Chaos ran rampant wherever Michael looked. The crowded alleys with dozens of prestigious training grounds and Ancient structures from the Origin Expanse were now utterly devastated. Dozens of missile pits, collapsed buildings, and corpses of unfortunate victims could be seen everywhere.
Debris and rubble had been flung in all directions, harming the few buildings that didn't collapse from the Perses Missiles' explosions.
"They targeted the Ancient Buildings," Zeke mumbled quietly, "How did they even know the location of all those places? Had they been planning to attack Piloq for a long time? But that…"
Zeke's voice became more silent as his confusion increased. But who could blame him for that? The place they had intended to use to train tirelessly for the next two months had been bombarded with destructive missiles by one of the Tritan Alliance's most valuable spaceships. It was said that the Tritaenus had been the most secure exploration spaceship. Unfortunately, that hadn't been enough to deal with the traitors of their own kind.
The Tritan Alliance had been betrayed, resulting in the loss of dozens of prodigies – if not hundreds –, and the loss of the Sacred City of Training. Even though the city hadn't been obliterated, the vast majority of training facilities had been damaged beyond repair. Therefore the combined efforts of the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs had been destroyed. Just like that their efforts of several decades had been diminished to nothing but debris and debris.
While that was already a severe hit to the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs, the destruction of the training facilities and the death of hundreds of prodigies meant that the participants of the Interdimensional Flag War wouldn't be in their best condition, physically or mentally.
The exact names and numbers of the prodigies who died from the sudden bombardment were not yet out, but Michael could guess that dozens of Token Holders had been killed.
'Without the training facilities, it will be increasingly more difficult to train in Piloq. But we have to train in Piloq if we want to improve our teamwork and communication with everyone else. Even the advantage of the Origin Expanse's time dilation will be of little use in this regard.'
Training in the Origin Expanse meant that he had twice as much time. However, Michael was also fully aware of the advantages a great team consisting of the Tritan Alliance's three races had. He and Kaleb had teamed up with a Warlock Centaur and two Berserkers. Therefore, he could tell how important it was to understand the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs' mindset to create a functioning team with exceptional teamwork.
"I think I will meet up with Quinn and figure out which organization attacked us," Zeke mentioned after a while, his eyes gleaming intensely.
"I will come with you," Lincoln said, while Kaleb looked from Zeke to Michael.
Michael smiled lightly, "I will return to my room if the hotel is still standing that is. You won't see me until tomorrow. I will probably enter the Origin Expanse."
Michael's mind was in a mess. Too much happened in such a short amount of time, and he didn't really want to be faced with anymore Descendants. He considered meeting up with Alice for a moment, but Michael could already imagine her reaction upon seeing the changes of his War Rune.
Most Descendants and higher authorities must have already heard about the miracle Maria manifested with her Inheritance technique. Therefore, Michael was put in a tight spot. He didn't want to annoy himself with politics, a concerned teacher, or a bunch of annoyingly arrogant brats. Thus, withdrawing to the Origin Expanse for a day might be the best to calm his mind.
Michael had many tasks to take care of in the Origin Expanse, either way.
"That might actually be the best idea. I am not sure how everyone will react to the Mark of Fate. You better prepare yourself mentally before you come back from the Origin Expanse," Lincoln said, suppressing a heavy sigh as his eyes involuntarily landed on Michael's War Rune.
"Thanks for your concern. I will be back soon," Michael responded, smiling at Lincoln before turning away to leave.
Michael left the three Descendants by themselves as he returned to the hotel with steady strides.
"How can Michael handle all of this so easily? He looks so unconcerned and unbothered," Lincoln mumbled as his eyes followed the retreating figure of his friend.
"Are you talking about the terrorist's attack or the future issues he'll have with the Seraph family and the High Society?" Zeke asked swiftly.
"Both, I guess."
Kaleb looked at the two childhood friends and sighed deeply, "It's not that Michael doesn't care. He is just good at hiding how he feels. Michael is probably one of the people who overthink way too much. Though, I suspect that his mind is blank right now. The news about the Mark of Fate, the Seraph family, and the fact that he will soon be pushed into High Society politics must have shocked him quite a bit.
"As for the attack, it is the first time most of us lived through a terrorist attack on such a scale, but we're all quite calm – on the outside, at least."
