Blood Of Destruction

Galactic Empire

After all, everything David had gathered here was above A-grade  treasures that would be considered rare even among powerful forces. Some he might use in emergencies; others he could sell when the time was right.

He carefully packed everything he needed into a single space ring. The rest was the overwhelming wealth of a thousand dead warriors he left inside the house. Carrying too much wealth on his body would only invite trouble.

When he stepped out of the house and summoned the spaceship, its dark hull materialized before him, sleek and silent. He entered, and a glowing orb of light flickered to life.

"Welcome, Owner. I am the AI programmed to pilot this spaceship and serve as your guide during travel."

David looked at the orb, its voice a calm hum in the quiet cabin. "Initiate name change. From now on, you are Trippy."

"Command accepted. Designation updated to Trippy."

As the AI confirmed the change, Albert's figure materialized beside David. The old spirit's eyes held a trace of reluctance, the weight of farewell pressing on his ancient features.

"Let me update this AI and remove any backdoors that could bring danger during your travels," Albert said. He touched the console, and streams of data flickered. "I have also uploaded a detailed map of the universe, with friendly and enemy races marked. Your journey truly begins now. I've placed markers at certain locations you must visit after you break through to the peak of the immortal realm. There are things there that will greatly aid you."

Albert turned to face David fully. "After this, I will sleep. Do not wake me unless it is absolutely necessary. Stay safe, child."

David felt a tightness in his chest. "Albert… Thank you. For everything."

The spirit gave a small, rare smile. "You have to thank me by becoming strong. Now go."

Albert raised his hand, and the spaceship rose above the ground. The secret realm shrank and shrank until it became a small sphere in Albert's palm. With a gentle motion, he pressed it into David's body. David felt no discomfort, only a strange fullness, as if the realm had always belonged there, taking the form of an inner world inside him.

Albert's figure faded, retreating into that inner world to sleep. The house, the blood pond, the arena  all of it remained accessible, waiting for David whenever he needed to train.

David stood alone in the void where the secret realm had once been. The space around him was empty and silent. A strange ache filled his heart. For seven years, this place had been his entire world. It had been a prison at first, but somewhere along the way, it had become a home, the first true safe place he had ever known.

He lingered for a long moment, his hand resting over his chest where the realm now slept. Part of him didn't want to leave. But he knew he couldn't stay. He has an answer to get.

"Trippy," he said, his voice steady despite the emotion, "set course for the nearest galaxy. Full outside-view stimulation. Call me 'sir'  , hearing 'Owner' feels strange."

"Understood, sir. Initiating external view simulation. Calculating travel time to the nearest human empire… At the current speed, we will arrive in twenty-eight days. Would you like to increase velocity?"

"No need. Maintain current speed. Alert me if anything goes wrong."

"Confirmed, sir."

The stars stretched into streaks of light as the ship began its journey. David watched the void for a long time before finally turning away.

Twenty-five days passed in the quiet rhythm of travel. David spent every day in the virtual arena, honing his spear, sharpening his instincts. On the twenty-seventh day, just as he was finishing a brutal session and heading toward the dining area, Trippy's voice cut through.

"Sir, I am detecting a distress signal from a C-class vessel nearby. Two Star Realm warriors are trapped inside. Six pirates surround them; the strongest among them is at the ninth level of the Universe Realm. I recommend a detour to avoid conflict."

David paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "No. Go straight. We'll help them. At the very least, we can get information about the nearest empire. Speed up reach them as fast as possible."

"Understood, sir. Increasing velocity now."

At that same moment, inside the crippled C-class ship, a boy and girl huddled together. Outside, six pirates circled like hungry beasts.

The boy, Liam, stared through the viewport, his face pale. "Emma, I already called my sister. I called my family. Do you think they can reach us in time?"

Emma squeezed his arm, forcing calm into her voice even as fear gnawed at her heart. "Be positive, Liam. We're near the empire. Our families can reach us in a few hours. We just have to hold out till the time."

"But can this shield really hold against a Universe Realm warrior?" Liam's voice cracked. "He's been waiting all this time to crack the door and take the ship intact. How much longer will he stay patient?"

Emma closed her eyes. "Let's just hope luck is on our side."

Outside, the pirate leader's patience had run dry. He turned on his men with a snarl. "What is wrong with you guys ? Two hours and you still can't crack a C-class ship? Don't you realize we're near the empire? They've already sent a distress signal. If reinforcements come, we're finished."

"Boss, it's hard to crack. It might have the latest shielding tech. We're trying, but"

The leader looked at his men, then at the ship. "A fine piece. Such a shame."

He drew back his fist and punched.

The shield shattered like glass. The main frame crumpled. Liam and Emma cried out as their ship broke open and pirates poured through the breach.

The pirate leader stepped forward, his eyes raking over them like merchandise. "You two are quality goods. The monster territories will pay well for you, especially the girl." He glanced at the wrecked ship. "Pity. A fine vessel, ruined."

