The mission was a success. The Dragon Roar Faction members managed to defend their property, and now, everyone was gathered around the vehicle that had brought them to the scene. They rested, catching their breath, while the wounded were being treated. Fortunately, no one from their side had died.
Meanwhile, Alex was among those being healed. Although he didn't have any visible injuries, he had suffered several internal ones, and the healers were working to repair the damage within him.
As Alex sat quietly, feeling the healing energy working through his body, Tamsin, Merrick, and Gwen entered the van. Merrick was carrying a tablet, his expression focused.
"What did you guys find?" Alex asked as soon as they stepped in, his curiosity obvious.
Merrick glanced at the tablet, then back at Alex with a small smile. "Well, we found out about what you were up to," he said. "We saw how you fought a Stage 3 Mage who was using a Stage 5 enchanting wand and, somehow, managed to survive."
Alex listened intently as Merrick continued. "Turns out that the Stage 3 Mage you went up against was one of the leaders of this attack. Because you took him down, I'd say you played a major role in completing this mission," Merrick said, nodding approvingly.
"I didn't take him down," Alex interrupted quickly. "It was the tree," he added, his voice steady.
Tamsin, Merrick, and Gwen exchanged glances. Gwen spoke up, looking at Alex seriously. "We saw everything, Alex. Somehow, someone recorded the entire fight between you and that mage. We saw what happened. You fought the Stage 3 Mage and managed to weaken him. And not only that—you held your ground against the beast that took down the mage. So, in a way, you still deserve the credit."
Alex looked uncertain. "But... what about the tree?" he asked, his brows furrowing.
Merrick sighed, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "It's complicated," he replied. "But it seems the tree isn't exactly what you thought. It wasn't just a beast; it was a human."
"A... a human?" Alex's voice trembled slightly, surprised by Merrick's answer. "I was sure I was fighting some kind of tree beast, not a person."
"They're not normal humans, Alex," Merrick said carefully, glancing at Tamsin and Gwen for support. "Do you remember the four attackers? One of them transformed into a wild pig right in front of us. That was likely due to a powerful item that allowed him to take on that beast form."
Alex listened closely, absorbing each word. Merrick continued, "There are techniques that allow a person to turn themselves into a beast or animal by drinking their blood. But that's rare. What we saw with those tiny lights disappearing? That's something different."
Alex's curiosity grew. "What were those lights?" he asked.
"They're called 'spoil collectors,'" Merrick explained, his tone serious. "They're magical items that large factions or clans use. These items gather valuable resources or items when their owners lose them—or worse, when the owners die in battle. The spoil collectors only activate under those conditions."
"So, you're saying the tree beast I fought wasn't actually a beast, but a human who used a magical item to turn into one?" Alex asked, his face filled with confusion. Merrick nodded in response.
Alex's eyes widened in shock. "No... no... this can't be. I can't kill a human," he muttered, covering his head with both hands as he shook it slowly. He began to sob, the weight of it all pressing down on him.
Tamsin tried to reassure him, saying gently, "There's nothing for you to worry about, Alex."
But Alex snapped back, his voice rising. "You don't know what you're talking about!" he shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Maybe killing is easy for you all, but it's not for me. I hate this. I don't want to be part of this anymore!" His voice cracked with anger and pain.
Before he could continue, someone grabbed him firmly by the collar, pulling him closer. In an instant, two sharp slaps landed on his cheeks, making his face flush red. Stunned, Alex looked up and saw Gwen staring down at him, her expression fierce.
"Listen to me, Alex," Gwen shouted, her voice sharp. "You're a man, not a child. Crying over something like this is the most foolish thing I've seen you do!"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" he shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Maybe killing is easy for you all, but it's not for me. I hate this. I don't want to be part of this anymore!" His voice cracked with anger and pain.
"What do you think you're saying?" Gwen demanded, her voice sharp and unyielding. "Did anyone force you to be part of this faction? You had three options to choose from, Alex, and you chose to stay. And by staying, going on missions like this is part of the deal. It's what we all signed up for."
