"So, I have to use this Dimensional Bridge to return us home?" Lara asked out loud, while preparing the Ruler for its strongest ability.

The White Tiger's metal moon was already stored in her inner world, to be explored in detail by her Avatars, while the small tiger cub was running around Lara's first inner planet, exploring the tall Crushed Sword mountains and sniffing at every new plant or strange smell. It would take some time until she got used to her new powers and began populating the inner universes with more stars and galaxies, so for now she only had brought in her home system, making the inner sky look rather dark and deserted.

"Well...if there isn't any other way..." the glove answered back, its mind parsing a thousand different paths at the same time. Truth was, the new user was still not strong enough to safely use the Ruler, and the possibility of failure was over 90 percent. Decent odds in another scenario, but it would be a pity to waste all that investment.

Luckily, the decision was avoided just then, as the void around them turned into a mirror surface for a second, and then the party was relocated beside a familiar pyramidal gate.

A blonde teenager with clear blue eyes measured the blue-haired woman with a soft smile on his face. "Lara...you're alive again!" he spoke gently.

"Pef? Pef!" she shouted and jumped into his arms, hugging Pef tightly.

"... Ehem. You can celebrate your reunion elsewhere, you two. Do come visit me when you are back into Dian Realm." Gena Feng demanded in a low voice, yet hiding a tinge of adamantium in her tone. This wasn't exactly a request.

Pef nodded politely. "Thank you, Mirror Goddess. I will come back for you." he spoke gently and pressed a free palm onto the crystal pyramid.

With Lara in his arms, he entered the now-familiar white fog, and felt a certain glove shift onto his right hand, making him feel complete once more.

'Back again, Sergeant?' the glove asked with faint irony.

'I suspect I will get promoted soon enough, Captain.' Pef replied seriously, while noting the Veritas Adjutant modifier had also changed, from the former +1000 to +2000, a clear sign the glove was now much stronger than before.

'I advise you to rejoin with the Taotie, and have it upgrade the Legion Method first. This was the hint the General left for you, only you died too soon.' the glove spoke in a grave tone, after scanning the user for a long minute and adjusting its priorities. This new Pef wasn't the same idiot from before, possibly the product of his free insights due to a separate new life.

Pef nodded and unfolded the Ruler in his hand, then cautiously sliced his left palm onto the sharp blade. 'Good to see you again, Heart Ruler' he greeted the weapon, as the blood sank into the blade and vanished.

'You have changed. Are you weaker or stronger than before?' the Ruler asked, sounding a bit confused.

'My cultivation realm is only at Tier 5. But, I am also a bit wiser now.' Pef said with a faint smile, as a cloud changed shape inside the white mist and revealed a familiar paper fan.

"Pef! I heard of your sacrifice...you are welcome to my pool anytime, if you want to restore your cultivation. It is the least I can do, for the Hero of the Haze Gap." the Fay Goddess

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proclaimed in a sad yet somewhat joyous voice.

Our hero blinked once, then bowed his head a little. "Lady Kalima, you honor me. As for sacrifice, it was more likely a failure of critical thinking. I had no business fighting a Tier 8 entity, even if it was a golith."

"And yet, you did what nobody else had managed before, by wounding Hualitep . I say you're following the inheritance of the Jade Emperor quite nicely." the cloud shape said gently then vanished into motes of light.

'...There's an inheritance?' Pef asked inward.

'You saw the Destiny Fan, didn't you? Do you think any other people can see it? It allowed you to see it, because you share a destiny. Our maker...anyways, first return to Dian Realm, young user. The Fay will guard the inheritance until you're ready.' the Hear Ruler explained with a gruff tone, as if displeased for having to leak such a secret, too soon.

"Open a way to the Mausoleum, if you please, Lord Feng." Pef spoke into the mist, and immediately a portal formed into the mist, right beside the Mausoleum Station.

As the pair stepped out of the gate, the universe revealed, filled with Legion ships, battle stations and a giant ring world circling the Shambala sun.

"This is my Legion! So big!" Lara exclaimed in amazement, while gleefully looking around the system, so filled with Legion qi transmissions and numerous void vessels showing the V emblem of the Veritas Legion.

Next to Pef, a middle-aged man had appeared, holding a pumpkin-sized cauldron by the handle.

'You returned soon enough, Lord Pef.' he greeted the blonde teenager with a small bow. 'And you found another Legion Captain somewhere. She is still digesting my cloud-pill as well.' the Alchemist observed with a mild tone.

"Lord Rejin. This is Lady Lara, reincarnated in a new body. She died at the Lacrima Perimeter..." Pef said out loud, introducing the blue-haired woman to the Tier 8 Alchemist.

"Eh? You are quite strong, aren't you? At least as strong as my tiger..." the woman exclaimed as a ghostly White Tiger appeared at her side, ready to guard the user against any attack.

The man raised a curious eyebrow, then smiled. "Lady Lara, and your Majesty. The Purple Cauldron is glad to see you alive...even if somewhat damaged. Do you have a body already?"

The spirit tiger waved a lazy paw, probably at the Cauldron. "Well met, Ancient Cauldron. My body is still an infant, perhaps we can arrange for a pill or something?" the tiger asked in a dignified voice, as if too bored to lower itself.

"A few Realm Ascensions will not be a problem...but for something more, you will have to ask Lord Pef. He personally controls the access to many higher resources in this multiverse. And I don't expect you're willing to ask the Devils or the Dragons." the Alchemist replied in a polite voice, while nodding towards the blonde teenager.

"Girl, tell your husband I need things...I am very weak now!" the White Tiger demanded while poking its user with a ghostly paw.

Curious blue eyes turned towards Pef, just as more Legion commanders began to appear. "You're that strong, hubby?"

Pef sighed inward then glared at Rejin for passing the ball to him. Precious resources were limited...although a Tier 8 Tiger on the team would be quite useful as well.

He didn't manage to respond, as a dozen women rushed to hug and kiss their long-lost husband. Dealing with the Tier 8 entities will have to wait.

Family came first.