Michael told Daniel about the Tritan Alliance and its problems. He explained to his brother that he had to go there and take care of all the issues. Daniel told him that he would help, but Michael reassured his brother that everything would be fine. He told him to focus on his body and advance slowly while focusing on his foundation for the time being.
“I will take care of the mess in the Tritan Alliance!”
**
On his way back to Arx, where he wanted to manifest the Runic Gate, Michael encountered Frederik. They didn’t talk much, but Frederik told Michael enough about the situation in the Tritan Alliance to make it clear that it was worse than expected. A civil war broke out, Descendants disappeared, and many died…too many.
The fights of Awakened were one big issue, but a lot worse were the spaceships and the sudden appearance of the traitor organizations such as Dark Heavens.
Dark Heavens had been silent for a long time, only to suddenly return stronger than ever. Frederik told him about a few rumors and news, saying that Dark Heavens kidnapped Descendants and Awakened with useful Soultraits. Many people disappeared, and too many civilians died during the last few weeks.
The tension in the Tritan Alliance was skyrocketing, and it was only a matter of time before the civil war would transform into an all-out war.
The Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs were already in a fury. They were under constant attacks and fought back as well as possible. However, it was also a matter of fact that not all humans were against them. If anything, more humans sided with the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs because they couldn’t agree with the Blaze Patriarch’s bloody actions.
Everyone knew that the Blaze Patriarch sacrificed an entire city to summon two Divine Lifeforms, which ended up killing themselves by exploding their bodies. This obliterated several provinces, killing hundreds of millions in the process.
If that wasn’t bad enough, recordings showing the subordinates of the Blaze Patriarch kidnap children from months ago. After the first video surfaced, more people dared to reveal the dark truth: The Blaze Patriarch had kidnapped close to a million innocent children. Nobody knew what had happened to them, but the families who had lost their children had a bad feeling. They knew that their children had been killed but couldn’t comprehend the situation at all. It didn’t make sense to them.
Why would the Blaze Patriarch kill their children? WHY?!
Michael’s stomach turned and twisted as he continued listening to Frederik. Goosebumps covered his entire body until he raised his hand, telling Frederik to stop.
“I will be back in the Tritan Alliance soon. It won’t take long,” Michael sighed deeply. How are your father and the Orlando family?”
Michael knew that Frederik’s father was back in full health, but he wasn’t sure if he could return to the Origin Expanse. The Kolbenheim family’s relationship with the Orlando household wasn’t as good as it used to be. Still, given the circumstances, The Orlando household shouldn’t reject taking Igor Kolbenheim in.
Frederik’s expression turned worse than before, something Michael didn’t consider possible.
“The Orlando household is with the Blaze Patriarch. Jacqueline told me about it and that her father forced her to hide in the Origin Expanse until everything ended. I haven’t heard from Jacqueline since then,” He responded grimly, “Her father is not with the Blaze Patriarch and the Supreme Human Alliance. I know, as a matter of fact, that my father and Karek Orlando have been dealing a lot with their neighbors before shit hit the fan. Karek has his principles and wouldn’t have collided with the Supreme Human Alliance.”
Michael groaned but nodded slowly, “Alright… That’s bad.”
He tilted his head while nibbling his lower lip, “Can you and the others prepare a list of traitors for me, please? I don’t want to arrive in the Tritan Alliance only to run into some traitors without realizing they’re shitty bastards.”
Frederik nodded slowly but halted to say something, “I don’t know where Hiraku, Rebecca, and some of the other human Awakened are. Lokai, Thoar, and the other are also not in the territory. Most Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs returned to their relatives to join the civil war and protect their beloved. I’m here…well, I’m useless out there, and one of the Professors nearly killed me two days ago. I’m unsure if someone is waiting at my anchored spot, and I do not want to test it out. I will probably return in a few days once I’m certain nobody is camping at my anchored spot.”
Frederik looked guilty. He felt useless because everyone was trying to protect his family and the people they held dear while he was in Michael’s territory, where everything was safe and sound. His new Soultraits made him stronger, but he was still not strong enough. His battle spirit had been crushed when the Professor charged at him, almost ending his life.
Frederik was still weak.
Michael experienced like saying something, but he figured that Frederik had to fight his inner demon before he could motivate him. Maybe that wouldn’t be necessary in the first place. Michael witnessed Frederik’s growth over the last two years and knew that Frederik was much stronger than he utilized to be. Frederik’s character changed entirely. He was nothing like the douchebag he’d gotten to know in the House of Witchery.
Michael knew that Frederik was a good guy and would leave the Origin Expanse sooner than he’d mentioned. Frederik was not someone who could stay behind and do nothing.
He smiled at his friend and patted his shoulder, “We will see each other outside the Origin Expanse soon. Prepare the list, please, and don’t die out there. Jacqueline would be sad.”
Michael’s smile widened, “I would be sad as well. So don’t die, okay?”
Frederik smiled back at Michael. Even if his smile was forced, Frederik experienced a bit better.
“You can spar with my brother if you want. He’s got a powerful Soultrait, and he has a lot of combat experience from before. Maybe a little spar will help you organize your thoughts and help you decide what to do.”
That being said, Michael manifested the Runic Gate and disappeared.
He emerged back in the Nest Leader’s room. It was empty, as expected, but that was for the best. Michael didn’t want to talk to his sister or his parents right now. He had better things to do.
He rushed to the bridge, accessed the complex overlapped runic array, and experienced the world around him twist when a massive surge of energy emerged from all sides.
One moment, he was in the teleportation chamber of the Nest, and the next, Michael was in the open space. His body was coated in thick layers of fire-attributed energy. His energy was drained rapidly to keep his body warm and cozy. Others would have panicked in that situation, especially since he was a Higher Lifeform in the middle of nowhere. Still, Michael smiled lightly as he retrieved the Relic the Nest Leader had given him before.
It was a golden compass, a Relic that pointed toward his desired destination. But pointing toward the desired destination was not all it could do. The Compass Relic was also filled with highly compact energy storage and a series of miniature runic arrays.
Michael could move through entire stellar systems using the Compass Relic.