Over a thousand years, the five Elysian realms gathered the spirits of a billion people to create the Source . One of the primary reasons G.o.ds enslaved humanity was to use them for energy .

That crystal represented a terrible, b.l.o.o.d.y sin .

But at this moment Cloudhawk needed the sacrifice for his own purposes . It would become the engine humanity used to fight against their oppressors .

Of course, this was easier said than done . The crystal was enormous! At least fifty kilometers in diameter . It was comparable to a small asteroid .

If Cloudhawk wanted to teleport the Source, it would be like trying to move an Elysian capital . What’s more, it was buried ten thousand meters underground . In short, humanity did not have the resources or technology required to mine the stuff . It was too hard to break apart and even if they could, it would take too long to extract it .

It was an impossible conundrum . Or so it seemed . Surely they wouldn’t be forced to simply ignore this buried treasure . Cloudhawk wouldn’t have it, there were ways .  

Belial addressed his new King . “It’s impossible for mankind, but you are hardly a man anymore . With luck, you can succeed . ”

“Yeah? What do you suggest?”

“No grand plan . I remember that during the Great War there was a spatial relic called the Key . It wasn’t a weapon and was largely disregarded as a useless trinket . ” Belial explained . “But if there is any way to move the Source in one fell swoop, this Key is the answer . ”

Belial was an expert in all things pertaining to relics . For these matters, he would not be wrong . Cloudhawk was curious . “What sort of relic has this kind of power? Are you sure I have enough mental power to get it done?”

Even if the relic could excavate this city-sized crystal, was Cloudhawk strong enough mentally to accomplish this? Belial’s abilities were similar in strength, so why did he think Cloudhawk could do it?

“Because this relic is special . It’s… more of an exchange than a transfer . ”

“Exchange?”

“Indeed . The Key takes two objects of similar ma.s.s within your field of control and swaps their positions . So long as the targets are similar enough, the required energy is small . The higher the discrepancy the more strength is required . ”

It made sense to Cloudhawk . This ‘Key’ didn’t teleport things on a whim . Rather, the user had to meet two preconditions .

First, the two items had to be within a set distance of one another .

Two, they had to be of similar ma.s.s .

Every spatial demonhunter had a limit to how far their powers extended . Cloudhawk was no exception . This limit of perception determined the distance in which one could use their skills . Teleportation, dimensional phasing, summoning from somewhere else… there was all a range limit .

Cloudhawk’s talents were exceptional and so was his range . But it wasn’t enough, not to get it back to his home base . He needed help .

Luckily he had Bruno’s Riftshards, taken as a victory trophy . They were perfect as spatial markers, which helped to extend the range of a demonhunter’s skills . With the daggers there was hardly any range limit .

With the first issue solved, it was on to the second . He didn’t have to think long .

If he wanted to move the source he just needed to find something with a similar ma.s.s . Then it was as easy as activating the Key and making the switch . It was sure to save him a whole h.e.l.l of a lot of effort .

Cloudhawk’s abilities, along with Belial’s methods and the help of others like Bruno, was enough to do the job . The demon was right; if there was anyone in the world able to accomplish the impossible, it was Cloudhawk .

So, where was this relic? Cynically Cloudhawk figured it was lost to history . How was he supposed to find it then? Time was precious .

“I know they keep the relic in Highmorn’s Temple . ” 

To this Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief . So long as they knew where it was, getting the relic shouldn’t be hard .

His attention turned skyward when he heard a long, piercing cry . In a flash of gold Oddball approached . It happily landed on its master’s shoulder .

Oddball was three times larger now than it was when it hatched . The divine beast was still a pudgy round thing like some sort of owl, but its eyes were different . They glimmered with a golden, electric light these days .

Cloudhawk’s little friend was getting stronger, too . [1]

It was st.u.r.dier than before, but Oddball’s greatest a.s.set was still its speed . In terms of short distances Oddball couldn’t match Cloudhawk, but over long distances they were about the same . The little bird made an excellent messenger .

Cloudhawk cast an eye toward Belial . “It looks like we’re heading back for a meeting . ”

“What do you mean?” The demon asked .

“We’re mobilizing . ”

Southern wastes, the central fortress of Greenland . The city all around was bustling .

Selene Cloude and Dawn Polaris had returned . Among the delegates were also Autumn Draper, Phain Mist, Ja.n.u.s Umbra, Carnage and many others . Everyone Cloudhawk counted among his elite including Coal, Atlas Umbra, Rio Cliftin and other Alliance heroes . All were present .

But that wasn’t all, there were also many new faces .

Master Phoenix Igna from Dragenmere . Master Bruno Argyris and Palagius Audra from Stormford . Soldiers from Sky Fortress such as Siegebreaker, Master Anan . There were others, leaders from all the Elysian realms .

Everyone had gathered in the heart of Greenland for what was promised to be a meeting of unparallelled importance .

What sort of meeting called for all of humanity’s best and brightest to gather together? The sort where the evacuation of an entire species was the topic . A dramatic aim that sounded preposterous, that could only be accomplished if everyone worked together .

However, it was exactly the absurdity of this plan that had many in attendance expressing skepticism . Furthermore, it was the first time leaders from all Elysian realms and the wastelands were coming together . It was an important meeting, one where a foundation for their future struggle against the G.o.ds would be built .

Selene looked over the gathering . There were over a hundred leaders from all over the world . IF they were here it meant they accepted Cloudhawk’s vision, and were part of his Alliance . Most of the leaders.h.i.+p from all the Elysian lands had come around . The resistance was looking better .

“Lady Selene . I am told MASter Cloudhawk intends to evacuate everyone off planet . Is this true?” MASter Anon rose and presented the question to her . “Where is our Alliance’s leader? Why isn’t he here with the rest of us?”

“You are correct, Master Anan . It is Cloudhawk’s intention to evacuate everyone . We are asking that you gather everyone who is not going to fight – elders and children – so that Cloudhawk can teleport them to safety on the jungle planet . The underground city there has more than enough s.p.a.ce and resources to accommodate . It is the only way to avoid unnecessary deaths and allow our soldiers to concentrate on the front lines . ”

Selene answered the question with her typical aloof and sedate bearing . Her words bore the weight of certainty and command, conveying a sense of comfort . Word was that the former Avatar was Cloudhawk’s closest confidant . A fine partner for their heroic leader .

Nods and muttered approval followed her decree . If the plan was to move those who weren’t in the fight, that was acceptable . Their soldiers wouldn’t have to worry about what was happening at home if their families were on another planet .

But was it as easy as she made it seem? Even if they were talking about a small segment of the species, it was still a huge undertaking . Cloudhawk wasn’t a G.o.d . He was human, with limits to what he could accomplish .

Selene explained . “Cloudhawk is at the meeting place now, waiting for us . But before the meeting officially begins there is something I want to show you . ”

With that, she turned and walked away .

1 . Your Oddball has evolved into Oddballoon!

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