CHAPTER 394: CHAPTER 394: I’M YOU’RE FRIEND

On the white planet covered year-round with ice and an intense blizzard.

Alora walked over the snow calmly with her arms behind her back. Her white hair fluttered wildly in the fierce wind, blending well with the white background and flying snow.

She walked on the snow and slippery rocks, but her footsteps were steady and intentional. The sound of her boots crunching the snow mixed well with the sound of the blowing wind.

Right now, she looked very heroic and chivalrous, she appeared to be an ancient warrior princess strolling through the frozen field.

Unfortunately, there was no living thing on this entire planet to witness this.

This planet was completely barren, absent of any and all life. Even the dragon guards that used to be here had all been cleanly eliminated.

They were gone, hunted down by none other than Alora.

Alora’s blue gaze shifted from left to right, then up to down, she was vigilant. She walked calmly but her mind was awaiting the next target.

Far from her, on both sides were mountain ranges, nearly carving the sky in two.

A golden screen flashed into existence in front of Alora. She saw the message from one of her new ’friends’.

One of the Lion Queens of the Fanged Flower Alliance.

...

Shawty: Hey, Ma’abu and his coalition have moved out, and they’re going to find the Primordial Lion.

Alora: Okay, and?

Shawty: Exalon and many other lion kings have stormed out of heaven with their own arkships. It’s safe to say that the first battle may not happen in heaven.

So many Lion Kings using their heavenly beacons. It would take a year for the cooldown to end. They won’t be able to return to heaven anytime soon.

That should tell you how dedicated they are to finding the Primordial Lion.

Alora: Okay, thank you.

Shawty: Oh, aren’t you in that same Void Spill Galaxy? You should get out of there while you still can, there’s going to be a lot of action there.

Alora: The chances of anyone crossing my path in this vast galaxy are very minimal, Shawty.

Shawty: But it’s not zero. I also heard that one arkship sensed the aura of dragons.

Alora: Oh.

Shawty: Yeah, you should leave fast.

Alora: I’ll wait for one more dragon, then I’ll live.

Shawty: Okay, I just hope this is worth it.

...

Alora did not answer, she was interrupted by another message.

...

Chloe: Hey.

Alora: Hey.

Chloe: Long time.

Alora: It wasn’t that long.

Chloe: It’s been a while, that’s what I’m saying.

Alora: Oh, I didn’t notice time passing by.

Chloe: I miss you.

Alora: Okay.

Chloe: Why are you talking to me like this?

Alora: I’m talking to you the way I talk to everyone.

Chloe: Everyone? Alora, I’m not everyone. I’m your friend.

Alora: I heard you’re now a mother. The local lions of Eridoria talked about it on the forum.

Chloe: ...

Alora: I didn’t know if it was true, but from your silence, I’m guessing the rumors were true.

Chloe: It’s true. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.

Alora: You assume I am offended?

Chloe: Regardless, I’m sorry.

Alora: How is he?

Chloe: It’s a she, I have a daughter.

Alora: I wasn’t referring to your child.

Chloe: Oh, you mean Kael?

Alora: Yes.

Chloe: He’s fine.

Alora: How is your life with him? Is it to your liking? I remember you fantasized about a strong pride leader sweeping you off your feet and both of you living happily ever after.

How’s that fantasy going?

Chloe: Are you being sarcastic?

Alora: You’re free to not answer.

Chloe: Well, he’s nice.

Alora: Don’t lie.

Chloe: I’m not lying. He’s actually nice. Well, he’s not a kind person, and definitely not a pushover.

He can be very harsh sometimes, it’s hard to keep secrets around him. I feel like he acts like he doesn’t care sometimes, even though he cares...like you.

Alora: Is that what you think of Kael and me, that we are hiding our feelings?

Chloe: I don’t know.

Alora: Okay.

Chloe: He also hates weakness, like, he absolutely despises weaklings. And I’m not talking about weaklings like young creatures or normal tiers.

I’m talking about weaklings that have the opportunity to get stronger but for some reason, they can’t, or they won’t.

Kael hates seeing them.

Alora: He hates weakness, that’s interesting.

Chloe: Yeah, once you get to know him personally, you’ll find some aspects of his personality quite charming.

Also, I’m now tier 4.

