Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, far from Easter Island, the forces of the Minamoto and Anderson families were carrying out the transfer of all the men and women from the thirteen captured ships.
"We need to contact Atlas Division immediately. We need more vessels to transport all these people."
Several minutes passed before they received a response.
"Sir, they inform us that they will send ten ships to assist with the transfer. They will arrive in approximately ten hours."
"How is it possible that it will take them so long?"
"Remember that Atlas Division does not possess dimensional jump technology. Their ships are fast, but they must travel by conventional means."
"You're right. For now, all we can do is wait, keep them under guard, and provide medical attention."
While the Minamoto fleet guarded the captured vessels, unaware that the rest of the Kartnod fleet was already preparing to enter its base within the unknown dimension.
Meanwhile, using multiple dimensional jumps, Kaisel and his fleet had already arrived off the coast of Easter Island.
He observed the island and reviewed the reports alongside the images of the magical distortions.
"So only the Annihilator has the ability to activate the portals."
"Yes, sir. The magical intersection and wave pattern are the same as those used by the Leviathans' dimensional chamber."
Kaisel thought for a moment, then after several seconds gave his orders.
"Have all ships assume defensive formation, but maintain withdrawal coordinates toward the center of the waves."
"Once the seals are released, we will enter and seal it again."
"Put me in contact with the man called Valerius. I need to speak with him."
"Immediately, sir," one of his men replied.
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, the waters began to tremble and a powerful wind rose from nowhere. Suddenly, several gray points began to form, and from them the ships of the O'Broin fleet started to emerge.
"Dimensional jump completed successfully. Begin satellite and magical wave tracking. We do not want any surprise attacks. Have all ships proceed toward Easter Island."
"Lady Maeve," Orla interrupted, "we have received a message from young Haruky."
"What does it say?"
"They captured thirteen ships from the Kartnod fleet!"
"What?"
"They offered no resistance. Apparently, they were left behind because their ships were heavily damaged."
"Those bastards," Maeve said aloud. "They treat the lives of their own men as if they were disposable items."
"Hurry. We must capture those scoundrels no matter what."
Main Command Room of the Annihilator.
Kael and Marvak were discussing what had happened.
"I can't accept this. How is it possible that they caused us so many problems? We destroyed the proud Sevianko Armada, yet a force with almost no power inflicted so much damage on us."
"We have to give credit to those damned pilots. They are clearly descendants and worthy heirs of their bloodline."
"Yes. I remember how they devastated us in that battle. Almost the same as today. Just a handful of units were enough to nearly destroy our entire force. We had to abandon the ships and use the return portals."
"I think if those same warriors had been here today, the outcome would have been very different."
"Don't tell me you noticed it too!"
"Of course I did. The ships are the same, but their aura and combat power were far weaker. It must be due to their lack of combat experience. Those users have not yet fully developed their abilities. We must use that to our advantage."
"If they ever unlock their full potential, we will be facing serious trouble."
"Sir, we are approaching the coordinates now, and the mana interactions can already be seen on the screens."
"Have everyone prepare. We are going to open those portals."
"Adjust the opening frequency and locate the magical intersections."
Meanwhile, aboard the flagship's command room, Kaisel was speaking with Valerius.
"Tell me, do you have an explanation for why we were attacked at the exact moment we contacted you?"
"The truth is, I do not. However, I will say that you were very careless. I believe that after only a superficial review of the information I provided, you assumed it would be easy to overcome the defenses of modern humanity."
"And it would have been, had the Guardian Families not possessed that kind of fleet. In my defense, I knew absolutely nothing about it."
"For centuries we have been infiltrated within the Guardian Families. We studied them and carefully placed our pieces. From within, we built an infrastructure designed to gradually undermine their power."
"On several occasions we attempted to break the seals without success, until we finally achieved their release and fractured the primary seal."
"However, we were unaware of their emergency system, which activated a temporary secondary seal, frustrating our original plan."
"Even so, we succeeded in freeing you. Now all that remains is to wait for the power to dissipate, allowing the remaining seals to disappear so that all of you may finally be free."
"Your words are interesting. Let me ask you something. What exactly do you expect will happen once all of our forces are free?"
"Isn't it obvious? The destruction of this world. This pathetic race will be erased, and we will rise above all others as the gods we truly are."
"Silence. Stop speaking nonsense."
"What is it that you and your ancestors have believed about us all this time?"
"That you sought to dominate all living creatures, of course. Like the true gods of this plane."
Kaisel's gaze hardened. His breathing grew deeper. His anger could be felt in the air.
"I do not know what your ancestors believed about us, or whether everything became distorted over these five thousand years, or if someone intentionally caused it."
"But your understanding could not be more wrong."
"We never fought for domination."
"We fought for our freedom."
"The freedom that the Supreme Beings stole from our ancestors in order to use them as laboratory subjects."
Suddenly, one of the officers interrupted.
"We have located Sub-Admiral Kaelen's ships. They are arriving alongside the vessels of the First Fleet that were not damaged."
"How many ships are coming?"
"Thirty-six ships."
"Prepare everyone. The moment the seals withdraw and the portals open, we will enter immediately."
"And as for you, I suggest you reconsider your beliefs."
"We are not going to carry out a massacre or an extermination."
"If you are still alive when we return, we will speak again."
The communication ended, leaving Valerios, Markus, and Iara with a feeling they could not understand.
After several seconds of silence, the admiral spoke one final time.
"Prepare everything for the withdrawal."
"All damaged ships will enter first."
"The Annihilator and the rest of us will cross last."
In a hidden facility in Wales, Valerios could not comprehend Kaisel's words.
That they had fought for freedom.
That the Supreme Beings had used them as experimental subjects.
None of it made sense.
For generations, it had been said that the Kartnod had tried to dominate the world and that they had been imprisoned by one of the Supreme Beings, since only such power could have accomplished it.
Markus interrupted his thoughts.
"What if it's true?"
"If we want to know what really happened, we cannot stop now."
"We must awaken the spirit of the First Bearer."
"Only then will we learn the truth about what happened five thousand years ago."