"The core seems to act like a beacon whenever it's outside my storage space."
"What?!" Cassandra stepped back from the core like it was a contagious infection. "Then why is it still floating before me?"
Alex flashed a small smile, his eyes seeing things all the others couldn't. Under his gaze, he saw the black essence leaking out.
It didn't look random but headed towards a specific direction, a place he intended to visit soon.
"That's because I've created an isolated field around the core." He said casually. "That essence isn't going anywhere without my permission."
"..."
Cassandra was left speechless and impressed at the same time. "How are you able to do all this in just six years?" The Catwoman was beginning to feel inadequate.
"These are all things I can teach you if you stay." He casually dropped the boom, not surprising his companions. He did, however, leave the woman speechless for the nth time.
For several seconds, the Catwoman stared at Alexander like he was the strangest being she'd ever met while he took back the black core, keeping it in his storage.
"Are you serious?" Cassandra had to ask. "Despite everything, I'm a stranger. Do you not fear what I could do to you if I were to ever surpass you?"
She was homeless and had nothing to herself, except her status as a Walker. She knew what she could potentially become as the evidence was standing right before her.
But Alex didn't seem to consider that option. 'Or never saw me as a threat to begin with.'
She didn't know how to feel about that. Still… It was a nice gesture.
"There isn't exactly anything you'd want if you see what I see…" Alex flashed a small smile. "It's one of the reasons I'm surprised about that Supreme Walker being you mentioned."
Maybe there was something he wasn't seeing, but as far as he was concerned, being the master of a universe didn't matter to him.
'Yeah, definitely not the same Alex.' Zol finally accepted the truth before him. The words coming out of Alexander's lips were unlike him.
The air of maturity around the boy he once knew evoked strange feelings in his heart, almost like a parent feeling proud about their child's growth.
"Y-you really mean it, don't you?" Cassandra lowered her head, feeling slightly emotional.
What Alex was doing was like inviting a wolf into his home and going the extra mile to feed and cater for it. It was a dangerous play that could backfire.
Alex didn't know her at all and she didn't know him either, but his gesture really touched her heart.
Of course, if she knew Alex could see her soul fluctuations, she'd think differently. Alex could see her nature and glimpses of her thought process.
"What do you say?" Alex asked with his right hand stretched forward. "We can be like siblings via our status as walkers."
However, before the emotional woman could respond, Alex snapped his head to the side, his brows furrowing slightly. His senses picked up something.
A moment later, Cassandra also noticed this and looked behind Alexander, prompting the hunters to look over but couldn't sense anything.
"What is it?" Mason asked, raising his guard. The others followed his lead as they all turned to face that direction.
"Another veil tear is appearing a couple of light years in that direction," Alex explained as his gaze travelled that far. Of course, a couple meant a few thousand, not really a big deal.
"..."
It was a common occurrence so the hunters were a bit perplexed about their reaction. Sensing their doubts, Alex added.
"It's pulsing differently."
That instantly changed the mood, especially for Zol and his close friends who were familiar with strange veil tears.
Alex turned to the Catwoman and said, "What do you say? Wanna take this universe as your new home?"
Cassandra looked at him, trying to find a hint of second thoughts, but found none. 'He's really sincere…'
"Yeah…" she actually said.
"Good." Alex nodded and turned to his companions. "I'll be sending you guys back to the empire. Report what you heard here to the leaders and also be ready for anything."
"Mm." Zol and the other nodded. They had no reason to object. While strong, they couldn't compare to Alexander.
If he was sending them away, then it meant whatever was about to happen was beyond them.
Several portals opened before them, straight to the designated territories of each hunter, and without delay, the hunters walked through them.
"Stay safe." Zol said as he stepped inside.
"Always…" Alex replied as the portals closed behind them.
Once the two Veilwalkers remained, Alex turned towards the veil tear while the platform beneath them dissolved into motes of energy.
"Come on," Alex gestured for Cassandra to follow as he floated forward. "I want to see how fast you can move."
Both could teleport, but where was the fun in that? The veil tear was still forming. They had a bit of time.
"Is that a challenge?" Cassandra raised her brows with a smirk.
"Not really," Alex smirked. "You should know by now, you can't beat me."
"Not yet, anyway." Cassandra didn't deny it. "But I'm still very fast…"
Saying that, she took off explosively, dispelling the surrounding energies for trillions of kilometres.
"Catch me if you can!" Cassandra's voice echoed, making Alex chuckle.
"You asked for it." Alex shook his head.
The Catwoman had already closed hundreds of light years already, but the moment Alex took off, it was like he never left her side.
"What did I tell you?" Alex taunted as he flew by her side. A moment later, he disappeared faster than Cassandra could react, leaving her wide-mouthed.
What's more, the spot he took off from remained still as if Alex never made a move.
'So that's how fast I can become.' Cassandra observed with excitement brimming within her. 'A new home, huh?'
A small smile graced her features as she ignited her mana and took her Voidflare form, exponentially increasing her power, yet Alex was all but gone.