BLITHE  —  Devourer of Worlds
Chapter I.IX

Their job to destroy 46 star systems has ended and Blithe’s army have returned to the Dark Empire.

It was the usual routine. Blithe would give a report, maintain her indifferent facade, flatter her father and study the next group of star systems they're going to attack next.

Only, a new agenda was added after that.

To devise a plan on their next steps to leave the Dark Empire.

Blithe and Nikos no longer reconvened in the abandoned garden. Instead, they held their meeting inside her room in the black hole. Now that Blithe has mastered transporting living persons, he was able to go through it.

“This is your room? Don't you have a room in the castle?” Nikos sat down on a chair in front of a small table.

“My father didn't give me one, I don't think he cares that much whether I have one or not,” Blithe sat on the chair across from him.

“And don’t worry. Everything that can be used against me or to track me is in a separate black hole from this. It’s safe in here,” she reassured him.

“Huh… That checks out,” he looked around and was startled when he saw some animals at the corner playing around.

The white rabbit from when she showed her successful transportation and that white swan that was with them when they agreed to make a plan to leave the Dark Empire.

Blithe shrugged when she realized what he was looking at.

“When I returned after our talk from the 46th star system, I came back with the swan.”

“The rabbit welcomed me back. And then I realized it was waiting for me to return,” she said as she laid down a map on the table.

“Now, they help me sleep a little better and they give me a little something to look forward to in the future.”

Nikos nodded and smiled. “That's good.”

Blithe cleared her throat. “Well, back to the agenda.”

“I’ve just received orders from my father and he’s already told me the places he wants destroyed next.”

Nikos looked over to where she was pointing.

“That's—!” Nikos widened his eyes as he stood to take a closer look. “It's near the border of the galaxy supercluster… And some of these are galaxies already!”

“Yes. The next star systems are closer to the Light King’s territory and larger, which means a high probability of Light Soldiers stationed,” Blithe circled her finger to the group.

He slumped on his chair and held his head with one hand.

“He really is risking our lives for this, huh?”

“Yes, he is…” Blithe solemnly replied. “He plans to use the destruction I will cause to rattle the Light King. Even if it meant I would die in the process.”

Nikos looked at her with sadness.

“But it's the perfect opportunity to carry out our plan,” Blithe said as she pointed to a star system, just in between a star cluster and a galaxy in size.

“I don't plan to dawdle, at the first star system we attack, I want our plan to set in motion. This star system is neither small nor large—less risk for casualties on both stars and our group,” Blithe said.

“I’ll use this opportunity and excuse to ask for more manpower. I also want you to give me a list of all the people that is a part of your group so that I can look them over,” she said with conviction.

Nikos nodded but he knew there were holes in this plan. “But you know the Dark Emperor won’t just let you take other henchmen from other high-ranking officials. Plus, how about the servants who don’t know how to fight. And how about the henchmen under your command who is loyal to the Dark Emperor?”

“I know. Which is why I’ve been doing some practicing,” Blithe answered.

“Huh?” Nikos raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve always been pretty good with coordinates due to my experience all these years,” Blithe looked at her hands with furrowed eyebrows, memories of using the map to plan out her attacks flashed in her mind.

She closed her fists tightly, not allowing the grief to take over her.

“I plan to open a black hole in their respective locations, pull them in, and warp them to where we are at the time are plan will take place. I just need an item that I can imbue my power to allow me to pinpoint their locations. Like a trigger,” she said.

“That’s… You’re going to use your power like a warp stone…!” Nikos understood.

“Yes. A one-way trip.”

“But, that’s going to be so many. Are you sure you can do that?” Nikos worriedly expressed his doubts.

Blithe smiled peacefully. “It will take a lot of energy and concentration but I know I can do it. That’s why I said I’ve been practicing.”

Nikos looked at her sincere smile and couldn’t help but to smile too.

“You kept this from me, huh?”

