Sephiroth was the title of the highest ruling authority in their clan, the emperor of their entire star system. Such authority could not be ignored.
"From father…" Sylvester's face twisted up before smoothing out.
It couldn't possibly be from his father, but most likely from his mother instead. His father had told him before coming; under no circumstance was he allowed to leave New Gaea before he knew what master he served. These incredibly insulting words continue to baffle Sylvester to this day.
Who could possibly be worthy of being his master on this star? This was basically the same as being outcasted. Sylvester was convinced his father feared the former's boundless potential, no matter how obviously wrong this conclusion may be.
"I will not be returning to Jaiya. Notify me before you depart. I will handle the issues on this star on my own."
Without giving his elder brother a chance to respond or restrict him, Sylvester tore the void with his hand and disappeared into the chaotic streams of space. For a long time, the fifth prince stood there, observing his brother's soul mark that clung to the edge of the void he created.
After a while, the fifth prince let out a loud sigh. He knew this was going to happen. Oliver was confident in his ability to handle his ninth brother. This was the reason he was made crown prince.
The fifth prince's face flushed red and then purple before slowly returning to normal. He looked at the red-haired wolf boy, swinging his sword calmly, and spoke softly, "Tenth brother, you know you're the only one who can bring him back. Please, go look after your older brother."
"But, fifth brother, why should we always have to bail him out of the chaos he causes? How is this fair to us?" Xavier complained.
However, inwardly he had already decided to follow his big brother, even if Oliver had never asked. Since he did ask, Xavier decided to use this opportunity to vent his grievances.
Prince Oliver sighed as he looked down at his tenth brother.
"I wish I could tell you that it is not the case, but you have to understand - the ninth brother has a much stronger connection to his godly heritage than we do. In fact, many of our brothers would love to have the same ability he does when it comes to competing for the crown. Unfortunately, due to your mother's past deeds, they have been treating him with disdain and contempt since birth.
"This is why you were both sent away from royal life in Jaiya - so that ninth brother wouldn't have to suffer any further. However, because you are not even eligible for the competition, you have received more leniency in comparison. He feels like he has to be distant and unkind towards you because if his enemies found out about your relationship, they might target you instead."
Xavier closed his eyes and pondered for several minutes.
In truth, he was long since aware of these things. As a hero, Xavier's life force dwindled nearly ten times as quickly as his ninth brother. In a way, he could be considered older in mentality. Xavier still understood his family quite well.
He looked up at Prince Oliver and said, "Okay, fifth brother. Leave it to me. I'll make sure ninth brother returns safely."
"Protect yourselves. May Elan protect you," Prince Oliver performed a traditional salute before turning to leave the hall. Xavier returned the salute before transforming into a golden light that stabbed into the void like a sword.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The X2 suddenly jerked to a stop, causing Jody to snap out of his thoughts. Zebra looked at him, panicked, "Boss, we've been hacked! The controls are completely locked!"
Jody immediately reached for his gun, but it was gone. Disturbing as this was, he had no time to ask questions. He looked around the cabin, trying to find something he could use as a weapon, but there was nothing.
"We have to bail, boss!" Zebra shouted, already reaching for the eject button.
Jody hesitated for a second, looking out of the window at the warehouse. Sansa and Lulu were in there. He couldn't just leave them behind. But he knew that Zebra was right. They had to get out of the X2 before it exploded.
He nodded at Zebra, and they both hit the eject button. The next thing Jody knew, he was freefalling towards the ground. He looked up and saw the X2 exploding in mid-air, flames engulfing the skies as if they refused to let the earth breathe.
Zebra didn't waste any time as he shifted his weight and straightened his limbs before pin-diving torwards the nearest point of leverage, the warehouse below them!
Jody watched as his bodyguard and part-time driver utilized his unique abilities to guarantee his own safety. While Jody wasn't overly concerned by the current situation, a little help would've been nice. Jody showcased amazing aerodynamics as he spun mid-air and dived before attaching himself to Zebra's back like a squid.
As they plummeted closer and closer to the ground, Jody couldn't help but think about what would happen if they didn't make it out alive. He couldn't bear the thought of never seeing Sansa and Lulu again, of never being able to hold them in his arms and tell them how much he loved them.
But he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. As he got closer to the warehouse, he saw movement below him. He couldn't tell what it was but knew it wasn't Sansa or Lulu.
Suddenly, Zebra's body slammed into something, breaking their fall. Jody felt a jolt as he hit the ground, but he quickly got back up, scanning the area for any signs of danger.
As they landed on the warehouse roof, Jody and Zebra quickly got to work. They could hear muffled screams and cries coming from inside and knew they had to act fast. Jody tapped his watch, and it transformed into a small but high-powered laser gun.
He called this little beauty the Noisy Flea.
Zebra led the way, using his enhanced senses to detect any traps or dangers that might be waiting for them. Jody followed closely behind, scanning the area for any signs of life.
As they made their way down the stairwell, they could hear the commotion getting louder and more chaotic. Suddenly, they burst through the door, weapons at the ready.
The scene that greeted them was one of horror. Two women, supposedly Sansa and Lulu, were tied up. With their faces and bodies bruised and bloodied, it seemed they had been defiled. A group of men surrounded them, laughing and jeering as they took turns torturing the helpless women.
Without hesitation, Jody and Zebra sprung into action. They moved like a well-oiled machine, taking down the men precisely and accurately. As they fought, Jody suddenly felt like something wasn't right. When his laser shot an enemy down, there was no scent of blood. If he landed a physical blow, he didn't feel any resistance or percussive force rebounding his way.
Jody rolled to the side behind cover before glancing around. Seeing something shining in a corner above, he aimed and fired a laser.
SHIING!!
The beam whistled through the air like a missile before a crunching and crackling sound was heard.
Woosh~
Suddenly, the scene in the warehouse shifted drastically before Jody's eyes. He noticed Zebra lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and standing above him was a bald, middle-aged man with pale skin and a bright red goatee. He wore azure robes that resembled a wizard's clothes. It had a phoenix-like design embroidered on the back and a neodawn symbol on the front.
In one hand, he held an imposing future-esque gun with an extended clip and pulsing red gems along the body, while in his other hand, he clutched a machete-like blade with glowing designs and a blue gem in its center.