Liam's fear turned to fury. With a desperate cry, he launched himself at the leader  but before he could even touch him, a fist drove into his chest. He crumpled to the ground, vomiting blood.

"Liam!" Emma rushed to his side, tears spilling down her cheeks. She knew what capture meant. She had heard the stories. She held Liam close, her body shaking uncontrollably.

"Carry them both," the leader ordered. "Take everything of value. Then we leave this place."

"Really? So much hurry. Why don't you wait for a little extra?"

The voice came from nowhere, calm and cold. Every pirate spun around.

A young man stood beside Emma, as if he had materialized from the void itself. She gasped. 

 ‘ When had he appeared? Before she could even cry out for help, the pirate leader moved.’

The pirate leader didn't speak. He didn't hesitate. He lunged straight at the stranger with a lethal strike.

David hadn't expected the pirate to be smart enough to launch a sneak attack. He had underestimated him, and now a threat was rushing toward him. But David's reflexes, honed through years in the virtual arena, were faster than thought. He was after all a world master warrior.

He slapped the pirate once.

The man burst into a mist of blood.

David didn't pause. He moved through the remaining pirates like a shadow of death, and in seconds, they all lay still.

Emma blinked. The entire massacre had taken no more than a few heartbeats. She stared at the young man as he walked toward them, his expression calm, as if he had done nothing more than swat flies.

She found her voice, trembling and raw. "Thank you… thank you so much, sir. If you hadn't come…"

"It's fine," David said. "I picked up your distress signal. But let's move before more trouble shows up  scavengers love a battlefield. Gather your things. Your friend will be okay; his injuries aren't fatal. But this ship won't fly again."

Emma looked at the ruined vessel, then back at David, hope flickering in her tear-streaked eyes. "Sir… where are you heading? Could you take us to the Galactic Empire? That's where we were going, and our families are there."

David considered this. He had only wanted information about the empire, a way to navigate an unfamiliar place. But this might be a better start  traveling with locals who could open doors he wouldn't find on his own.

Emma watched him anxiously, thinking much the same thing. A ride with this stranger would solve all their immediate problems.

"Alright," David said. "Get on board. Bring your friend."

He stepped through the wreckage, and his ship materialized in front of them  sleek, dark, and undeniably powerful. Emma's eyes widened at the sight. 

‘ This is at least A-grade, she thought, maybe higher. Who was this person?’

David had Trippy scan the pirate ship, but the pirates had likely just sold off their last haul there was nothing of interest. He stored their vessel in his space ring anyway. Waste not.

Once inside, they settled Liam onto a couch. David gave the order to resume course toward the Galactic Empire.

"Let's start with introductions," David said. "My name is David."

Emma straightened, recovering some of her composure. "Hello, sir. I'm Emma Myers, and this is Liam Cooper. We're from the empire. We wanted to travel on our own, so we snuck out without telling anyone. Usually, we have to go everywhere with family guards, and we hate it. Senior… can you help wake up my friend?"

David pulled a small vial of healing medicine from his ring and handed it to her. "Give him this. It'll heal his injuries and bring him back to consciousness. And don't call me 'sir.' I'm not old, just call me David."

Emma took the vial with both hands, a flush of gratitude coloring her cheeks. She opened it carefully and poured the liquid into Liam's mouth. Within seconds, color returned to his face. Within minutes, his wounds began to close.

Liam's eyes fluttered open. He found himself on an unfamiliar couch, inside a ship that was definitely A-grade or higher. Confusion clouded his gaze until he saw Emma.

She explained everything.

Liam listened in silence, his expression shifting from disbelief to deep, overwhelming gratitude. When she finished, he turned to David and spoke with a sincerity that came from the depths of his soul. "Thank you. If you ever need anything at all, even if it costs my life I won't refuse you."

David looked at the boy and felt a strange warmth. There were very few people in the world who truly recognized a debt after being saved. He could see the admiration burning in Liam's eyes, pure and genuine.

"It's okay," David said, his tone gentle. "Don't be so dramatic. Relax. I'm the same generation as you, no need for 'sir.' Just call me David. And if I ever need help, I'll gladly ask."

He leaned back slightly. "We're almost at the Galactic Empire. You two can help me with something I need to get my citizenship registered. I've never left my home before, so I don't know the procedures. And I'd appreciate it if you could introduce me to the best parts of your empire. It's not easy for a foreigner to find his way around an unfamiliar place."

Emma smiled, relief and excitement breaking through her earlier fear. "We'd be happy to help, David. After what you did for us, it's the least we can do."

Liam nodded vigorously, still wincing slightly from his healing ribs. "Absolutely! We'll show you everything. My family's got connections so we can make sure your citizenship goes through smoothly."

David allowed himself a small smile. For the first time in seven years, he wasn't alone. And as the ship sailed toward the distant lights of the Galactic Empire, he felt the first cautious stirring of something he thought he had lost forever.

Hope.