Chapter 636: A favour for a favour
Alex’s brows raised at Luther’s deduction, but he wasn’t too surprised that he’d managed to figure it out. After all, it wasn’t like he went around the place trying to hide his presence or intentions.
Luther likely felt and saw everything in the moments leading up to and following his bout with Kargan. The fact that he’d shown pictures of and asked about Mira, how he, as a mere B rank at the time, managed to deal with a Variant Class S tier despite the monumental disparity between them.
Luther saw it all.
So he knew that he’d be coming for him next – though even Luther was surprised when he witnessed Alex’s aura soar from mid B tier all the way to A rank in one fell swoop. That was something even he, with his thousands of years of life experience, had never witnessed before.
He’d only heard tales of geniuses in the central galaxies who could achieve such feats of absorbing Soul and Beast cores several ranks higher than themselves in order to rapidly increase in strength.
Usually, if a normal B tier tried to absorb the energy contained within a Variant Class S tier Soul core, they’d explode into smithereens the next millisecond.
So just the fact Alex survived was a surprise enough.
’But to go straight to A rank as well? He must have already satisfied the rank-up requirements long before reaching the energy requirements. It’s rare to see someone so high in the ranks completing their requirements before capping out on energy. This young man is the most talented I’ve ever seen.’
However, even now Luther didn’t realise he still underestimated Alex.
Now that he’d reached A tier, Alex could give Luther a run for his money if they fought, despite the huge difference in years of experience.
And that was without involving Brontes.
If the Divine Beast were by his side to aid him, Luther wouldn’t be able to make it out of Bugonia alive.
"As you’ve already guessed, I can’t help you much with finding out who was behind this grand ordeal. As for that girl..."
Alex’s expectations rose to the maximum as he watched and waited for Luther to finish his sentence.
In fact, the idea of obtaining Luther’s help crossed his mind already, but he felt it might be too much to ask of a completely alien stranger whom he’d just met. If the tables were flipped and Luther turned out to be another enemy like he originally thought, then things might be different.
Alex knew that King class S tiers were able to peer into the void and even enter it for a short time, as Principal Farnes had already proven that when Mira first discovered the uses of her strange talent.
"I can sense that she is still within this system, though curiously she’s inside the void... though I suspect you already know that."
Alex nodded quickly.
"Yes, that’s her talent. Can you help me get her back?"
’Entering the Void Realm takes a toll even on someone as hardy as myself... If that request came from anyone but this mysteriously talented young man, I would have scoffed it off.’
Alex had already proven that he was stronger than your average S tier, and in Luther’s mind he was basically guaranteed to be another King Class S tier like himself, perhaps even stronger. S tier isn’t the end of the road, as his experiences in the central galaxies had taught him...
In fact, it’s rather more like a new beginning.
S tiers were only the middle class of Awakened in the terrifying centre of the universe.
You’d have to also be a King class at the minimum if you wanted people to take you seriously in the central galaxies.
"That I can, but you’d owe me a favour in return. Is that a deal?"
A favour from someone as talented as Alex was a good investment; he could claim it back in the future when he found himself in need of it, when Alex had far greater strength than he wielded right now.
And from the way Alex had been rushing ever since he arrived in Bugonia, and the fact he didn’t ask his Variant Class S tier companion for help either told Luther all he needed to know about how desperate he was.
"Deal."
Alex accepted without hesitation.
Luther already earned some of his respect, so owing a favour to him in exchange for saving Mira was more than he could ask for.
He’d do anything Luther needed of him so long as it didn’t go against his personal morals.
"Follow me. I can take you to her location, and you’ll have to wait there while I break into the Void and bring her back."
Alex nodded in all seriousness. He’d never cheap out on safety when it came to Mira.
"I can only sense the life signatures of beings from our own universe inside the Void Realm as they don’t belong there in the first place. I can’t sense if any Void beings are around, which is why entering the Void is so dangerous even for people on our level. So be prepared if I don’t return with her immediately."
Alex frowned, practically with his entire body.
"Can you sense if she’s alive?"
His heart stopped beating in the moments after asking this question. It was as if his entire existence was put on pause until an answer came out of Luther’s mouth.
"Yes, she is. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to sense her location and track her here."
’Phew...’
A great sense of relief overwhelmed Alex.
That confirmed that the worst hadn’t happened, at least. It took a big chip off his shoulders to hear that good news.
His alertness and caution were still the highest they’d ever been. Just because nothing had happened to Mira yet, didn’t mean that it couldn’t in the time following.
Luther gave one last nod to signal to Alex that he was going now, leaving Alex alone in the vacuum of space with nothing to do but block any lifeform, strong or weak, from getting anywhere near him.
