The Rise of the Black Plain

The Blossom World was home to the dominant civilization involved in the current war in this galaxy targeted by Minos' group. Among the enemies of this galaxy-spanning civilization was The Enchanted Realm.",

The situation between the two civilizations was so drastic the leaders of The Blossom World had issued a galaxy-wide warning that they would consider anyone who went to The Enchanted Realm an enemy of their civilization.

But the rulers of The Enchanted Realm did the same, warning that anyone who entered The Blossom World would be seen as allies of the civilization behind that world; enemies of The Enchanted Realm.

Because of this, posts where there were wormhole exits like this one in The Mirror Realm were surrounded by guards, men not only from the local forces but also observers from both sides in the war.

The guards were not stationed there to stop people coming and going across the galaxy, but to frighten and ultimately mark those who chose one side or the other of the conflict.

Minos' group understood this as they observed their surroundings, with some groups like theirs giving up on moving towards their goals, others moving on, but not escaping the enemy mark that would surely perturb them in the future.

Callie clenched her fists as she swallowed her saliva.

She asked. "Do we really have to go to The Enchanted Realm? It looks like we'll be involved in something with no turning back if we do."

Those in the group who didn't understand why Minos was going to The Enchanted Realm watched him in anticipation, waiting for his answer.

He closed his eyes and said. "We have no choice but to choose a side on this journey. The entire galaxy we're in is in a region of space-time that favors those of a low level cultivating here in order to go to other planets in the universe.

As time passes more quickly here, we can live many years here, while a few years would pass on Zocarro. But The Enchanted Realm differs from all the other planets in the area. This is where the galaxy's time distortion is strongest.

100 years in that place is equivalent to 10 years on Zocarro. I and my friends who came from Zocarro can reverse our 'lost' time by traveling to the Spiritual World if we cultivate in The Enchanted Realm for a few decades."

The problem was what awaited them in Zocarro when they returned. Minos knew he had made many enemies within Armhands, beings who would try to harm him and those important to him.

If he simply returned to that world now, it was likely that he would suffer at the hands of enemies who must now be three to five levels stronger than they were when he left.

Back then, he had already taken enough risks with beings he shouldn't have. But dealing with these same beings, now three to five levels stronger, was something he certainly couldn't do.

Thinking of his survival and the best for his family, Minos couldn't help but pass through The Enchanted Realm.

"To the hell with that enemy civilization of The Enchanted Realm!" the level 103 robot commented in a determined tone. "If they try anything against us, we won't take it lightly. We'll get stronger while we're in The Enchanted Realm!"

Minos smiled and nodded at this metallic fellow.

"How much is the difference between The Mirror Realm and The Enchanted Realm?" Vico asked Minos.

"It should be just over twice. So if we spend 50 years in The Enchanted Realm, those in The Mirror Realm would only have lived 25 years. But since the two worlds have practically the same cultivation limit, those in The Enchanted Realm would have made twice as much progress as those in The Mirror Realm."

The group looked at each other in silence, with the strongest ones there realizing the clear advantage of going to The Enchanted Realm.

They would obviously be involved in a dangerous conflict that they would rather not get involved in, but the cultivation benefits for them would be immense.

Their cultivation speed in this place wouldn't be the same if they were in Zocarro, but as the strongest ones there were at the low-level of the 11th stage, it would take some time for their cultivation speeds to slow down. Until then, it would certainly be possible for them to develop while Minos was unavailable.

So the group made up their minds, accepting the risk of moving on.

"We're going to The Enchanted Realm anyway." Minos informed the level 111 guard in that area.

That being looked at Minos in silence for a moment, seeing yet another group taking a side in this dark war.

"You've made your choice. Don't regret it later." The creature open the way, while the beings from The Enchanted Realm and The Blossom World looked at the group sternly.

Neither side could act against those who were making their choices to join one side or the other, as the guards in the area would hinder them and one side would fight the other to defend those choosing their side.

Their point was not to stop anyone, but to mark out enemies and allies, beings who, when they left their planets or were not in places dominated by sovereign forces like that, they would attack to kill!

The group moved on, passing through the spatial distortion on their way, while feeling marks on themselves that wouldn't erase no matter how strong they got during their time in this galaxy.

With the simple decision to enter the wormhole connected to The Enchanted Realm, Minos' entire group was marked as allies of that world, enemies of The Blossom World!

After entering the wormhole, dressed in space armor, Minos' group flew towards their destination, each of them in silence, with solemn expressions on their faces.

For the moment, they could only think about how they had made a choice that could not be reversed and, in the future, would certainly have consequences for each of them.

Now they could only hope that the enemies of The Enchanted Realm would not become the dominant side in the ongoing war they had just joined!