Xander remained in the bubble-like void container for an hour, trapped there, with the container having shrunk closer to his body due to his continuous struggle to break free. The soldier paraded him like a freak for the people of the sect's delights. Their eyes shone bright with excitement while the soldier led him through well-tarred streets, large fancy houses in every direction, the shape of huge boxes and made of shiny glass material. Xander understood then, why the people of the city were staring at him, through specially designed glasses. Even the soldier leading him on had put on one. The glasses reflected enormous lights from the sun, hurting his eyes severely. He had to shut his eyes as the soldier led him deeper into the city.
The destination was finally a massive mansion like the others, but exceptionally bigger and taller. The soldier led him through the glass doors into a lobby that was floored with glass tiles. It was large, full of people dressed in the same dark armor plates as the soldier. Their curious gazes clung desperately to him, as he was led further into the building and into a large hall.
Powerful looking men in their fifties or early sixties sat around a large table, their eyes concentrated on his arrival into the room, their presence very intimidating. They checked him out with their eyes, and turned to converse in rushed whispers among themselves, excitement growing steadily in the room. One man didn't speak, but merely watched and observed with deep purple void-like eyes. He was slender and wiry, with an aura of darkness. His jet-black hair was streaked with a bit of grey, and pulled back in a tight knot.
Someone from the high table referred to him as Lord Voran. He seemed to be the leader of the sect. The soldier that had brought Xander made careful motions of his hands and Xander saw himself floating higher in the void container to stop just at the center of the large conference table.
"Remarkable! It is truly the time for a new Eternal War. Not just Lord Nicolas Buro was reincarnated, but Grand Master Luffin Tank as well", one of the men around the table, cried ecstatically.
"Indeed" another supported, excitement in his eyes.
Another man turned to Lord Voran. "What should we do about him, Lord Voran? I say we should kill him and end the Eternal War before it even started. Unlike the past, this would ensure Lord Nicholas's victory, and we can then build Lord Nicolas Buro's reincarnation into the Void Phantom's weapon, fight and defeat the other sects and then rule over all of Celestaris", the man said.
Lord Voran said nothing but absently stroked his beard, an all-gray goatee, that extended like a long V from his small jaw.
Another man from the table countered the other man. "What do you mean we should kill Grand Master Luffin Tank's reincarnation? Why can't we just weaponize both of them? In all the cultivation world, those two are the only ones who can cultivate and learn every sect's techniques. I understand Lord Nicolas Buro is our key progenitor, but must we kill one to save another, when we can use both"
The other man sat up, irritated and a bit vexed. "We can control Lord Nicolas through his fated bride, Lady Mona, as she is a great anchor to his cultivation journey. How do you suggest we control Grand Master Luffin Tank? We do not know his bride yet," he said tenaciously.
"But we know his brides will be reborn across all the five sects like always, we will have one of his brides coming from our ranks, we just have to find her." the first man defended his position with the same tenacity.
"The promiscuous fellow will indeed have many brides as he did in his past life, and that means we will need to get our hands on more than one of them, if we ever hope to control him."
Xander just watched helplessly from above as the two men debated on his life. None of their positions were encouraging. He didn't like to be killed, nor did he relish being used as someone's weapon. He searched around the void container fervently for a way to break free, and like always, he found nothing helpful. Then Lord Voran's thin, authoritative voice stole his attention. The authority and power in Lord Voran's voice muted every other sound in the large hall.
"I agree with Master Kiron, we have to kill Grand Master Luffin Tank. If kept alive, fate will eventually find a way to take its course someday, and then we will be completely powerless and at his mercy. We don't want to fall into fate's bad grace, when we can determine its existence from the very start", Lord Voran said. That seemed to be enough as a declaration. He stood up from his magnificent gold-studded seat and left the hall. The others left the hall after him, just as the soldier took him away.
With the certainty of death, Xander clawed more desperately at the void container, struggling to free himself, but his strength and speed still weren't enough to break him free. If only he could channel out the massive power swirling violently inside his veins, then he might be able to break free, but unfortunately, he couldn't.
The guard led him to another hall. Grander like the first, but a bit smaller. A large electronic guillotine sat at the center of the hall. Still within the void container, which had shrunken to a skin-tight suit around him, the guard steered his head, fitting it into the area of the guillotine device where heads were meant to go through. The Masters gathered around as they had done around the conference table, patiently and excitedly waiting to witness his death. The soldier set the guillotine blade at the order of one of the Masters. Xander shut his eyes, believing this was the end for him. His dream of avenging his first death and those of his parents going up in smoke as he was about to be killed a second time. Then suddenly, his heart palpitated, jerking in a furious rhythm within the narrow confines of his chest. Xander opened his eyes instantly, he understood that rhythm.