The Nest Leader’s timing was excellent. Michael finished interrogating the Hyuman when Selena called him through the Curse User’s communication device.
“I heard from Evee that you’re about to do something stupid. She has been researching your friends’ whereabouts, but it’s not simple. Don’t even think about charging into the SHA’s territory!” Selena sounded frustrated, which Michael could understand.
She had probably better things to do than running behind a newly ascended Curse User.
“You cannot enter the Supreme Human Alliance’s territory. They will sense your Curses the moment you reach their borders. Even if you manage to conceal your Curses perfectly, they will be able to sense the Berserkers’ and Warlock Centaurs’ Essences within you. You will be dead long before you can find Alice and the rest. It will be an unnecessary death!”
Michael did understand the Nest Leader’s reasoning, but he was restless. He felt helpless…useless.
“I cannot stay here and do nothing. This is killing me from the inside…” He groaned, only to hear a sight from the other side of the communication device, “Who the hell is telling you to sit around doing nothing? Instead of doing something suicidal or idling around, you could do so much more to change your odds. Grow stronger…strong enough to enter the Supreme Human Alliance’s territory and bring your friends back.”
“What if they die?”
Selena cursed quietly but cleared her throat and controlled her emotions before responding.
“Your friends would be dead if the Supreme Human Alliance wanted to kill them. It’s not the first time they’re kidnapping human kids from outside their territory,” She sighed deeply, “It doesn’t happen often, but I’m old enough to remember it happening a few times. They will be brainwashed to believe the dogmas of the SHA, trained and fused into the rows of the Supreme Human Alliance’s military. As long as the enemies of the Supreme Human Alliance don’t kill them, they will be fine…physically at least.”
Selena’s words weren’t pleasant, but Michael nodded slowly.
“So they’re brainwashing everyone to transform them into devout followers of the Supreme Human Alliance? That…is not as bad as dying, but it’s troublesome, nonetheless.”
Michael cursed, “Does that mean I might have to fight my friends…and Alice in the future?”
“That or they will lose sanity while trying to resist the SHA’s brainwashing,” Selena added quietly.
Michael had a lot to think about. His mind drifted to the Needle of the Lost Memory, and he wondered if it would be possible to rescue his friends if they’d been brainwashed by using the Needle of the Lost Memory. If it was possible to remove the memories related to the brainwashing with the needle and the use of Mind Reader alongside Extraction and possibly some other Soultraits, Michael could rescue his friends…though not right away.
“I see…”
Selena noticed that her words reached Michael. That was better than expected, and she smiled faintly.
“What are you going to do with the Tritan Alliance now?” Selena changed the topic, returning to the usual teasing, joyous tone.
Michael felt a bit overwhelmed by the influx of information, but Selena’s change of mood helped him calm down.
“I used your blood to enslave a Hyuman. He is a Peak Tier-6 powerhouse who’d been sent to conquer and rule the Tritan Alliance for a while before he would be given his Divine Injection. Your blood, infused with my intention, worked wonders. It drained my curse power and basically everything I had stored, but it was definitely worth it. He is now on our side – forced but that doesn’t matter since he is not willing to die for the SHA’s sake. I looked through his memories and learned a lot.”
“Now it’s time to strengthen the Tritan Alliance. They have to grow strong enough to deal with the other Hyumans who will come to replace or aid the Elite Hyuman. I will help them grow stronger.”
Selena smiled, “That was a good move. Though, I’m surprised you managed to add your intent into my blood. The remnants of sentience must have aligned with your intention; otherwise, it would have been impossible for you to do that.”
She shrugged, “Either way, I can bring you friends and other people to a better place if you want. They could train somewhere else, a place with better connections. That way, they can grow stronger quickly, and you no longer have to worry about the problems in the Tritan Alliance. The Altors Union is close to the Origin and is affiliated with the Nest. To be precise, we’re occasionally completing missions for them, while they keep providing us with information, technique, and other useful resources.
The Altors Union is a place where all races are accepted, including humans. Of course, humans have to undergo a specific examination to ensure that they’re not part of the Supreme Human Alliance and infiltrating the Altors Union to act as the SHA’s spies, but I think that much is obvious.
The Altors Union is enemies of the Supreme Human Alliance, and they’re not on the losing side. There is a stalemate on the frontlines of the Altors Union and the Supreme Human Alliance. The last thousand years have been close to a cold war, though some skirmishes happen now and then. Too often to consider the stalemate a cold war, I guess.”
Michael could tell that Selena was trying to help them, but he was unsure if that was going to help.
“Most of the people I hold dear are either already in my territory and can return to the Origin Expanse – to me – at any time or have been kidnapped. I’m not saying your offer is bad, but I’m unsure if many would be willing to leave.”
He thought about her offer for a while and tilted his head a little, “I think the Tritan Alliance’s biggest issue is the lack of resources and techniques. I know that the origin energy permeating the air and space closer to the origin is much better, but we have a connection to the Origin Expanse. As long as we can conquer one or multiple Beginner Regions and nourish them, we shouldn’t have an issue with the energy density of the Awakened.”
“We can also create more Awakened. I clearly recall your method. It might be expensive, but I think it’s possible to stimulate the origin energy permeating the bodies of unawakened citizens. All we have to do is install planetary energy generators – obviously, they’re expensive, but I can use Soultrait Symbols and my powers to upgrade Soultraits to finance everything, right?”
Using planetary energy generators would be enough to awaken entire planets. They wouldn’t awaken like intelligent lifeforms, creating a War Rune to enter the Origin Expanse, but they could manifest an energy reservoir, which could create energy. The energy would circulate through the uttered planet and nourish the flora and fauna, increasing the chance of manifesting a War Rune.
Of course, the animals across the planets would be nourished, transforming them into monsters, but controlling their populations and growth shouldn’t be an issue.
“You want me to establish a connection between the Tritan Alliance and the Altors Union, rather than bringing people over there and finance the expenses of dozens of planetary energy generators until the planets awaken…are you serious?”
Selena didn’t sound quite as pleased as Michael, even though she understood what he wanted to do. Well, that was understandable.
“Exactly.”
“Are you insane? I don’t consider you comprehend how expensive that’s going to be, do you?” Selena retorted vividly, only to groan, “I really don’t understand you. I doubt I will. You’re not gaining anything from investing all your resources into them. You could depart them alone after everything you’ve done to assist them.”
Michael didn’t comprehend why Selena was acting like this all of a sudden, but he remained calm, which was odd. His Curses didn’t do anything to influence him this time.
Thus, he merely smiled.
“You’re mistaken, I’m gaining a lot from them.”
Selena remained silent, but Michael didn’t mind.
“I’ve gained their Racial Symbols, after all!”
A sudden outburst broke the silence.
“WHAT?!?”