The $yndicate Chapter 2; Monkey Business

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The Dark Messenger had just come from the Lawless Land, as instructed, and was heading toward the next destination, which was the Underground Village, Depthsroot. The $yndicate had been sent down there during their initial mobilization around the Veritas in order to help educate the Depthsroot Residents about the upper levels of the Veritas, such as the Dusk, Delta, and Dawn. For years, the Depthsroot Residents lived underneath the Dusk, even before the Dusk was a full-fledged city, like it is today. Though very few -- if any -- of the original people from the Depths Village live here, the people who make it out of the Lawless Land and into the Mainland start off here. Others are people who have either been cast out of the upper levels or have always resided underground.

Because of the efforts of the Creator's Earth Spirit, known as both the Monkey King and the Grand Panda once evolved, the Depthsroot Residents were saved from a hazardous threat from the Lost World that was taken up from it during the Veritas' contamination from the Insanity. As the Monkey King, the Earth Spirit of the Creator -- Earth God, Titane -- blessed one of the Depthsroot Residents with a bit of his power. This specific resident was a Tensei, and served as one of the Earth God's Chrysms. Chrysms are special pieces of the Veritas that bear special attributes to the Tensei, but they are also known as shards of the Crystal Fruit. Chrysms come together to form Prysms, which amplify the attributes of the Chrysms that come together and allow for transformation into something transcendent. Some Chrysms are living beings and others are actual crystal shards.

The Earth Chrysm that was blessed to the Depthsroot Resident awakened his inner Tensei heritage and, as a relative of the Earth God, assumed a more simian demeanor. Given the Monkey King's power, the Monkey King, Titane, transcended into the Grand Panda as he left his previous Spirit Animal form within Tsubake, the Tensei that was the Earth Chrysm. Tsubake then became the Great Ape, and eventually was stationed to be in the Harmonious Delta. However, his legacy was left behind through the $yndicate... This faction being made up mostly of monkeys.

These highly intelligent simians had come after the Great Ape departed in order to continue what he was originally sent down there to do by the Monkey King -- teach the Depthsroot Residents. The Depthsroot Residents recently discovered that they, like many of the people above ground, have powers. These monkeys from the $yndicate help the Depthsroot Residents learn about themselves and their powers better.

The Dark Messenger, who had previously warned of its coming through its other Dark Messengers, expected the $yndicate to be prepared for its coming. It was hovering before the Academy, the greatest establishment in the Underground Village, where most of the $yndicate instructed. At that point, the Grammar Simian -- the most prominent instructor there besides Hakase -- walked out front and greeted the Dark Messenger.

"Ah, so you've come," Grammar Simian, a monkey with a long, slender pipe wearing a graduation cap and a suit, said to the Dark Messenger, "Come in! Come in! The $yndicate has been anticipating this moment since we got the message. Please, right this way..."

When the ants cleared out, the monkeys came back in. The Lawyer Simians each came out to greet their clients. "See, aren't you glad you got life insurance? You almost immediately ended up getting killed along with everyone else in the village!" Aloof, the Lawyer Simian flashed his award-winning smile and said, "Very confident in my skills."

Just then Monkeycop, the chief of the Policemonkeys, came onto the scene in his signature shades and sheriff badge, dressed in all blue. "Good work, guys. We saved some good monkeys out there. Couldn't have done it better myself." With a reassuring nod, Monkeycop got into one of the police cars and said dramatically, "Let's roll." The Policemonkeys took off, sirens blaring.

Meanwhile, Grammar Simian seemed to have yet another lesson plan in store. He clapped his hands lightly. "Okay everyone, gather around. Something important that must be noted." The monkeys rounded up the Depthsroot Residents and brought them to Grammar Simian, who cleared his throat. "Mm, yes, so. I suppose that after that little incidents that it's best to warn you about the wildlife of the Veritas. Various creatures roam the wilderness of the Veritas in their own natural habitats and civilizations that can sometimes be a threat to other civilizations if they should cross paths, especially unnaturally. That in mind, most of the creatures that live underground are insects, which are especially vicious. Now, we may have taught you at the Academy how to utilize your powers that were blessed to you by the Earth God, but we never explained about the dangerous creatures lurking outside of the village. Now that you've had firsthand experience, I must bid you to be more careful about the natural life of other creatures. As you collect the gems from the tunnels, be sure not to disrupt the balance of life anymore. Can you do that for me?"

