The tension in the room hung thick as the gathered powerhouses mulled over the information. The B-tier officer bowed and excused himself, leaving the leaders to deliberate in private once more.
The silence was deafening until Principal Farnes clapped his hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention.
"We'll address the Lux Dominion's growing influence in due ti, but our imdiate concern is managing the narrative of this battle. Rember, the Lux will return in force, and the only advantage we have now is that they don't yet understand the full extent of what they're up against." Farnes' voice carried a tone of quiet authority, silencing any lingering doubts.
Alex glanced at Brontes, who's human sized form could be seen lying on the floor behind him looking laxed, without a care in the world or about the fact that he was sleeping in a room with so of the most important people in the entire federation right now. The Divine beast just slept, undisturbed the chaos that surrounded it.
His breathing was steady but slow, with the rise and fall of his chest rhythmic. If the people in the room didn't already know of Brontes' nature, they might just think he was a cute, peacefully sleeping pet.
"I'll move Brontes to my ship," Alex said, breaking the quiet. "He'll be safer there, away from prying eyes. No one outside of this room is to know about him. Agreed?"
The others nodded, so reluctantly, others with imdiate understanding.
"Good. I'll oversee the transfer myself," Alex added. "I agree with Principal Farnes' plan. If anyone asks about what happened here, it was Federation ingenuity and strategy that destroyed the Lux fleet."
Everyone dispersed after agreeing to this.
***
A week later.
The Federation's banners now flew proudly over what they had officially designated as the "New Dawn" Star System. The debris from the battle had been largely cleared, and the beginnings of orbital stations and planetary colonies were underway. The Federation's fleet maintained a vigilant presence, patrolling the system's peritre for any signs of Lux retaliation.
They had also set up spatial disruptors across the entire New Dawn system to block the opening of any wormholes inside of it. But while this stopped any surprise attacks from the Lux that might co from inside the system, it also ant that any Federation ships inside the system couldn't enter warp without first exiting the system.
This was a minor setback as it made travelling to and from places within the system a little more tedious, but they had to put up with it for the ti being to maintain cautiousness and vigilance against the Lux.
Alex's ship orbited a gas giant at the System's edge. Inside, Brontes rested in a dedicated chamber shielded by layers upon layers of anti-detection technology. Despite its outside looks and innate ability to block any outside probing, Alex didn't want to take any chances with the myriad of talents that could be out there.
For all he knew a Lux, or one of the other alien races looking to take over the Androda galaxy, could have an awakened with a talent that allowed them to see through any aura suppressions or the like.
The last thing Alex wanted was for soone to scan his ship and find a Divine class lifeform on board. Stay connected with empire
For the last week Brontes hadn't shown any signs of waking up at all, sleeping soundly the whole ti. The others who knew of his existence had voiced their concerns about Brontes' prolonged dormancy, but Alex reassured them repeatedly. His connection to the beast allowed him to sense its condition: exhaustion — not injury or anger. Brontes simply needed ti to recover from the monuntal energy expenditure of saving them all.
Still, Alex couldn't help but feel so anxiety and paranoia. Everywhere he went, he felt the gazes of multiple people, not knowing whether it be because people knew of Brontes' existence through so leak or not.
This was exactly why he didn't like sharing such sensitive secrets with people he didn't know that well or trust, because he didn't know when or who might betray that trust at so point.
Unfortunately he could do nothing about the circumstances, as Brontes couldn't exactly make his appearance private due to his gargantuan size, and Althea, Isla and Olgierd were at the right place and the right ti to see him in full action.
Knock! Knock!
Alex suddenly sat up from his bed when he heard so knocking at his door. Originally he thought it might be Mira looking for him for sothing, but when he scanned the outside of his door he found Principal Farnes standing there instead.
The elder powerhouse stepped in after Alex opened the door, and he gestured Alex to join him on the deck of his own ship before overlooking the various ships darting about the system.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Farnes began, his voice thoughtful. "The beginnings of a new chapter for humanity. Yet I can't help but wonder how long it will last before it's marred by conflict."
Alex leaned against the railing, his eyes scanning the distant planet. "It already has been, hasn't it? We're standing here because we fought for it. Because people died for it."
Farnes studied Alex for a mont before nodding. "You're not wrong. And yet, here we are, with the chance to shape its future. That's not sothing to take lightly."
Alex sighed, crossing his arms. "That's part of the problem, isn't it? The responsibility. The power. Brontes saved us all, but what did I do? I'm just the guy who got lucky enough to ta him. Without him, I was useless out there. Just like I was useless against Phoenix. Against the S-tiers."
'Phoenix? Is that the na of that mysterious human?' Farnes thought to himself, but didn't quite voice his thoughts. He'd had so suspicions that Alex and Mira may have encountered this mysterious figure, yet this might have just confird it.
Farnes raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you think? That you're useless?"
"Aren't I?" Alex's voice rose slightly, frustration creeping in. "I've ranked up, sure. I'm a higher life form now. But what does that an when I'm surrounded by people who could snap in half if they felt like it? Brontes isn't mine—not really. He's his own being. I can't keep relying on him. If I do, I'll never be anything more than the guy who got lucky."
Farnes regarded Alex with a calm, almost fatherly expression. "You're not wrong to feel the way you do. Power… true power… isn't just about strength. It's about how you use it. About what you're willing to sacrifice for it. Do you think the S-tiers beca who they are overnight?"
Alex shook his head. "No, but—"
"But nothing," Farnes interrupted. "Every one of them has faced their own trials. Their own monts of inadequacy. It's not about where you are now, Alex. It's about where you're going. And from where I stand, you're already walking a path few could even dream of."
Alex was silent for a mont, digesting Farnes' words. He knew the principal was right, but it didn't make the weight on his shoulders any lighter.
"I guess I just… I don't want to be a liability. For Brontes. For the Federation. For anyone."
Farnes placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Then don't be. Train. Grow. You've already co so far. Don't let self-doubt be the thing that stops you from going further. The power you seek isn't just about brute strength. It's about understanding yourself. Your limits. Your potential."
Alex looked up at the older man, a spark of determination igniting in his eyes. "You're right. I've been so focused on what I can't do that I've ignored what I can. I need to stop comparing myself to everyone else and start focusing on becoming the best version of ."
Farnes smiled. "That's the spirit. Now, let's talk about your next steps. The Federation's foothold in Androda is tenuous at best. If we're going to hold onto this system, we'll need leaders who can inspire confidence. Who can take the fight to the Lux if it cos to that."
Alex considered what Farnes had to say.
He had been thinking of these questions ever since he had returned to the fleet after sohow miraculously surviving that whole ordeal with the Lux.
He'd beco a B tier now yes, but that feeling of powerlessness never went away. In fact, it only grew deeper.
But he was reminded of how this was due to perception. His whole Awakened life he'd spent fighting against beings and people who were stronger than himself, so he hadn't ever truly understood his strength.
'I have to get stronger…'
He turned to his left, looking at Principal Farnes, but found only empty air instead.
Farnes had already disappeared from his ship, and left Alex alone with his own thoughts.
'Perhaps I should start with Virtue's Edge… It's beginning to lag behind in terms of power now.'
Alex turned to look outside the window, and then looked back at Mira's door.
'I guess its ti for another trip to the Primordial Expanse.'
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