Chapter 991: Spared

It was interesting to witness how slow traveling through space was for normal beings. The Supreme Human Alliance could equip powerful entities with teleportation devices or order Awakened with spatial Soultrait Symbols to respond to their attack on the Divine Academy, but there were a few particular points most missed.

Michael had yet to encounter someone with a Soultrait like Slipstream. In fact, even Cosmic Stream at 5-Star had been incredibly unique. Michael couldn't be certain about that, but he was confident that only one or two Hyumans with a 6-Star Spatial-type Soultrait would reside in the Supreme Human Alliance. If there had been more, the Supreme Human Alliance would have had better defenses against space travelers and more means to block the Divine Subordinates in the Novix Galaxy.

In fact, the Supreme Human Alliance would have had numerous ways to obliterate the Altors Union if there had been a Spatial Soultrait like Cosmic Stride at 6-Star or 7-Star

But there was nobody like that, or they were busy doing other things. It didn't really matter. All that mattered was that devices like the Compass Relic were incredibly rare and probably safely stored somewhere, and nobody could use them, as well as Michael, either way. Other space travelers could use them to travel themselves and maybe one more person across a few planetary systems, but what was the use of that if they couldn't jump entire galaxies within a few minutes.

Even bridges weren't that fast. That was also why Michael wasn't really concerned with the Divine Academy's destruction. The Divine Academy might not be an easy threat and posed a considerable challenge, but his Super Awakened fought well. Some overdid it a little, but Michael pulled them out easily. Slipstream had already spread across Keiros, ready to teleport anyone wherever Michael wanted.

If he had enough energy, Michael could teleport Keiros to a different place as well. But he didn't plan to do so. There was no need to destroy the entire planetary system by altering the course of a single planet. Michael had something against the Supreme Human Alliance and not the planet they had civilized.

Michael traveled to all the laboratories and considered killing the remaining researchers, but it was Jormungandr who convinced him to spare them.

[They're not infected by Blood Incursion. Force them into a Link of Loyalty, create a laboratory in the Sacred Desert or the Untamed Jungle, and get them to create a product that counters Blood Incursion.]

Michael laughed aloud, scaring the researchers shitless when they saw the insanity in his eyes. They shuddered and tried to hit the alarm, but Swallow Domain had already consumed every little means of defense.

"To think the bastards who create Blood Incursion are not even infected. It looks like every single one of you knows what that disgusting thing does to your mind and soul!" Michael roared, his eyes glimmering dangerously. The overwhelming presence of the three God Curses gushed out of him, accidentally killing a handful of researchers instantly.

Michael didn't even think about feeling sorry for them. It might be a nuisance how they died, but their corpses were still valuable. Michael unleashed True Extraction on them and sucked them dry of everything the corpses once possessed. That was enough to make an example before the remaining researchers.

"Either establish a Link of Loyalty with me and create a product that eradicates Blood Incursion without killing the victims, or something to reverse the effect of Blood Incursion, or everyone here will die..." He kicked the dry skeletons that were only shrouded in an empty husk of skin, "Like these disgusting things."

It was no surprise to Michael when all researchers accepted his 'offer'. They established Links of Loyalty with him and were thrown into the Sacred Desert where they were ordered to stay until a solution to the problem was found. Michael would provide them with everything they needed, but he wasn't confident they would fare well in their ordeal. Still, Michael wanted to give it a try.

[At least, these spineless rats studied Blood Incursion for decades. Some of those old fucks looked like they didn't do anything but study Blood Incursion. Maybe you hit the jackpot with them.] Hel pointed out coldly, but Michael only shrugged.

One way or another, Michael changed from destroying the laboratories to devouring everything with Swallow Domain, only to throw it at the bound researchers and more than ten thousand workers whom he ordered to build a large-scale laboratory. They already had the blueprints and could purchase the ingredients Michael's territory couldn't procure through the Cosmic Shop. Michael wasn't going to splurge his entire fortune researching how to reverse Blood Incursion, but his fundings were extensive enough to invest a considerable amount into it.

Michael didn't stay long in the Origin Expanse. He left right after his subjects heeded the orders. Once he was back in Keiros, Michael first studied the surroundings. He expected a few Demi-Gods or powerhouses of equal power to appear and rescue the Divine Academy, but it looked like they were too busy.

[The Undead Titans, Cosmos Beasts, Altors Union's forces, and a massive group of 600 Divine Subordinates capable of fighting Tier-8 Hyumans head-on aren't easy to face. Plus, you tend to forget how many enemies the Supreme Human Alliance has. Didn't you sell the Thorn Merchandise a bunch of Soultrait Symbols earlier?] Jormungandr said lightly, and Michael nodded.

