The journey back was one he was all too familiar with—the quiet, almost boring trip through darkness. In space, there was no absolute up or down, no left or right. Only what you decided for yourself.
Traveling relied on coordinates: a string of numbers, with the nearest known celestial body as guidance. Thankfully, some intelligent races had created maps and advanced technology to ensure travelers wouldn't get lost.
For Zerath, it was even easier. His Master had implanted a chip that projected a map of the surroundings, ensuring he would never lose his way.
As for the lives he had taken… by now, he was numb. He had lost the pity, the regret, the remnants of morality he once carried.
Zerath slowed as he approached a portal.
This was called a gate, a shortcut through space for instant travel. A small shelter had been built around it, and a few multi-limbed, large-headed beings acted as guards. They weren't strong; their only task was to collect passage fees and ensure travelers used the gate safely. Killing them was out of the question. For weaker races, survival often depended on joining coalitions and these beings had their protections.
If someone tried to kill them, they would self-destruct. Their blood carried a tracking ability, a safeguard against intruders.
Zerath floated down and stepped onto the ground.
The three-meter-tall beings eyed him cautiously. He removed a white ore that glowed even in darkness.
"Alright. You may pass," said the being with multiple limbs, large head, and gray, wrinkled skin. Its voice carried a slight nervousness, which was understandable. Seeing Aluma's severed head in Zerath's hand and the terrifying aura it radiated, no creature could imagine the power her living body held. And above all, they feared Zerath: the one who had killed her.
Zerath nodded and approached the gate, a massive tear in space surrounded by swirling energy, pulling everything toward it. He paused for a moment before stepping in. Any being below the planetary realm would be obliterated instantly if they dared enter.
---
At a distant galaxy…
Zerath appeared, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Finally, he was back home, back to his Master.
Five giant red stars stretched across the sky. Zerath picked a direction and accelerated. His speed increased with every passing planet. In previous journeys, he might not see a single planet even after a year but here, planets came one after another. After all, this was a solar system.
At its edge lay a dwarf planet, only a few dozen kilometers in diameter. This was where his Master lived.
Finally…
"I am back home," Zerath muttered with a smile.
He entered the planet's exosphere, gravity accelerating his descent. The planet was primal: towering forests, a large sea, and lush grasslands.
His Master's abode was a sprawling mansion. Apart from small, weak animals, no other life resided here.
Zerath slowed as his hovering figure descended. He looked at the dark mansion, adorned with intricate artifacts and creatures. A natural relaxation washed over him.
He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with the fresh air. His head felt slightly light, his shoulders eased, and he stepped forward.
Inside, memories of his childhood resurfaced, Master playing with him, hunting small mammals together, riding the creatures Zerath's Master called "horses."
Finally, he reached the door to his Master's main room.
Knock, knock.
"Zerath."
"You're back," said the familiar voice. Zerath smiled foolishly as he opened the door.
The being before him was not only his Master but also his father.
"Master," Zerath greeted, seeing a shorter figure than himself.
Unlike Zerath's lean frame, his Master was muscular, robed, with crimson-red glowing eyes and skin covered in tough scales. Four eyes adorned his face, always equipped with strange, glass-like apparatuses.
His Master often told him he was a "scientist"—a researcher of life, matter, and power.
"Hmm," his Master murmured, eyes scanning Aluma's severed head with dried blood as he sat at his desk.
"How was the journey?" he asked. Zerath sat down, relief washing over him.
"It went well. I've returned… victorious," Zerath said, placing Aluma's head on the table.
His Master's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That doesn't happen to be a member of the Divine Race, is it?" he asked. Zerath looked up, confused.
"Master… Divine Race? She said she was from the God Race," Zerath replied.
"Still part of the Divine Race," his Master explained. "The Divine Race comprises various lineages: Gods, Titans, Angels, and the like." Zerath's understanding deepened.
"I see… now I understand why you only brought her head. For you to even defeat her… I commend you," his Master praised. Bliss coursed through Zerath. His Master rarely gave him such praise these days. It reminded him of his childhood.