Gwen's gaze bore into him, her words like sharp arrows. "And about killing—do you think we kill just because we can? We don't go around ending lives for fun. We only kill those who threaten us, those who aim to hurt or kill us first."
Alex's head hung low, but Gwen wasn't finished. "When you fought that mage, you had plenty of chances to take him down. But you hesitated—why? Do you honestly think that mage would have hesitated to kill you? Do you think the person inside that tree beast was fighting you just so they could hand you a gift at the end?"
Her voice grew even colder as she continued. "This is a dog-eat-dog world, Alex. You have to understand that, or you'll be leaving this world sooner than you think." With that, Gwen let go of his collar, allowing a shaken Alex to fall back slightly.
Alex stared at her in shock, his heart pounding. He had never seen this side of Gwen before. Her stage 5 aura had surged around her, wild and intense, while she spoke. Every inch of the van seemed to vibrate with her energy, and Alex didn't even think of resisting her grip.
Sometimes he forgot just how strong the triplets really were. Although he often went toe-to-toe with them in sparring, moments like these reminded him that they were leagues above him, four stages ahead.
"Now wipe your tears and focus on reaching your breakthrough already," Gwen added, her voice firm but softened slightly.
"Breakthrough?" Alex, now calmer after Gwen had pulled back her intense aura, looked at her with confusion.
"You can't feel it?" Merrick replied, stepping closer. "Your stage 1 Qi has finally reached its peak. All those fights and tough moments weren't for nothing. They've actually pushed your body toward the next stage. All that's left is for you to complete it."
Alex nodded, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes, steadying himself, and began focusing on his Qi, following the others' instructions closely.
After some time, he felt a shift within him, a kind of crack deep in his Qi core. The energy inside him expanded, growing noticeably stronger. With a sense of accomplishment, Alex opened his eyes, looking around at his friends.
"No impurities?" Tamsin asked, watching him closely.
"Yeah, seems like it," Alex responded, feeling the new power within him.
"Probably another effect of the peace energy," Merrick remarked thoughtfully.
"That aside, congratulations on your advancement. A stage 2 warrior Paragon in just one month after reaching your first stage—that's pretty impressive," Merrick added with a grin.
"Yeah, who knows?" Gwen chimed in, smiling. "Maybe in a couple of months, you'll reach stage 3, and maybe one day you'll be a stage 5, just like us."
"And then I'll be able to hit you back, just like you did to me today," Alex said with a hint of determination.
Gwen scoffed, crossing her arms. "I'll break every one of your fingers if you even try," she muttered.
"Alright, enough of the chit-chat," Tamsin interrupted, looking impatient. "I want to head out already. The organizers will be here any minute."
---
Meanwhile, Peter and Stan were still in Peter's office, talking quietly. Soon after, Theron, Caspian, Cressida, and Elder Rooney entered, one by one, filling the room.
"How's he doing?" Stan asked as soon as Theron stepped inside.
"He's fine," Theron replied. "I heard he just advanced to stage 2."
Stan sighed in relief and then looked around at the group. "So, what's our next move?" he asked.
Peter leaned forward, his eyes serious. "The strange planet is our next step. The spaceships are finally ready to send out another scout team. You've agreed to be one of them," Peter said.
"The Planet of Mist," Stan murmured thoughtfully. "I wonder what we'll find there."
Not long after, Stan arrived at the portal room, his equipment ready. The right portal was set up, its soft glow illuminating the room.
Elder Rooney joined him, watching as Stan prepared to step through. "This is a dangerous mission," Elder Rooney warned. "If you break through whatever barrier is stopping our ships from landing on that planet, there's a chance you might not make it back. And remember, all communication down there was lost."
"What about the system?" Stan asked, adjusting his gear. "Will its communication be jammed as well?"
"I don't think so," Elder Rooney replied, though he didn't sound entirely sure.
Stan gave a nod and turned toward the portal. "Then you all just sit tight and wait for my report," he said confidently, stepping forward.