Chapter 596: Interesting Encounter

It didn't take long before Kraft Viton was informed that all items had been collected.

The old man picked up the goods in the Origin Expanse and returned to hand them over to Michael.

Their talk about Michael's powers and what tactics he should be committed to had been entertaining and essential for Michael. He was certain that things were going to change...soon. Of course, he didn't forget about the threats from all sides in the Origin Expanse, but he calmed down a little bit.

The tension all over his body dispersed a bit. Michael could take a deep breather after so long. He recalled something, someone, to be precise, as the tension left his body.

'Frederik!'

Michael had been thinking about Frederik now and then, but he had been too busy in the Origin Expanse for the last few weeks.

'Since I'm already here, I might as well invite him.'

Michael didn't know if Frederik was willing to become his subordinate, but his friend had to grow stronger if he wanted to stay by Jacqueline's side. The wars against the Council of Xylon and the Zentika Empire were good ways to grow stronger. But, of course, Michael's Soultrait Symbols would help Frederik to grow even stronger.

Michael knew Frederik well enough to know that he was determined, and ambitious He would give his utmost to help the people he loved. Frederik's father had been healed, but his mental state was still not good. Meanwhile, Jacqueline's situation was unknown. Michael had no idea how they were faring.

However, he knew that Frederik needed strength...and that he could give his friend what he sought.

'Upgrading Aeroan to 5-Star and adding one or two 3-Star Soultraits to further strengthen Aeroan should be perfect.'

Michael understood that Frederik would feel uncomfortable because he owed his friend a lot. However, Michael wasn't too worried about that. If Frederik wanted to pay him back, becoming the Lord of the Untamed Jungle's subordinate and obliterating all threats would be perfect.

Aerolan was a useful Soultrait against large armies. Frederik had always been good at conjuring various deadly projectiles. The Invisible Wind Blades that hide Aerolan's hue were the deadliest. They would be perfect to take the Heart of the Blazing Lion army by surprise.

Taking various things into consideration, Michael used Spirit Eyes to search for familiar energy fluctuations. It didn't take long before he found some familiar energy pools, however, they belonged to Lincoln, Zeke, and Kaleb. There were other somewhat familiar energy fluctuations from acquaintances, but Frederik was nowhere.

Michael had to search for Frederik for more than ten minutes until he found his friend's energy fluctuations. However, something bothered him about the energy fluctuations. The energy fluctuations were weaker than expected.

There was another, much bigger, energy fluctuation near Frederik. Frederik was thrown around whenever the bigger energy mass approached him.

Michael's eyes narrowed. He subconsciously used Enhancement on his lower body and cracked the ground as he dashed ahead. He passed through the Saphirelake Park in no time and arrived in one of the smaller, well-hidden training grounds.

Michael barged through the entrance and arrived near the small and cozy arena. There he found his friend. Frederik's large azure eyes shimmered vibrantly as he stared intently at his opponent. His muscles flexed and he kicked the ground to dash to the right. Simultaneously, a gale shrouded in an azure hue pushed him further. Frederik's momentum improved the instance the gale impacted. His top speed increased and he appeared next to his opponent.

However, his opponent reacted even faster. A large, callused hand covered Frederik's face all of a sudden. The youth tried to stab his enemy with his daggers but his opponent made perfect use of the opportunity and his momentum to hurl Frederk through the air.

Frederik crashed heavily into the training hall's wall and coughed up blood.

A flare of anger surfaced from the depths of Michael's being. His eyes darted to the unknown opponents and he saw red.

It might have been cause Pheli and Liopham died without him being able to do anything, or because he felt helpless in the last few weeks, but the emotions that had accumulated within his entire being surfaced all of a sudden.

He kicked the ground, spreading spider-web-like cracks all over the floor, and dashed ahead. The heavenly Beast Physique was unleashed with a Soul Tear further amplifying Superior Constitution. Thereafter, Michael added several layers of Enhancement, shrouding his body in a white hue.

Michael appeared in between the massive opponent and Frederik in an instant. His arrival took Frederik and the other combatant by surprise. Frederik's eyes widened at the surprising arrival of his friend, whereas his opponent stared at Michael, the corner of his lip curling upward.

A powerful foe had appeared.

Michael appraised the other party in an instant. He was mistaken to believe that Frederik's adversary had been a Berserker. It was a dark-skinned human whose entire body was covered in tattoos. The Awakened was more than two meters tall, probably close to 2.2 meters, and he was jacked.

His physique was closer to the constitution of a Berserker than an ordinary human. That was also why Michael mistakenly believed that Frederik's adversary had been a Berserker.

The man had long black dreadlocks, and vibrant silver eyes that stared straight into Michael's soul. The Awakened's gaze was razor-sharp. He didn't show a sign of hesitation. He was ready to fight Michael. There was no way that Michael would back off after seeing how Frederik had been hurled around.

However, neither of them made a move. The fight began only when a groan escaped Frederik's lips. The youth wanted to say something but the burly Awakened and Michael shot forth.

A tremendous amount of energy surged through the Awakened. His body expanded rapidly and he executed a smashing kick. Michael twisted his body, easily evading the Awakened's massive leg. He used Spirit Eyes to determine his opponent's weak spot and skipped to the side. He kicked the ground again, dashed ahead, and exchanged several blows with the Awakened.

The Awakened was more than four-meter-tall after he executed his Soultrait and he was still growing. More energy surged through his body, further increasing his physical strength. He was highly resilient and didn't lose out in a head-

on battle against Michael, whose physical strength was at its highest. Superior Constitution was amplified, Heavenly Beast Physique had been unleashed to the fullest, and several layers of Enhancement had been applied, yet Michael didn't gain an advantage against the Awakened.

On the contrary, Michael could see himself losing in a physical bout against the Awakened as his size continued to increase.

However, the Awakened was surprised. He didn't expect his new sparring partner to be this powerful. His body expanded to more than six meters in height suddenly and his skin turned greyish-silver. His strength exploded, surpassing the limits of a Lesser Lifeform instantaneously.

He was just about to unleash a barrage of kicks and punches when Frederik jumped up.

"Stop, Hiraku!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. Frederik spun around to Michael and exclaimed "We were just sparring!!!"

The gigantic Awakened stopped in his tracks. Michael stopped as well. He had been ready to use some of his tricks and other Soultraits to deal with the Awakened head-on, but it looked like he misinterpreted the situation.

It was just a misunderstanding.

The gigantic Awakened shrunk. The greyish-silver tone of his skin reverted to normal, however, his sharp silver eyes continued to linger on Michael.

"Michael. That's Hiraku Teranos. He's my friend!" Frederik introduced quickly to solve the misunderstanding.

"Training partner," Hiraku Tearnos added. Frederik smiled wryly, but he ignored Hiraku's comment and looked at Hiraku intensely, "That's Michael Fang. I told you about him."

'They're friends? Would a friend hurt another like t-....' Michael wondered only to recollect the things he had done to Frederik.

'Well...whatever...'

His attention drifted toward Hiraku Teranos. He heard about the Teranos family, a Supreme Family that was also known as the Stars of Creation. They were known for their Inventions and numerous creations. As far as Michael knew the Teranos family were more like Mad Scientists than combatants.

Hiraku seemed different.

Michael could tell at a glance that Hiraku was a fighter. He was like the Berserkers.

'Distant, cold, and distrustful of strangers. He doesn't seem to acknowledge Frederik as his friend, openly that is...but Frederik sustained fewer injuries than I expected. It looked really bad earlier'

Michael eyed Hiraku for a while, the corner of his lip twitching.

'Is he a tsundere, or what?'