"Master, I'm sorry I couldn't bring her back alive. She was too strong, and I wasn't strong enough. I'm afraid I could only kill her," Zerath explained.
His Master already understood. Even the aura radiating from the head after her death confirmed her strength. And the lingering divine presence in Zerath showed that his disciple had evolved once more.
"But I brought this," Zerath said, placing the Origin Core on the table. His Master smiled.
"Good, good," the Master commented, lifting the Origin Core and gazing into it. He seemed satisfied, admiring it for a few moments before setting it back down.
His gaze returned to Zerath as he spoke.
"How many years remain this time?" the Master asked. Zerath sighed before replying.
"Four months," he said, feeling his heartbeat slow and exhaling once more.
It was too close. If he didn't acquire it before the four months were up, he might die.
Such was the disadvantage of his race: short lifespans. Thankfully, he had met his Master, who had discovered a solution. As long as Zerath could deliver an Origin Core and a strong female to him, his lifespan could be extended.
Zerath was grateful. Witnessing what happened when his lifespan nearly ended had made him appreciate his Master all the more. Without him, there would be no Zerath.
"Close indeed. She really was a challenge," his Master said as he stood.
Seeing this, Zerath rose and carried Aluma's head.
"She was… and Master, I brought her weapon as well. Can you use it to build something that can wield a weapon for me?" Zerath asked as he followed his Master underground to the scientific base.
"Yes. There's enough material to construct a growth-type weapon, but it will take time," the Master replied as they descended.
The basement was filled with glass containers and various liquids, some boiling, others sitting at terrifying temperatures. His Master loved experiments—it was one of these that had solved the Aethernox lifespan problem and kept Zerath alive.
Zerath placed the giant axe on the table and stretched out his left hand.
His Master removed a needle and rubbed Zerath's skin. Instantly, a cooling liquid softened his flesh as the needle penetrated.
"With this new evolution, I believe I can extend your lifespan much more effectively than before," his Master said. Zerath felt a surge of joy.
Every time he evolved, his Master drew his blood to figure out solutions. His Master truly cared for him. With Aluma's divine aura infused into him, perhaps he could live even longer.
Zerath glanced at Aluma's head on the table and felt gratitude.
As the Master collected his blood, he asked, "Do you feel regret for those lives you have taken, directly or indirectly?"
Zerath snapped out of his joy. "Erm… no, Master," he replied honestly.
"Hmm. What about guilt?" his Master added. Zerath paused.
Guilt? Perhaps he did feel something like it. After all, he was not a stone. Their cries, their suffering, the way they begged for survival… at times, it touched his heart. But this was not random killing, it was a trade-off. Their lives or his.
If he didn't take them, or their Origin Core, his lifespan would end. Logically, he was just like them, fighting for survival. He might sympathize, but that was all. Selfish? Yes—but survival came first.
"Abit..,but it doesn't matter. I'm doing this for a greater cause," Zerath replied. His Master chuckled softly.
"Done," his Master said, examining the needle swirling with red blood with a faint gold tracing its edges. A broad smile spread across his face.
"Your answer is sufficient. I need you to visit a planet but not for destruction. I want you to observe them, live among them, and report back after some time." His Master flicked the needle slightly, causing the golden hue to shine brighter in the blood.
Huh…
For the first time in a while, Zerath didn't understand. Destruction had always been the path so why observation now? Was there something special about this planet?
"Is it a planet filled with gods?" Zerath asked, frowning, fists clenching. Only one Aluma had almost killed him. A planet full of them would mean certain death but he could see why his Master chose observation.
"Yes… and no," his Master replied with a mischievous smile.
"My child, this planet is unique. Not just the planet itself, but the creatures inhabiting it. Even you will learn much when you visit them," his Master continued. Zerath breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't a planet full of gods, he was confident he could handle the mission.
"Master, what is the name of this planet?" Zerath asked. His Master paused, grinning.
"Earth,"