Chapter 447: Extraction Point

Alexander recalled the events while trapped within his dark form. Even though he lacked control over his body, he remembered that entity reducing the base to rubble and ash, making it impossible for a central computer to have survived that fit of rage.

"It doesn’t matter," whispered Alexander. "But I’m screwed. I fought a Pillar, killed a commander, and destroyed a Federation base."

Silence fell on the line before Stephen let out an exhale.

"Shit! You say it like it’s no big deal... How did you survive that?" asked Stephen, his voice laced with disbelief. "Even commanders could wipe the floor with you."

"That would have been before," said Alexander, a smile touching his lips. "Now, I’m not sure if you could take me down."

"Looks like our boy grew up," said Stephen with a chuckle. "I’d love to see that. Where are you?"

"In a restaurant in the civilian sector," said Alexander, glancing toward the service door. "I don’t know what city I’m in. I used a Federation portal to get back to Earth, so I don’t have a clue where I am."

"Got it. I’ll use your TMC phone’s tracker," said Stephen, returning to a serious tone. "We’ll be there. You did well to hide; as long as you don’t cause damage, the Federation won’t let a Pillar commit genocide in a populated civilian zone."

"Hurry up, I’d rather not test that theory with the fire lunatic," said Alexander, stowing the phone after hearing the click of the call.

Stephen hung up the phone and walked into the adjacent room. Upon his entry, Scott looked up from his seat. Unlike years past, when he appeared unbeatable, he was covered in wounds and scars, and his face looked altered from the toll of warfare.

"Did something happen?" asked Scott, wiping blood from his knuckles.

"I figured out what caused the Pillar of Flame to pull out of the battlefield," said Stephen, stowing the communicator.

"Why?" asked Scott, intrigued.

Hours prior, the faction had been locked in a deathmatch against the Federation’s forces. The enemy had located their stronghold and unleashed an assault to wipe them out. Fortunately, the defenses mounted by Scott and his group held the line, keeping the army at bay. However, at the battle’s climax, the Pillar of Flame withdrew from the clash, vanishing toward the rear. TMC capitalized on her absence to launch a counteroffensive, slaying five generals, twenty commanders, and forcing the other Pillar on the field to retreat.

"Alex is back," stated Stephen, looking Scott in the eye. "He attacked a Federation base, killed a commander, and held off the Pillar of Flame in combat."

Scott stood up from his seat, making the chair’s wood creak as he stared at Stephen.

"This has to be a joke... Are you playing with me?" asked Scott, dropping the rags he had been using to clean his wound.

Scott was a veteran who had survived wars and possessed an understanding of the Pillar of Flame’s power. Among the Federation’s offensive attribute users, that woman stood at the pinnacle; she was an existence difficult to deal with, even for seasoned combatants. How was it possible that the kid they left behind in The Breach had forced her to abandon the main front?

"It’s no joke, he called me," said Stephen, flashing the screen of the TMC phone. "Something happened during his time in The Breach. He didn’t know ten years had passed since his disappearance."

"Perhaps he stumbled upon ancient ruins with a heritage and claimed it," suggested Scott, rubbing his chin as he processed the information.

"It’s possible," said Stephen, adjusting his coat. "Right now he’s on Earth, laying low in a civilian zone to prevent the Pillar of Flame from cornering him."

A smirk broke across Scott’s scarred face as he clenched his fist.

"Then let’s not waste time," said Scott. "Prep the extraction ship—I’m going to see what kind of monster that kid has turned into."

Life always has two sides. While relief reigned on one side, tension filled the room at Federation Headquarters. In a council chamber, the Pillar of Flame stood before a group of dark-robed elders who glared down at her.

"Are you saying a monster forced you to retreat, and then you allowed it to escape to Earth?" demanded one of the elders, slamming his fists onto the desk.

"That is not the case, Elder—I did not let him escape," said the Pillar of Flame, crossing her arms while holding her head high. "The monster was too strong, and I couldn’t hold him back."

The lead elder received a holographic device that expanded in front of his face, scanning the reports with a furrowed brow.

"We have not found his energy signature," said the elder, shutting off the projection with a scowl. "The monster vanished... no murders or unusual battles have been reported in the civilian zone."

"That means he’s hiding among the humans, waiting for the right moment," said the red-haired woman, gritting her teeth under the council’s gazes.

"Not only did you allow a Platinum-level threat onto our planet, but because of you, five generals were slaughtered, to say nothing of the commanders and lesser soldiers!" screamed the elder, pointing a finger that trembled with fury. "The Federation lost a battalion because of your negligence! And yet you dare to take it so lightly!"

Instead of backing down, the Pillar of Flame raised her head as her eyes ignited with a dangerous, incandescent purple that caused the room’s temperature to plummet instantly.

"You had better speak to me with respect, old man," the Pillar of Flame said, staring straight at the elder with icy disdain. "I do not answer to this council, and if you annoy me again, I will show you why I am the Pillar of Flame."

The elder swallowed hard in silence, taking a step back as he felt the terrifying bloodlust radiating from the woman.

"Withdraw, Pillar of Flame; we will handle locating the threat through our own means," the council leader said, making a slight gesture with his hand to dismiss the meeting.