"Sharing research data on wormhole jump technology, are you really okay with that?" Tony couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical as he listened to Lix's offer.
He knew how important this kind of knowledge was for any civilization. Even if the technology Lix offered wasn't the most advanced, it would still save Tony a lot of time and trouble, allowing him to skip several steps in his research.
"Even though Earth and Mogri aren't allies, you and I are both comrades in the Void Sect," Lix said with a smile. "And you've made undeniable contributions to the Void Sect. It's a small favor I can offer."
"Are there any conditions?" Tony asked cautiously, aware that such an offer usually came with strings attached.
"If I had to name one, it's that I hope Mogri and Earth will never become enemies," Lix replied calmly. "I imagine you wouldn't want to see us fighting each other, right?"
Tony could see that Lix knew better than to offer something with no conditions. Such a deal would raise suspicions. So Lix's simple and reasonable condition made sense.
"Of course, I wouldn't want that," Tony nodded. "But your condition seems too easy. Let's make things clearer. If the data from Mogri helps me crack the wormhole technology and I successfully develop something advanced, I'll share my breakthroughs with you. But only about wormhole tech."
Tony offered this in good faith. His current biggest challenge was not having enough theoretical knowledge to fully understand and develop wormhole jump technology from scratch. It was a massive hurdle, requiring time, funding, and numerous trials to overcome.
If Lix's data could help him clear this obstacle, Tony was confident that he could take the technology to the next level. His self-assurance came from two sources: his belief in his intellect and the fact that, as a member of the Void Sect, he now had plenty of time to work on these projects.
"Agreed. I look forward to seeing the results of your research," Lix said with a smile.
From the moment he saw Tony's gravity devices, Lix knew Tony was a valuable talent, someone who could benefit the Void Sect greatly. Helping Tony succeed was a way to contribute to the Void Sect's growth.
After reaching this agreement, Tony and Lix chatted well into the afternoon. Eventually, Lix left to meet others on the island, and Tony didn't stop him, instead inviting him back for another visit in the future. Tony enjoyed Lix's company, even though his forceful personality and intense devotion to the Void Sect could be overwhelming at times.
"Lalatina, how did you end up meeting him?" Tony asked casually after Lix had left, deciding to give himself a two-day break with the New Year approaching.
"This morning, the noise from the ships woke me up, so I went to see what was happening. That's when I ran into him," Lalatina explained with a smile. "At first, he seemed intimidating, but once I got to know him, I realized he's a good person."
"His kindness is reserved for fellow members of the Void Sect. For anyone who opposes him, Lix would be an absolute nightmare," Tony said thoughtfully. "While he's very friendly towards us, people like him, with such intense beliefs and power, can easily become dangerous if left unchecked. We may need Harvey to step in and keep him in check."
Tony's concerns were valid. Someone as fanatically devoted as Lix could easily cause catastrophic problems if not carefully managed.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Lalatina asked, somewhat confused by Tony's caution.
"I didn't say it wasn't," Tony replied, smoothly shifting the conversation. "Tomorrow's the New Year celebration. You and Sara should take the day off and check it out."
"Thank you, Tony," Lalatina said, sensing the change in subject and not pressing further.
At the Mountain Villa:
"Lix has changed, hasn't he?" Harvey mused, watching footage of Lix interacting with others on the island.
"His size has increased since the last time I saw him," Sonia remarked. "Do you know why that is, Kassadin?"
"Evolution has many paths, and increasing one's size is just one of them," Harvey replied. This was the first time he had seen Lix in years since their encounter on Mogri. Back then, Lix had been about two and a half meters tall. Now, he was pushing three and a half meters, clearly a result of over three hundred rounds of evolution.
"So, you can change your body size? Any part of it?" Sonia asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Why do I feel like you're implying something?" Harvey raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm just curious," Sonia quickly denied, waving her hands in defense.
"Without mastering Void magic, increasing one's size can be more of a hindrance than a benefit," Harvey cautioned.
"Void magic? Is that an advanced form of Void energy manipulation?" Sonia asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. Void magic can grant all sorts of abilities. Shapeshifting is one of them. Even your flying technique, [Void Glide], can be considered a form of Void magic."
"Void magic can achieve all kinds of abilities? So, would you say it's better to focus on evolving Void energy rather than the physical body?" Sonia asked, thoughtfully considering her evolution path.
"There's no absolute right path in evolution," Harvey replied, his gaze becoming more intense. "The right path depends on what you seek. There are countless ways to evolve, and none are universally better than the others."