help with the paperwork. Both to ensure that no student was actually being exploited like a slave, but also to let the leaders train.
After all, this place wasn't a job, but a place to grow. Soon he came to the realisation why neither the Giant, Richard nor Historian didn't create a faction.
It was cool to have chrono points. However, sometimes the hassle that comes with it was not worth the 1% faster improvement.
Especially when they were already backed by factions that didn't want them to waste too much of their time on useless things.
In fact, outside the top 5. According to Monique, were just recruiters for their respective factions. Immortality created a weird dynamic.
Where even the greatest academy can't ensure the rise of greats when immortals aren't sitting on their butts doing nothing and are growing stronger.
So, only talents like that infinite in the inner academy had a miniscule chance to shake the game board the greats built with their sweat and blood.
It would be a long while before Magnus became level 1, not to mention the higher ups of ruling factions. Just the teachers were like barriers he might not reach.