Ch. 431: Chapter 431-440
Chapter 431 A Fantastic Specimen [Part 2]
The dragon's head rested on its front claws with its eyes firmly shut. The golden scales gleamed faintly as it reflected the light on the glowing stone in the Half-Elf's hand.
Although there were signs of rot here and there, the body was mostly intact, making Lux unable to determine how long the Dragon had been dead.
"This is an Ancient Golden Dragon." Keoza's confident voice echoed faintly inside the cavern. "If I have to make an estimate, it has been dead for only two to three hundred years."
"Do you know him?" Lux asked.
"No," Keoza replied. "I have been away from Karshvar Draconis for hundreds of years, and yet, I don't know who this dragon is despite the fact that he is older than me. Perhaps, he is a vagabond who chose to return to this place in order to look for his final resting place."
Keoza's words were solemn as if he was paying tribute to the dead Dragon, whose name he didn't know.
"So, what are you going to do, Lux?" Keoza asked. "Are you going to turn him into an Undead Dragon?"
Lux glanced at the floating Dragon Token beside him with a troubled face. A part of him wanted to say yes, but the other half was afraid that if he said yes, Keoza would think badly of him.
As if sensing his worries, Keoza chuckled and gave his opinion about the matter.
"I believe this is Fate," Keoza stated. "Just like how you met me, I believe this is also a fateful encounter. I would be offended if other Necromancers took advantage of this Dragon's body, but if it is you, I can accept it."
"You won't get mad?"
"If this was a Crystal Dragon, then yes. However, it is a Golden Dragon, and he reminds me of that standoffish brother of mine. I'm sure that he would be pissed as hell if he ever saw you commanding an Undead Golden Dragon."
"Um, wouldn't that be bad?" Cai, who was listening to their conversation, commented.
Although it still hadn't seen the Dragon King, basing on how he treated Lux, the Boar was sure that the Half-Elf would be in trouble once the Undead Golden Dragon's existence was discovered.
Keoza once again chuckled before saying in an evil tone.
"He doesn't need to know, and even if he does come to know, there is nothing he can do about it," Keoza replied. "Just don't go wagging this dead Dragon in his face, and he can still turn a blind eye to it.
"Since it is an Ancient Dragon, you can just say that you found it somewhere while exploring the lands of Elysium. Our kind is free to go wherever we wish, after all. Even the Dragon King cannot command us to stay in Karshvar Draconis for eternity."
Lux nodded his head before summoning Asmodeus by his side.
"What a fantastic specimen!" the Archlich exclaimed as soon as he saw the dead Dragon in front of him. "You found a great treasure, Master. However, may I offer some advice?"
"Speak your mind, Asmodeus," Lux replied. "The reason I summoned you is because I want to discuss how we should handle this Dragon corpse."
The Archlich smiled as his bony hands caressed the head of the golden dragon, as if trying to better understand its history.
"Frankly speaking, we have three methods we can use in order to utilize this Dragon corpse to our maximum advantage," Asmodeus stated. "The first one is to fuse Keoza's soul with it, allowing this Dragon to gain a fraction of its power. If we're lucky, the Undead Dragon will be revived with Dreadnaught Rank. If not, the lowest it can go is still Argonaut."
The Arclich paused and gave the Dragon Token a side-long glance before shifting his attention back to his Master.
"The second option is to, of course, turn it into an Undead Dragon, and make it a part of your Undead Legion," Asmodeus stated. "It is a shame, but you can't make it part of your Necromancer's Covenant because only sentient Undead Creatures or newly revived Undead that haven't been dead for more than a month can be part of it.
"This Dragon has been dead for hundreds of years now, and the most you can do is to revive it and make it the Commander of your Animated Undead Legion. But, doing so will be doing great disservice to this magnificent creature.
"Master, right now, you are only a Grade A Apostle, and not even an Initiate. If you revive this Monster, its strength would only match yours, which isn't a good thing. Also, knowing you, you'd probably spend a lot of Beast Cores to raise its rank, which is a very normal thing to do, but that is not very cost effective.
"It will be much better if you just upgrade us with those Beast Cores, rather than spend it on this thing."
The Archlich chuckled before leaning on the dead dragon's body with his arms crossed over his chest.
"The last option is to, of course, store this dragon's body inside Blackfire. Although you cannot revive it using its powers, Blackfire can easily store any dead creatures inside it, similar to an enchanted Beast Ring.
