This caught the attention of Domarto and his companions.

"How strange," Domarto mused. "We received no intelligence regarding the arrival of an Enix. What could be his purpose? I hardly think the Enix concern themselves with the Prince and his prolonged rebellion."

The Admiral fixed him with a piercing stare. "Those beings do not stir unless something momentous is afoot. Find out the secret behind their presence."

Domarto lowered his head in thought, whispering to himself, Have they found traces of an ancient crystal here? Or is there another objective? Could they be the ones who killed Jasto? But why? We share the same goals. none of this makes sense.

The Supreme Admiral cut through his train of thought. "I have brought you the latest machines of war, the pride of the Franks Galactic Fleet. I have also brought a multitude of slaves from the Black Eye Galaxy to labor in the fields, construction sites, and menial trades. The majority, however, I have dispatched to our colonies on Atlantis and its neighboring worlds."

***

Rouchi, the renowned historian, stepped into the sanctuary of the Tree of Knowledge. Those engrossed in their reading looked up in astonishment.

Ivanov had been using the Tree as a base of operations, venturing out to gather intelligence from the surrounding villages before returning to rest amidst its stillness. He found solace in the calm atmosphere, the crisp air, the scent of old books mixed with fragrant Ghlizan incense, and the volumes detailing the planet's mineralogy. He noted Rouchi's entrance with surprise; it was bold of the man to return to the site of his previous humiliation.

The elderly librarian, an old scholar of great repute, received Rouchi. "Have you returned for another debate?" he asked.

The young men surrounding the old scholar smirked, but Rouchi offered only a thin, half-smile. "On the contrary. I have come to grant you a grace period of one hour to vacate the library and the Tree."

A wave of shock rippled through the hall, followed by a low murmur of discontent. The old scholar furrowed his brow. "And why, pray tell, are you issuing us a deadline to leave?"

Rouchi gestured toward the horizon beyond the library's entrance. "Because marching toward this location is a legion of colossal machines that shake the very earth and pulverize everything in their path. Their primary and final objective is to burn this Tree to the ground."

Anger swept through the room, and voices rose in protest. The old scholar spoke with palpable irritation, "What is this madness you speak? Do you not know that this Tree is the most sacred site for the Ghlizan people? By the laws of your own republic, are you not bound to respect sanctuaries, libraries, and houses of worship? Why do you seek to provoke the wrath of a billion Ghlizan by incinerating a holy site visited by pilgrims from every corner of the planet? The sanctity lies not just in the wood, but in the location and the temples that surround it; to burn the Tree is to burn them all. It is a symbol of beauty and hope. I demand you order them to halt this farce immediately."

Rouchi shrugged indifferently. "I tried my utmost to dissuade them from this heinous course of action, but they are adamant. They believe the majority of the rebels hail from this village and the surrounding cities. Supreme Admiral Claudy has arrived with a million soldiers and new machines, resolved to end the resistance once and for all. His first target is to plug the spring of rebellion—the Tree of Knowledge. I warned you before, old man, not to teach your children ideologies that incite them to fight us. I told you the patience of the Franks would one day run dry. You insisted on your path, and now the consequences have arrived. Yet, I am an honest advisor to you. Because I do not wish to see this, I have come to warn you: flee with your women and vacate the Tree, lest you burn along with it."

The old scholar struck the ground with his staff. "What scum you are! You possess no honor. You break your promises and violate your covenants. We have no truce with you, and nothing remains between us but war."

Rouchi feigned a look of deep sorrow, his tone dripping with artificial melancholy. "I love this Tree as much as you do, and I tried to turn them away, but Claudy knows neither tolerance nor mercy. Our debates were truly enjoyable, however. In fact, you have inspired the title of my next book: How Ignorance Kills Its Owner."

Rouchi could no longer suppress his laughter.

In a flash, Ivanov stood up. He gathered the iron around his hand and surged through the crowd, driving a fist into Rouchi's face. The impact reverberated through the library, sending the historian flying out the door.

"This spiteful bastard is the one who convinced them to burn the library," Ivanov announced to the stunned crowd. "He came only to gloat, to relish your terror because you insulted him and exposed his lies. In my homeland, Russia, our enemy utilized their entire media machine to paint us as monsters while portraying themselves as pure angels. I do not claim we were innocent—we committed atrocities across the earth—but they did things far more heinous, yet felt no shame as they demonized us. That always enraged me. It enrages me even more now because my planet is destroyed. But you... you still have a planet to defend."

Rouchi pushed himself up on one knee, wiping purple blood from his mouth. He glared with indignation at the wretch who dared assault him, only to pause. The man's appearance was distinct from the Ghlizan: white skin, blue eyes, short blond hair, and a beard connected to a yellow mustache.

"Who are you, stranger?" Rouchi spat, losing his composure. "And how dare you strike a leader of the Franks colonies? Do you have any idea of the consequences?"

Ivanov advanced on him, signaling the young men to stay back. As he walked, Ivanov's body began to shift. A lustrous blue metal spread over his skin until his entire form was metallic, save for his blond hair which danced in the wind. Rouchi's eyes widened, his jaw dropping in shock.

"It matters not who I am," Ivanov said, his voice hard. "What matters is what you are about to face."

Ivanov glanced down at his gleaming blue form in surprise; usually, his metallic armor was black. Then he realized the cause: the minerals on Planet Ghlizan were luminous and sparkling, unlike those of Earth or Atlantis. Upon absorbing them, he had taken on their properties.

Rouchi scrambled backward, retreating down the library steps while pointing a trembling finger at Ivanov. "What business do you have with these wretched Ghlizan? They are primitive scum who do not deserve life. Do not throw your life away for a handful of miserable, backward villagers."

Ivanov continued his advance, his mind racing with all the ways he could smash the face of this arrogant, lying fraud. "I was born in a village too, you bastard. My homeland possessed superior machines and technology, yet it saved us from nothing. I will not stand by and watch another planet be defiled by the likes of you, with your lies and empty claims."

Rouchi planted his feet, regaining his arrogance. "In that case, I don't mind amusing myself with you until the destroyers and land frigates arrive to wipe this ugly place from existence."

Rouchi encased his body in a layer of hard, protective crystal. He slammed his fists together, and tongues of red lightning crackled and hissed from his hands.

Ivanov realized the gravity of the situation immediately. He hadn't known Rouchi possessed genetically enhanced abilities, let alone the power to generate electricity. Ivanov was made of metal, and metal was an excellent conductor. There was no doubt about it—he was about to experience a world of pain.

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