CHAPTER 160: Declaration!!
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Once they all exited the Colosseum, Jay brought Atlans and Rock Magmoids along with the rest of the Earth's Alpha Chosen into 'Rest House 001'.
There, everyone gathered on the ground floor. It was a bit crowded with so many in one room, especially with the mini-giant-sized Rock Magmoids occupying half the space.
But none of them made a sound and waited for Jay to say something. Noticing the solemn look on his face, they all guessed it must be pretty important.
After a few seconds of silence, Jay cut the tension in the room and brought up the topic he left off at the end of Round-1.
"Although what I am about to say is mostly intended for my fellow team members, this will also benefit you all. It's regarding one of the most important decisions you eventually have to make by the end of the Trial Program and will impact the future of your Planet."
Dante raised his hand like a class student and asked Jay, "Is it regarding the proposal offered by Felarial?"
Jay nodded at him and shifted his eyes onto the Atlans and Rock Magmoids, "My team members have an idea of what I was talking about and why it was important, so before I start, let MJ fill you up on some crucial information."
After saying that, Baby MJ appeared beside Jay's head and began his lecture to Atlans and Rock Magmoids regarding the proposal Felarial offered to Earth's Alpha Chosen and the harsh reality the Galaxies had to face after finishing their Trial Programs.
The fact that they would be under the mercy of the nearby System-assimilated Galaxies after the Trial Program distressed them.
Jay picked up from where MJ left off, "I didn't bring this to your notice to see you all pull long faces but to make you aware of the eventuality.
Of Course, there is a way to escape the fate of becoming slaves to the invading Forces of System-assimilated Galaxies. It is to join one of the top 10 powerful Factions of the Virgo SuperCluster like the Red Elven Empire and become its subsidiary to deter the advances of invaders.
As a representative of the Red Elven Empire, Felarial will most likely offer a proposal to both your teams by the end of the Tournament. Although it would be different from the one he offered us, the terms wouldn't be bad."
Jay then proceeded to say that it wasn't just Felarial, but the Tournament Managers that were conducting the Tournaments in the other 999 Trial Regions would be doing the same and try to recruit the teams that perform well into the respective Faction they represent.
He further emphasized it doesn't mean that they have no choice but to join the Red Elven Empire, as the recruitment into a powerful Faction wasn't limited to the 1st Tournament.
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After all, two more Tournaments would take place before the end of the Trail Program, and the Tournament Managers allotted for those would try to recruit the most promising trial zone teams into the Faction they represent.
Jay then turned towards the Rock Magmoids, "Since this is a decision you all have to make for the safety of your entire Race and Planet, I won't mind you all joining another Faction.
But remember that once you join any Faction, we will be walking separate paths after the Trial Program. You all wouldn't be under my protection anymore after that, and your life and death wouldn't be of my concern."
With the same intensity in his eyes, Jay looked at the rest of the Earth's Alpha Chosen, "This applies to you lot as well. If you wish to join any Faction, I won't stand in the way, but you will have to join as an individual and not as a representative of our Planet.
One last thing. I have long decided to create a Faction of my own, so joining another Faction was never in my interest, nor do I need to. I won't let Earth, my home fall in the hands of any Faction to be a plaything."
Whatever little noise in that room disappeared without a trace.
If someone from the System-assimilated Universe were to hear his words, they would undoubtedly mock such a grand declaration.
To them, Jay would only seem like a naive and rebellious Alpha Chosen from a budding Galaxy, but whether it be the Earth's Alpha Chosen or the Atlans or the Rock Magmoids, none of them doubted his words.
After all, they had first-hand experience of what Jay was capable of.
Besides his ability to make others stronger, Jay's power alone exceeded the standard of the 1st Tournament.
One has to keep in mind the time it took for Jay to become as strong as he was only short of 10 Trial Program days.
None of them dared to guess how strong he could become by the end of the Trial Program.
Somehow, the thought of Jay forming a faction on par with the hegemonies of the SuperCluster level didn't seem far-fetched to them.
Not long after Jay's declaration, the Sea Lord of Atlans, Aton, approached Jay, breaking the utter silence in the room.
Once he was a meter away from Jay, he knelt on one knee and picked Jay's palm before placing it on his forehead.
The only ones that understood the meaning of Aton's actions were the Atlans and Jay.
As someone who had been through the memories of Atlans, he knew that it was a custom used on Planet Atlanis to show one's submission.
Jay lowered his gaze to meet Aton's eyes and asked, "Do you represent your entire team or just yourself?"
Whenever the Atlans returned to their home planet during the 18-hour rest period, Akor used to indulge them on the adventure he set on with Jay to other trial zones.
Through that, Aton learned a lot about Jay and how he dealt with matters at hand.
On account of Akor, Jay even helped the Atlans by providing valuable information regarding the Tournament, which brought his admiration of Jay to new heights.
Later, when the Falud trial zone team received a surge in power from Jay and ranked 17th in Round-2, he entertained the thoughts of becoming a subsidiary to the Earth trial zone team.
Hearing Jay's declaration of creating a Faction of his own had cleared that sense of uncertainty for Aton. He didn't wish to miss the opportunity of being the very first team to join Jay's Faction.
While still kneeling on the floor, Aton replied with conviction, "Sir Jay, I speak for the entire Atlan race with my title 'Sea Lord' on the line."
Following that, the rest of the Atlans followed suit and knelt on the floor.
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