366 A Personal Standoff (1/2)
The old man was the only one who could feel the changes, as the formation had been created with him as the controller. He knew that if he wanted, he could move the planet, make it disappear, or even teleport it away. Naturally, he wouldn't do that unless there was an actual moment of crysis, after all, the flora of the planet required the planet to keep his usual cycle to survive.
Nevertheless, the old man was extremely grateful to Daniel, who had no motivation to do this, but had done it either way. ”I.. I don't know what to say.” He said while in a clearly emotional state.
Daniel had no intention of staying any longer, so before the old man could start anything, he waved his hand in a dismissive way, and said ”There is no need to say anything. Just open the portal, so that we can be on our way.”
THe old man was slightly disappointed, but he wasn't going to go back on his words. So he took out a small ring in the shape of two entwined twigs, and pointed at the empty space with the finger on which he was wearing it on.
Moments later, a brilliant seed appeared right in front of his fingertip. Its shine was so powerful, that it was impossible to observe its feature, and instead, looked like a minuscule while star that emanated a natural and bright light.
Immediately after it appeared, the surface of this seed split into two, and from the crack, thousands of hair thin sprouts came out in all directions. These sprouts quickly grew in size until they became a three meters tall disk of entwined lianas. When this portal opened, instead of acknowledging its oddity, Daniel walked through it without looking back.
As soon as his body touched the portal, the lianas began to squirm over his skin, allowing him through. Immediately after his body disappeared, Xargy's massive wings began to flap in quick succession, allowing him to soar in the sky, and fly directly towards the comparatively small portal. Just before crashing against it, his body turned into that of a human-sized person, and followed Daniel in while nodding at the old man in salutation.
After Xargy, the planet that could be seen clearly in the light blue sky began to come down on Naturae. However, just as it looked like it would crash against it, before it could enter its atmosphere, Daniel's planet shrunk to the size of a fist, and flew directly through the middle of the portal.
Only Aeron was still on Naturae, and instead of following Daniel and Xargy, he was looking at the old man. He could read his mind, and knew exactly what kind of questions were filling it. So, before following Daniel, he used his telepathy to tell him, ”He left it in case you are in a desperate situation.. If you can't hide or escape, evacuate through the portal and you'll reach us.”
”He is an extremely.. Peculiar individual, your friend..” Said the old man out loud, causing for the minds of his companions to be invaded by a fair amount of confusion.
”Forgive his behaviour. It has been a very long time since he was able to be at peace. The worry for your people is a terrible burden, you might agree.” Responded Aeron through his mind. He then turned to look at the portal, and walked through it without turning back, leaving the old man with two last words ”So long.”
On the other side of the portal, Aeron saw Daniel and Xargy float just outside of the atmosphere of the planet where the core spatial formation had been installed. In front of them, were at least a thousand soldiers in formation, and at the head of it, was a person who appeared to be a higher ranking officer.
”We have detected suspicious activity. You are not allowed passage through the territory of the universal government.” Said the man who was floating just a few meters in front of the formation.
From the power which they emanated, it was clear to Daniel that all of these people were above the fiftieth phase of high immortality. What was odd, however, was the fact that their stage of cultivation was exactly the same, almost as if their talent had been identical, and they cultivated all at the same time.
That was one of the side effects of the soldier gift. Once part of a larger group with the same gift, the soldiers would merge their overall talent in cultivation, and divide it based on the number of people that was part of the group. That was how so many people could be at the exact same level of cultivation at the same time.
”You are not going to make things easy for us, are you?.. Why.” asked Daniel with an almost demanding tone.
The man clad in better looking armor turned to look at him from in between the slits of his helmet, and said, ”The dragon and the mental warrior are welcome to proceed, but you have yet to pass your first fifty years as an outcast. You have no proof of being a valuable addition to the universal government. Those are the rules.”
”You know I could snap you all out of existence right now.. Do you?” Asked Daniel with a threatening tone.
This threat, however, had absolutely no effect for this group of warriors. After all, the higher ranking officer was one of the wielders of the general gift, and a general could never be intimidated in front of his men. Similarly, a soldier would never feel fear as long as they were in the presence of their general.
Nevertheless, while Daniel's intimidatory ways could not work, the higher ranking officer and the rest of his men were perfectly aware that Daniel was saying the truth. If Daniel truly wanted to pass, they would never be able to stop him. So, before a fight could break out, the high ranking officer said with a low tone, ”Judge.”
Immediately after, a bald old man in judge clothes and golden eyeglasses appeared right in between the two.
”Judge, an outcast has tried to enter the government's territory before the end of his first fifty years as an outcast. We are unable to restrain him.” Said the high ranking officer with respect.
”I can see that.” Responded the judge before turning to look at Daniel, and saying with a lazy tone, ”If it isn't Dan Hiel. The one and only outcast of Iewah's faction. Unaware of the rules it seems.”
After listening to the Judge's words, Daniel smiled, and said, ”I am just waiting to hear what the way around this rule is.. Before the situation escalates.” His tone was peaceful, and yet, there was an underlying promise of violence hidden within his words.