"H-Hyuuuung!!! I can't believe you're leaving!!!"
This was why I wanted Sung to be the last person I told my farewell to.
I saw how he went all emotional on Aloe when she informed him of her departure, and now it was my turn.
'Oh well...' I smiled.
It just went to show how much he valued our short whole together, I suppose.
"Haha. I might come and visit you someday. Who knows?"
"Really? That would be awesome!"
"I know, right?"
It was uncertain if that was ever going to happen. However, to properly give this world something to help them—a final parting gift—I decided to entrust Sung with something I knew would help him and this world in the long run.
"I will be teaching you one.last technique. It's my trump card." I smiled, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"O-oh? Hyung's strongest spell? I can't wait!"
"It's not a Spell. It's more than that. It's a well-guarded secret that I haven't even taught to my friends."
I had no idea why I was revealing something so close to my heart to someone I knew for a meager one month.
Perhaps it was because I knew it would be extremely difficult for him and this world to survive without having this sort of insurance on their side.
'Maybe...' I maintained my smile and looked at him with utmost seriousness.
"I call it Spellcraft. It'll allow you to harness more power and protect those dearest to you."
"Spell... craft...?"
"Yes. Now you must promise me, Han Soo. Promise me you'll never teach this to anyone until you've figured out they're deserving of such power."
Even though this world most likely needed Spellcraft to survive, and only Han Soo couldn't protect everyone, I was also cautious about the power of Spellcraft falling into the wrong hands.
'That's why I didn't tell the Chairman and Directors.' Not all of them could be trusted, and in time the Hunter Association would realize that.
But Han Soo was different. I had done my due diligence to research him—past, present, and future.
His future would change a bit, thanks to my current influence, but that wouldn't change who he was at his core.
He was a good person.
"You are a worthy successor to Spellcraft."
************
I was only able to show him the basics, and tell him how to go about it.
The rest was up to him. Though, I had a little more assurance than mere faith that he would be able to learn it before it was too late.
'And he must also find successors that he can trust with Spellcraft as well.'
Once I was finally done sorting out my last loose end, it was time for us to leave.
"I certainly hope you're satisfied now, Jared. You're done with everything you want to do, right?" Kuzon said, his brows furrowed in annoyance.
"I am. And thank you for being patient with me." I smiled.
"How is Sung now?" Aloe asked me, her eyes filled with concern for the young man.
The way they parted was rather emotional, after all.
However, the moment I recollected Sung's determined expression, and the promise we shared, I could only give one response.
"He'll be fine."
A relieved smile formed on Aloe's face, and I granted her a reassuring nod.
"Well, since we're all here, I suppose it's time to leave." Kuzon spoke, preparing the Blu-Blu, our ticket out of this world.
"Well. I'm ready when you are, Kuzon." I chuckled.
"Tch. About time." He responded with rolled-up eyes.
"Same here." Aloe interjected.
"Yeah, yeah."
The orb in his grasp shone golden, and a bright portal appeared before us, calling us to yet another unknown realm.
'I wonder what we'll encounter this time around.' With that thought surfacing in my mind, we all took a leap of faith and ventured into the golden spatial rift.
... Unaware of what awaited us on the other side.
********
[Grand Federation Calendar: Year 3,567]
[Zone 13, Planet Zipliblog]
A fortified facility stood imposingly on the grand Zipliblog planet's surface, a testament to the advanced technology and security measures employed by its insect-like inhabitants. Inside, the air hummed with a subtle energy as bipedal guards, adorned in sturdy armor, patrolled the corridors, their multifaceted eyes scanning for any signs of intrusion.
And then—
>DRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!!!<
Deep within the heart of the facility, in a dimly lit control room, a panel flickered with alarms and warnings.
The holographic display illuminated the tense faces of the security personnel as it blared the news of a breach.
Panic filled the room, but the guards swiftly coordinated their efforts to apprehend the intruder.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, the enigmatic culprit prepared to execute their meticulously planned heist.
Clad in a sleek stealth suit that seamlessly blended with the surroundings, they moved with a grace and precision that rendered them nearly invisible to the alien guards.
Silent footfalls carried them through the labyrinthine corridors, avoiding the patrol routes and motion sensors that dotted the facility.
As the alarm wailed throughout the facility, the guards frantically converged on the designated breach point.
They brandished their energy rifles, ready to confront the intruder. But each time they closed in, the culprit deftly slipped away, their stealth suit rendering them virtually undetectable.
They utilized the intricate layout of the facility to their advantage, disappearing into ventilation shafts and using secret passageways known only to a select few.
