Chapter 596 Returning to the Kingfisher
Five days later, I caught up and returned to the Kingfisher where my Companions waited for me outside the World of Tree Spirit's Star System.
Since I managed to fool our pursuers about which general direction to take, I took my time hunting down the smaller Space Vessels they sent out. I made sure to be arbitrary on picking targets to throw them off which way they should really look for.
And given that the Serpent Knight died after he sent out his order to go down a layer, their main Space Vessel went there.
I had no idea if they already found out that their superior died chasing after me. But to ensure that they would think I also died, I left behind some of my essence in the form of blood-soaked ripped armor and clutched it between his hands – my Source Energy would just be corrupted even if I left it behind anyway. His corpse also remained at the same place the Space Beast emerged. With how his whole body became blotted by dark patches from the burning caused by Chaotic Energy, they'd understood that the cause of his death was me.
In any case, that's just a precaution in case they found his corpse.
The thought of waiting for another shower of Chaotic Energy passed through my head. However, I did sweep it out of my head right away after weighing the risks and rewards. It's not worth it putting myself in danger against a near Sage Level Space Beast.
"Have you been well?"
As soon as I stepped inside the Kingfisher, I was welcomed in the embrace of whoever was at the front among my Companions.
This time, it was Noelle. She's wearing her usual priestess outfit on top of the light armor she has to protect her vital parts. Still, despite her small build, the girl perfectly settled herself inside my embrace.
Looking at the other girl's expressions they seemed to have let Noelle take this opportunity. Maybe it was because she was the one who saved me back in that world. Whatever the reason, I'm still glad to see them all like this.
"Yes, I am. Welcome back, Daisuke..."
"Mhm. I'm sorry it took me this long to return." I planted my lips on hers before gently stroking her head.
It's not like I didn't update them of my whereabouts but seeing me standing before them must've made them this emotional, right?
As if. They're just happy to see me back after that risky plan I made.
Upon moving further into the Space Vessel and assuring them that our pursuer wouldn't be able to follow us anymore, I had the Space Vessel continue to land on the World of Tree Spirits.
Our plans have changed and we lost a bit of time. Nevertheless, our gains from this trip were already immense enough that our strength progressed a lot compared to before we left Earth a few weeks ago.
Since I've made some progress thanks to the Chaotic Energy shower, all of my Companions also benefited from it through Shared Growth.
Some of them finally stepped foot on the standard UPL of Rank 3 Transcendent with only their base stats and without any buff. Moreover, their Transcendent Pathway also progressed. Those who got left behind by my progress when I skipped to the 2nd Realm of Energy Reconnection managed to catch up.
Noelle herself told me that by breaking through, she generated a new Blessing from her System called Restoration Aura. It's like a passive blessing to herself and anyone near her, increasing one's regeneration capabilities. And that included the Energy Absorption Rate.
She had gotten more proficient with her healing skills while applying the properties from her Transcendent Pathway and using her third Mortal Pathway to complement the other two.
To showcase that, she let me lie down on her lap as she cast a healing spell on me to recover my fatigue from not being able to sleep properly for the past few days that I was out there hunting for our pursuers.
It only took a few seconds but I prolonged my stay on her lap to spend quality time with her.
Once that was done, I thanked the girl. Following that, Noelle asked for a kiss with her shyness already almost nonexistent.
Aside from her, Reinys and Caila also broke through as well as the three princesses from the World of Meta.
Zerina, Avelin, and Jayna broke through way earlier because of their identity of being my former Companions. It's the result of the boost that they got when we restored Earth Energy along with Sofiel and Nysia.
The only ones remaining in the 1st Realm of their Transcendent Pathway are Erin, Dannae, Hikari, Lexie, and Ophelia.
Erin said she was already on the verge of it so after asking me to give her another good luck charm, she asked for Noelle's presence, dragging the girl to the Absorption Room.
As she's the most competitive among my Companions, that ninja-like barbarian didn't want to be left behind.
Dannae was more than happy for her progress since even a little boost in the strength of her Amplification would mean her stacked skills would be more devastating.
As for Lexie and Ophelia, they're also glad for the progress but considering they're both busy in their respective worlds, they updated me about their situation.
Lexie was still directing the United Alliance in rebuilding their world while providing a Full Immersion Chamber for Earth. To appease her headache from continuing to provide for Pathways Online, I told her I prepared a present for her; the data I rummaged from the belongings of that granny Rank 3 Transcendent from a Psyche-type Transcendent World. Also, we showed her the Framegear that we stole. That would help her and the Researchers to upgrade the Metagens.
Ophelia informed me about taking in the refugees from the World of Inferno into the Great Whiteshade Tribe, giving them a home when they found them wandering near their territory. Since their world was destroyed by me, she made it some kind of a task to make sure that they settled in their new world. Though I told her to be careful since they might harbor resentment for being evicted from their homeworld, Ophelia assured me that apart from Raiden or whatever's hidden beneath that cliff, no one would be a match against her.
That's reassuring alright.
Anyway, back to the present, while we wait for the Kingfisher to reach the World of Tree Spirits, I narrated to Yuko and the ones who don't have anything to do with that experience with the Space Beast. I only provided a summary of my updates, after all. They're interested in how it happened.
Other than that, once the situation calmed down, I once again contacted both Alwyn and Remilia to check on their situation.
The last I heard from my attempt to contact them these past few days, they managed to meet up. Alwyn freed herself from her captives and even subdued the Blessed of the World's Will without retaliating against her. According to them, something seemed to be happening in that Transcendent World so they decided to wait there, telling me to come and meet them there.
That's a bit strange considering Alwyn left on Illiana's command to search for something.
Are they being held hostage by the World's Will? With Remilia's strength as the Blade Monarch? Yeah... Something's not right.
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