Chapter 355: CHOOSING DIPLOMACY

"Urgh," Astral groaned again, the sharp tug amplifying the pain as the arrow was yanked free from his chest by the elf queen, blood trailing in its wake."I’m Lisa, the elf queen and overlord of this galaxy. It would be nice if that friend of yours stopped messing with my galaxy, or I’ll be forced to shoot him down as well," the elf queen stated, her smile lingering on her elegant features, a mix of warmth and warning in her tone.

"We are not done with this fight. Don’t think I’ll surrender this easily," Astral declared, his eyes burning with unquenched fighting spirit, determination etched in every line of his face.

"Fight? What fight? Please don’t overestimate yourself," she responded lightly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement that belied her formidable presence.

"So, what exactly are you conquering my galaxy for?" the elf queen inquired playfully, tilting her head with curiosity.

"To grow stronger and defeat an enemy," the space clone replied, materializing beside Astral in a shimmer of ethereal energy, his form identical yet distinct in demeanor.

"That wasn’t necessary," Astral chided, his tone laced with disapproval at the space clone’s sudden intervention.

"It’s alright. It feels like she is friendly," the space clone countered calmly, his gaze assessing the elf queen with a touch of optimism.

"Enemy? What enemy can make you devour a galaxy? Well, come with me. Let’s continue our conversation in a better setting," the elf queen offered, her invitation extended with an open, inviting gesture.

"So you can gang up against us and make use of your entire army?" Astral questioned suspiciously, his posture tense, eyes narrowing as he scanned for any signs of deception.

"I doubt that’s her intention. If she wanted to, she could have dealt with us already," the space clone reassured, his words aimed at easing Astral’s guarded mind, a subtle nod emphasizing his point.

"Don’t mind him. He is usually this guarded against people stronger than him," the space clone added, directing his comment to the elf queen with a wry smile.

"Noted. So, is that a yes or no?" she asked again, her patience evident in her steady gaze.

"We will go with you. Maybe we can settle things amicably," the space clone decided, shifting into a more diplomatic mode, his voice smooth and conciliatory.

"Alright," the queen replied, stretching out her hands toward them, palms upturned in a gesture of trust.

"What for?" Astral inquired, still wary of the elf queen, his body language rigid as he hesitated.

"Just grab my hand, please," she instructed gently, her eyes meeting his with reassurance.

The space clone shook his head in mild exasperation, unable to fully comprehend how Astral, a clone just like him, could be so different in temperament.

"We were given different characteristics," Astral explained, directing his words to the space clone, easily reading the unspoken thoughts in his expression.

"Whatever, man," the space clone muttered, dismissing the matter with a casual shrug.

Calming his frayed nerves with a deliberate breath, Astral reached out and held the elf queen’s hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against his own, while the space clone did the same without hesitation.

With a radiant smile gracing her face, the queen manipulated their coordinates in a seamless shift, transporting them to a verdant realm filled with lush trees swaying gently and vibrant nature energy pulsing through the air like a living heartbeat.

"Your arrow teleportation? Quite the low-budget teleportation if you ask me," the space clone bragged, his tone laced with playful arrogance as he glanced around the new surroundings.

The queen chose to refrain from replying, avoiding any fuel to the space clone’s evident pride, her composure unbroken.

She simply led them forward with graceful steps, guiding them through winding paths to her royal courtyard, which buzzed with lively activities, elves moving about in harmonious rhythm, their voices mingling with the rustle of leaves.

"So? Who’s the enemy you’re trying to defeat, and how does my galaxy play a role in it?" she asked, settling onto her ornate throne with regal poise, the seat carved from ancient wood that seemed to glow faintly.

Astral positioned himself across from her, alongside the space clone, perching on a rocky throne he had conjured with a quick spell, the stone rough and unyielding beneath him.

"Reign. And his accomplice, an outsider whose name we don’t know," Astral answered directly, his voice steady despite the weight of the revelation.

"Reign, huh. Seems like we both have common enemies," the queen voiced out, her expression shifting to one of shared understanding, a flicker of disdain crossing her features.

"You guys are enemies?" the space clone asked in surprise, his eyebrows arching as he leaned forward slightly.

"Yeah. That annoying bastard comes to my galaxy whenever he likes, kidnaps my people, and makes them his playthings with the rest of his psycho group," she elaborated, her tone sharpening with evident frustration, memories stirring a subtle tension in her posture.

"But you are also of the galactic rank. I don’t see the reason you let him bully you," the space clone pointed out, curiosity evident in his probing gaze.

"He is the stronger one. And two, he has a backing even I wouldn’t want to mess with," the elf queen confessed, her admission carrying a rare vulnerability, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"Backing? What backing?" Astral pressed, his eyes widening to highlight his piqued interest, leaning in as if to catch every nuance.

"We have heard rumors. That he is the favorite pet of a high-ranking demon," she revealed, her voice lowering slightly, the words hanging heavy in the air like an unspoken threat.

"He is in league with demons?" the space clone asked, surprise coloring his tone as his mind raced with implications.

"Of course. How do you think a nobody like Reign was able to climb the ladder so easily, overthrow his rivals, and become an overlord? Barring his talent, there’s nothing really special about that bastard," she continued, her disdain palpable, a subtle curl to her lip.

’She is just jealous,’ the space clone thought to himself, but he refused to voice it aloud, fearing that she might turn him to steal.