Oberion Empire, Imperial City.
In the middle of the night, a man was running away while being chased by countless men. His face was bloodless and expressionless, if not for his body being covered in cold sweat one wouldn't think this person is a living human. For some reason, his face was starting to distort as if something was moving behind his face. Moving and wriggling as if something is living inside its head.
When the man was blocked by a dead-end road, it didn't even take a minute for him to get surrounded by soldiers. The one in lead is a man with a dangerous feeling yet charismatic face. With an evil grin on his handsome face, his eyes were red-orange yet his hair was blonde. His features were also top-notch but like the cold abstinence the Marshal is giving out this person's vibes carries away the sense of aggressiveness. Like a proud wolf leading its pack to hunt its prey.
This man is called Nova Revel, he is the husband of Nova Seren and the right-hand person of Marshal Janus.
."Lieutenant General Nova, we caught him!" a soldier reported.
Nova Revel remembered the mission's requirements from his father-in-law. He must be careful not to touch the man when captured. This is a zerg parasite living in a dead human's brain. They only need the head but it must be captured in a special soul restraining prison to successfully make the catch.
"Remember my warning! Guides protect the Sentinels. Sentinels, be sure to catch the head. I will be cutting it off now," commanded Lieutenant General Nova.
"Yes Sir!" The soldiers collectively answered.
Moving according to their plans, the group successfully captures the head of the target. Everyone was at first bewildered why their general only needed the head of the target but when they saw some kind of white larva bug coming out of the head shrieking at them inside the special prison. They finally understood everything. There was a zerg living in that human's head.
"What the fuck!? A zerg!!!" exclaimed one of the soldiers who witnessed the head's being ripped apart by that white larva bug.
"It is really a Zerg! A parasitic one. How dangerous!"
"Fuck! No wonder the general said to be careful."
Nova Revel frowned and said, "Don't get too close. That thing loves eating human brains."
Some soldiers immediately stepped back and gave the special prison to their leader to hold. They watch him cover the whole thing with another layer of the spiritual barrier for safety.
"Our mission is done. We are returning for now," said Lieutenant General Nova Revel. "I need to meet my father-in-law. For you now, everyone is on standby. We will be going to Planet Citlali afterward. Be prepared! There would be a war on where we are going next!"
"We understand, Lieutenant General!" collectively said the soldiers.
Nova Revel dispersed his troops for their preparation on going to Planet Citlali where his wife is. First, he needs to bring the Old Marshal the proof of parasitism which would allow those stupid elders of the Interstellar Federation that their upper echelon is now inflicted with some spies from the other alien races.
At the Marshal Office.
Nova Revel entered after three knocks. His movements were a bit rude but Old Marshal Janus seems to be used to it. Janus Stellan just glances at the Lieutenant with some grumpy expression before resuming his paper works.
"Old man, I finished the mission you gave me. Can I see my wife now?" asked Nova Revel.
"Tsk! Give it here!" said Marshal Janus as he caught the special prison that captured a zerg, thrown towards him. "Go ahead and leave for Planet Citlali. Your father would have to take my place here for a bit..."
Nova Revel frowned a bit and said, "Old man, you are leaving the Empire?"
"Just a bit. Needs to pick up your mother-in-law," replied Old Marshal Janus.
"Dad is finally going back!? Wow~" said Nova Revel in surprise. It's been a while since he last saw his mother-in-law. That last time might be when he and Seren got married. "Is he going back for good?"
A smile appeared on the Old Marshal's stern face, "Yes. That's thanks to Xiao Jing. That war on Planet Citlali would be used as a decoy to help Celes and his clan members to divert the attention of the Zergs. They would take that opportunity to return. That's why it is important to garner more attention on Planet Citlali. It was also because of this that Xiao Jing revealed his identity as an SSS-ranked Guide and as well as being the partner of that little shit... Altair Sirius."
Nova Revel laughed the moment he saw his father-in-law's hate for Altair Sirius. Though he didn't hate the man as his real enemy, he doesn't like that man's arrogance and high capabilities.
"Hahaha~ Old man you really don't like Sirius do you?" said Nova Revel.
Marshal Janus snorted, "I don't like him more now. Because of his arrogance, he fell into the zerg's traps and fell into mania. Our Xiao Jing had to save him and now a permanent mark was left behind."
"For real!? Isn't Jingjing only 18 years old?" said Nova Revel with a frown.
"Rev, when you go there, beat him up for me. Tell him it was this old man who told you to do so. If he fights back he will get it from this old man when he returns to the Empire!" said Marshal Janus.
An evil grin appeared on Nova Revel's face and said, "Old Man left it to me. I will beat him good for you and send pictures. So can I leave now?" he said.
"Go. Go. Make sure to protect my daughter and Xiao Jing well. Though I doubt things would go wrong with almost all of you there, it is still better to be careful." He then threw an envelope with Janus Clan's crest on it to his son-in-law. "Send this to Old Man Feng for me. The usual way... Then you can fuck off to see your wife~"
"Leave it to me, Old Man. You better watch your blood pressure and clean yourself up if you want to meet your Mother-in-law. Look at that thick beard you're starting to look like an old man for real~" said Nova Revel.
"Grr~ Get out!" yelled Marshal Janus as Nova Revel ran out as he was kicked out.
