"A deal? What kind of deal are we talking about?" Nova asked, puzzled by the proposition.

What could a group this powerful possibly want from him? In Nova's eyes, they were strong enough to take over the entire Federation if they wished. Not that he underestimated his own value, he knew exactly what he was worth, but the reality was hard to ignore. He was currently missing his six generals, and the overall number of subordinates was lacking compared to a force such as the Federation.

Erevan calmly met Nova's eyes. "I want you to help me clear the Orange portal."

Nova burst out laughing, making no effort to hide his amusement. "I want to clear it too, but I'm not in a hurry to die."

Erevan remained composed. "I'm not planning to enter it right away. What I need now is your word—that you'll join me when the time comes."

The laughter faded from Nova's face as he studied Erevan more carefully. There was no trace of a joke in his expression.

"You're serious?" Nova asked.

"Dead serious," Erevan replied. "Going in with a team will reduce the rewards, sure, but it's the only way we have a shot at clearing it quickly."

"What if we find treasure inside? Who gets to keep it?" Nova asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Whoever finds it, keeps it," Erevan replied without hesitation.

Nova scoffed. "Can you guarantee that? If I step into that portal with your group, what's stopping one of your colleagues from turning on me when I'm not looking? The risk is high and the reward is too uncertain."

"You have my word," Erevan said firmly. "No one will lay a finger on you, no matter what you find." He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, I'm not bringing the whole group, just Slade and myself. If you're worried about being outnumbered, you're welcome to invite one more person."

Nova raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"There's one condition," Erevan continued. "I'll need to meet them first. I won't allow anyone in unless I'm sure they're strong enough. Otherwise, they'll only drag us down and lower the rewards. So, what do you say?"

With that, Erevan fell silent, his calm, steady gaze fixed on Nova, as he patiently waited for an answer.

Truthfully, Erevan had never intended to bring anyone else into the portal. It wasn't out of selfishness, it was simple pragmatism. No one, aside from Slade, was talented enough to survive in the Orange portal. At least, that's what he had believed.

But then came Nova, and Erevan found himself reconsidering.

In his eyes, the very fact that Nova had defeated Slade was proof enough of his strength. But there was something more, something that intrigued him. Erevan understood the source of his own power. He understood Slade's, too. But Nova? Nova was different. A mystery. And Erevan was eager to see just how far this man, someone he'd first met at a restaurant, of all places, could go before the time came to step through that portal.

'He's not bluffing,' Nova thought, watching Erevan closely. 'If he can truly guarantee what he promised, then going in with them might not be such a bad idea. Hell, it might even be smart.'

There was no denying it: if he waited for his own generals and allies to catch up in strength, Erevan's group might have already cleared the Orange portal without him.

'But... I want two more things,' Nova concluded.

Looking at Erevan, Nova smiled slightly. "It doesn't sound bad... but I have two requests of my own. If you agree to them, then we've got a deal."

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Erevan let out a soft sigh, as if expecting this. "Let's hear them."

"First," Nova began, "your people can't cause trouble for mine. If they do, they'll deal with the consequences, simple as that. Second, I want Gold coins in exchange for the four I captured. They were the ones in the wrong, I was just defending myself. That seems fair, doesn't it?"

The first request didn't surprise Erevan. It was reasonable, even expected. But the second? That made him pause.

How greedy does someone have to be to demand ransom for prisoners in the middle of what's starting to look like a partnership? he wondered.

Still, Erevan didn't let the thought show. "Fine. How much do you want for the four of them?"

Smirking, Nova slowly raised his hand, fingers spread wide. "Five hundred thousand per head. But since we're partners now, I'll give you a discount, just 1.8 million Gold coins. Can't mistreat an ally, right?"

Erevan stood there for several long seconds, visibly restraining himself from cursing. Partnership? Discount? At this point, just rob me and get it over with, he thought bitterly. With a cold glance, he tossed a heavy pouch of gold at Nova.

"Four hundred thousand, for all four of them. And don't even think about saying it's too little."

Inside, Nova was grinning like a child in a candy store. 'After making a deal with him I would've been happy with a hundred thousand total. This is perfect. I can finally upgrade a few things.'

On the outside, though, he kept his expression stern as he grabbed the bag. "Fine. I'll accept this little amount... only because we're friends."

Erevan snorted at the audacity, then turned toward the door. He was about to leave when Nova's voice suddenly turned serious.

"When do you plan to enter the Orange Portal?"

Turning back one last time, Erevan said, "Ten years. That's how long you have. And one piece of advice, train harder. Right now, you might be considered strong, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not nearly enough. To put it in perspective: if we entered the Orange portal today, both you and Slade would be seen as children."

He paused, letting the weight of the words sink in. "You'll understand when you step into a Purple portal."

As Erevan turned to leave, Nova's voice stopped him again, this time tinged with curiosity.

"If Slade and I are children… then what does that make you?"

Erevan flashed a grin over his shoulder. "A teenager."

And with that, he exited quickly, not wanting to get caught in another round of Nova's questions.

"A teenager, huh?" Nova mused to himself. 'Is the gap really that wide?'

There was only one way to find out.

'I'll have to enter a Purple portal myself... but not yet. Not until my generals return. Who knows how much time will pass once I step inside?'

Stretching his arms, Nova muttered to himself, "I don't know why he wants to clear the Orange Portal in ten years and I don't really care. What matters is that when the time comes, I'll be the strongest one there."

A confident smile tugged at his lips as he turned and walked out of the room.

///////////////

"What?!" Cassidy's voice rang out, sharp and incredulous. "He wants you to enter the Orange portal with him? In ten years?" She was practically shouting. If it weren't for the thick walls, half the building would've heard her.

Nova had told her everything about his meeting with Erevan. The two had been spending every morning together talking, and he didn't feel right keeping something this big from her. So he laid it all out.

What he hadn't expected was that, after her initial shock, Cassidy pointed out something he hadn't even stopped to consider.

"Who are you thinking of bringing with you?" Cassidy asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Nova hesitated. 'Right... I haven't thought about it.'

At the moment, Alaric was the strongest among the people he knew, but even he was still noticeably weaker than Slade. 'Choosing now would be reckless. It's better to wait, give everyone some time to grow. Only then will I know who's strong enough to come with me... and who might get themselves killed.'

He gave a casual shrug. "I'm not sure yet. I'll let some time pass and see how everyone develops before I decide who's best suited to join me."

Cassidy knew she wasn't the best candidate, at least not yet. And though she kept her expression neutral, her mood dipped ever so slightly. She didn't want to dampen Nova's energy, but deep down, a familiar flame stirred within her, a longing for strength.

The last time she'd let her emotions take over her, she'd recklessly entered a Blue portal. But now, once again, she wanted to train even harder.

Noticing her sudden silence, Nova spoke gently. "I'm starting full-time training tomorrow. But if you'd like... we can take the rest of today to catch up."

Cassidy's eyes lit up instantly.

//////////////

Erevan strode ahead, followed closely by Slade, Colin, Ren, and Micah. The latter two hung their heads low, while Colin carried on as if nothing had happened, his carefree mood remained untouched even by the several rounds of 'sparring' he'd gone through in the basement.

Ahead, Erevan slowed, reaching out to grip Slade's shoulder firmly. "Don't stir trouble here anymore. No petty revenge. From now on, you have nothing to do with them. Understand?"

Slade frowned.

Erevan's eyes briefly flashed red "I said, remember this. Follow it, or you might fail your mission." His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "And if you don't care about that... you know what happens if I fail mine, don't you?"

Slade snorted, but remained silent.

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