'Some people really are unreasonable.' Michael sighed in disappointment. It seemed like wherever he went, trouble followed.
'KILL HIM! LET ME FEEL HIS BLOOD!' His soul weapon instantly started to shout, demanding for the arrogant life to be taken.
Ignoring the sword's remarks, Michael said calmly.
"You are not just interfering with my cultivation, but every soldier here." Michael made a gesture to the gathered personnel. "It would be wise to stop causing a ruckus and cultivate on your own."
The fat man scoffed, taking a glance at the soldiers that were staring at him in disdain.
"Why should I care if there are one or a hundred ants? In the end you are all insignificant."
A vein bulged on Ava's head. She was having trouble staying calm when speaking against arrogant young people such as this. There was a reason she had cursed at Oliver more than once.
"You act highly arrogant for someone that looks like he needs help to tie his own shoes. I wonder if your words can back up your claim?" She asked, cracking her cybernetic knuckles, eager for a fight.
Rather than showing fear, the man exploded into mocking laughter. The three women behind him followed suit.
"Do you even know who you are talking to?" One of the three women said arrogantly. "Master is a member of the Heavenly Pact! You mere insects should kneel on the ground if you want forgiveness. Otherwise expect to be sent directly to Neptune's frontline!"
When the onlookers heard that these people were affiliated with one of the strongest factions there, all of them turned to look the other way.
This was the difference between having a powerful faction backing you and not having one. No one would risk offending the great powers on others' behalf.
'This explains the arrogance. It's quite common for people to go over themselves when they enter the so-called big leagues.' Michael thought, throwing a glance at furious Ava.
'From the looks of it, she doesn't care about his affiliation. That could be a problem. We don't want to make even more enemies before the alien invasion.' He was worried that he would have to stop her from pouncing on the man.
The smile on the man's face enlarged severalfold when the surrounding soldiers that had been giving him a hostile glance a second ago turned the other way when they learned who he was affiliated with.
'This is how it ought to be!' The man thought, his ego being pleased.
His gaze moved from Michael at the front to Ava, who had insulted him a few moments ago.
"You have insulted a member of Heavenly Pact with just a few words, and you will have a target on your back."
The man said in arrogance, his gaze going lower. "But, rejoice! I am a merciful person! Even if you aren't really my type, you have a pretty face. I am willing to forgive your rude remark as long as you become my concubine for a few days." He even licked his lips, making his intentions clear.
[Berserker activated]
[Dash activated]
BOOM!
Before anyone could react, Michael's eyes turned crimson, and he disappeared from view. Moving so fast that no one could keep track of him, he punched the fat man square in the face, sweeping him off his feet and sending him flying dozens of meters backwards.
The three women that had been following the man froze in shock. They hadn't expected that someone would be so mental as to attack a member of a Heavenly Pact!
"M—Michael?" Ava was the first to speak after regaining her composure. She had half expected Michael to stop her from attacking, not for him to pounce on the man himself!
"Hm?" As if being awoken from a daze by Ava's words, he realized that he had escalated the situation.
"Sorry, I just couldn't keep it together when he spoke to you like that." He scratched the back of his head apologetically.
"..." Ava didn't answer. Instead, her face moved downward in an attempt to hide the smile forming on her face.
"Y—you!" Struggling to his feet, the fat man rose, pointing a finger at Michael.
"You are finished! I swear by my name, Bennett, and my faction, Heavenly Pact, that you will be sent to Neptune to die on the frontline!"
As if remembering something crucial, Michael face-palmed himself.
"I was wondering why the name sounded so familiar. I almost forgot that Bryce is in the faction." He mumbled before contacting him.
"Hm? Young man, what do I owe the pleasure to? It's rare for someone to call the old fool." A hologram of Bryce appeared. The old man spoke as joyfully as ever, stroking his overgrown beard.
"Well, it's like this…" Michael proceeded to explain the encounter, causing Bryce's eyes to turn cold.
"I see… Rest assured I will deal with the troublemaker." He stated before cutting the connection.
Seeing that Michael had called someone, Bennett sneered. "You think a pathetic call will scare me? You can't fool—" Before he could finish, he received a call.
"S—Sir, Bryce!" Bennett was surprised to see a high-standing member of the Heavenly Pact calling him. Not to mention that his face was broken from Michael's punch. As such, he would leave a bad impression.
"P—Please listen to my—"
"Spare me your words." Bryce coldly cut him off. "From now on you are banished from the Heavenly Pact. All resources you have received up until now will be seized, and you will be blacklisted from ever joining us and every other faction affiliated with us. Think more next time before angering the wrong person."
"..."
Bennett remained frozen like a statue, even after Bryce cut off the call. He was unable to comprehend what had just happened. Still in a trance, his feet slowly began to move to somewhere unknown.
"M—Master!" The three women ran after him, leaving the place in absolute silence.
'Thank goodness, this unstable brat is gone. I never liked him.' All of the soldiers had the same thought before going back to cultivate. They didn't throw hostile gazes at Michael anymore and were very glad that he was here. No one would try to get the best cultivation spot for themselves when he was here from now on.
"I am so glad that I joined your faction." Leo mumbled before continuing his cultivation.
Michael and Ava resumed as well.
'Hm? Am I imagining it, or did she get significantly closer?' Michael thought seeing Ava sitting next to him, a mere meter separating them.
'Well, if she wants to be close, I am not going to stop her.' He figured, going back to cultivation.
A few days passed in silence. The alien invasion was quickly approaching. It didn't take long for another window to appear before Michael.
[You have achieved enlightenment!]
[Peak Apprentice → Early Adept]