'Since we are already talking about them. Should I sell them more Soultrait Symbols? I have more candidates to become Super Awakened and need more Origin Liquid. If the Thorn Merchandise has more, which it should have, they might want to strike a better deal. I can offer them a bunch of powerful Soultraits if they promise me to attack the Supreme Human Alliance more openly.'

[That's a possibility, but you must keep in mind that your actions destroy the balance in the universe. If you share too many Soultrait Symbols - especially powerful ones - you are going to create an imbalance that will spark the start of far more intergalactic wars than you may think. This can be problematic if you do not know who you're giving you Soultrait Symbols.] Fenrir warned.

'If you are worried about that, you should have warned me earlier. The Altors Union's deal fell through, but if it didn't, they would have hundreds of powerful Super Awakened, who've already ascended to Divine Lifeforms.'

[I knew the deal would fall through.]

'You did?' Michael asked skeptically, but it was Jormungandr who called Cap.

[That's bullshit, Fenrir! You don't care about the balance of power in the universe. I know that better than anyone. You are just a sick guy who loves playing around. You can ask your children if you don't believe me. Do you want me to search for them and ask how much you've experimented with them, the Frost Giants, the Nightwatchers, and the Demons of the Silvercliff?!]

Fenrir cleared his throat, which sounded funny to Michael, but the Beast God Curse remained silent. Maybe that was for the best.

'If the Supreme Human Alliance stirs more trouble, I will spread more Soultrait Symbols to Divine Lifeforms. They will thank me for that with Origin Liquid, which I will use to create more Super Awakened. That way, I can reprimand everyone receiving Soultrait Symbols from me if they stir trouble after the Titan War ends. That should work out if it doesn't....so be it. In that case, I will have to fight my very own creation.'

Michael shrugged. If Sylth or someone else turned evil and against him or his people, Michael would terminate them. That was fine with him. They were old enough to make a choice, and as long as they had the guts to take responsibility for their actions, everything would be alright.

Focusing back on observing the Super Awakened from above Keiros, Michael noticed a few interesting things.

First, there was the combination of Kaleb and Frederik. Even though they didn't join the fight with a single thought wasted on working with each other, their actions showed the opposite. Frederik focused on the students and ensured no High Awakened would reach Kaleb. He also ensured no Awakened could use Support Soultraits or Curse Soultraits to weaken Kaleb or strengthen the Instructors.

That was another reason Kaleb survived against the Instructors. Once Michael pulled Kaleb out of the hall, Frederik changed his stance. He still fought valiantly, but part of him pulled those fighting against the effect of Blood Incursion to the side. Michael could already tell what Frederik was going to request from him, and he was going to accept the request.

'Thinking about it from a father's point of view is truly a mess. I understand you, Frederik. But...that doesn't make it easier.'

Michael sighed deeply when he saw a few young boys and girls among the students in the Divine Academy. Frederik killed everyone who attacked them ferociously, knowing they couldn't be salvaged, but everyone - not missing a single Human or Hyuman - trying to block Blood Incursion's influence was rescued.

That was praiseworthy, but it also meant Michael had to put in a lot of effort and resources to put them all into a coma, establish a Link of Loyalty, and start working on their Blood Incursion in the same old way...except.

Michael tilted his head.

'What if they remain in a coma for a few years until you or the researchers have a better solution?' [You want them to grow older and miss most of their childhood or teenage years only because you are too lazy and stingy to give them your SoulStar Fragments?] Fenrir asked, but Michael could only curse.

'I fucking hate you. I was just asking a question. After all, I cannot rescue hundreds of struggling Hyumans simultaneously!'

[That was a joke. Calm down, buddy.]

'I am not your buddy. This relationship is a little bit too intimate to be buddies.' Michael cursed quietly, ignoring the flood of comments from the God Curses.

They were getting on his nerves. Or maybe not. The God Curses were actually entertaining to be around. If not for them, Michael would be struggling a lot more than he was currently doing.

In the first place, Michael would be in the Origin Expanse, focusing on expanding his territory rather than zig-zagging through the Supreme Human Alliance's territory, provoking their Demi-Gods, hoping for some of them to arrive.

After all, he wanted to kill a Demi-God and find out what would happen if he used True Extraction and Fenrir's Divinity on their forming Divinity. Could he extract their Divinity and Insert it into his body?

[I wouldn't do that if I were you.]

'Why?'

[Cause the Primal will hunt-... Actually, it doesn't matter. The Primal will hunt you either way. Go for it. Go wild!] Michael smirked at that. He didn't need anyone's permission to act as he pleased, but it certainly felt good.