Null and Superego returned to the rest of the crew after seeing Barter's Ruler and told them that he would not be joining them for a while.
"Honestly, we'll be fine meeting with the rest of the flames with just the twins and I, so if the rest of you wish to go about your training or the like, I'll take you wherever it is you wish to go."
The others ruminated over the option as they were not going to provide much help convincing the original members of the Castello Crew.
Tino and Angie could vouch for Null and even help them realize what a blessing in disguise it was to tag along with the crew.
It was not as if they had any family or partners to worry about, but the tragic events of Planet Barter left a sour taste in their mouths to say the least.
"I think I have some things I need to research more in order to better my manipulation," Klein seemed to be at a tipping point in terms of his manipulation.
"Me too. I might even be able to get something out of these earrings if I reach the next step. One step closer to giving Muni a real body to use," Z'oelo's gaze on Muni's physical form was sharpened by his determination.
"I promise that once we finish finding the rest of the crew, I'll help you to the fullest in gaining full understanding of your respective energies."
They both gave different smiles— Klein a bit nervous and Z'oelo ready to have a chance at receiving his own deadly awakening.
"What about you two," Null moved onto the former teachers, "Are you ready to handle harder quests at the Wanderer's Guild Headquarters?"
Edmond shook his head, "Seeing that ruler compliment me without realizing his own prowess makes me eager to hasten my and Evangeline's own."
"I haven't even gained the power of a Universal Rule, so I have to work harder with the power you gave me," Evangeline was more hardened in resolve alongside her lover.
Null realized that as technically the only Enlightened of the crew, he had no idea how he could improve.
What could he even become?
A God?
What came after godhood?
He was still so new to the cosmos and then there was the time limit that It gave him.
'Maybe I'll only become another It.'
The idea was probable, but nothing that Null wished to have.
'Unless I have to become It to reach It. To reach Sofina in time.'
His own resolve grew firmer as he enjoyed life among his current crew.
"I'll join you this time, buddy," Theef said without being asked, "I'd like to learn more from Tino's abilities."
Theef remained intrigued by the idea of another who could absorb essence from other beings instead of simply taking on their properties.
The process was not simple per say, but he was intrigued by Tino nonetheless.
"The ship needs it's captain by the way," Theef chuckled to himself.
Before Null began sending the others to their planets, the elusive Allbeast suddenly clamored out of Null and flew to Klein.
It had grown considerably especially considering that it used to fit comfortably on shoulders.
Now, it had taken the form of a feline species that laid on his head lazily as it purred.
"Wow. Somebody's got a not-so-secret admirer," Superego teased.
"What did you do for it to like you so much? That's a question from Muni by the way."
"Aren't you part beast as well, Klein? Maybe that's the reason," Null figured.
"You might be right," Klein said while struggling to keep his head upright.
After the lighthearted moment, Superego went ahead and took each of them to their home planets for who knew how long, and the Devine Couple went to their respective realms.
At least they had Superego for when they needed to see each other in person.
That combined with Ego's split consciousness meant that they were not as separate as it seemed in the end.
Null's focus shifted after being left with Theef and the twins, "For now, you guys can choose your own rooms and get ready for some rigorous training. We need to prepare you for combat in case the need arises."
"That's good. I've been dying to test my abilities," Tino said while seeking out his room.
"Me too. I can't be left behind by the mighty Sanguine Warlock," Angie decided to choose the room next to his.
"Oh, right," Null suddenly remembered something, "I've got something for you and Void to play with," he said to Theef while fishing out the ruler's coin from seemingly nowhere.
Void immediately sensed the coin and separated from Ego in an attempt to grab it, but Theef was somehow quicker.
"Me first, you glutton!"
"No fair!"
It was still lively even without the entirety of the crew on board.
"Who do you guys think we should go for first," Null asked when the twins were finished exploring the ship.
They took a minute to consider the choice as they wanted to pick someone likely to join them the easiest.
"It's gotta be Cronir," they eventually decided.
"Alright then," Null focused on the stone-grey flame representing the living man of stone.
The star chart coinciding with the flame was shown and they now had the next destination of the journey.
As for Cronir and his new life, they would soon come to find it was something they would have never guessed.
---
Born to a different kind of Stonemen, Cronir thought he could aim to be strong enough to defend against Void's Soul Devouring Hands.
His mentality changed as a whole as this kind were more intelligent than any other Stonemen he had seen because of special organs they developed.
The Ironheart pumped a peculiar cell that was capable of forming any stone, metal, or crystal.
The Stonehead acted as a solid brain capable of computing well above the average Stoneman.
These two organs provided the basis for a change Cronir now had in his new but same life.
The Ironheart may sound like a mystical thing, but it was not so simple to deviate the cells to turn into something other than the original material of each Stoneman.
Some were born made of ordinary stone like the name implied, but others could be made of gemstones and crystals.
This made it so that the unique Stonemen possessed greater durability and properties that resembled magic abilities.
With these advantages, a society was built around the powerful.
Whoever possessed the toughest material, most powerful ability, or useful feature became the top of the social hierarchy.
Cronir decided to shed his former name as a start to becoming someone stronger.
He now went by Oregon and had something special in his arsenal that he was sure made him tougher than most Stonemen.