1 Finding Hope

As Dane flew across the vast emptiness of space, he was cast down and distraught. He had a livid expression on his face and at the moment he wished he could just go wild on a killing spree. However, he bid his time, waiting patiently as he knew his time would arrive, and he would get his revenge.

Turning his attention forward, he continued on his journey. Traditionally, since the advent of technology and it's subsequent fusion with magic, it was unheard of that someone, however powerful, chose to travel while facing the vast elements. There were all kinds of advanced ships that could traverse space reducing vast galaxies into civilizations where all species could collaborate and grow.

Naturally, in every civilization, be it magical or technological, or a combination of both had their way of referring to individuals that were born with superior inexplicable features that could only be described as magical.

In technological civilizations, there were referred to as Espers, while in magical civilizations, they were called Mages. All in all, they had the ability to do things that defied logic, venturing into the paranormal. And needless to say, Dane was one such individual. But that's not all.

The universe was made up of many civilizations, and in each, powerful factions ruled as universal nobles. Dane was born to the most powerful faction of all, the Maa Faction, the very faction that was founded by the Universe creator himself. While the other factions were like nobles, it could be said that the Maa Faction were Royalty.

Still, Dane's status was much higher than that. In a bid to populate the Universe he had just created, the Universe creator made for himself several wives who bore him multiple descendants. Similarly, he invited his friends and subordinates that he brought for his original universe, where he was born to also come live in the paradise he had created.

Together, the Universe creator and his entourage were able to protect the universe at its most fragile state, where other powers would try to take over and overthrow the creator. Taking possession of a Universe if one was not it's creator had adverse effects on the Universe itself since it was enslaved rather than submitted. As such, it was something that was hardly ever done unless one totally disregarded the state of the universe and was just looking to make themselves stronger.

The original settlers valiantly defended their universe from such people until it was developed enough to handle defensive formations that had been overlaid. Once this was done, the settlers formed factions that would later on become nobility. Though other factions could rise to become nobles, they did not have as much prestige and power as the originals.

However, as the Universe continued to grow, there was a need for powerful individuals in every generation to rise to prominence and join the ranks as protectors. These individuals were showered with resources and training to be able to withstand all that came their way. They were built to be indestructible pillars of their respective factions, solidifying their position on the faction itself.

It was a well-known fact that the more powerful one was, the harder it would be to procreate. Hence, the really powerful beings would take centuries and even millennia to bear offspring. Hence, there was a limit to how many powerful individuals could be born at a time.

Whilst getting mortal offspring was not difficult, they took the time to prepare for the birth of these supers. Dane had taken a decade from conception to birth. Even then, he had been born very frail and weak. However, only powerful offspring were considered descendants, the mortals were just to fill the universe.

He was a descendant of the Universe in the eighteenth generation. Of course, there were exactly three hundred and sixteen other individuals in that generation in the faction. One thing that set Dane apart was that he was from a pure human lineage.

While procreating with other species was not prohibited, there were some families and sub-factions, and even some factions that were puritans, maintaining their racial integrity and their bloodline intact. Dane's family was founded by a pure human wife of the universe creator, one that was not tainted with any other racial bloodlines.

She became a symbol of human purity, showcasing all the splendid features of humanity and mankind. She was a powerful mage and had risen to the status of a great god, just one step lower than the status of the Universe creator, essentially joining the inner council that consisted of mostly the original settlers of the Universe.

Calamity struck when she discovered that one of her descendants had tainted her bloodline with a different race, the Draconian race, the race of dragons. Great God Fwetha, as was her title, was outraged. She could not condone that the purity of her lineage had been tainted and hence sort to destroy the offspring.

Luckily, the Universe creator had intervened. The offspring had been born with perfect bloodlines and talent. His affinities were through the roof and he would make a powerful protector if he was cultivated. Similarly, as a direct descendant of the Universe creator, his position as prince still accorded him some protection. Hence she couldn't get to him.

She was appeased as the boy grew since he displayed the amazing talent and it seemed as though his draconian heritage was dormant. In fact, as a rising star, he was considered the next leader of the Faction.

Since the Universe creator did not actively administrate the Faction and indeed the universe, there was a need for someone to take that position as Chancellor. He would have complete control since they acted as vassals for the Universe creator, who's power was supreme.