Some disgruntled grumbling could be heard in the crowd of people for a little while. "You could have definitely told us sooner..." was one of the main things that was passed around under everyone's breath, but they got over it. Though the monkeys were strange, the Depthsroot Residents believed in the cause and were willing to go out of their way to make it happen. So now the Depthsroot Residents returned to the underground tunnels and lit up the passageway with the light from the gems in the earth.

So, it was clear that the Depthsroot Residents were very determined, but that determination quickly led them deeper than they intended to go into the tunnels. In fact, they trekked on for what seemed like an eternity without turning back or harvesting any jewels. They just kept lighting up the path. The thought process behind their unyielding travel was that they could start off from a dead end in the tunnels and harvest everything within that one so that there would never be a reason to come back. It was a clever thought, indeed, as it would save time and energy overall by getting the dead ends out of the way. They served no real purpose.

But, the tunnel did not end.

The Depthsroot Residents would continue to travel on and on, deeper and deeper, seemingly forever. But every tunnel had its light at the end. The Depthsroot Residents would eventually come to this light and, for the very first time, be able to see the surface!

...

Well, something like that.

The tunnel did lead to the surface, but it wasn't the same surface as it was back in the old days. What used to be a transition from the Depthsroot into the Dusk now had an intermediary point that was one of the Tensei Seals; the one for the Root Chakra, Muladhara. The Depthsroot was kept protected through an isolation created by the Earth God and the entire Underground Village was within the Tensei Seal. It was red in color and served as a platform for one to stand on, though simultaneously blocked access to anything above the level serving as a medium. All that stood there was the 'Shrine Of The Brown Grimoire', the sacred place of the Earth God.

Whether or not the Depthsroot Residents noticed, they'd crossed a lot of Monkey Corpses that silently watched them during their journey. When they reached the 'Shrine Of The Brown Grimoire', the Monkey Corpses rose from the ground like the zombies that they were and groaned collectively. "So you all have reached the pinnacle," a Monkey Corpse said. "Well, unfortunately, this is only the height of the underground. There is much more beyond this realm... But to venture outside of it is endangering your safety." The Monkey Corpses looked to each other, then the main one sighed heavily. "We have a secret to disclose to you. Here, you are connected to all of the earth in the Veritas. You exist in an isolated realm that is simultaneously within the Crystal Tree and also within the Third Moon. This Tensei Seal binds those two spaces together through the underground tunnels and, to a greater extent, the Underground Village. The only thing is... The Tensei Seals can serve as binding portals to more than one realm at once. One of the more important goals of the $yndicate is to create the option for those of you who live underground to be able to sprout up anywhere all over the Veritas Universe, but in order to do that... The Earth Seal has to be connected to the other points."

The Monkey Corpses looked somewhat disheartened, but the main one went on. "The gems that are created here are Chrysms that can interact with the Earth Seal, but a certain number needs to be collected in order to establish connections across all of the undergrounds in all of the Veritas Universe." Even though the Monkey Corpses weren't around for most of what happened where they would know the conversations that went on, they were somehow rather well informed. "So, that's why the $yndicate wants those gems... To expand the Depthsroot's underground into every underground in the Veritas Universe."

