Villain Retirement

"Your race should really consider installing locks on your doors. It will help in improving the overall security of your ship."

"What… what's going on?"

The Evaniels.

Considered to be, in general, the fastest creature in the entire universe. Their adults could move to speeds of more than thousands of kilometers per hour, and that is them not even trying; perhaps it was better to say that it was their normal walking pace. What made them dangerous, however, was their insane agility to reach whatever their maximum speed is in the blink of an eye.

But alas, there have been many accounts in their long history that proved that they were even faster before, much faster. They even used to be equal to the Themarians in terms of prowess. But it is to be expected— the Evaniels were straying further and farther away from their God genes.

Still, even then, they are considered the fastest.

And of course, as the fastest species, their ship also reflected that. Their ship was capable of maneuvering at insane speeds; prioritizing swiftness over toughness. But even then, with their race as advanced as it is, their security still should have detected any anomalies that may have intruded into their confines.

So why… how was someone standing behind Dr. Vella and literally breathing down her neck?

"Even your rooms are large, oddly interesting."

Fortunately, the whisper on Dr. Vella's neck did not last long as their uninvited visitor casually started to stroll around the room; his eyes, truly curious as they traveled through each and every corner of the colossal room.

"Riley… Ross. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, is that the lavatory?"

Alas, Admiral Varen's words were completely ignored as Riley just continued to scan the entire room,

"That is at least 100 meters away? Weird, it looks close but it's actually far," Riley squinted his eyes, "Aerith explained it to me before, but I truly shouldn't use my knowledge of my world to judge yours. You've… evolved completely different than us, is what she said."

Even though Riley was no longer behind Dr. Vella, she still couldn't move from her spot— not because Riley was stopping her, but because she took Aerith's warning very seriously. If a themarian tells you not to mess with someone, then that means you don't mess with that someone. 

It was such an easy rule to follow.

But alas, they had a literal child on board that was disciplined too little and too late. And now, that dangerous someone followed them back to their ship. It's true that Dr. Vella can't detect any energy from the humans, but that didn't matter.

She already saw first-hand the things they were capable of. Materializing ice out of nowhere? That was magic that one of the other Higher Races, the Krotun, is known for— and they emit high levels of energy.

But with the humans? You wouldn't even know what they're capable of until they actually do it. And from what she had witnessed, Riley was able to catch and even strangle Val without even breaking a single sweat.

Sure, Val was still young; but that wasn't the point. The point is they have absolutely no idea what Riley Ross is truly capable of. And so, the best course of action right now was to follow the most basic and primal instinct of survival— Watch and do nothing.

Dr. Vella just hopes the other three evaniels that are in the room do the same.

"What… do you want, Riley Ross?"

This time, it was Commander Voris that spoke. Admiral Varen was no longer going to leave the care of the prince to someone else, 'less he wants a repeat of what happened earlier in the human's ship.

"You have no permission to come aboard our ship, Riley Ross," Commander Voris stepped forward as he slowly approached Riley, "...Even if our doors weren't locked."

"You're right, I don't," Riley then finally stopped examining the large room, "I was once told that I have some boundary issues by Aerith, I suppose I still haven't fixed that habit. I apologize, Evaniels."

"If you know that, then I would appreciate that you get off my ship," Admiral Varen joined the conversation, careful not to let go of prince Val.

"I will, later," Riley then once again walked towards Dr. Vella; this time, however, he stood in front of her, "I am just a little curious about your species, that's all. I am sure you feel the same, no?"

"...Yes?" Dr. Vella answered, wanting very much to look at Riley's eyes to examine the new species in front of her, but sadly could not.

"It's okay, you can look at me. You are a scientist, Dr. Vella, correct?"

"...Yes?" Dr. Vella blinked a couple of times, before very slowly turning her eyes towards Riley; only to see his pitch-black eyes.

"That is not the original color of my eyes, if you are curious," Riley stated as he too, examined Dr. Vella's face, "My hair and eyes were permanently changed by some sort of serum that Aerith gave me."

"I… am aware of that serum, yes," Dr. Vella whispered as she continued to examine Riley's face to see if there was anything unusually different from other humanoids.

"I look quite different from the rest of the humans, so you can't really judge my species based on me, sadly," Riley let out a small sigh as he shook his head, "I was born from a single… parent. She reproduced me asexually in a way."

"Your species, reproduce asexually!?" Dr. Vella blinked a couple of times.