To be a chancellor, the status, influence, and power that that title bestowed elevated one to the absolute pinnacle of the Universe. Even Fwetha was appeased when she learned her offspring stood a chance to that.

Well, nothing is perfect, and life does have a way of throwing a curveball now and again. Dane's came in the form of the awakening of his draconian lineage. It was on a preening festival, a ceremony that was held to usher in the younger generation after their first stage of training.

Typically, the trainees were supposed to face tests designed to push them to their limits. When it was Dane's turn, he pushed himself to the limit, almost to the point of death. The audience watched with bated breath as he went past obstacles, showing his skill and perseverance. As one said to be the next chancellor, he couldn't afford to show fear or cowardice.

Still, there is such a thing as being too brave, and Dane learned that the hard way, as he found himself facing a challenge he couldn't triumph. As he was being plummeted by unrelenting attacks, and while all hope was lost, a single thought came to his mind, "Was this it, is this all that I amount to?"

Determined that the answer was a definite no, he strove harder, pushed himself some more, and that's when it happened. At this time, everyone had applauded him, since he had gone above and beyond all his competitors, who at this time was burning with jealousy. The Universe creator and Fwetha, who was watching the festival, had brilliant smiles on their faces.

It started as a soft guttural growl, burning from within Dane. Immediately, Fwetha had an ominous feeling. Suddenly, an eardrum blowing roar sounded accompanied by the transformation showing the awakening of a bloodline. His body was glowing with golden scales and he had powerful wings that had sprouted on his back. His firepower and output were quadrupled and he fought with the strength and power of a powerhouse at the level of a god!

Seeing this, Fwetha was livid. She couldn't bear it. The Universe creator still wanted to protect his descendant, so instead of having him killed or worse, he banished him. However, he left a message in Dane's brain that would awaken after certain conditions.

Of course, Dane did not know about any of this. All he felt was hatred and betrayal. Was it his fault he wasn't a pure human? He didn't even know he had a bloodline until it activated.

Lost and confused, he wandered the universe as an outcast. Most of the time he chose to conceal his identity, especially since he didn't want to attract anyone seeking to curry favor with a Great God, or in this case, Great Goddess. Unknown to him the Universe creator kept an eye on him, monitoring his movements and secretly directing him until he met the conditions for the message to activate.

Two long centuries and a quarter later, Dane finally met the conditions to activate the message. His usually forlorn face beamed with joy and purpose once more, and all the feelings of determination and confidence, feelings he thought he had lost came back to him with full force. He was rejuvenated, and never felt more alive.

That message was the one that set him on the path he was on. A path that had taken him through plenty of struggles and major obstacles, but like the true prince he is, he had overcome them all. He still needed to keep a low profile, for his real enemies sort to reach him.

For the current journey, he had sneaked in on a Long distance Carrier Ship, a product of the Staves courier agency as a stowaway. This travel traversed the most dangerous journeys, crossing galaxies. The wasteland was so dangerous that even powerful supers were known to disappear in them and never seen again. Yet this was Dane's target.

Masquerading as a poor weak super, he had orchestrated events on the ship with the intention of being discovered, but not until the right time. Finally, when he was on the right coordinates, he had been 'exposed' by an 'unfortunate' set of coincidences.

Now there were two ways to deal with such, and the captain could choose either. Usually, if the culprit had sufficient status, the captain would imprison them in the ship to deliver them to authorities, the same applied to wanted fugitives.

Unfortunately for Dane, who had neither status nor any wealth to speak of, he was labeled as disposable. Despite his animated cries and pleas, he was thrown out into the wasteland. As a super, many weren't sure he would survive, but had they seen the smile plastered across Dane's face, they would have realized that they had been played from the beginning.

Of course, Dane took note of all that participated in his 'punishment', vowing to take sweet revenge once he was back to his position, that is if they managed to live that long. If they didn't, then they aren't worth him taking any action at all.

After the ship disappeared well on it's the way to another galaxy, Dane flew towards his target. The reason for him taking all these precautions and all the secrecy. It took another three centuries of travel, but finally, he made it, and what a magnificent sight it was. A smile overtook his face as he found that all the striving and all the hard work had not been for naught.

Now the real work begins!