A different Monkey Corpse spoke up, clearing its throat. "Ahemhmhm! Ah, excuse me. SO! So! Just to be clear, the reason why we Monkey Corpses know so much is because of the Tensei Earth Seal that has bonded with us! Hahaha! It gives us infinite wisdom from the Crystal Tree itself, it nourishes our weary bones, and it gives us life even after we should have been dead." It coughed heavily into its hand. "Monkey exclusive. Ahrmhrm." With some mysteries solved, the Monkey Corpses said to the Depthsroot Residents, "Now that you know, go back and collect the Chrysms! Tell the others what we have told you! Especially about the equal opportunity program we are trying to provide through this."

It was all starting to make sense now. The $yndicate had greater plans than any of the Depthsroot Residents could have imagined, and the experience just now at the Earth Seal humbled them greatly. Especially the skeptic, now that he understood where the Monkey Corpses -- and possibly all of the other monkeys -- got their power from. "Yeah, you got it!" the Depthsroot Residents said to the Monkey Corpses, "We'll totally tell the other villagers all about this and what's going on!"

As the Residents planned, when they returned to the tunnel to backtrack, they plucked out the crystals that were embedded in the earth along the way. Though it was a long and arduous task, it was something that would bring them closer together and also closer to the Veritas as a whole. So the Depthsroot Residents went on harvesting gems until the entire tunnel was pitch dark and without a single jewel. The Depthsroot Residents emerged from the tunnel and explained the true nature of the situation to the other Depthsroot Residents. At the same time, they handed over the Chrysms to the $yndicate so that they could do with them whatever was necessary to connect the other planets in the Veritas together through the underground. They were more than happy to be part of such a revolutionary event, and after everyone was informed, they all looked forward to the future.

Together.

From that point on, the isolated underground village known as the Depthsroot came together like a collective, not unlike those colony of ants that they faced. As a unit, everyone who lived underground would be able to traverse the underground tunnels and harvest the Chrysms that were there. Even greater than that, once the natural resources were harvested, they could build a transit system that would take them all throughout the tunnels without anyone having to trek on foot. With everyone working together, this all happened in record time.

Now the $yndicate had to do their part in all of this in order to finish the job and allow for the Dark Messenger to move along. All that was left for the underground faction of the $yndicate was to link the undergrounds of the Veritas Universe to the Earth Seal, Muladhara.

The $yndicate was well pleased with the outcome. "Brilliant," the Grammar Simian noted, "It couldn't have come out better. Hmhmhm." Yes, as if all according to plan, the brilliant educator monkey, who now bore all of the Chrysms, began to summon a higher being. "O Creator, your servants have done your bidding. We give what we have gathered as offering unto you so that you will grant us our wish and exact your will. Behold, Creator! Our mission is complete!" The Grammar Simian and the Dark Messenger remained before the Chrysms as the power within them was channeled unto the Creator.

The Chrysms of the Earth rose from before the Grammar Simian and into the air, creating a special formation that resembled the main Tensei Seal. The seal shattered and revealed a floating spherical crystal of sorts, that which had something that looked like a gem core within it. The bulbous transparent crystal shapeshifted into the form of a small child in a robe, his body aglow with the natural energies of the Root Chakra. It was the lovable Ty-chan, the child form of the Creator, and Creator by default since most of the creatures in the Veritas were made in Ty-chan's youth. The $yndicate creatures were no such exception, as they were an ancient concept in comparison to the Veritas itself.

"Good Work, $yndicate!" Ty-chan praised as he manipulated the Earth Chrysms to fly about the room. "I See That The Dark Messenger Properly Prepared For My Arrival. Now I Am Here To Complete This Task For The Sake Of The $yndicate And The Depthsroot! Moohawhawhawhaw!" Ty-chan turned to the Grammar Simian, saying, "You've Done Very Well, Grammar Simian. You And The Monkeys Should Be More Than Pleased. And Now, Because Of The Fruits Of Your Labor... I Am About To Bless The Underground Land Myself!" Ty-chan flung his robe out to cover the gems, then warped off to the Earth Seal, itself.

