Chapter 534 - Flames of Destruction (V) (1/2)

CHAPTER 534

FLAMES OF DESTRUCTION (V)

Alan stared interestingly at the massive construct floating in front of him. It ran long on the side, well over five miles, large chunks extruding up and down, forming up the exoskeleton of the ship. It was quite reminiscent of the ones they designed on Earth, just actually realized and on a much larger scale.

It was designed to be their mode of transport from here to the small corner of the cosmos where Noterra resided since it would allow them to enter the battle at their most optimal. A small river of creatures slowly began streaming into the ship, Alan among them, though reactions of the most were rather lukewarm. Alan himself had traveled on much larger and more extravagant sh.i.p.s, though he imagined this one would be the fastest of the bunch.

He was led through the winding, complex corridors of the ship by a floating sphere of light, all the way toward his room lined up against the hull of the ship, in the row of over a hundred others. Insides were compact and dull-looking; gray, metallic walls surrounded a single bunk bed, illumination provided by the overhead string of bulbs shining in cooling cyan.

His bunkmate was already waiting for him, and as fate would have it, it was someone he knew – the Vampire he'd talked to prior to departure, who he learned was called Jonttar, was looking out of the massive window of sorts that provided a view of the planet that they would soon leave alongside the rest of the cosmos beyond it.

”Hoh?” Jonttar grinned faintly and exclaimed as he turned around, noticing Alan. ”It is like it was meant to be, no?”

”You could say so,” Alan shrugged, sitting down on one of the beds. ”I know you said you'd come, but I'm honestly surprised to see you here.”

”You may doubt my courage,” Jonttar said. ”But don't ever doubt my greed.”

”Oh, my bad. So, what inspired your greed?” Alan asked.

”… I've a feeling you'll jump me and try to kill me the moment I tell you.” The Vampire said, still grinning.

”You plan on becoming a turncoat?” Alan asked with a disinterested expression.

”Hoh? Is one of your powers mind-reading?”

”I don't need to be able to read minds to see it,” Alan sighed. ”A great deal of the rest is probably thinking the same. For most of us, we've hit our ceiling; either we've dried up our personal talents, or are barred from ascending by powers that be. Most of us don't share heart-bound devotion to the Creator, and, most importantly, anyone who's come up this high… is rather selfish and self-centered at their cores.”

”… it's still a gamble,” Jonttar said, walking over to the other side of the room and leaning against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, meeting Alan's gaze squarely. ”Perhaps we'll be treated even worse on the other side since they won't trust us.”

”… if the Agent is as smart as he's powerful,” Alan said. ”He won't turn them through trust, but through promises. Get a grip on them through affording them the power they otherwise would never obtain, and it's enough.”

”—you seem rather experienced in manipulating others.”

”Not really,” Alan shrugged. ”I was just exposed to it for a long period of time. It would have been weirder if I hadn't picked anything up.”

”So? What are your plans?” Jonttar asked.

”… I'm not a maverick, I'm afraid,” Alan smiled bitterly. ”My options are rather limited. Don't worry though; I've no plans on exposing any of this. Furthermore, I think powers-that-be already know it, so they'll most likely set up some barriers.”

”… well aware of it,” Jonttar chuckled. ”You're wrong about one thing, though.”

”Hm?”