The words hung in the air, a chilling revelation that sent shivers down Aldred's spine.
Aldred's eyes widened, the weight of Vortimer's declaration settling in. The grand chamber seemed to echo with the gravity of those words. The crew of the Stardust Voyager, outside the flagship, exchanged anxious glances. The protective barrier of mechas stood ready, sensing the escalating tension within the heart of the Celestial Schemata's power.
"Destroy the galaxy?" Aldred repeated, wondering if what he heard was correct. His brow furrowed.
"No, not the galaxy itself, but the parasites that writhe upon its surface—the sentient beings. Those insidious worms that gorge on the stars and infest the cosmos with their ceaseless wars and tumultuous battles."
"You are planning to kill them all?" Aldred rubbed the back of his neck.
"Correct."
"And do you not consider what I think about that?"
Vortimer leaned forward, his face now inches away from Aldred. "I know you are not from this galaxy. You have no ties to this spinning disc of stars."
"Yeah, but my friends are."
"I've heard of your conversations. The Space Weaver. You wanted it to return to your own galaxy."
Aldred frowned. How did he heard that?
"Bring your friends along with you."
Aldred sighed and stood up. "It seems like you have nothing to offer me. Listen, I can get the other stones without your help. Considering what happened last time, I bet I will get all the other stones first."
Suddenly, Vortimer opened his right metallic hand. On his hand, there was a bright glow with various colors. Space seemed to distort around his hand, bending and rolling reality itself.
The Space Stone. A solid deep purple crystal sat on Vortimer's hand.
"I have my army spread and scoured through the entire Veil!" Vortimer declared. "You think you can outrace my inexhaustible servants?"
Aldred sat down again and leaned back. "What do you propose?"
Vortimer sat down as well.
…
"Why are they taking so long?" Salamander wondered.
"Is he being attacked?" Shinari was biting her lips while walking back and forth.
"You guys worry too much." Cleome glanced at the Astral Sovereign ship. "I am sure he knows what he's doing."
Elralya approached them and closed her eyes.
Everyone was looking at her, wondering what she was doing.
After a few seconds, Elralya opened her eyes again. "I can still feel Aldred's presence. Do not worry. It seems that he is safe. In fact, I can feel his existence near us."
"Aldred!!!" Shinari rushed past Elralya and threw herself at Aldred, hugging him tight.
Everyone was surprised.
"Didn't you entered the Celestial Schemata's flagship?" Cleome asked.
"I did, yes."
"Why didn't we saw you when you get back?" Salamander approached him.
"Don't think too much about it." Aldred waved. "Come on. Let's get a drink."
Everyone confusingly followed him into a pub. They all sat down and an old man with a mechanical left eye put down six glass of liquor for them.
"We haven't even ordered yet," Cleome said, watching the old man left.
"Aldred," Shinari called. "What is happening? Aren't you going with Vortimer?"
"Yes, I did. Let me tell you what he said."
…
"You have a mighty army at your beck and call. What do you need me for?"
"The Time Stone. You still have it. I won't be able to execute my plan without all three stones."
"Give me the time stone, and I will help you obtain the Space Weaver from Malgorth."
"As if I will believe that."
"Then what do you suggest?" Vortimer asked.
Aldred was uncertain to tell at first, but he decided to spill it. "Ascendria. Help me enter it and obtain the Space Weaver. Only then will I give you the stone."
"Ascendria. I haven't heard of that for one hundred years."
"What do you say?"
"Fine. I will agree on your term."
Aldred raised an eyebrow. Surprised at how easy it was to make a deal. But still, he was still wary that Vortimer might go back on the agreement.
After all, Aldred had cheated him before so he might tried to get his revenge.
Vortimer reached out his hand. "Is this how you human finalized a deal?"
"More or less." Aldred received his hand and shook it.
…
"And that's all."
Everyone turned silent after that.
Aldred actually left out the part where Vortimer said he was planning to destroy the galaxy.
His friends would certainly disagree. After getting the Space Weaver, Aldred was planning to bring them to his home world.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I seriously cannot tell," Cleome said.
Salamander nodded. "Aldred, I think you are very reckless on your decision. Giving away the stones? Are you sure about this? We don't know what that robot will do with them."
Elralya and Cellaeth was also not supporting this idea.
"I do not think you made a wise decision," Elralya said. This was her first time expressing her disagreement in the team.
"I got no other choice," Aldred said. "The Celestial Schemata has far more personnels than us. Currently, they are scouring the Veil for the Soul Stone. I do not think we can beat that."
The team argued back and forth until they finally relented.
"Alright, we will see where this bring us," Salamander said.
Nodding, Aldred looked above. "You can come out now."
With a soft flash of green glow, Vortimer materialized out of nowhere and sat beside Aldred.
He immediately got the attention of other people in the pub for his stunt.
"Greetings, hairless monkeigh."
Cellaeth frowned. "That's what the elves call the humans."
"Your language came from the ancient old ones. Do not be so drowned in your arrogance that you forgot your ancestry. You are nothing but one of the lesser race."
Cellaeth slammed the table. "How dare you!"
"Wow, calm down, guys." Aldred got in between them, trying to prevent a conflict. "No need to get mad each other."
Cellaeth glared at Vortimer. "It is you who are one with the lesser races like these monkeigh. Your body of metal full of flaws and weakness are prove of your low-level intelligence."
