A few days later.
Alexander's celestial body did not have to leave the UAC base to carry out what he set out to do. Moreover, his intention was a simple one: get his friends to the base.
He had every intention of keeping his promise to Julia and Ross. They wanted to accompany him the next time he set out into the larger multiverse.
Although the two were not yet at the level he wanted for them, Ross and Julia were not normal either.
Those two were personally groomed by him, and per his estimates, they could fight an early-level demigod to an extent. Adding his unique energy into the equation would guarantee their victory even against a peak demigod.
All this was possible because dealing with his Nexis Radiant was next to impossible. With him serving as the source, they would be able to draw as much energy as they wished. In all honesty, it was a cheat. But the multiverse wasn't fair either.
Alexander spent the time till departure teaching Ross and Julia about the multiverse. The core of his message to the two centred around the fact that the true void was a dark, unorganised space teaming with void energy — at least to his understanding.
They were to utilise his energies for everything at all times and be sure to stay close to him. They were strong, but against other Veilwalkers, only his energy would make a difference.
Although Julia and Alex's family spent the weeks following the proposal planning for the grand wedding, they were not in a rush.
Moreover, Julia preferred to stay close to Alexander at all times. Whether she married her beloved now or later did not really matter.
Of course, his parents and loved ones would have no idea about what his main body set out to do.
Furthermore, he had his responsibilities as a teacher, a leader, and an uncle — especially an uncle. Baby Axel could not be left alone without his favourite uncle, after all.
Once everything was set up, Alexander brought Ross and Julia to the Universal Accord Commission base, where they once again met the catwoman they had barely interacted with. The redhead was pretty cool with the catwoman. Julia, on the other hand, was another issue entirely.
Regardless, they would all be accompanying Alexander on this expedition. Unfortunately for Ross and Julia, they weren't able to meet the Chief Enforcers until the day of departure came, as the Enforcers remained in their allotted space at all times.
Only when Alexander went to meet them in their lounge did the Enforcers step out of their rooms to give him the details of the mess they created. As predicted, Alexander did not like some of the things he heard. Then again, he always told himself it wasn't his problem if it didn't affect his universe.
"We're ready."
The time had finally arrived. Already gathered together were the Chief Enforcers standing in one of the many lobbies of the UAC base, their dark and overbearing cloaks adding a sense of mystery and danger to them.
The lobby was devoid of people, since Alexander had instructed that no one venture anywhere near the area housing the Enforcers. As such, most of the UAC agents had no idea they had visitors from outside their universe.
Drakmor and his colleagues turned around to look at Alexander's party of four, many of them lifting their brows slightly in question.
The disdain and confusion in their eyes were apparent, even for Ross and Julia, who were setting their eyes on the Chief Enforcers for the first time.
The Enforcers did not miss how the woman with the silvery-white hair and cold air around her clung to Alexander.
And if her actions were not enough, then the strangely mysterious gem that emitted unseen energies on her finger all but gave away the kind of relationship she shared with Alexander.
As for the redhead with a single horn sticking out of his forehead, the Enforcers did not bother too much with him. They did, however, not like the look in his eyes, knowing exactly what the boy was thinking.
'So these are Enforcers, huh.'
Ross's thoughts proved their suspicions. However, the redhead was more drawn to their animalistic and bestial features than the fact that they were the Supreme One's direct vassals. 'Aside from their intimidating presence, there isn't much to them.'
Beside him, Alexander glanced at his best friend with a slight smirk. Instead of correcting Ross's misunderstanding, he decided to let him find out for himself once they stepped out of their universe's walls. 'Experiencing things for themselves will drive the point home.'
Ross was not the only victim of that line of thinking, as Julia was the same. However, unlike Ross, her thoughts were along the lines of comparing their power to her beloved. In her eyes, no one held a candle to her beloved Alexander.
"Like I mentioned before…" Alexander faced the Enforcers and said. "I will be doing things on my terms, and they will be coming with me."
"Won't they just be getting in the way?" Nyssa fired without hesitation, uncaring if Alexander took offence. "These companions of yours are extremely… weak."
There was no sugarcoating her words, as they were the honest truth. None of Alexander's companions would survive out there, much less against a corrupted Veilwalker.
"You don't have to worry about them." Alexander glanced at the phoenix with a neutral expression, no longer bothering to take the time to introduce them. "Since we're all impatient to leave, let's go."