"I suggest that you wait until you become a Ranker before you raise it as an Undead Dragon. That way, this Dragon corpse will not be wasted and will be put to good use once you reach that threshold."
After hearing the Arclich's explanation, Lux glanced at the floating Dragon Token beside him.
"No need to concern yourself with me," Keoza said. "I am not interested in having a physical body right now."
Lux nodded his head in understanding before looking at the Giant Corpse in front of him.
"Blackfire, swallow it," Lux ordered.
Immediately, a black coffin materialized behind Lux's back and sucked the Dragon's corpse into itself by turning it into particles of light.
The Half-Elf knew that Asmodeus' words were right. Currently, he had neither the rank nor the ability to maximize the Dragon corpse to its fullest potential.
Since that was the case, he would just wait until he became a Ranker before summoning one of the strongest Undead Creatures that every necromancer wished to have under their command.
Chapter 432 The Path Of Myths [Part 1]
After retrieving the corpse of the Golden Dragon, Lux, Cai, and Keane all returned to their Guild Headquarters using teleportation magic.
Since their Guild Headquarters had finished construction, the members of Heaven's Gate could freely teleport to it once a day.
There were, of course, other methods. As long as they entered any kind of teleportation gate, they could teleport to their Guild Headquarters as often as they wished.
"Since this is a special occasion, I personally gave Boreas and his men a day off, so they could also come here to celebrate the construction of our Guild Headquarters," Thoram said with a smile. "They will be here in a while. I asked them to get some good booze and food from the Stronghold."
"Aron is doing the same," Cedwyn said. "All the Guards that are part of the Guild will be bringing foods and drinks here as well."
"Hahaha! Good. It's been a while since I had a good drink. I usually have too much work."
"Indeed. Having a day off once or twice a month is good for our health."
The Commander of the Stronghold of Norria as well as the Village Head of Leaf Village laughed together as they temporarily escaped from their duties for a day.
"We're here!" Laura shouted as she approached, carrying a basket of sandwiches.
Livia, her twin, was also carrying a similar basket as she followed behind her sister.
"Be careful, both of you," Sid said with a helpless smile as he looked at his two little sisters fondly.
He returned to Leaf Village temporarily to look after his sisters since Cadmus and the Kobolds had gone to help Lux in Karshvar Draconis.
Bedivere, Heidi, and her mother, Lilia, also arrived because they were also registered as members of Heaven's Gate.
Two hours later, all of the members of Heaven's Gate had appeared in the Guild Headquarters to take part in the grand celebration of the construction of their Guild Headquarters.
"Everyone, thank you for coming on such short notice," Lux said. "Constructing our Guild Headquarters is merely the beginning of our journey. In time, we will rise and make a name for ourselves, placing our mark in the history books! Everyone, I ask you to do your utmost to increase your abilities in order to help our guild grow."
Lux then raised the mug of fruit juice in his hands before breaking into a smile.
"For the Guild!"
"""For the Guild!"""
Cethus, who was also holding a mug of mead in his hands, looked at the rowdy bunch with disdain.
'Placing your mark in the history books?' Cethus laughed internally. 'What a delusional bunch.'
The black-scaled Dragon Born didn't think much of Lux. In his eyes, a castle made of marble wasn't that impressive.
The palace of the Dragon King was more impressive, so even though he was a little surprised that Lux decided to build a castle in the region that was given to him, he still looked down on him and his guild. For him, they were nothing but people from the lower realm.
Lux and his guild members, who were not aware of the Dragon Born's disdain for them, all drank happily.
However, after only taking a few sips, all of them froze as they heard the sound of a notification inside their heads.
A moment later, several rows of text appeared in front of them, making all the members of Heaven's Gate gasp in shock.
—--------
< The Path of Myths >
< Mythical Guild, Hidden Quest Completed! >
< Building your Guild Headquarters and Guild Facilities! >
< This is a chain quest. As you continue to grow your guild, you will continue to receive bonuses and great rewards! >
< Reward >
+1,000 Free Stat Points
– The Bonus Stat Points will also apply to all Beast Companions, Summons, and Mounts that belong to the Guild Members!
– Guild members who join in the future will also receive this reward. If they leave the guild, this reward will disappear.
—--------
Lux blinked once then twice as he read the information in front of him.
He didn't expect anything like this to happen. However, the unexpected reward was something that put a smile on his face.
