Cloudhawk’s trip to the divine matrix had taken a lot out of him . He returned to Greenland’s fort to try and get some rest .

The journey had been a success . He’d managed to infiltrate the G.o.d’s matrix and gather what he was sure was priceless information . It was an important confirmation that such a thing was possible . If they could find a way in, what was stopping them from introducing a real virus into the system? They could battle the G.o.ds from the inside .

It was at least worth a try .

“Our findings are fruitful, but more importantly we may have a way to fight the G.o.ds in the future . ” Cloudhawk was understandably excited about the results and shared them with Selene . “It looks like we have a great way to learn more about the G.o.ds . ”

Selene was quiet, though, a fact which Cloudhawk noted right away . “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head . Extending a hand she gently placed it on his face and gazed into his silvery eye . It was stil ldull and covered by a film . “Your eye . . . ”

“I can’t see anything out of it yet, but Wolfblade says in time the Eye of Time will recover . When that happens I’ll be able to use it in our fight . ” Cloudhawk knew Selene had concerns . He tried to a.s.suage them as gently as he knew how . “I think I can confidently say there aren’t many who can threaten me . That’s especially true now with the eye . Even those that seem invincible will show me their weaknesses, thanks to you . ”

Selene dropped her eyes . “You don’t need to comfort me . ”

But Cloudhawk shook his head . “I’m not trying to comfort you . I’m being honest . ”

“I’ve thought a lot about things and have come to understand . ” She wasn’t going to dwell on the issue . “I want to be a part of the Green Alliance and fight with you in the coming war . ”

Cloudhawk was delighted by what he heard . “I appreciate your fighting spirit . I have complete faith in you, but right now your condition still isn’t stable . We don’t know what kind of after-effects the Avatar’s power might have on you . I think you still need to rest for a little while . ”

“No . I know what I want, and I am confident I can do any job you put before me . ” Selene fixed Cloudhawk with a steady gaze . It was firm, but gentle . “I was selfish before . I only thought about what I wanted and never really worked by your side . I want to do that now with you, shoulder to shoulder . From now on your battles are mine, whatever the future brings . No regrets . Cloudhawk, I know you understand . ”

She understood the truth . After the events of the past few years, Cloudhawk was all she had left . As the Avatar she had nearly destroyed the Alliance . She’d almost forced this man down a dark road there was no coming back from . She’d lost nearly everything there was to lose . Pity and pain meant nothing, for none of it would come back . Instead of living with the guilt of the past she was determined to do what she could about the future .

She’d come to see that the brightest point of her life was standing right in front of her . He had been that light ever since they clawed their way through death and darkness together in the wastelands . G.o.ds, demons, humans, all the animosity between… she didn’t care . But Cloudhawk did, and she wasn’t going to stand on the sidelines . From now on she was going to stand by his side through it all, his s.h.i.+eld and sword .

Cloudhawk didn’t have an insight to her mind, so instead of argue he simply nodded his head . “We haven’t had anyone to fill the old drunk’s position since his death . It’s yours if you want it . ”

Vulkan had served as the Green Alliance’s lieutenant-governor, responsible for coordinating with Wolfblade and dealing with the various matters of state . The demon elder was quite busy, so Selene’s a.s.sistance would be a great help . There was no doubt about her capabilities, either physically or in other areas .

“I hope you aren’t carrying anything you don’t need to . You aren’t alone, you have me and the entire Alliance with you . ” Cloudhawk took her somewhat cold hand . “We’ll face the future side by side to the very end, whatever fate has in store . Together forever, alright?”

Selene pressed herself into his arms . She trembled ever so slightly, as though suppressing a volcano of emotion within . Cloudhawk gently kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear: “Will you stay with me today?”

“As you wish . ”

He was so, so tired . It wasn’t just from his trip to the divine matrix, but a bone-deep exhaustion that came from days of endless work . It was time to take a break, at least for a little while . Today would belong to the two of them .

The next morning, Cloudhawk stirred from his dreams refreshed . It’d been a long time since he felt so relaxed .

Selene lay quietly in his arms . Light was playing off her snow-white skin . She was awake already and let the time slip by, quietly staring at him . She hadn’t wanted to disturb the rest he so desperately needed, so she just lay there and enjoyed the warmth .

Unfortunately the precious moment had to come to an end .  

Selene slipped from the bed and put back on her Holy Vestments . Sublime Transcendence hung from the sheath on her back . Once again she was that indomitable warrior . “As lieutenant-governor I’m sure there’s a lot of business waiting for me . We don’t have much time . ”

Cloudhawk nodded . She was right, time was not a luxury they could count on . He got up and showed her to the door before returning to his own business .

Four Supremes threatened his Alliance . They hadn’t attacked yet for two reasons: First, because they weren’t sure they’d win and second, because they didn’t the situation could get any worse . And on the surface their estimation seemed correct . The Cloud G.o.d had already facilitated the union of wastelanders and Elysians .  

Once the Supremes launch their attack millions of humans would rise up in their defense . Since things were already the worst-case scenario, there was no fear of a further deteriorating situation . Better to be well prepared from the start than rush into a solution .

Of course, like most things it wasn’t as simple as it appeared . The Supremes underestimated their opponent . Cloudhawk was more dangerous the more time he was given . He could use this breathing room to strengthen his own position .

With the power of the phase stone he could travel to other worlds, negotiate with the Ark Base and ask for backup . The longer he was left unchecked, the more opportunity he had to find better equipment for his people .

Cloudhawk continued to develop other practical and unique devices . He’d learned very interesting secrets during his foray into the matrix, which taught him how to build and control different sorts of energy towers .  

He decided to divide his forces, leading them down two separate roads . One was led by h.e.l.lflower, and was tasked with beseeching the Ark Base for help . She had to use any methods necessary, at whatever cost, to convince them to get involved . Really the only ‘person’ she had to persuade was the one they called Father .

Father had controlled Ark Base for over a thousand years . This incredible artificial intelligence had protected the ancient human race . With only limited resources, it utilized its deep neural learning and mature logic capabilities to keep the species going .

Over the centuries Father had designed and executed numerous experiments, gathering priceless data . On its own, the AI developed those animal-like robots that gathered resources from the surface . The Ark Base more than likely hid all manner of secrets Father was reticent to share .

There had to be a reason why the former Demon King had planted this seed of ancient humanity .

Meanwhile Cloudhawk would continue to go over what he’d pilfered from the divine matrix . In his haste he’d just copied the data and hadn’t had time yet delve deeply . The first thing he discovered once he started was that the technology of the G.o.ds was obscure .

However, it really came down to one thing:

G.o.dly enchantment towers, attack towers, energy towers, and even their airs.h.i.+ps were all the lowest level of their technology . It made sense . The G.o.ds wouldn’t waste their best stuff on ignorant humans . Those would be reserved for Sumeru . The weapons and equipment the G.o.ds themselves used were likely hundreds of times stronger than anything he’d encountered .

It was a glimpse at how strong his enemy really was .

Right at this moment, the G.o.dly army was traveling thousands of light years across galaxies toward earth, bringing the true strength of their species with them . They not only threatened the human species, but the entire planet .

With the paltry preparations they’d made so far, how was Cloudhawk supposed to fight back?

To the moment of his death, Arcturus railed against openly warring with the G.o.ds . He argued the differences were too vast . Cloudhawk’s actions had strapped them to this tiger, though, and there was no other recourse but to ride it . At any rate, first they had to deal with the threat at hand – the army of world-destroying G.o.ds was a problem for another day .

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