Muladhara, commonly known to anyone who studies the Spirits as the 'Root Chakra', was the Earth Tensei Seal that both harbored the power of the Earth as well as the grounding of the Crystal Tree's roots. Since the Creator was the Crystal Tree in essence, the different Chakra Realms belonged to the Creator and served as elemental hubs for his Seven Spirits, the elemental Gods of the Veritas.

When Ty-chan appeared within the Root Realm again, he floated toward the Shrine Of The Brown Grimoire and cleared his throat. "Muladhara! Earth Seal! Root Realm! I Bestow Upon You The Power Of The Chrysms So That You Will Be Able To Harness The Power Of All Of The Veritas Universe's Earth! Bind Together And Connect The Undergrounds Of Every Planet In The Universe!" Ty-chan rose up from the ground and raised his hands into the air from under his robe, the floating red Chrysms embedding themselves in certain parts of the seal. The seal of Muladhara glowed brightly as its power was amplified by the Chrysms, the Brown Grimoire that was at the Shrine releasing an energy that filled up the entire sealed area. Dimension Gates of all sorts popped up, integrating with the seal itself so that they would not remain open indefinitely, but closed in a united fashion.

"Yes..." Ty-chan muttered, "Yes! It Is Complete! The Depthsroot Will Now Have Better Opportunities In This Universe Than Ever, And I Can Still Keep It Secret And Hidden Underground. PLUS, No One Will Be Able To Dig Into My Planets Without Reaching The Now Universally Spread Earth Seal. They'll End Up Here No Matter What Planet They Dig Into, And The Depthsroot Residents Will Be Able To Handle Whatever Beings May End Up Down Here." Ty-chan hummed peacefully. "That Should Do It." When the portals were set, Ty-chan faded away and reappeared back with Grammar Simian and the Dark Messenger.

"It Is Done," Ty-chan explained to the Grammar Simian, "Now, Grammar Simian, Educate The Masses About The Portals And Get To Work On Those Transportation Systems That Will Go Throughout The Tunnels. The Dark Messenger And I Will Be On To Our Next Destination..." Ty-chan snapped his fingers and said, "DARK MESSENGER! TO THE DUSK, NOW!" Ty-chan wrapped himself in his robe and disappeared into it, leaving the Dark Messenger to handle its duties alone once again as Ty-chan did... Things in the Veritas that only the Creator could do.

The Depthsroot Residents continued their lives underground alongside the monkeys and other critters of the $yndicate in peace and harmony. Eventually, they built the transportation system for the tunnels so that they could more easily reach Muladhara. Not many people traveled there, but when they did, they had the option to live anywhere else in the Veritas Universe, not just underground. But a majority of the people remained in the Depthsroot, where they were most comfortable and familiar.

With the coming close of the developmental age of the Depthsroot, something that hadn't been seen since the original Depths and Reality Villages were fused together to make the Dusk, the underground was at peace. The people of the Depthsroot continued to find rarer materials for themselves as they scavenged other planets in the Veritas Universe, and they quickly became accustomed to making trips to the other worlds that were within the Veritas Universe. The village remained basic at heart, but due to the ability to travel to a multitude of different locations now, the Depthsroot went through a growth that put it in the same category as the major locations of the Veritas, the Dusk, Delta, and Dawn. With the $yndicate securing productivity in the Underground Village, it was about time to move on to the next highest place in the Veritas -- the Dusk.

It was a job well done in the $yndicate's eyes. The Grammar Simian smiled and bowed to the Dark Messenger. "It's been a pleasure," he said, raising upright. "I was so excited to see the Master in person! And the benefits that he has brought to us, we are eternally grateful for."

The Dark Messenger snickered. "Oh, of course, Grammar Simian! You and the monkeys did very well. Now that the Depthsroot has a new type of stability thanks to the Master, the Dark Messenger is no longer needed here. It is time to forewarn the next place of the return of our Master as well as for any new developments that may arise due to it." Dark Messenger saluted the Grammar Simian. "Until next time, Grammar Simian!" A Dimension Gate opened up before the Dark Messenger and it floated inside, traveling next to... The Dusk.