Alora: That’s nice, I’m tier 5.

Chloe: ...

Alora: ...

Chloe: That’s wonderful, you must be training hard.

Alora: Chloe, what do you want?

Chloe: I don’t understand, I don’t want anything.

Alora: You couldn’t have just chatted me up just for the sake of it. You’re either bored or you just need someone to talk to.

Chloe: That’s not it...

Alora: You’ve heard the news haven’t you?

Chloe: *sigh* Yes.

Alora: Conflict is heading toward you. Kael is like a magnet, attracting a lot of things to him, both good and bad.

Chloe: What do I do?

Alora: Are you thinking of running away?

Chloe: NOO, why do all of you keep thinking that I want to betray him?

...

On Eridoria, Chloe had tears streaming down her cheeks.

...

Alora: You’re thinking of your survival, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Chloe: No, I made a vow to stay with him no matter what. Even if I wanted to leave, I won’t.

Kael doesn’t take abandonment easily.

Alora: There’s no point talking about all this Chloe, you’re just going to make yourself feel bad.

Do what you think is right. But remember, don’t let today’s decision affect you later in the future.

You would have no one to blame but yourself.

Chloe: I’m staying with him.

Alora: Okay then, bye.

...

Alora frowned as she dismissed the golden screen. There was a very tiny hint of unease. It was a foreign feeling that she only ever felt when seeing creatures stronger than her.

She felt...envy? Did she envy Kael or she envied Chloe? Maybe she envied both of them.

Alora smiled, mocking herself. It couldn’t be, not now, not ever.

She shook her head and summoned the screen again. This time, she found herself navigating to Kael’s chat.

Just before she could send the first message, she paused.

Alora found it strange that she suddenly wanted to chat with Kael now, at this time, right after talking with Chloe.

’I’ll just ask him if he has a plan,’ She told herself.

However, just before she was able to send a message to Kael, a loud sound interrupted her.

Her two white ears twitched, pointing in the direction the sound was coming from.

Above.

Alora raised her head to see three space shuttles breaking through the windy atmosphere and igniting into balls of fire.

They came down fast, very fast. The harsh wind blew the flames away, allowing Alora to clearly see the body of the shuttles.

"Oh, they’ve finally sent some more," Alora said to herself as she dismissed the golden screen to focus on the incoming magic shuttles.

All three of the magic shuttles were aimed directly at her location and they came down with fierce power.

Up above, the cannons of the shuttles activated. They trained their barrel ends at the distant approaching frozen surface.

Despite the blizzard, they had locked onto their enemy.

*ZHIN! ZHIN! ZHIN!*

Large red beams filled with destructive force rained down from the sky. The cannons fired.

Alora’s pupils dilated and her heart beat rate spiked.

She raised her left hand quickly, summoning a curved ice dome to form around her.

Almost immediately, the three red beams arrived.

*BAM!*

The ice dome was strong, holding fast and maintaining integrity despite the terrifying heat. The ground surrounding the ice dome was destroyed and a crater was formed.

All the ice within a twenty-kilometer radius immediately melted and the ice farther than that was in the process of melting.

The force of the beam was mighty, sending Alora along with the ice dome deeper into the ground.

Suddenly, two ice spikes formed on opposite sides of the ice dome. The ice spikes were big and pointed straight at the incoming shuttles.

*SHU SHU!*

Like ballistic missiles, the ice spikes shot into the sky, covering hundreds of meters in a single second. The air screamed in protest as the ice spikes ascended at incredible speeds.

One of the Shuttles was struck. The ice spike tore through the hall, piercing its way through the seven hundred-meter-long vessel and coming out from the other end, destroying the thrusters in the process.

The other targeted shuttle managed to put up a shield just in time and deflected the ice spike.

However, the magic barrier caused the main cannon to cease firing while the other destroyed shuttle naturally stopped firing as well.

This made it so that for a brief second, only the shuttle in the middle had its cannon beam active.

This was enough for Alora.

The ground exploded into a rain of rocks and ice shards as Alora escaped.

She spun around and waved a knife palm at the final shuttle, sending a wide ice blade at the vessel.

Alora didn’t get to see the result of her last attack as she felt the gaze of a supreme entity on her body.

Alora felt a chill go up her spine and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.