Blithe chuckled. “I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure I can do it.”

At that moment, he felt so proud of her.

“Okay! So what else do you need me to do?” Nikos smiled and nodded.

Blithe paused, thinking of her next words.

“The items that I want to use. I want them to be warp stones that can be discreetly carried. Disguised so that they won’t arouse any suspicion. You all have that smuggled, don’t you?”

“Yeah…” Nikos nodded.

Blithe looked him in the eyes. “I want you to bring me the people who’s responsible doing that. If possible, I’d like to meet them now or today.”

Nikos’ eyes widened. Bringing them would mean she was ready to expose herself at this moment.

“Are you sure? Wouldn’t it be better if I was the one to tell them instead? Aren’t you afraid… of what they might think?”

Blithe shook her head and watched the rabbit and the swan play in the corner. “I need to stop running away. I need to take responsibility of what I’m about to do. That includes meeting the people I need help from.”

“We can’t be the only ones holding this plan together. It’s time to move forward...”

“And besides,” she looked at Nikos and smiled. “You can vouch for me, right?”

Nikos blinked and laughed.

—

“Hey, c’mon, man! What are we doing!?” Asher hissed at Nikos pushing him and Ava behind.

“You’ll find out in a minute. Trust me on this,” Nikos answered.

“Nikos! Where are we really going?” Ava asked with a more hushed and calm tone, even though the nervousness in her voice can be detected.

Nikos stopped pushing and looked ahead of him.

Ava and Asher stopped and looked at the same direction.

“Uhuh… The abandoned garden… What, man? You finally going crazy? What’s there to see here?” Asher shrugged Nikos’ hand from his back.

Ava fiddled her thumbs. “Nikos… We still have so much to do. Our time is precious. You’ve heard rumors about our next jobs, right? We need to modify a lot of warp stones now that we’re dealing with larger star systems.”

Nikos stayed silent.

Asher gritted his teeth and held Nikos’ collar. “Spit it out man! You’ve been acting weird these past few months!”

Ava rushed in and tried to hold Asher back. “Asher! Calm down!”

“You disappear all the time. You spout about weird and impossible plans while telling us to trust you. You space out a lot. Even though you’re there, you’re not entirely there.”

Ava, who was trying to hold Asher back, stiffened. Even she was agreeing with Asher and she wanted to know what was happening to their friend.

Nikos took a deep breath.

“Well? What the hell is happening with you?” Ashed hissed.

“You’re about to know now,” Nikos said as he looked behind the two.

“Your Highness, I’m here.”

Asher and Ava’s eyes widened.

A black hole appeared behind them. As they turned to look, Nikos took the opportunity to push them in along with himself.

“Let’s go!”

The two stumbled in and fell on the floor. Asher immediately got up and went straight to Nikos behind him, ready to punch him.

“Why, you-!”

“Asher, stop! Don’t-!” Ava pleaded.

“Hello.”

The two froze at the familiar voice. They both turned their heads to look at the woman who they have ‘served’ under.

“Y-you-!” Asher froze.

Ava trembled, remembering that time when she talked with Blithe, asking her where she was about to go.

Their heads were spinning. Their bodies froze, many questions swirling in their minds.

Did Nikos betray them?

How were they still alive?

Why was she talking to them?

Were they about to die?

As an instinct to survive, Asher and Ava stood straight and planned to bow down.

“Your Hi-!”

“I’m sorry to meet you like this.”

The two froze mid-bow and looked at the woman bowing her head to them.

“And… I suppose I also have a lot of things I need to apologize for…” Blithe straightened her posture.

“I… I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to say while I was waiting but it seems all of that suddenly disappeared from my mind when the time finally came,” she tentatively lifted her head up to look at them straight into their eyes.

“But I come to you… or rather, I asked Nikos to get you… To ask for help. Because I can’t do this alone.”

Blithe closed her fists, resolutely looking at them.

“Please, help me.”