Alpha Reborn!

The vast warehouse was Evan's secret hideout. It was built to survive an apocalyptic event and contained a portion of his wealth.

It was filled with rows upon rows of towering shelves, stocked with various gadgets and contraptions, and in the center of it was the transfer array.

Amidst the chaos of mechanical trinkets and futuristic gizmos, there stood a small and unassuming cupboard.

It was plain in appearance, yet it held within it a collection of tools that could change Evan's fate.

Evan walked up to it.

He opened the first drawer, revealing a set of black clothes neatly folded within. These were the garments he had worn countless times before, always in secret, whenever he needed to slip past prying eyes undetected.

He donned the attire, the fabric clinging to his skin like a second skin.

Moving on to the second drawer, he retrieved a small device that resembled a sleek black box. This was the face changer, a remarkable invention that could transform the wearer's appearance with the mere push of a button. It didn't have a energy signal either as it wasn't a product from the empire.

'Time to change my appearance.'

Evan held it gingerly, his fingers tracing the contours of the smooth surface.

With a flick of his wrist, he activated the device, and his reflection in the nearby mirror morphed into that of a stranger.

It was a strange sensation, seeing someone else's face staring back at him.

"You should also disguise yourself," Evan said.

"Pass it to me," Lirian replied.

After Evan handed the face changer to him, Lirian used it to transform his appearance. His jet-black hair was now a soft shade of red, and his eyes had shifted from a piercing blue to a gentle green.

"This version of the face changer is really great. I guess I will never stop feeling amazed no matter how many times I use it."

"Yeah, it's impressive. As long as we keep our disguises intact and the face changer safe, we can move undetected and blend in with the crowds."

Evan and Lirian couldn't help but marvel at how the face changer worked its magic, disguising them both beyond recognition.

With their disguises in place, the two of them proceeded to the third and final drawer.

Inside, a multitude of crystals glimmered in the dim light, each one pulsating with an otherworldly energy.

These were the soul energy crystals, a powerful source of energy that could activate the transfer array and other magical devices invented by the empire.

They took all the crystals from it and approached the transfer array.

Evan and Lirian carefully placed the crystal on the designated spot drawn on the transfer array.

The crystals were reduced to dust as the transfer array sucked all of their soul energy and started glowing, showcasing that it had powered up and was ready to teleport them to their destination.

"Do you think it's a good idea to have a backup plan? I was thinking that if we stationed some of our team on planet Emerald, it could be beneficial in case something goes wrong." Lirian asked concernedly.

"No. We can't. I've considered all the variables, and I don't think it's a good idea. It's too risky." Evan responded immediately and unwaveringly.

His frustration could be felt in his voice.

He possessed the formidable authority to command the entire Phantom Regiment, a highly skilled army of soul cultivators. However, he chose not to exercise this power for his own benefit.

There were several reasons behind his decision.

Firstly, calling upon the Phantom Regiment would draw undue attention to himself. He needed to maintain a low profile and operate in secrecy to enter and exit Planet Avalon undetected by the Cosmic Crusades. If they became aware of his intentions, it would jeopardize his mission and put him in grave danger.

Secondly, his ownership of the Phantom Regiment was not a well-kept secret. The minor families had their spies lurking in every corner, including his army, waiting to strike. He didn't know who and how many spies there were in the regiment, but he was sure that there were spies there.

Mobilizing the army would be like a beacon to his enemies, revealing his exact location and inviting an attack. Evan knew better than to put himself in such a vulnerable position and risk his safety.

"You have a lot of things to be worried about. It sucks to be you." Lirian sighed, reluctantly agreeing to go along with his wishes.

Evan approached the transfer array with cautious steps, his fingers hovering over the console that was attached to it. The machine was a complex piece of technology, its metallic surfaces gleaming under the artificial light of the warehouse.

He had to be careful and precise while entering the coordinates, for one wrong keystroke could send them hurtling into the abyss of space and time.

As he began to enter the coordinates, Evan's mind drifted to the history of the planet they were on. Planet Avalon had once been a battleground for the Frost Clan's attempt to conquer it. They had established many strongholds on the land, one of which was the Ironclan Stronghold.

After the war ended and Avalon was conquered, the strongholds remained, but their purposes changed. They became the safe zones for the soul cultivators of the empire.

The dungeons of Planet Avalon were a place of rigorous training for the Empire's soldiers and privileged soul cultivators. It was normal for the citizens to go to and fro from the empire to Planet Avalon as both sides had many transfer arrays.

The soul cultivators of the Empire were categorized into multiple tiers of privilege, with tier-1 being the most privileged and tier-9 being the least. Just being born within the imperial family means that your privilege level will be no less than tier 7. For those born into ordinary families, there was still hope to climb the social ladder. Those who were found to have soul pockets, despite their humble origins, were granted privilege level 9. However, for them to ascend to a higher privilege tier was a daunting task, requiring significant advancement in cultivation level. This was no easy feat, but for those with the grit and determination to achieve it, the rewards were beyond measure.

As for why Evan wanted to go to the Ironclad Stronghold, it was because it was the closest safe zone to the Mystic Forest, which was home to the Kobold's dungeon of mischief. Evan didn't have the coordinates of the Mystic Forest, or else he would have directly teleported there using the transfer array. Instead, he carefully inputted the final digits of the Ironclad Stronghold's coordinates into the transfer array.

Vroom!

The machine sprang to life with a low hum, its intricate machinery whirring and humming, its lights flickering in a dazzling display.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light enveloped them, and they felt their body being pulled apart at the molecular level.

For a moment, they felt as if they were suspended in a void of nothingness, their senses overwhelmed by the sheer power of the teleportation process.

As the light faded away, they found themselves standing in an alley of a foreign planet, the air thick with the scent of unfamiliar flora.

The alley was narrow and winding, flanked by tall buildings made of sandstone and clay.

Evan looked up and saw that the sky was a brilliant shade of orange, tinged with streaks of purple and pink.

The air was warm and humid, heavy with the scent of spices, herbs and a coolness that touched the heart. This sensation could only be caused by a type of magical energy called Mana.

Evan and Lirian nodded at each other and stepped out of the alley, entering a wide street.

The buildings around them were bustling with activity, vendors calling out to customers, and children with fox ears and cat tails running around playing.

The trees around them shimmered with a soft golden light, casting long shadows on the ground. Their leaves rustled in the gentle breeze of summer, and their branches creaked as if alive.

"It's confirmed. We have arrived at Planet Avalon. This world lacks soul energy but has no shortage of mana. So if you are yet to learn the technique that converts mana into soul energy, try to use as few soul techniques as possible." Lirian said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"Got it. Let's proceed with caution. We don't want to attract any unnecessary attention." Evan responded, deliberately nodding slowly as if he had all the time in the world.