He looked to his left, and a Veil Tear opened to the true void a few meters from the group. And the moment the waves of chaotic energies hit Ross and Julia, they felt a shudder run down their spine. The Veil Tear looked and felt ominous to them, as if they were staring into an endless abyss.
This would be their first time stepping out of their universe. Feelings of nervousness and fear were warranted emotions for the moment.
The true void was not like the outer space they were familiar with. There were no principles, no order to anything — just a vast emptiness of darkness and unlimited chaotic energies.
Without hesitation, Drakmor and his colleagues disappeared at speeds that were no different to teleportation. Even with their Immortal senses, Ross and Julia missed the moment, taken aback by the instantaneousness of it all.
Cassandra was the next to move. She glanced at Alex's friends and winked. "Try to keep up, alright?" She said and also disappeared into the Veil Tear.
"So that's the true void." Julia muttered softly, prompting Alexander to glance at her.
He lowered his gaze to his left arm, where Julia clung to him. Her grip had become tighter than before, her gaze piercing and calculating. Despite her slightly racing heart and core, the determination in her eyes could not be hidden.
"We might be the first natives to step out of our universe while still being alive." To Alexander's right, Ross commented.
"Indeed…" Alex confirmed with a nod. "Every other native was either swept up into the true void via a Cosmic Mana Wave and displacement."
The redhead nodded, knowing what Alexander meant. Then, with a sharp intake of air, he made his move, swiftly disappearing from the lobby.
"Want to go together or would you like to take the first step?" Alexander asked, his tone warm and affectionate.
"I want to take the first step." Julia let go of Alexander's arm and took a deep breath to prepare. With a final glance at Alex, who had taken a step back, Julia faced the Veil and disappeared in a flash.
'!'
Darkness, the absolute kind with no hint of light, engulfed Julia's senses as soon as she crossed the threshold. That was the easy and expected part, as her eyes would adjust based on the environment. The unexpected part…
"Mm!"
A pained groan escaped her lips a split second later, as the moment she embraced the true void, an overbearing and suffocating aura assaulted her from all directions, threatening to crush her entirely. She was not alone, as Ross was the first to feel the effects of his earlier thoughts.
To the side, Cassandra observed with a slightly pained expression as she, too, was bearing the weight of six high-level universe Veilwalkers.
Aside from Drakmor, the other five did not hesitate to unleash a bit of their universal presence. They did not appreciate being looked down on.
Julia and Ross continued to hyperventilate, forgetting they were in an environment that had only energy and no atmosphere. They could not gather any bearings as their bodies spun around while they suffocated, feeling as though a cargo ship sat on their chest.
"Alright, that's enough."
As soon as Alexander appeared, the suffocating pressure disappeared like it never existed, leaving all three of his companions breathing heavily.
Ross and Julia, in particular, felt their world spin in any and all directions. The extreme vertigo latched onto their psyche like a persistent parasite, unwilling to let go.
"You guys alright?" Alex appeared beside Ross and Julia, helping them up. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched them look around with trembling gazes.
His question to his friends did not seem to reach them at all. When they finally got the hang of seeing in the void and spotted the Chief Enforcers floating a few tens of meters away, an involuntary shudder ran down their spines.
In their sight were no longer arrogant-looking beings, but Veilwalkers of the highest order. That bit of disdain Ross carried in his eyes was no more. In its place was extreme caution and dread, a feeling he was no stranger to.
Furthermore, what he saw were not just humanoid beings, but a manifestation of supreme beasts staring down at him with predatory gazes.
The sight was so overwhelming that he and Julia struggled to look away, a part of them fearing they might be attacked if they dared to divert their gaze. 'They aren't weak at all…'
'No, they're not.' Alexander's voice echoed in his head smugly. 'Veilwalkers aren't cabbages, Ross. They aren't as useless as you think. Don't underestimate them. You wouldn't stand a chance against the weakest of Veilwalkers without using Nexis Radiant. Keep that in mind…'
The cautious words went to Julia as well. They had indeed been living in a well, thinking that was all there was. But this was just the first of many surprises that awaited them.
Alexander went ahead and helped them create a bearing for themselves, explaining the intricacies of the process.ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
Within a few minutes, they had made a bearing for themselves, allowing them to determine which way was forward, down, back and side based on their cores.
Once that was taken care of, Alexander turned to the Chief Enforcers and stated, "Lead the way."