Without further delay, the Half-Elf added the free stats points to his Soul Book, allowing him to step a little closer to the Initiate Rank.
—-----------
Name: Lux Von Kaizer
Age: 16
Race: Half-Elf
Rank: Grade A Apostle
Health: 123,000 / 123,000
Mana: 49,000 / 49,000
Strength: 650
Intelligence: 850
Vitality: 660
Agility: 600
Dexterity: 600
Special Abilities: Skill Evolution [EX], Mana Drain [EX], Item Transmutation [EX], Warrior's Luck [EX], Doppelganger [EX], Air Strider [EX], Dragon's Fear [EX], Elemental Shield [EX], Abyss Touch [EX], Guardian's Call, Dragon's Heart [EX], Dragon's Scale [EX], Corpse Explosion [EX], Undying Fervor [EX], Decaying Touch [EX], Animate Undead [EX], Skeleton Make [EX]
Special Body Constitution: Immortal Dragon Conqueror's Legacy
Summoning Skills. Summon Diablo, Summon Ishtar, Summon Pazuzu, Summon Orion, Summon Asmodeus, Summon Skeleton Gang Bangers, Summon Skeleton Grand Archers.
Necromancer's Covenant
– Dragon Knight Bedivere
Active Skills: Power Shot, Dark Arrow, Void Arrow, Fury Slash, Double Fury Slash, Battle Cry, Improved Jade Body (Mass Buff), Spinning Blades, Bone Wall, Barbed Bones, Sky-High Rush, Gale Storm,
Passive Skills: Enhanced Fortitude, Expert Parry, Tempest Fury, Last Stand, Sticky Foot, Very Tough.
Title: Apprentice Blacksmith, Negotiator, Outbreak Survivor, Eternal Guardian, Princess Knight
—-----------
To reach the Initiate Rank, one had to have a combined stat points of 5,000.
Right now, Lux's combined stats had surpassed 3,000, inching closer to the goal he wanted to reach.
According to Thoram, once someone stepped into the Initiate Rank, they would be given the opportunity to upgrade their Profession to its next advanced grade.
Currently, Lux was a Necromancer. Once he upgraded his Job Profession, he would be able to gain more skills, stats, and abilities that would make him stronger.
His Thunder Warg King, Jed, had also been upgraded to a Rank 4 Monster, alongside the other wargs that were currently serving Lux.
The Half-Elf also checked the stats of his Skeleton Army, as well as his Named Creatures, and found out that all of them had received the additional stat points as well.
The most surprising part was Eiko's personal page in Lux's Soul Book. The baby Slime's rank didn't change, even though she had received a great boost in status points.
—----
< Eiko >
"The world is my oyster!"
– Named Slime Monster
– Princess Slime
– Rating: E+
– Progress ( 0 / 40,000)
Health: 29,100 / 29,100
Mana: 55,000 / 55,000
Strength: 322
Intelligence: 1,100
Vitality: 382
Agility: 322
Dexterity: 322
—---------
< Diablo >
"Finally a worthy opponent. Our battle will be Legendary!"
– Named Skeleton
– Death Knight
– Rating: S
– Progress ( 0 / 20,000)
Health: 72,400 / 72,400
Mana: 36,200 / 36,200
Attack Type: Ethereal Damage
Strength: 363 (+21)
Intelligence: 342 (+20)
Vitality: 371 (+22)
Agility: 375 (+22)
Dexterity: 342(+22)
—-----------
< Pazuzu >
"Have no fear! Pazuzu is here!"
– Fortress Defender
– Rating: S
– Progress ( 0 / 20,000)
Health: 243,000 / 243,000
Mana: 30,000 / 30,000
Attack Type: Bludgeoning Physical Damage
Strength: 300
Intelligence: 300
Vitality: 810
Agility: 300
Dexterity: 300
—-------
< Ishtar >
"Let the living beware."
– Nightstalker
– Rating: S
– Progress (0 / 20,000)
Health: 76,000 / 76,000
Mana: 36,500 / 36,500
Attack Type: Ranged Ice Damage
Strength: 360
Intelligence: 365
Vitality: 380
Agility: 365
Dexterity: 325
—-------
< Orion >
"Where there is no struggle, there is no Strength."