Few moments after his son-in-law had taken his leave, Marshal Janus checked himself on the reflections of the mirror and saw that his beard had really gotten thick from time.
"Um~ My wife is going to hate me looking like this. I need to shave it off~" murmured Marshal Janus as he went somewhere to clean himself up in preparation for picking his wife home.
Lieutenant General Nova Revel tasked one of the shadow guards that served him to pass the message of his father-in-law to his Uncle Feng. Ever since the whole Empire knows that the Janus Clan and the Feng Clan don't get along on the surface their way of communication is done secretly as well. This is why Marshal Janus knew that Marshal Altair was alive. This is because Old Master Feng Xuan had sent him a message saying that Marshal Altair is their future grandson-in-law.
Now that the message was sent, Nova Revel had taken his battleship to meet his wife.
Nova Revel murmured as he looked at the clear sky as if seeing the wide universe beyond it. "Wait for me, dear~" Only then did his troop secretly take off and leave the Empire.
---
At the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Sol, who received the news from the Interstellar Federation about the incoming war at Planet Citlali, decided to do his job as the ruler of the Empire to pacify everyone living in the capital. Some of the students were, after all, staying on the planet to complete their trials. The parents of those students were already informed about it. Some people cried. Some were proud of their children while some wanted to bring back their children home.
Now there is a commotion happening in front of the Imperial Palace. The Royal guards had to stop the people from breaking into their Palace while the Emperor was still talking with the people at the Federation.
Emperor Sol with a cold yet majestic presence spoke, "You say that a war would be happening at Planet Citlali where the future generations are training!? You didn't inform this Emperor right away before the common people learned about it!"
"This... Everything happened all of the sudden and the monitoring on the planet wasn't turned off on time. The scene of Marshal Altair suddenly disappearing and Lieutenant General Xue Ying falling into mania with some other sentinels were seen so... it was too late to even stop it as everyone focused on saving rather than hiding things," explained the soldier sent as a messenger reporting to the royal family.
A slight glint of interest appeared on the monarch's emerald gold eyes, "Then... Is Marshal Altair safe or not? I heard a mania cannot be easily controlled unless a guide helps one to purify it," said the Emperor of Oberion Empire.
"Marshal Altair is alright. His guide, Young Lord Feng Jing, had successfully saved the marshal before he had gone insane. For now, the Interstellar Federation wanted to ask the crown to calm down the masses. It would be harder for us if the common people go mad because of the news of the incoming war."
"Hm~ You can leave this time to this Emperor but... the federation would have to pay for this help from the crown," said Emperor Sol.
The soldier who was sent to become the messenger cursed and said, "The Upper Echelon Elders say that things can be talked about after the war. But do not wish for the impossible Sire..."
"Hmp! This emperor would keep those words in mind." Then he gestured to a knight to see the guest out, "The guest is leaving, escorting him out!"
A royal guard bowed and said, "As you wish, Emperor!"
Once the only one left in the audience room is Emperor Sol, the figure of the Eldest King, Regulus (Cosmos) Aera, suddenly appeared and approached his father.
King Aera said, "Do you have orders, Imperial Father?"
Snort... "Go make arrangements. The crown would send you to pacify the enraged common people about the current events. You are to make sure that the masses would calm down and reassure them that their children would be safe. Anyway, if something happened to the children it would be the fault of Marshal Altair who possesses the highest authority in that place."
"How about Zenith, Imperial Father?" asked King Aera.
Emperor Sol spoke, "That foolish brat is closer to the Fengs instead of his own family. It would be better if he died there!"
"The Imperial Father shouldn't say that. What if there is someone who heard about it?" said King Aera.
Emperor Sol also gave his eldest enigmatic son a weird glance and said, "Sometimes I feel that you've changed, Aera. You used to hate this Emperor and Zenith for me giving the title of crown to your second brother instead of you. How come you have changed now?"
A gentle yet fake smile appeared on King Aera's face, "It is simple my dear father The one inside is no longer your son. As for why I am telling this to you... It is simple~ There is no need for you. We only need your vessel after all~"
All of the sudden something flew towards the Emperor. Despite defending with his spiritual qi, the unknown soul that entered his body had squashed the original soul of Emperor Sol and took over the Emperor's body.
"Argh~ You damn brat! Fucker! Get out of my body... Grr~ stop... don't kill me. no... NOOO!!!"
King Aera who was smiling before had kneeled on one knee before Emperor Sol. More like the new owner of the vessel which was formerly known as Emperor Sol. The body of the emperor limped only for a moment before it started moving like a puppet that received a new soul.
"This body is quite old but... It is better than nothing." said the man in the Emperor's body.
King Aera asked, "Does the Lord not want the body of the Siren King instead? It's younger and much more handsome than this old emperor."
"That's an alien's body. It wouldn't be able to enter human land. I would be treated as an enemy if I really used that vessel. This one is enough, at least it would be easier to approach the traitor."
It seems that the soul inside King Aera is the same soul as before. The one who had used the body of the Siren King, Voda.
"What are your plans, My lord?" asked King Aera.
"For now, keep a lower profile. If the God of destruction learned about our existence we wouldn't even know how we die. We had to plan how to discreetly kill the traitor to finish this job."
King Aera said, "I will listen to your orders, My Lord."