Chapter 413: Reunion
Jack took a deep gulp, downing the blue ale he’d been served. The locals called it Verneditch—similar to beer, except far stronger. Slamming his tankard on the table, Jack exclaimed, “So, what the hell are you guys doing here?”
“Hehe. Wouldn’t you like to know?” Gan Salin responded with a big smile. “As a matter of fact, the princess of this place and I got into an entanglement. You know, the physical sort. I mean sex.”
“There is no princess,” Nauja cut in, rolling her eyes. “We arrived at this galaxy to explore, then ended up hunted by some factions.”
“It was their fault, too,” Salin added. “They shouldn’t leave their starships unattended.”
“Starships are expensive,” Brock agreed.
Min Ling gave Jack an exasperated stare. “Are they really your friends?”
“Not just friends—these are some of my best friends in the universe!” Jack replied with a smile as wide as Salin’s.
The canine was exactly as Jack remembered him. Aloof, relaxed, with a penchant for randomness and an insane glint in his eyes. His short dark hair and white skin made him resemble a friendly human youth, if not for the long canines in his mouth.Geet latest novel chapters on novelbj/n(.)c/om
As for Nauja, she had exchanged her fur clothes for more civilized attire—a set of brown leather armor which revealed her paper-white but highly muscular thighs and arms. Despite this change in clothing, she maintained a brutish, carefree aura, like an untamed wild animal brought to the city.
The two were like peas in a pod. And, in the five years since Jack had last seen them, they’d reached the late D-Grade.
Jack leaned in. “So, you stole a starship and are being chased down. Are you at least enjoying it?”
“Oh, for sure!” Nauja replied. “We’ve been to so many places. Tribes, metropolises, wilderness, settlements between stars... Do you know there is a whale space monster so large it contains its own civilization? The people there are called Devons, and they are extremely pleasant. There was even a tornado spiraling from star to star. Tell him, Salin!”
“It was impressive.” Salin nodded in agreement. “I have to admit, these five years have been much crazier than I expected. What have you guys been up to?”
Jack didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Far less than you, apparently,” he replied, then retold his adventures since they liberated Earth. He spoke about the Cathedral, the many opponents he faced there, and his meteoric rise to power. He then explained about the hidden realm, only withholding the Archon’s inheritance—not because he didn’t trust them, but just in case anyone searched their mind in the future.
“Now we’re on our way back to Earth—discreetly, of course,” he finished. “As soon as we reach any base of the Church, we can go to the Cathedral, and it’s a straight line from there.”
Salin and Nauja looked at each other. “Which Cathedral?” Salin asked. “Surely not the one that was just conquered.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, man. This is going to suck for you guys. The Hand of God launched an all-out war against the Black Hole Church just a year ago. They started off by discovering the Cathedral and completely conquering it, then embarking on a witch hunt across the universe. They had spies, apparently—dozens of Church bases have been routed, with millions of cultivators killed.”
“Are you serious!?” Min Ling cried out. Her eyes were almost popping out of her head. Though she rarely lost her composure, this was one such case. Her voice was filled with worry. “If you’re lying, I will pierce my spear through your heart.”
“There are better ways to claim my heart,” he responded calmly, drawing an eye roll from Nauja. “But, I’m not lying. That is why there is a D-Grade cultivator scanning everyone here. All seventy-three galaxies of the System are in all-out war, with various major factions clashing against each other. It’s not just the bases of the Church—many factions allied to them have been discovered and forced into hiding. The Hand is executing a massive purge, with wanted lists containing tens of thousands of powerful individuals. It’s a huuuge mess,” he finished, leaning back and spreading his arms wide.
Min Ling had paled. “What about the Far Isles? Have you heard about them?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell. If it’s in another galaxy, I wouldn’t know—we’ve been in a grand total of two and a half.”
“We must hurry,” she said, standing up. “My people are in danger. I have to get to them.”
“Exactly. But also, the Jack far stronger than his level would indicate. Leave the B-Grades to us—if you can activate the teleporter, we’re out of here.”
Intergalactic teleporters weren’t simple to use. Due to the distance, all sorts of tuning was needed.
“Activate the teleporter?” Salin exclaimed. “The large ones are complex! I can say please, but I don’t know if it will work.”
“I can,” Nauja cut in. “I met a magic formation expert on Dulupedam. He taught me some tricks—as long as the teleporter doesn’t have security measures against ill use, I can activate it just fine.”
“Perfect. Then we’re good to go.”
“But...”
“Are you concerned about our strength?” Jack asked, giving her a confident grin. “Don’t worry. We can handle a B-Grade or two.”
“I won’t be joining you,” Min Ling said. “My faction is at the Far Side galaxy. I must get there as soon as possible.”
“Can you do it?” Jack asked.
“It will be much easier than your side. My galaxy is fully Integrated. Even in wartime, I should make it without a problem.”
“Okay. I believe in you.”
“And so do I. Jack...” Her eyes softened for a moment. “Don’t die.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t planning to! Now that I’m back and stronger than ever, I would like to see just who can stop me!”
“Many people. Don’t get arrogant.”
He smiled softly. “I’ll be fine. Thanks for worrying.”
“Mm.” She nodded. “You too, Brock. Promise me you’ll be careful—and don’t let your brother do anything too stupid.”
“Don’t worry,” Brock replied, thumping his chest. “Nothing too stupid for big bro.”
“...Yeah. I don’t know what I expected.” She turned her gaze towards Gan Salin and Nauja. “Can I at least count on you two to keep them from doing anything crazy?”
Salin gave her the widest grin his face could accommodate. “Girl, you have no idea who you’re talking to.”
***
Their goodbye was short and sweet. After spending years together in a cave, the three of them had developed a deep friendship. But duty called. Min Ling hugged everyone and bade them goodbye, leaving behind enough disguise pills and other supplies to last—she was filthy rich, apparently.
She then departed in her own starship, crossing space to disappear between the stars. Jack watched her go for a moment. Then, turning around, he summoned his starship—the bromobile. Seeing it, Salin and Nauja were filled with memories. Its dark hull and glass walls were nostalgic.
“All aboard,” Jack declared. “This ship is going to the Milky Way!”