– Named Golem
– Jade Golem
– Rating: S
– Mana 100
– Progress ( 0 / 20,000)
Health: 350,000 / 350,000
Mana: 25,000 / 25,000
Attack Type: Earth Elemental Damage
Strength: 500
Intelligence: 250
Vitality: 500
Agility: 250
Dexterity: 300
—--------
< Asmodeus >
"I stopped fighting my inner demons. We are on the same side now."
– Named Skeleton Mage
– Archlich
– Rating: S
– Progress ( 0 / 40,000)
Attack Type: Necrotic Damage
Health: 42,000 / 42,000
Mana: 440,000 / 440,000
Strength: 325
Intelligence: 1,100
Vitality: 420
Agility: 325
Dexterity: 325
—--------
Aside from the great boost that his baby Slime, as well as his Named Creatures received, Lux was also extremely happy that his Skeleton Gangbangers, Skeleton Grand Archers, Skeleton Mages, and Rock Golems had now become Rank 4 Monsters, making them quite formidable.
Naturally, it was not only Lux who received this grand upgrade. All of the members of Heaven's Gate received it as well, making the old Dwarves Cedwyn, Randolph, and Grandma Annie feel like they had been given a new lease on life.
Chapter 433 The Path Of Myths [Part 2]
"Oh My God! My Fei Fei is now stronger than ever!" Cai praised the baby golden Slime that was perched on its head, Fei Fei also felt happy since her stats was now equal with a Rank 4 Monster's, despite the fact that she had been born not long ago.
"Da Wae!" Fei Fei shouted, making its Master, Cai, continue praising her.
Not far from them, Laura and Livia looked at Sid in surprise, and their dependable older brother only smiled and patted their heads.
"Just because the two of you have gotten a little stronger doesn't mean that you girls can be careless when you go on adventures around Leaf Village," Sid said with a serious look on his face. "Since both of you are apprentice Alchemists, make sure to listen to Grandma Annie so that you will be able to wield these newfound powers. This reminder also applies to your Beast Companions, Cora and Nora."
Laura's and Livia's Slimes had also become Rank 4 Monsters thanks to the unexpected upgrade that they received.
"Wow!" Cora, who was Laura's baby slime, exclaimed.
"Yay!" Nora, who belonged to Livia, jumped happily beside her Master.
"Cora, you can now talk properly!" Laura picked up her baby Slime and spun her round and round.
"Nora, good job," Livia also picked up Nora and patted her head, making the baby Slime smile.
Bedivere was part of Lux's Covenant, and his Master's strength was his strength. The higher Lux's personal stats were, the higher his stats would become as well.
Heidi and Lilia were just as shocked as Laura and Livia because they didn't expect that they would also receive a status upgrade, but after Lux gave everyone a reminder that Cethus was observing them, they decided to talk using the Guild Chats special function, which was through telepathy.
"Cedie, you've become stronger as well," Heidi said as she picked up her baby Slime, whom she had chosen on the same day that Cai had chosen Fei Fei as her own Beast Companion.
"Un!" the baby Slime nodded, rejoicing the fact that it had grown stronger.
Cethus, who was observing them from the side, frowned.
He felt a sudden surge of power that lasted for a few seconds, and yet, something seemed to have instantly changed with the members of Lux's Guild, making him wonder if he was just overthinking things.
'Must be my imagination,' Cethus thought as he sipped the mead on his mug and continued observing the Guild that belonged to the Half-Elf.
The party lasted all through the night, but the children retired early. Since the castle had plenty of rooms, Lilia took Laura, Livia, and Heidi to a room where the three of them could sleep together.
While the children slept, the adults gathered and discussed the next course of action for their guild.
"There is a very dangerous Domain that I want to visit," Lux said through the guild chat, informing his guild members. "It is called the Domain of the Fallen. Its location is far from the Kingdom of Gweliven, so I can't take all of you with me."
Lux paused as he looked at Cai, Keane, and Sid, which were the only ones he could bring with him to his journey to challenge the Domain that was coveted by the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, as well as the Xynnar War Pact.
This three-way power struggle had become a problem as of late, but for Lux, it wasn't a problem.
As one of the people who could freely enter the Domain at any given time, the restrictions that were imposed on the others didn't affect him.
"This Domain has a Dungeon, which we call the Sacred Dungeon," Lux continued his explanation. "There are five gates in it, and each of them is respectively marked with the words Death, Famine, War, and Conquest. So far, we have conquered two of them, which were Death and Conquest."
Lux's guild members listened seriously to him because they had a feeling that there was a reason why the Half-Elf was telling this information to them.
