"This is about what you talked about before, isn't it? Completing your evolution?" William asked.
"Yes, Dad." Alex nodded. "Initially, I wanted to take my time to get there… But something has come up and I have to rush to the centre of the universe."
William and the others exchanged glances, already seeing what it was about. Alex didn't have to explain to them it was about the safety of their universe.
They knew more than enough to deduce for themselves.
"Will everything be alright?" Sarah asked worriedly, holding Olivia's hand in hers.
"Yes, Ma." Alex nodded, though he wasn't too sure. "The only issue is I don't know how long it will take for me to return. While you can still reach him via our connection, I might not be able to reply at any given moment."
"Do what you must, brother." Aaron placed a hand on Alex's shoulders. "We believe in you. If you say this is what must be done. Then it must be…"
Everyone nodded at his words. Regardless of what Alex had been through, he had always returned one way or another. This was not any different.
"Mm." Alex nodded with a small smile and then turned to Aaron. "I will be leaving a clone to guide the students. So while it will still be me ...."
"It won't be entirely you." Aaron completed and Alex nodded.
"Exactly."
"When do you plan on leaving?" Sarah inquired hesitantly.
Alex shifted his gaze to the window momentarily. It was already dark outside; the early hours of the night.
"I'll be gone by tomorrow morning." Alex replied, turning to look at his parents. "Probably before everyone wakes up."
Of course, that was relative. It was always morning somewhere, and for a being like Alexander, sleep was more like a recreational activity.
"Then we wish you luck." William said on behalf of the family. "J-just be careful, alright?"
"Always…"
....
"Lord Basso, Lord Jaseph." Alex called through his connection. "I'll be going on a journey. You two and Elina will have to ensure the safety of everyone while I'm gone."
Alexander was currently standing in the void of space, just outside the Sol System. He had appeared here in the early hours of morning, a few hours passed reset in his region.
"Yes." The two answered immediately.
They didn't bother asking where he was going; he had no obligations to do that. Also, they were aware of the current happenings.
"Good." Alex nodded and then added. "Cassandra will be returning with the other hunters, so things should be smooth until I return."
There was also the fact that nothing could pierce the sphere of protection.
'But those Veilwalkers probably could…' Alex frowned at the thought. 'I have to hurry.'
Alex turned to look in a specific direction and then merged with the void. Within seconds, he reemerged out of the void.
"Woah…" Cassandra backed away, being startled by Alex's sudden appearance.
"Fuck. A warning would have been nice, you know?" The Catwoman sighed. ",I was prepared to retaliate."
"Sorry about that." Alex apologized as he looked around. Zol and the other hunters with her noticed his presence and approached.
The Catwoman and her team were taking a rest on an asteroid floating aimlessly in space. There hadn't been anything new for a while now.
"Alex." Zol called softly, however the look on Alex's face wasn't one for social visits.. "What brings you here? Did something happen?"
"Yeah…" Alex said. "You might want to sit down for this." The others furrowed their brows in worry but still found a spot to sit.
"The dragons in our custody had some interesting things to share." Alex told the group what he learnt from the dragons and the others they brought later on.
While the others only had information about the worlds they lived in; stuff like their culture, races and other miscellaneous things.
The real deal was what the dragons had in thought, and with each word that left his lips, Cassandra and the hunters had their expressions change several times in a short time.
"I see…" Cassandra echoed with a hand on her chin. "And you plan to complete this evolution of yours before they come."
"Exactly." Alex nodded.
"What about what you said about those walkers destroying this universe if they fail to take it?" Zol asked, feeling more concerned about that part than anything else.
"Which one is better?" Alex proposed. "They take over this universe and do whatever they like or I take complete control of our universe and fight them off with the increased strength I will get from the completion."
"..."
The choice was an easy one to make. But the dozens of universe cores were still echoing in their thoughts, unwilling to let them go.
"And those coming Veilwalkers…" Alex continued a moment later. "It's not farfetched to think they would have at least one universe core refined themselves. I have to do this to better my chances against them."
The thought of even submitting to outsiders never crossed their minds. To them, this was their universe and no one had the right to come and dictate how they should do their things.
"You have to do it." Cassandra suddenly said, her expression serious. "I don't know what that Supreme Walker is doing, but he is abusing the gifts the multiverse gave to us."
"I know…" Alex sighed. "I only pray it will be enough for what's coming." Alex looked around him. Space was still trembling slightly and was growing in intensity.
"They're what's causing this, right?" Cassandra asked, having sensed the changes too. "I don't know what this signifies, but I will say the universe is telling you something.
"You are this universe's chosen, and it's up to you to do what's necessary. The multiverse core has a conscience to make us what we are today. The universe could be the same."
"Yeah… No time to waste." Alex nodded, getting up to his feet. His gaze looked over the gathered hunters. "You guys will have to return…" His gaze lingered on Cassandra a second longer, making her nod in understanding.
"Of course." The catwoman replied. "We're basically done. And I'm sure once you make the core a part of you, your omnipresence will be more broken than it already is."
At that time, no one would be able to hide from his gaze. It was a guess, but reaching the level of godhood, especially becoming one with the universe, would definitely have something like that.
"Good luck, Alexander." Zol and the other hunters wished him luck.
"Thanks." Alex smiled, raising his hand towards them. "I'll be sending you back now." A thought tore space, creating a link between here and inside the sphere.
Without delay, Cassandra and the hunters hopped in, taking one last look at Alexander while the tear closed.
"Take care…" Cassandra said one last time.
'I will…' Alex nodded as the tear completely closed. Once alone, Alex took a moment for himself, looking around the cosmos and its glimmering lights.
Finally, he looked in the direction of the centre. 'It should take me not more than a minute to arrive.'
Even with his senses and current prowess, he couldn't tell how vast the universe was. It was simply too big for a Demi-god.
Alex merged with the void and disappeared, heading straight for the heart of his universe.