The female Sentinel was unsettled by things going out of hand. She couldn't believe how Jay was able to withstand such high Tier Suppression. Never had she heard of anyone accomplishing such a feat.
The most they could do was use Tier Suppression in order not to face the System's penalties. But Soren had long crossed the line, going so far as to gravely injure a Trial Participant.
As they began to fly toward outer space, the female Sentinel, Amarissa, irritably said, "What have you done, Soren? You better be prepared for the consequences. I just hope the System doesn't consider me an accomplice to your actions."
"Hmph, a few penalties are a small price to pay for the pleasure of crushing that wretch. If I had just a bit more time, I would have made it clear how a Sentinel should be addressed, showing him the depth of his insignificance," Soren huffed, his voice laced with contempt.
Amarissa's annoyance visibly grew. "Had you dismissed his provocations, we could have successfully recruited some of them instead of leaving with nothing. What will you tell Lord Dutan when he questions our lack of recruits?"
Soren clicked his tongue in frustration. "Didn't you notice all three promising candidates turned down our offer? Even with more time, we could have only selected those who reached Tier-3. But I doubt they would join us after witnessing that worm's firm defiance."
Amarissa fell silent for a moment, pondering the possibility that Soren's words might indeed hold some truth.
Seeing her silence, Soren continued, his tone dismissive, "Recruiting a few Tier-8 Innate Talent users wouldn't add much contribution anyway, so don't stress over it. Besides, Lord Dutan won't mind since someone surely has already recruited the Omega Chosen. Remember, our primary goal in the battle with the Fiends was to protect the Omega Chosen."
Amarissa nodded, letting go of her anxious thoughts. She tried to focus on the task at hand as they ascended through the atmosphere, leaving the Trial Planet's stratosphere behind.
Before long, they reached the outer bounds of the Planetary Cluster, where the grandeur of the Sentinel assembly came into view.
Tens of thousands of Sentinels were gathered, hovering in disciplined formations; their presence was both awe-inspiring and daunting spectacle.
At the center of this formidable gathering stood a tall and composed figure, draped in dark emerald armor that shimmered with an otherworldly luminescence, commanding respect and authority.
His skin, pale and unblemished, contrasted with the deep hues of his attire, enhancing his ethereal presence.
His ornate helm, adorned with unique, curved horns, partially concealed his face, from which a cascade of silver hair spilt over his broad shoulders.
Amarissa and Soren slowed their approach, the weight of the gathering's attention palpable even in the vacuum of space. The figure in dark emerald armour turned towards them, his eyes obscured by a blindfold.
As they drifted closer, every other Sentinel in the vicinity turned to face them. The air, if there had been any, would have crackled with tension. Suspicion gnawed at the edges of their minds.
The fact that their arrival had drawn the attention of not just their fellow Tier-7 Sentinels but also the more elite Tier-8 and Tier-9 Sentinels was unsettling to them. At the center of this assembly, the blindfolded figure made a subtle gesture with his hand, beckoning them forward.
It felt like a series of explosions had gone off in their minds; the realization that they had drawn the focus of Lord Dutan, the top-rising Sentinel Sovereign, was almost too much to comprehend.
As Sentinel trainees, they had long heard tales of the legendary figure, known far and wide as the Blind Sovereign. His reputation was formidable—though he was the youngest of the Sovereigns, even the most seasoned and powerful Sentinels wouldn't dare mess with him.
His Grade-10 Space and Grade-9 Time Innate Talents granted him unparalleled freedom of movement in space, and not even the fully manifested Domains, exclusive to the Sovereigns, could contain him.
Any budding Sentinel dreamed of being in the good graces of a Sovereign. To become a disciple of one, especially someone as promising as Dutan, was a fantasy almost too grand to entertain.
Swallowing their anxiety, they exchanged a glance filled with a mixture of hope and fear before moving closer to the Blind Sovereign. The gravity of the situation pressed down on them, making every passing moment feel like a lifetime.
"Tell me you two recruited the Omega Chosen," Dutan said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of stern expectation.
The intensity of the moment was overwhelming. Amarissa and Soren felt their hearts pounding in unison, the pressure almost unbearable. They could sense the eyes of their peers and superiors boring into them, waiting to hear if they had succeeded in a task of such monumental importance.
"We…we…." Soren stammered. In the presence of Dutan, Soren and Amarissa felt as insignificant as the Alpha Chosen felt to them.
The mere focus of his attention made them feel as if they were under Tier Suppression. Moreover, they were at a loss for words since there wasn't even an Omega Chosen in the Trial Region they had visited.
"Spit it out!" Dutan raised his voice, his tone sharp and commanding.
Soren managed to collect himself before replying as fast as he could, "Lord Dutan, we didn't find any Omega Chosen in Trial Region 735."
Dutan no longer paid them any attention and raised his voice, addressing the remaining Tier-7 Sentinels who had visited the 999 other Trial Regions.
"Are you saying no one found out about the Earthling, Olivia?" His voice alone caused the space around them to tremble.
The Sentinel trainees stayed silent with their heads down, not daring to look Dutan in the eye. Even the Tier-8 and Tier-9 Sentinels remained silent. But the silence was broken by a trainee.
"Earth?" Amarissa blurted out without even realizing it.
Note: The first ten to comment for every new chapter release will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :