Outer: Return of the Tenth Commander

[Eternal Deceitful Eye]

[Description: An authority that consists of both the Timeless and Dishonest entities' power, both of which came from an assemblage called the Primordial Ones. A better and revised version of what has been 'Dishonest Eye of Assemblage'.]

[Timeless Authorities:

-Return By Time

Description: Allows the wielder to undo the passage of events, rewinding time itself—but only for themselves. When activated, the wielder can slip backward, returning to a previous moment they experienced. Remember, the more distant the moment they wished to return to, the greater the strain on their body and mind.]

[Dishonest Authorities:

-Exploit

Description: An insidious ability rooted in observation, manipulation, and opportunism. Allows the wielder to perceive flaws, weaknesses, and overlooked rules—be it a person, a plan, a law, or even the law of reality itself.

-Unfair Advantage

Description: It can also grant the means to twist the perceived flaws, weaknesses, and overlooked rules to the wielder's advantage.]

"…"

Case fell silent for a while, realizing the fact that the powers granted by the Dishonest One were far from feeble.

Well, how could something be weak if that entity, the being probably responsible for his regression, was also the sole reason he went back in time?

There's no way he was given an authority that is trash.

He couldn't hide his shock.

After all, a power he had only fantasized about getting in his previous life had just landed in his lap.

And maybe, just maybe, he could make it work if he used it well.

'This is it. I'm not a stupid weakling who's only good with spaceships and perfect balance in space. I also have powers to use…'

Case began to ponder deeply as he began to analyze.

"First of all, if I count it right, I only have two authorities with three abilities in total. The Timeless Authority has one, and it is called Return By Time. Judging by its name and description, it is busted as hell. But… treading it too lightly might cause some dangers for me as well. I have to be careful how I use it.

"The second thing is the Dishonest Authority, which had two abilities. Exploit and Unfair Advantage. It's not as shocking as the first one, but that doesn't mean these two are useless as well. Besides, it's not like I will only have these three. Authorities are something to be learn, like the Dishonest One said. I can have more as long as I work on it."

Case took a moment to survey his surroundings, then slowly picked up the mirror resting on the table and gazed at his own face.

It was his first time looking at himself once he came back.

Bluish-black eyes and dark brown hair, features he inherited from his parents. However, it was clearly different in the past as well.

His reflection showed no scars, no weariness, and no sense of the mission he was meant to carry, a duty owed to the King.

Everything felt new, but Case understood the underlying experiences and knowledge that his face contained and hidden inside, something that only the power of a great being can accomplish.

Everything felt new, yet Case understood the depth of experience and knowledge etched into his eyes and mind—something only the power of a great commander like himself can accomplish.

There's no denying his regression now, and he must move forward without lingering into the past.

"The preparations start now."

…

For the rest of the remaining time until The Visit occurred from the previous past, Case and his family had nothing to do but arrange their supplies in their own home.

Half of those supplies available were even beneath their house, situated in their basement, since everything has been cramped with the same supplies upstairs.

Case's parents also used this chance to use their day off in a week to focus on this task, something that Case himself strongly suggested on doing.

In case his memories were betraying him, Case wanted his family isolated and somewhere he could see in case The Visit happened prior to what he had expected for it to happen. Thankfully, it seemed the timeline was still intact.

In the blink of an eye, the supply management of their goods was done.

And the time for the Visit is nearing.

Tap—!

Sitting on the couch while frantically clicking the remote in his hand as he watched the television, Case has been feeling a mix of emotions, most of them are nervousness.

He knew it hadn't been a while since he had become this shaky.

The situation with the Dishonest One in the Dead Zone was different since he was straight up confused and scared at that time.

But being nervous was different.

You only feel that kind of emotion when something you know was about to happen, yet you are unsure if what you did was enough or correct.

What if Case was wrong?

What if in this timeline, there is no Outer, its residents, nor any cosmic horrors and entities that roam around the Universe?

What if Case had to pay that million dollars?

There are so many ifs in this situation that Case badly wanted something to happen to ease his emotions.

Tap—!

He searched through every available news outlet, flipping between his phone and the television, looking for signs that someone else had seen something strange.

All the things that bugged Case's mind remained in his thoughts until something changed.

Bzzz—!

Case watched his television and cellphone shut down, even though it was powered up with electricity and charged up to full bar.

Bzzz—!

It wasn't only in their own home.

From their neighbors to their streets, from their subdivision to their cities, and eventually their entire country, the strangeness spread until it reached the whole world, leaving confusion etched on the faces of humankind.

The Visit

Case still remembered how it started, plain as day, as if it was in the back of his mind.

First was the interference of their network, which shuts down all technology for like a minute.

It was only for a minute, but the residents of Outer needed that amount of time to hack and hijack everything that humankind on Earth had.

Then it resumed.

All the televisions, cellphones, and networked devices resumed as if nothing had happened.

That was until the image on the screen suddenly changed.

It wasn't the movie they had been watching, nor the apps they had been using, that even live camera feeds meant to show themselves were altered into something… more.

Something none other than Case could've ever imagined.

In there was the face of a human with two antennas above their head

"Greetings, humanity of Earth. Do not worry, we've adjusted the settings of each language that this world has, and there would be no problems of hearing different languages you can't understand. Rest assured."

Case saw the shock frozen on his parents' faces as they stared at the television, its screen now showing something entirely different from before.

Yelena was no different as her phone slipped from her hands and hit the floor the moment she realized it was broadcasting the same thing.

"We've come in good terms. We accidentally discovered your solar system and planet by accident, thanks to an expedition that the King had ordered us to undertake. You are lucky. If not for us, you'll likely be eaten by a Stranger dozens of light years away from here,"

The human with an antenna chuckled.

"Right, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Auralex, a resident of Outer, spokesperson from Antavon Kingdom, the Second Commander under the King of Thalorion Sovereignty Galaxy. And today, humankind of Earth, your fate will change,"

Everything that had been bugging Case's mind was cleared.

It was no longer a question.

The Visit finally arrived at the Earth's doorsteps.