Chapter 27: Alien Life And First Fight
Just moments before Gabriel's fateful encounter with the colossal worm on the enigmatic planet, deep in the expanses of space, far from Gabriel's current position, a colossal spaceship stood. It radiated colors unseen by human eyes, an awe-inspiring sight. Inside the command deck, a man, different from humans but bearing a resemblance, stood tall with red eyes and violet hair, appearing as an average middle-aged man. Surrounded by individuals of the same species, he commanded authority as the captain of the ship. This man, known as Maverick, led his crew diligently.
One of the crew members approached Captain Maverick and delivered a report, "Captain, we have found one— a primitive being in a galaxy a few hundred light-years from our current position."
Nodding in affirmation, Maverick instructed, "Prepare the wormhole thrusters. Let's make this quick and return home." In an instant, the spaceship vanished, only to reappear just as Gabriel was attempting to locate civilization. The immense vibration caused by their arrival froze the space momentarily, leaving Gabriel immobile. However, as quickly as the situation escalated, everything returned to normal. Gabriel, still overwhelmed by awe and shock, found himself unable to move due to unknown restraints. Before him lay an alien spacecraft. As Gabriel gazed at the spaceship, the captain and his crew also observed him, their gazes fixed upon the Beyonder. One crew member voiced annoyance, "Who is he, and what is he doing so far out in space?" They regarded Gabriel as a mere obstacle in their path, a being they could easily overcome.
The captain interjected, devoid of emotion, "Bring him aboard. He is coming with us." Without any apparent concern for Gabriel's status as a Beyonder, they treated him as inconsequential.
As Gabriel stood suspended in space, contemplating the alien spacecraft, a figure materialized before him, standing at a similar height. This being spoke in a language unfamiliar to Gabriel, issuing a simple and direct ultimatum, "Come with us or be destroyed."
However, Gabriel could not comprehend the alien's words; they seemed like gibberish to him. He remained still, gazing at the being. Gabriel knew he was far from home, but the extent of his distance remained unknown. Aurora, his once ethereal companion, was also absent. All he recalled was flying in a random direction after leaving Earth's atmosphere. First, he encountered an alien worm and a gigantic spider, and now, sentient life. The alien's words held no meaning to him.
Observing Gabriel's confusion, the alien decided to resort to force. Instantly, his eyes ignited in an orange flame. Instinctively, Gabriel recoiled, realizing he faced a true Beyonder—the first he had encountered since the fallen Seraphim, who turned out to be deceased.
The alien unleashed a torrent of flames, creating a booming sound in the soundless expanse of space.
Back inside the ship, the captain sighed in frustration, mirrored by his crew members. They were aware that the alien confronting Gabriel was known for his hot-headedness and penchant for battle. However, some among the crew looked on with anticipation. Strength held paramount importance to them, and they were eager to witness what Gabriel was truly capable of, daring to traverse space alone despite being a mere Tier 2 ranker.
Outside the ship, Gabriel instinctively backed away, causing arcs of lightning to dance around his figure. His eyes shimmered beneath the blindfold as he summoned a colossal fist to counter the incoming torrent of flames.