Blood Of Destruction

Human Association

David stood at the viewport, gazing out at the capital of the Galactic Empire. Thousands of spaceships streamed in and out of the colossal port, their lights weaving a dazzling tapestry against the dark canvas of space. The entire planet glowed beneath him, a jewel of civilization, and for a moment, he simply watched, his breath caught somewhere between awe and quiet anxiety.

As his ship descended toward the port, an announcement rang through the cabin: "S-class vessel, proceed to Section A."

Trippy adjusted course smoothly, guiding the dark ship toward its designated landing zone. Behind David, Liam and Emma exchanged stunned glances.

"Wait," Liam said, his voice rising. "S-class? I thought this was an A-class ship. You always travel so slowly, I assumed…"

David glanced back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I told Trippy to keep the speed low. I wanted to see the scenery, to get comfortable with traveling. This is my first time outside my home planet, after all."

Emma's eyes widened with fresh curiosity, but she said nothing. Something in David's tone hinted at a deeper story, one she wasn't sure she had the right to ask about yet.

The ship settled into the port. Section A was nearly empty; only three other vessels were parked, fighter-group ships whose owners apparently lacked large space rings to store them.

 David had no such limitation. As soon as the hatch opened and they stepped onto the landing platform, he turned and stored the ship inside his own space ring with a casual gesture that Liam and Emma were beginning to realize was characteristic of his powerful, understated, never boasting.

David turned to them. "If you two want to go home, you can. Just point me toward the Human Association building, and I'll find my way."

Liam shook his head firmly. "No, it's okay. We already arrived at the capital. Our families probably know by now they'll send a vehicle. We can come with you to register. It'll actually make things easier."

David was about to reply when a convoy of sleek vehicles pulled up before them and stopped. A man and a woman stepped out, flanked by bodyguards. The moment Emma saw the man, she ran toward him, her face crumpling with a mix of relief and guilt.

"Brother! You don't understand if David hadn't saved us today, we wouldn't be alive right now." Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes.

The man, Chris, pulled Emma into a tight embrace before holding her at arm's length. His expression was a storm of anger, relief, and a deep, trembling fear that only love could produce.

 "Do you two ever give me peace of mind? Everyone is blaming me for letting you go. You know very well that Mom and Dad are on the battlefield. What would I have told them if something had happened to you?" 

He turned to Liam, his voice softening but no less pained.

 "And you, Liam. Your sister entrusted you to me. What would I have said to her? Your parents are also on the front lines, and your sister is at the Human Association headquarters. Do you think they could have just shrugged off losing you, even if you warned them? This isn't a game."

Liam lowered his head, unable to meet Chris's eyes.

The woman beside Chris placed a calming hand on his arm. "Chris, it's all right. They're safe now. Being angry won't change anything. Besides, they've learned a lesson from this journey, one that will help them survive in the future."

Chris exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. "Fine. But this is the last time. From now on, you'll both train until you're recognized by a law and admitted as students of the Human Association. I mean it."

Then, as if suddenly remembering their rescuer, Chris turned to David, his expression shifting to one of profound gratitude.

 "Hello, friend. I'm Chris Myers, and this is my wife, Riya. Thank you, truly for saving these two idiots. I don't know how I could have faced everyone if…"

 He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

David felt a strange emotion stir in his chest. This was what family looked like, not the cold indifference he had known, but this fierce, protective love. 

He swallowed the ache and answered simply, "Hi, I'm David. It wasn't a big deal. As humans, we should at least try to help each other when we can."

Chris studied David for a moment. He could feel a pressure emanating from the young man, the unmistakable weight of someone whose realm far surpassed his own. 

A boy so young, already above the Domain Realm such a person would not be soft. Determination and pride like that were hard-earned. He decided then not to treat David as a naive child but someone who is kind but at the same time ruthless.

"Even if it was a small thing for you," Chris said, "it's everything to us. If you ever need help, just ask."

Liam, still looking a bit pathetic from his ordeal, piped up.

 "Brother Chris, David needs to visit the Human Association office to get his citizenship. Can I take him? Just leave me one car. We'll head there and then come back to the house for dinner."

