15: To Return

Returning home was a priority. However, returning but being a sitting duck was something Machi refused to accept. He needed strength, and the chance to train was given to him. Jisa offered to teach him how to fight and survive against the higher-ranked Dragurs. Creating and moulding Machi in the form of a frightening enemy to the empire Freed ran.

This training was gruesome, with many broken bones and thrown to the verge of death and back, the regime Jisa implemented had Machi become a new person. So, despite his... annoyance, Machi decided to remain with the Dragur and train with them. The way he saw it, he had two options, find a way to return as quickly as possible, but upon returning he'd remain a weak, pitiful strategist who had to rely on everyone else to keep him safe.

"Again!" Jisa yelled as Machi stood up on shaky feet, fighting the orange dragurs of the settlement. A 5 v 1 fight, nonstop for the last 3 days. Plue was cheering him on from the sidelines and Jisa was impressed by the progress of the last 5 years. Sure, her pupil was a smart ass, considering how he managed to make his entire outfit by using the items on the ship they possessed, and how he was able to find a way to sustainably survive in the climate that was less than ideal to live in, but he had the biggest capacity to be filled with power. She almost envied how he was powerless, and grew, unlike her who was made to be powerful.

***

"It's been 5 years, is he still going to join the expedition?" A student asked.

"He's a level 4.5. Don't take him too seriously." They all turned to the now dyed neon redhead...

Rocco.

After the... disappearance of Machi, it was obvious he changed. Rocco and Machi were friends for 10 years on the day of his death and still consider him to be his bestest friend 5 years later. But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for him. Grieving Machi took a while, and some days he couldn't accept that he was gone. But, he was also accused of being friends with him to be closer to the leader, to faking mourning to be sympathised, so it is safe to say he hasn't had his fair share of good moments in 5 years.

But due to the imminent threat surrounding the Dragur, only those who are over level 4.5 and pass the expedition exams are allowed to go. And Rocco wanted not only revenge for 5 years ago but wanted to know what else was out there. He knew he wasn't powerful enough to make a dent in the battle.

Over in the research labs, Zac was in a room with leftover Dragur tech. "Zelotite. I've heard from Lorn that apparently, this is the strongest material in the universe. But it's rare so everyone goes for titanium. Shockingly that isn't even an Earth element." He chuckled and the scientists admired Zac, more so after the last 5 years.

Over the PA, was a voice. "Zac, you're needed back home." Jo sighed. "And please stop asking Dawson for this." Leaving the sealed room, he headed back home to see Dawson at the door. "Jo is getting annoyed you keep telling her I am asking you for this when you are volunteering for it. You don't owe her anything." Zac reminded.

"I know..." he turned with Dawson and saw a toddler playing on the floor, "anything to help you."

No one could admit it. But Machi's death changed how they all thought about everything. Life, the universe, relationships, power… everything.

***

Over at the planet where Machi now called a temporary home, was a massive hole. "Big Brother beat her up!"

All the dragurs turned to the child and watched as he enjoyed seeing Machi win against his mother. "Time out!"

Everyone sighed and sat down when he called that out for the 105th time. In the last 3 months of constant sparring. Yes. Three months of pure sparring, no breaks unless Machi called timeout or Jisa told him to eat. It was Machi's idea, to push his body's limits to create new ones. It's like training for a marathon. Push your body, then it becomes your limit, and keep pushing, keep training, and you find yourself running for longer.

But marathon training consists of fewer broken bones and the destruction of plains northeast of the settlement.

"It's happening less. You're controlling that power in you Machi." Jisa said. "Ki is effective against my scales." Her scales rapidly generated, a feature unique to her which had Machi breathe a sigh of relief.

"As well as..."

"As well as your ice powers." She smiled. Watching him drop to the floor, Jisa smiled and said they'd end their sparring sessions. Fighting Jisa wasn't as serious as an actual battle. But it was serious enough that she'd even be harmed and needed some time to heal as well.

"Jisa are you sure about this?" One of the Dragur, Ky, asked. "Once we help him, we become the public enemy of the Dragur."

"We already are," Halso reminded, "you know when we ran away."

Seeing their leader nod, they all felt like she had a reason. So they didn't question it and began preparing everything.

As everyone boarded the ships, Machi woke and realised they were leaving the planet. "Every 5 years, we relocate to a new galaxy to keep away from Liberatus." The Dragur that was talking to him was Mysco. A blue Dragur and maybe not the strongest but she could do some damage. More than most really, Machi had a hard time against her when he was getting a grasp of ki.

Usually, Machi would have felt annoyed and worried if he wasn't controlling tech. Back home he'd modify the house security system... and thinking about home made him feel a sadness he didn't think he was allowed to feel.

'You have a right to be sad.' Carbine said. 'But in a way, couldn't you see it as a blessing? Being out here, learning and training. Discovering that even if we get home there's an entire universe with life?' Carbine noticed that he wasn't paying attention, a sadness filling his consciousness.

Sitting up, Machi watched the windows as they lifted off and headed at a record speed of 1.6km/s. Yet... it only looked like how a hyperbaric train speed would go. "This is the speed needed to enter a transporter of a vehicle our size."

Machi just watched as the transporter opened and it seemed a look like a wormhole in those movies he used to watch. Almost like his rift. Their transporter needed 5 years to regain energy, stolen technology aboard the dragur ship Jisa stole from Freed without his knowledge.

"Something is wrong!"

Silence filled the aircraft and Jisa arrived at the command post. Looking out the window...

"Where are we?" Machi finally arrived and then couldn't speak. No one could. "Did you enter the right coordinates?" Seeing Jisa argue with the pilot, Machi inspected the system. More advanced but fundamentally similar.

"It was automatic. This aircraft was forced here." Machi revealed, "and the other aircraft, same make and design. Troops... just like home."

"They're preparing for a battle."

Just as the revelation was made, an announcement was made over the intercom.

"Our brave soldiers, today will mark the day we declare war on the ones who decide to fight against us. We are the superior empire. We are the ones who will rule over all. Because of this, I, your Liberatus, have decided to summon all the high-ranking Dragurs to your crafts. Unfortunately, the last two aircraft will not be assigned one as they took their time responding to me."

Machi knew the voice. He knew it and had to calm himself down from losing control. "It's fine. We have our own." Plue giggled and Jisa just looked at the speakers. Freed still hadn't realised this aircraft was stolen from his possession.

"I've been on Earth and made it out alive with Gerhad. Yes, unlike what you may have heard he's still alive and has now been given the position of number 2. There aren't many powerful people on Earth, but the few that are there are pains to deal with. If you encounter them, leave it to your elite."

As the speech went on, Machi worried for home. But he knew his talents may be more effective if he remained on the ship.

"If you meet the lightning lady Evermore Harkness, I shall take care of her myself. I killed her son, so she knows to not fear me."

Jisa turned to Machi who was just about to crush something. "He's right. He can beat my mother. I- not even I can hold a candle to his powers."

Feeling a smack, Machi looked to Jisa who stared him down. "Thinking like that will only get you killed Machi."

The announcement ended. And now, they headed to Earth. It was a lot earlier and quicker than they expected, and Machi knew there had to be contingencies for the dragurs, and that his arrival would probably not help the fact they spent the last 5 years grieving… but it was his home.