Sairi placed the crystal gently against the Saint's back.

That is a distant dream, he said softly. Neither my lifetime nor a thousand years would suffice to traverse the cosmos and eradicate hunger. But I promise you this. I will aid the hungry whenever I find them before me. And who knows. Perhaps there is a way to end the conflicts that plague the universe. Perhaps this crystal is but the first step on that path.

Sairi recalled the crystals from his dream, and a cold shiver ran down his spine.

He checked his watch and found several messages from Noor. As he read them, his eyes widened. Noor was warning him not to reply, stating that one of the Enix was with him.

Sairi shouted in alarm. The Enix. What is one of them doing here.

The Saint, alerted by the name, struggled to force himself upright. The Enix on Planet Ghlizan. What are they plotting here.

Sairi looked at him and raised an eyebrow. You know of the Enix, Saint.

The Saint nodded gravely. They are the most dangerous secret organization in the universe. They ignite revolutions and rebellions across the cosmos, shattering ancient empires and old regimes to replace them with new ones. It is whispered that they sparked the Franks Revolution, exploiting the philosophers and commoners resentment toward the King and his monks.

There is no doubt they were the ones who defeated many of the Nine Knights, aiding the former Emperor Darleon by bestowing upon him some of their wondrous power. I have heard they are plotting to foment revolutions throughout the Zurix empires to topple their governments. Only then can they achieve what they call the New World. Darleon served their shadowy agenda, attempting to execute it by invading planets under the Lunix Empire's rule. But he failed, suffered defeat, and the Zurix empires turned upon him and brought him down.

Sairi clutched his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. His face darkened. They are the bastards who destroyed my planet and scattered the human race across the stars. What are they chasing. I still understand nothing of this New World of theirs.

The monk lay back down, half his body now healed, and sighed. No one knows. But it is undoubtedly something dangerous. If they are here, you must be on guard. This crystal must not fall into their hands.

Sairi recalled the past and shook his head in sorrow. The Enix ignited a civil war on Atlantis. They destroyed Earth, brought us to Atlantis, and built a colony for us to fight Gaia on their behalf. They dragged him into a massive war with us. Either we won or our race would be wiped out.

Then they turned on him after we wore him down and managed to kill him. But we stole the crystal and fled the planet to come here. Then a terrible accident occurred and we dropped the crystal here. That is what brought me to you. You nearly killed me, you old Saint.

The Saint laughed softly. I see you have survived worse than me. Go on your way, boy, and do not worry. I will speak of you to no one. The situation is perilous now, and the Enix have eyes and ears within the Franks army.

Sairi bid him farewell, wrapped the crystal in a pouch, and hid it within his battle torn clothes. He made his way out of the oasis into the vast desert. His first action was to attempt to contact anyone except Noor.

Claudy, known as Moonlight, emerged from his galactic ship, a million soldiers trailing in his wake. He marched at the vanguard while his troops followed in disciplined formation. Thousands of soldiers lined the right and left, saluting him warmly, whistling, and shouting with joy.

Claudy was a hulk of a man, muscles bulging beneath his clothes, his sharp and grim face enough to terrify friends before enemies. He had short slicked back orange hair and a milky crystalline complexion marred by a jagged scar running from his right forehead to his left chin. A large blue cigar was clamped between his teeth. He wore the uniform of the Galactic Fleet, a long blue military coat worn unbuttoned, revealing a black shirt and trousers, and heavy combat boots that thudded against the ground. He did not slip his arms into the coat's sleeves. Instead, they fluttered behind him like a cape, a sword hanging at his hip.

The Supreme Admiral, the Conqueror of the Rebellion, has arrived, one soldier shouted with glee.

The days of the Prince and bitter defeats are over, said another.

It is time for revenge, added a third.

The Supreme Admiral advanced proudly through the ranks without acknowledging them. Behind him walked his son Cecil, a young man with smooth cascading orange hair. At the end of the line waited Domarto, Rouchi, and Lavosier, who bowed respectfully and welcomed his arrival.

He fixed them with a sharp glare that pierced like needles, then blew a cloud of smoke into their faces. I heard Jasto was killed. Is this how you welcome me, you weaklings.

Lavosier cleared his throat. We received the news today and we are still investigating the cause of death. The Prince cannot penetrate the East as it is under our influence. Most of his battles are in the West, where he operates from a mobile city that shifts location constantly. We have been unable to track it.

Claudy shouted in his face. These are flimsy excuses. How does the enemy penetrate the heart of your territory and kill one of your generals. This is a stain of shame upon the Franks army. You sit here philosophizing and chatting while the enemy reaps the heads of our soldiers every day. Why did you not go yourselves to lead the armies.

It is true that we are strong, Domarto said in a tone lacking politeness. But war is not our specialty. We have more important work in planning, strategy, and managing the capital. Who would administer the capital if we left.

I can manage it until you return, Cecil interjected.

Domarto shot him a silencing look, but Claudy responded first. Do you wish to flee from war again and loiter in the cities, you miserable wretch. From now on, you will accompany me in every battle I wage so that you might learn.

Cecil sighed in frustration and fell silent.

Domarto smirked but quickly hid it as the Supreme Admiral looked at him again. Find me the cause of Jasto's death. And where is that damned Hugo. Why did he not receive me. Has his malice toward me grown so great due to my many victories.

He sent us a message, Rouchi replied. He managed to extract the Prince's location from a prisoner and has set off with the Third Army to the West in search of him.

The Supreme Admiral's face flushed with rage. That clumsy fool. The Third Army will suffer heavy losses if he marches into the Prince's den.

No doubt he wished to end the rebellion before your arrival so you would not gloat and scold him, Lavosier said suggestively. You are his rival after all. He did not want to face you with the countenance of a failure after years of chasing the resistance.

Then we must move before him so he does not claim the spoils of victory alone, Claudy growled. I will spoil his triumph, and I will reach the Prince first.

I have a magnificent plan, sir, Rouchi said, consumed by enthusiasm. We can lure the Prince to us and keep him away from General Hugo. Or send General Hugo running in circles searching for the Prince while he is actually in our grasp. When Hugo returns, he will be struck dumb by the surprise.

Domarto buried his face in his hand in frustration. Rouchi still held a grudge against that Tree. He was undermining the foundations of philosophical persuasion, countering argument with stronger argument, because he was a fraud incapable of constructing solid logic.

A great rebellion had erupted after the massacre of the language scholars, but it withered the moment news spread of the merciless Supreme Admiral's arrival.

Tell me what you have, the Supreme Admiral commanded sternly. And it had better be worth wasting my precious time.

Rouchi swallowed hard and nodded. A soldier stepped forward and thrust something into the Supreme Admiral's hand. General Hugo sent me with this, sir.

The Admiral looked at the wooden doll in his hand, his voice sharp with anger. Is that wretch mocking me. He wants me to play with dolls while he claims all the glory.

The soldier recoiled in fear and stammered. Look closely at it, sir.

Claudy held it up against the green sun of Ghlizan. His eyes widened.

The Enix. What in the name of the stars are they doing here.

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