Chris blinked, surprised. The Human Association issued identity documents to everyone, usually when they verified their human bloodline level.

 For David not to have one yet meant something. Perhaps he came from an ancient family that hid their young geniuses to protect them from alien races or from traitors within humanity. 

Chris thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Liam, you go with him. You've traveled together, so you know each other now. I'll also send our butler to speed things up at the Association."

David and Liam climbed into the car. As the vehicle pulled away, David let his senses drift outward. The capital pulsed with power  guardians stationed at every key point, warriors and merchants mingling in a dance of ambition and survival. 

This was one of the main transit hubs for the battlefield, he had learned. The governor of this territory, an Immortal King, held absolute control. To command such a domain, one needed not only strength but deep connections.

Liam and Emma's families were such a force. Both sets of parents were immortals. Liam's grandmother was a powerful immortal general; Emma's grandfather held the same rank. Their roots ran deep.

"More than a million people leave for the battlefield every day," Liam said, as if reading David's thoughts. "Everyone who's tasted strength wants to test their luck there. They say the war between the thousand races puts pressure on the universe, and the universe responds by creating opportunities. Lucky ones find power that shifts the balance."

David looked at Liam, his gaze thoughtful. He didn't say it aloud, but he knew a harder truth: war didn't create opportunities, it consumed everything, and only a rare few found fortune in the ashes.

 Perhaps there were inheritances hidden in those battlefields, ancient forces that sought worthy successors. Or maybe he was just overthinking. He wished he could ask Albert, but the spirit was deep in slumber. 

‘Why does an artifact need to sleep so deeply?’

David wondered, not for the first time. But no answer came.

The car stopped in front of a towering skyscraper, the Human Association building. David looked up, a knot of nervousness tightening in his stomach. He didn't want to be recognized too soon. Ideally, never. But he knew fate rarely followed one's wishes.

Inside, the staff had already prepared for his arrival, guided by the discreet influence of the butler. That alone showed how powerful Liam's family was.

 David silently resolved never to reveal his true identity. If his mother's family caught wind of him, things could become complicated quickly.

He stepped up to the blood-identification machine, and with a quiet breath, he pricked his finger. A single drop of blood fell.

The room shuddered.

Immense pressure erupted, pressing down on everyone present. Even the butler, himself an immortal, felt a primal threat crawl up his spine. He stared at David with sudden, sharp fear. 

This wasn't the aura of a random genius. This was something far older, far deeper than the blood of an apex lineage. He had once felt a similar presence from a direct descendant of a Universe Master, but this… this was stronger.

The butler's mind raced. 

‘What kind of being is this boy? How did Liam and Emma manage to befriend him?’

The blood analysis completed, and the pressure ebbed as suddenly as it had come. David and Liam waited calmly as the processing continued. But the butler did not stay still. He pulled the staff aside, his voice low and edged with warning.

"What just happened here doesn't leave this room. The young master's origin is likely tied to an extremely powerful family. If you value your lives, keep your mouths shut."

He had seen David's eyes in that moment  beneath the pressure, there had been a flash of killing intent so sharp it had chilled his soul. The Human Association was a place of rules, but the truly powerful always found ways to hide their secrets from ordinary eyes. 

Just as he had started to panic, he had sensed David deliberately let go of that murderous intent, as if choosing peace. That choice had saved them all from something far worse.

The butler wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and returned to David's side, maintaining a respectful distance. He would make sure no word of today spread. Some secrets were too dangerous to whisper.

A short while later, the procedure was complete. David held his new citizenship card, a simple thing that felt weightier than it should. It was a door to this new life, and also a chain that bound him to a past he wasn't ready to face.

Liam grinned, oblivious to the undercurrents. "All done! Come on, David, let's head home. Emma's family has a feast waiting, and you have to try the roasted star-beast. It's incredible."

David allowed himself a small, genuine smile. "Lead the way, then."

As they walked out, the capital's endless lights reflected in his eyes  a new world, full of danger and possibility. He had taken his first real step into the wider universe. And somewhere deep inside him, the secret realm pulsed quietly, a silent promise of the strength yet to come.