The guards grew increasingly frustrated, their chittering mandibles clicking in agitation as they failed to apprehend the elusive thief. They coordinated their efforts, setting up ambushes and deploying specialized units to track down the intruder.
However, each time they believed they had cornered their prey, they found themselves grasping at empty air, their quarry always one step ahead.
As the chaos ensued, the culprit, having evaded the guards once more, accessed a control panel that controlled the facility's security protocols.
Their stealth suit interfaced seamlessly with the alien technology, granting them unprecedented access to the facility's systems.
"Hehe. Finally found it! There you are, my precious."
A holographic display materialized in front of them, displaying the intricate details of the facility's layout and security measures.
With their newfound control, the infiltrator initiated a shapeshifting sequence, their body transforming into an exact replica of a high-ranking Zipliblog commander.
They observed their reflection in a nearby reflective surface, the bipedal insect-like form taking on the appearance of the esteemed leader.
The disguised culprit confidently strode toward their ultimate goal—a room deep within the facility that housed a highly secured vault.
As they approached, two high-ranked guards—the most skilled in the whole facility—saluted and stepped aside, their respect for the esteemed commander, overriding any suspicion they might have harbored.
Upon reaching the entrance to the restricted area, the shapeshifted commander's façade faltered for a moment, a look of annoyance crossing their features as they were denied further access.
"U-um... commander... no one is allowed in there."
Surely, the commander should have been aware that this was a classified zone that no Zipliblog inhabitant could enter—not even the esteemed leader.
It was a territory directly controlled by the Grand Federation.
"We'll have to ask you to stand back... sir."
The guards' unwavering commitment to protocol surprised even the infiltrator.
It seemed this was as far as they would be able to go.
"I understand." With a resigned sigh, they drew a concealed energy weapon, its sleek design and deadly capabilities hinting at its illegal nature.
>PEW!<
>PEW!<
With a swift and precise motion, the disguised culprit eliminated the guards, their silenced weapons offering no warning to the doomed sentinels.
The alien bodies collapsed to the ground, hollow and lifeless.
"It seems they hired amateurs to guard. Now isn't that a surprise." Generating a sarcastic laugh, the shape-shifting effect they pulled off slowly unraveled, revealing a woman standing in a skin-tight bodysuit.
Her long brown hair danced behind her, as a streak of purple hue stained it.
"It's a good thing I came prepared." Her sonorous voice echoed as she brought out an oddly shaped key and inserted it into the only hole that existed in the vault in front of her.
>FSSHHIIIIIII<
The door hissed open, revealing a vast chamber filled with rows upon rows of highly valuable artifacts and resources.
This was the coveted vaulted place—the ultimate prize.
However...
"This isn't it. What I'm looking for should be deeper inside."
All of these treasures simply served as a distraction to prevent anyone from going further and finding the rarest kind of mineral in the known Universal System.
"Isotope XY. Hm?"
Turning her attention to one of the two supposedly dead guards, she noticed him struggling to breathe, his once vibrant armor now marred with bloodstains.
Nothing but apathy flickered across her face as she regarded the injured man.
"S-so... it was you..." His voice, weak but resolute, cut through the stillness of the chamber. "... The most wanted criminal in all registered Zones within the Grand Federation" he rasped, his words accompanied by a violent fit of coughing, dark blue-like droplets splattering on the polished floor.
"... Ciara Epilson."
Ciara's gaze hardened, a predatory glint in her eyes as she acknowledged her infamous reputation.
The guard's words held no surprises for her; not anymore.
"Seems you're more persistent than I gave you credit for. Perhaps you have something dear to you that you're fighting for."
The wounded guard's eyes widened, a mixture of fear and recognition flickering within them.
He struggled to reach for his weapon, a futile attempt to defend himself against the embodiment of chaos standing before him.
"No, you don't." Ciara's hand moved with ruthless efficiency, drawing her own weapon from its holster, its polished surface glinting ominously in the dim light.
In a swift, fluid motion, she silenced the guard's feeble attempt at defiance, the weapon's discharge echoing hollowly through the chamber.
His body convulsed and slumped to the ground, life extinguished, as the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of expended energy.
Ciara cast one last disdainful glance at the fallen guard, a testament to her unwavering resolve and relentless pursuit.
"You should have just pretended to be dead."
Unfazed by the violence she had just inflicted, Ciara Epilson disappeared into the depths of the vault, her steps echoing against the vaulted walls.
"... Not that it matters to me."
