Chapter 247: Return to Zubo!
Tessa stood amidst the jubilant crew, her wide smile reflecting the warmth of the moment. She was finally back. With her return came the opportunity to bring about the changes she so desperately sought on Earth. This time, she would not rely on others—she would shape the future with her own power.
The milky-white sap from the Universe Tree wasn't just for her ascension. She had deliberately gathered more than she needed to strengthen the most trustworthy members of her machinery team—the Deri-Legu. Originally, she doubted she would find anyone worthy, but Nzak Deri had proven her wrong. His unwavering faith and devotion had been a pleasant surprise.
Even so, she intended to observe him further before deeming him deserving of such a profound blessing. She was no longer the same Tessa who left; she was now the heir to the power of a Time God. If she played her cards right—with the proper consumption of the Universe Tree's sap and rigorous training—she would one day ascend fully into godhood. When Hovi and his group returned in a decade, she wouldn't just resist them; she would utterly crush them.
The sap was her secret weapon. The Universe Tree had gifted her a mobile dimension made of its own wood to store it, a dimension bound to her as a necklace she now wore. Invisible to all but those with power rivaling the Universe Tree itself, it was undetectable. And beings capable of such feats were confined to distant, alternate universes scattered across the multiverse.
The tree had gifted her more than sap; it had also unraveled the mysteries of knowledge she once struggled to grasp. It was like staring at an advanced book in frustration, only for an expert to suddenly appear and translate its complexities into clarity. With this newfound understanding, she felt prepared to confront the challenges ahead, knowing that the tools for victory were finally in her grasp.
"Let us return," Tessa said, her voice calm but commanding, as she made her way to the pilot arch. Nzak Deri followed closely behind, his posture straight, exuding pride and reverence. The atmosphere aboard the whale spaceship was electric with celebration. A few overzealous crew members broke into song, their voices echoing through the metallic halls like a ceremonial chant.
"Here she comes, our goddess, she has returned,
She entered the abyss of death and came out unscathed.
Give way, let the whale heed her call,
Let her people make room for her, she has returned!"
Tessa had to stifle a laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. What in the world has gotten into these Zubo aboriginals? she wondered, her lips twitching with amusement. While their devotion was touching, the melodrama of their song bordered on absurd. Still, she said nothing, her fingers expertly navigating the gears as she eased the whale spaceship into hyperspeed, the hum of its engines building to a crescendo before they punched into orbit.
The celebration only intensified. The crew filled the ship with singing, dancing, and joyous laughter. Among them, a little girl and her mother stood out. Tessa remembered them—a fleeting interaction during her initial journey, yet one that left an impact. The girl's eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Tessa, her small hands clutching her mother's as she jumped up and down. To her, Tessa wasn't just a leader; she was a hero who had defied death itself.
What the Deri-Legu people didn't realize, however, was the truth of Tessa's journey. They believed she had ventured into the abyss out of selfless sacrifice, sparing them from the unknown dangers of the Universe Tree. In their eyes, she was a noble savior, someone whose honor and reputation had ascended to a place unreachable by any other.
Tessa let them have their illusions, smiling softly as they celebrated her return. Yet beneath her calm exterior, her mind was elsewhere. Her thoughts drifted to Adrian, and her expression darkened. She wondered if Rhemon had succeeded in twisting him into a mindless pawn. The possibility filled her with equal parts dread and fury.
Images of vengeance flashed through her mind—plans she could craft to bring Rhemon and Erodius to their knees, each one more devastating than the last. But she knew that rushing in unprepared would be foolish. There were steps to take first, and one of those steps involved Gastro. She needed his expertise and, more importantly, she needed to fulfill her promise to him.
The Deri-Legu people, blissfully unaware of the turmoil brewing within their goddess, continued their celebrations. Their songs and dances filled the ship, a testament to their unshakable faith. For now, Tessa let them rejoice, their joy a temporary balm to the storm raging within her.
But in her heart, she knew the battles ahead would demand more than their faith. It would demand every ounce of the strength she had gained—and more.
---------
Gastro sat cross-legged inside the clover spaceship, the faint hum of its engines the only sound accompanying him. The air felt stale, thick with a tension that had settled like an unwelcome guest. For a month and two weeks, he had been trapped here, unable to leave, surrounded by the bandits of the Clover Manufacturing Company. Their patience was wearing thin, and so was his.
Every day, they threatened him, trying to break his resolve. But Gastro, despite his doubts, had managed to hold them off with words. "Tessa will return," he told them repeatedly, his voice unwavering, even if his heart wasn't always as steady. Deep down, he questioned whether she would truly come back. Yet he clung to his belief in her. Tessa wasn't someone who backed away from a challenge, and she never broke her word. That unyielding determination of hers was the only thing keeping his faith alive.
Gastro leaned back against the cool metal wall, staring at the ceiling. She'll come back. She has to, he thought, clinging to the hope that had become his lifeline. Tessa wasn't just his partner; she was a force of nature, someone who defied the odds at every turn. He had to trust in that, no matter how bleak things seemed.
Outside, Otopi stood on the open roof of his jeep, his sharp eyes fixed on the clover spaceship. This had become a routine for him—an almost theatrical display of dominance, as if his presence alone could intimidate Gastro into submission.
Every morning, he delivered the same speech, his voice dripping with mockery. Today was no different.
"My patience is growing thin," Otopi called out, his voice carrying across the clearing. "It seems I've made a very foolish decision. This partner of yours has probably abandoned you. If so, she's wise—wiser than you, anyway. You've been left to rot, Gastro."
His followers chuckled in agreement, their laughter echoing in the stillness of the morning. Otopi smirked, enjoying their approval. But as he opened his mouth to add more venom to his taunts, something caught his attention.
The sunlight dimmed slightly, a shadow passing over the clearing. Otopi squinted, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the glare as he looked up. A dark shape loomed in the sky, approaching with alarming speed.
"What… what is that?" Otopi muttered, his confident smirk faltering.
Two of his subordinates, sensing his unease, stepped up beside him. They followed his gaze, their expressions shifting from curiosity to unease.
"Could that be her?" Otopi said aloud, his voice tinged with disbelief. "No… it can't be. There shouldn't be anyone possessing such a powerful spaceship. Who could this be?"
The object hurtled closer, its sleek, imposing design becoming clearer with each passing second. The sheer size and speed of it made the bandits instinctively take a step back, their bravado wavering.
Inside the clover spaceship, Gastro felt the shift in the atmosphere. The faint tremor of distant engines reached his ears, and a spark of hope ignited in his chest. He scrambled to the nearest viewport, his breath catching as he saw the massive craft descending.
"Tessa," he whispered, a grin breaking across his face. "You actually came."
Outside, Otopi and his men stood frozen, their earlier confidence replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread. The whale spaceship descended with an almost divine presence, its shadow engulfing the clearing. The air was thick with tension, and the bandits could only watch as the ship came to a halt, its engines roaring like the growl of an awakened beast.
As the spaceship hovered above them, its hull gleaming in the sunlight, Otopi's voice broke the silence, now shaky and uncertain.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" he muttered, his earlier bravado nowhere to be found.
The ramp of the spaceship began to lower, and the bandits instinctively drew their weapons, though their hands trembled. Otopi swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest.
For the first time, he wondered if his decision to challenge Gastro—and by extension, Tessa—had been his gravest mistake.