Lincoln shook his head, not quite sure if Kaleb understood his friend properly.
"I never understood Michael. He was not trained as intensely as any of us, from a young age at that, but his mental fortitude might as well make us look like rookies." He said, a tinge of admiration lingering in his voice.
Lincoln had always been impressed with Michael. Michael had no one to support him yet his War Rune's refinement degree was on par with his own. But that was not all. Michael was also extremely strong, his determination was extraordinary and it looked like he progressed much faster than everyone else.
By now, Lincoln was not sure if he could defeat Michael without the use of his Inheritance Technique. Even then it would be a close match. Lincoln was not certain of his victory, which was also why he desired to spar with Michael with all his might. He wanted to find out how much Michael had improved since they first fought.
The only thing that irked Lincoln about Michael was the fact that he underestimated himself. Putting aside the fact that Michael became Maria's Primal Amplifier, which saddened Lincoln quite a bit, Lincoln couldn't help but think that Michael was horrifyingly good at socializing without even trying.
Michael's personality was very adept at making enemies as well, but it was almost like Michael could subconsciously tell who he could offend without problems and which families he had to get close to. He befriended Alice while being oblivious to her prestige and influence. Then he offended Kaleb, only to end up becoming one of his good friends several months before Kaleb manifested his 7-Star Soultrait.
And now Michael had gotten close to two heirs of High Nobles, received the Mark of Fate from the Saintess of the Seraph family, and it was rumored that Michael had gotten close to the Berserker's Chieftain as well.
"I told you. This guy is a monster," Kaleb chuckled lightly, "If you pick him as your rival you will grow stronger much faster than you can imagine. I hated that he was stronger than me, so I might have worked myself to death until my War Rune rivaled his. Just as I thought that I caught up to him, his War Rune's refinement degree improved alongside his presence. He seems much stronger than before, not only physically but also mentally. Sometimes I really wonder how someone like Michael isn't a Descendant or a direct disciple of a Great Clan."
"Rival…" Lincoln mumbled quietly, the corner of his lips curling upward as he realized that he considered it. 'My past self would have never accepted someone other than the strongest Descendants to become my rivals. But this guy…this guy shattered my view… He really is a monster…'
"Whether you pick him as your rival or not, that's on you. But let's meet up with Quinn and the others first. We have to find out who survived," Zeke said, glancing at his friend for a minute before he pulled him away.
"To think that my rival would cause trouble to so many Descendants. He is a true troublemaker!" Kaleb chuckled, following right behind Lincoln Pierre and Zeke Lavita.
In the meantime, Michael arrived in front of the hotel. It had been razed to the ground, diminished to bricks and broken furniture until there was nothing left of it.
"Looks like I will anchor somewhere else," He mumbled, before moving to the nearby library. The surroundings of the library had been bombed, yet the structure of the library was standing strong. It survived the bombardment of Piloq...somehow.
Michael entered it and was about to report to the receptionist that he wanted to anchor in the library when he noticed that no one was there.
"Whatever…" Michael shrugged and manifested the Runic Gate.
He stepped into the Runic Gate and returned to the Origin Expanse – escaping the chaos of Piloq and his worries about the Mark of Fate and the potential course of events that were bound to follow with today's happenings.
'Should I just live in the Origin Expanse permanently?'
It was just a fleeting thought, but Michael felt drawn to it. In the Origin Expanse, it was highly unlikely that someone would bomb his territory out of nowhere. The Origin Expanse would also not force him to mingle with arrogant pricks and the lads of High Society.
Michael wouldn't have to deal with Maria Seraph, or her family either. The only ones bothering him would be the Lords and Empires adjacent to his territory – maybe the threats of the Untamed Jungle as well. Fortunately, those threats were fine for the time being. Michael could deal with them.
'But do I really want to live here permanently?' Michael wondered.
The answer was simple and unsurprising.
"No. I don't want to be like my parents. I won't ever abandon anyone close to me!"
**
[A/N: The Author is back in the game with some questions hehe. First of all, I know that this chapter doesn't seem very important to some of you guys, but it's not a filler! That is something I'm very inquisitive about as well. Do you guys think chapters like these are actually filler, or is it more about other things that annoy you? Were you anticipating something bigger to happen now? What are your thoughts? Let me know, I will be waiting! :D]
