章 59: Erased

Carter had been moving through the vastness of space for a decade, his mind solely fixed on reaching his main body. Though more than a century had passed since he last saw it, he sensed that his planet was much as he'd left it—stable and unchanged. Finally, he descended. He entered the space where his palace was, walking into his throne room.

Once Carter was settled, he started to check on his current amount of c energy since c energy was being drained by the second to disguise the sun in the X3X solar system. The celestial energy he'd amassed was considerable, and he sensed the powerful return of his planet clones and yellow dwarf star. He estimated it would take about two months in real time.

Yet something lingered in his thoughts. He hadn't felt any return of celestial energy from the Saints he'd sent to the That X3X-ruled solar system, tasked with expanding his influence. It would take time to reach that system, but his curiosity—and his wariness—won out. With a resolute beat of his wings, Carter launched back into the stars, journeying toward the Saints to witness their progress firsthand.

Carter knew this trip would take some time, even with his improved capabilities. At Astro Movement Level 8, the journey to X3X's solar system and back to his main body would require nearly five months. To speed things up, he tapped into his Level 9 gravity control, pulling himself with immense gravitational force, accelerating his speed fivefold. Though he could push faster, he was in no particular hurry, aiming instead for a stable yet swift pace across the star fields.

Elsewhere, the X3X fleet, which had been tracking Carter's movements closely, registered his sudden increase in speed. The data screens inside the command ship of the massive fleet flickered to life, indicating that Carter was heading in the direction of one of their smaller bases stationed in Universe 296. An entire solar system rested there, though it was merely one piece of the X3X's far-reaching empire.

Commander Jzon, the human leader overseeing the mission, studied the readings on his monitor. He gave a low chuckle, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a smirk as he observed the data.

"Don't bother engaging him," Jzon ordered the bridge with a dismissive wave. "That minor territory and its people aren't worth blowing our cover. We're here to observe at the moment, not provoke," he added with a casual authority, as though an entire solar system was merely a pawn in his tactical chess game. The fleet maintained its position, choosing to let Carter pass through as they continued to watch, gathering whatever intel they could.

In the meantime, Carter's incredible speed allowed him to reach the X3X's solar system within a month. As he approached, he extended his newly enhanced Level 10 Zone Vision, scanning nearly a quarter of the solar system in one sweep. He found none of his followers, which made no sense since he sent them to every corner of the solar system. He saw nothing that suggested his Saints or followers had thrived; no celestial energy linked back to him. He scanned further, moving across the solar system so his zone vision could reach further, covering the solar system in its entirety, until the truth came into view.

A purge had occurred. Evidence of systematic eradication lay in traces across planets. The once-thriving Primordial God religion and its Saint's were no more; their presence was eradicated, wiped from this sector of space in what was clearly an intense, targeted purge. The entire congregation of eternal followers and saints he'd sent here had been annihilated, leaving only a faint echo of the faith they'd once carried.