Chapter 627 - Day UNKNOWN: Departure

I'm unsure how much time passed, but if I had to guess I would say maybe two or three months. Then Yagg finally had a date for me. It didn't say me much, since they measured time in a totally different way when it came to two separate worlds, two separate galactic, and two separate planets, but after a long consultation with Druoag, I came to a conclusion that I had around three more months.

I spent them chasing my goal of being ready and really reaching out for the championship.

We did a lot of weird stuff, like diving deep in the frozen waters of the local ocean on the dark half of the planet, to simulate immense pressure Sevva could put me under. We sparred a lot, focusing on the speed, and making sure my moves would be perfect.

The passive skills helped a lot, and I really improved when I had a weapon in my hand because everything clicked. It became even better when I finally didn't have to focus on what I was doing, and could give it all to my instincts.

Ather that each sparring felt like a really well spent time. Especially since Druoag was imitating the fighting styles of the two strongest opponents. Sadly he couldn't do the same with the Calludin, and Yagg was not always there to do it for me.

Overall I felt ready when we all were boarding a smaller ship to board the flying fortress stationed in the orbit. To my surprise the three Atri, who often worked as my translators whenever I didn't have my AI thingy with me, or it failed to deliver the translation properly.

Leaving Qual-O-7 made me sad a bit though. I had a really good time on that planet, even if all I did was training. When we were flying up I was standing by the window, and watching the distance between the ship and the land grow.

Soon I could see the protective wall and flames behind it. It was really quite a view. Druoag joined me to also admire it, and he took almost all the space by the window.

- Beautiful isn't it? - he asked.

- Yeah - I agreed.

- This planet used to be very harsh for the inhabitants. Now not so much, but from afar it still looks so rough. So... Angry. A piece of rock surviving the fury of the star. It's kinda like you and the High Queen - he added a bit quieter so Yagg wouldn't hear.

- About that, I'm not sure... I feel like I didn't really survive...

- You are alive - he pointed out.

- Because I was spared.

- Survival is about staying alive. How, doesn't matter. As long as you live, you can fight. I always held onto that sentence when I had a tough time.

I nodded but didn't say a thing to his words. He was right, and I knew that. He didn't need to reassure me, because my fighting spirit was actually very strong. I had hope, even despite everything. The only problem was, I didn't want to show it to others.

Especially not to Yagg, who clearly wasn't on my side.

As we got further and further away from the planet, the view changed, and eventually all we could see was a large piece of rock, completely dark on one side, and on the other red from all the energy coming from the local star. It didn't have the same effect anymore, as when we could see the firestorm raging below us, but I still kept watching.

I stopped when we landed inside the fortress, and my view got blocked.

Then most of us split apart. Some servants escorted me, the three Atri and Druoag to a bunch of rooms prepared for us in close vicinity. Mine was quite small, and clearly not for guests, but rather for the workers living on the ship. Still, I had a nice bed, a small desk, and even a smaller table with two metal chairs.

I actually didn't need much more than that.

I jumped on the bed, to lie down and rest properly for the first time in a while. Our journey was supposed to take two days, so I had this much off.

My body didn't need it at all, but I accumulated some mental fatigue. Since I learned about the High Queen visiting earth I had problems with sleeping. Sometimes even nightmares, so I actually was looking forward to this little break, and even more to the tournament.

It was a window I had to open, so I could communicate with the outside world. Maybe find somebody who would provide me with informations I really was looking after, and that was: what exactly happened on earth during the High Queen visit.

If she really was using the device to get stronger, then I was really in deep shit, because not only was she stronger than me now, but also was getting even more powerful each day. Or week, or month... Depending on how her tax really worked.

I spent a few hours just laying there and looking at the ceiling, trying to make some kind of plan, but my head was just empty. It felt like there was no way out of the situation I found myself in.

And then, suddenly, the dreams consumed me. I found myself in front of the giant tree with the massive crown full of leaves, slightly moving with the wind. There was also a familiar ball of light, near the massive tree trunk.

- The great one?! - I shouted.

But there was no answer, and I quickly realized that it was not a vision, but a stupid nightmare as I noticed bones all around me. Bones of people I knew, bones of my family and friends.

I almost jumped out of the bed, with an unpleasant feeling of tightness around my stomach. After that, I couldn't sleep at all.. I would just keep seeing the same image over and over whenever I closed my eyes.