"No. At least I don't think so, Dr. Vella," Riley shook his head, "She asked help from a Themarian scientist to make it possible. So as far as my knowledge goes, it's just my biological mother. She's a bit eccentric."

"Is… is that so," Dr. Vella's eyes started to shine.

"The tattoos you have on your skin are still visible, but not quite as much when you start using your speed," Riley muttered as he looked at the marks on Dr. Vella's face; it was almost invisible at the moment, but it was there,

"...Yes?"

"Why are you telling him that, Dr. Vella!?" Commander Voris raised his voice.

"They… are bound to know sooner or later, if they do not already," Dr. Vella just raised her finger, gesturing to Voris to stop talking.

"Dr. Vella is right, Evaniel," a small smile then slowly crawled on Riley's face as he finally leaned away from Dr. Vella, "As of this moment the other humans are trying to find everything they can about you. If they are desperate enough, they'll ask my adoptive father for help."

"Your father? Is he also like you? A… super?" Dr. Vella listened curiously.

"No, he's a normal human. You will see there are more of their kind than us once you stepped on Earth," Riley shrugged,

"My adoptive father is… somewhat of a scientist himself— perhaps the best if he wants to. You can exchange notes with him if you want."

"Really?" Dr. Vella also smiled.

"Yes," Riley nodded, "But he is prone to having illicit sexual relations with his colleagues, so you might have to be a bit careful. He also hacked into an alien ship and caused most of them to die, so I would be very careful around him in general, he's dangerous."

"What about you, what are you capable of?"

"Oh, I can move things with my mind. Just some basic stuff, Dr. Vella," Riley nodded, "I can also do other things, but they're not that important."

"That—"

"Dr. Vella, I order you to stop talking to the human!"

And before Dr. Vella could say another word, the markings on Commander Voris's skin started to appear; his silver hair, now also glowing.

"Commander Voris, what are you doing!?" Admiral Varen roared, "Stand down, now!"

"I'm not going to just stand here while an intruder is standing right in front of us!"

"We're only talking, Voris!" Dr. Vella's hair also lit up as she disappeared from her spot, only to appear between Riley and Commander Voris.

"What you are doing is divulging information to a potential enemy! Didn't you hear from Aerith? They are just recovering from a war that caused billions of lives. They are a warmongering race!"

"It was more like a one-sided act of terrorism, really," Riley still casually shrugged his shoulders.

"We're done talking! Leave the ship or we will be forced to space you out!"

"Commander Voris, that is enough! I would not stand for insubordination in—"

"Well…"

"!!!"

And without even letting Admiral Varen finish his words, everyone's eyes inside the room widened as Riley, who was previously behind Dr. Vella was now standing near Admiral Varen; or more specifically, beside Prince Val.

It wasn't like Riley was fast, no. They clearly saw him move and float towards Val— they just weren't able to do anything about it.

…None of them were able to move.

Val, who was seated on his little chair, could really only move his eyes; watching as Riley started walking again. Fortunately for him, however, Riley instead approached Commander Voris and not him.

"If you didn't prefer talking, you should have just said so in the first place. Evaniels," Riley then said as he casually walked towards Commander Voris,

"Your prince attacked me once," Riley sighed as he stood just a foot away from Voris, "Did you really think that wouldn't have any repercussions, Evaniels?"

"What… are you doing, Riley Ross?"

The only one that was able to move from the four Evaniels in the room was Dr. Vella; most probably because Riley did not perceive her as a threat, she thought as she very slowly raised her hand,

"It's… just a reckless action of a child," Dr. Vella shook her head.

"You and I both know that's not true," a small smile appeared on Riley's face as he slowly placed his hand on Commander Voris's chest,

"How is a little child able to escape four warriors of your race? You are a scientist, Dr. Vella. I know you know the answer to that."

"...What?" Dr. Vella could really only squint her eyes as she looked back and forth between Admiral Varen and Commander Voris, 

"What are you say— !!!"

Dr. Vella let out a tiny gasp before she could ask anything; her silver hair once again starting to glow as she suddenly heard a small crack whisper in the air; she, however, still did not move from her spot.

"I'm not saying anything at all," the smile on Riley's face then grew wider as his hand started to push forward… very slowly through Commander Voris's chest.

"How does it feel, Commander Voris?" Riley then looked Voris straight in the eyes, "How does it feel to know that someone as fast as you…

…is going to die a very slow death?"