"Everytime I conquer one of the dungeons, I receive a key that will allow me to go to an SSS-Ranked Kingdom," Lux stated. "Currently, I have two of these keys that would allow me to visit two of these Legendary Kingdoms. Do any of you know about the Kingdom of Agartha and the Elven Kingdom of Espoir Frieden?"
Cedwyn, Randolph, Grandma Annie, Thoram, Keelan, Boreas, and Aron, looked at the Half-Elf in shock.
"D-Did you just say Kingdom of Agartha?" Cedwyn's body shuddered from the surprise and excitement that he was feeling at the moment.
"Yes," Lux replied. "Do you know of it, Sir Cedwyn?"
"Of course we know of it!" Randolph interjected in the discussion. "Agartha is the legendary kingdom that was said to be located near this world's core that has stood since time immemorial. For us, dwarves, it is the Holy City that we would never see in our lifetime. Are you sure that we are talking about the same Agartha?!"
Lux nodded his head firmly, making the Dwarves look at him as if he was Santa Claus, who had come to give them presents.
"Due to various restrictions, I can only visit Agartha after reaching the Initiate Rank," Lux explained. "As for the Kingdom of Espoir Frieden, I can only go to it after I become a Ranker."
Grandma Annie, who was chewing on fried peanuts, raised her head to ask Lux a question.
"According to what I know about the Kingdom of Agartha, this is a kingdom that was founded in order to protect this World's Core from danger," Grandma Annie stated. "It will not be an exaggeration to say that its inhabitants are incredibly strong. Perhaps, just as strong as those who live in the capital city of Karshvar Draconis, which is under the protection of the Dragon King."
Lux nodded his head in agreement. When he just arrived in Rex Lapis, all of the guards that encircled him were Rankers.
This meant that the military might of the Dragon Kingdom was very high, dwarfing the power of the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, as well as Xynnar War Pact combined.
Simply put, they were Kingdoms which must not be offended no matter what, or one would risk their own nation's annihilation should any of these SSS-Ranked Kingdoms decide to retaliate.
"Us, Dwarves, know of its existence, but we don't know where it is," Keelan commented. "You know, I once told myself that if I can see the walls of Agartha, I can die happily afterwards. I guess I'll just have to wait until you become an Initiate, right?"
Keelan chuckled, making the other Dwarfs smile. If they could hitch a ride with Lux to see this fabled kingdom, they would definitely jump at the opportunity once it presented itself.
"I can't make any promises, but if it is possible, I'll take you guys with me," Lux said with a smile.
After talking for a bit more, the Half-Elf didn't gain much information about Espoir Frieden.
The Dwarves had interacted with elves, but they had never seen High-Elves. Also, they didn't really care much about the Kingdom of the Elves because, for them, they had no reasons to visit the Elves and appreciate their culture.
"If you are going to challenge those three remaining Dungeons in the Domain of the fallen, make sure to take extra care," Thoram commented. "According to what you told us, the members of the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, and Xynnar War Pact are desperately trying to clear the dungeons themselves. This means that the slots that you, Cai, and Keane possess are something that they would fight for, which will cause a lot of strife, possibly endangering the three of you as well."
Cedwyn nodded. "I advise that you no longer hold an auction for them. Just let them enter the dungeon for free and get it over with."
"Eh? But getting free resources is good!" Cai commented. "Isn't that right, Fei Fei?"
"Right," Fei Fei replied.
After getting her stat boost, all the Slimes' ability to talk was upgraded as well. They were now able to form words properly, but Fei Fei would still say "Da Wae!" from time to time.
"Right now, we need to grow and not make enemies," Keelan said. "Also, politics is a nasty thing. It is best that we stay clear from it for now."
Lux agreed with what his guild members were saying. There was also an issue with letting the members of the Storm Dragons enter the Sacred Dungeon in order to pay back the Wildgarde Stronghold for taking care of Lux when he was young.
He didn't mind doing this because he owed them a lot. The only reason why he didn't want to cooperate at the beginning was due to his grudge against Nero, but he had already decided to not let this affect his decision when it came to the stronghold's growth as a whole.
"Understood," Lux stated. "For now, I will leave the matters of the Ars General Store to you, Sir Keelan."
The Half-Elf then glanced at his Master, Randolph, and gave him a thumbs up. "Master, the smithy is ready for you to use anytime. I will be gone for a month or two, so I will not be able to be here in the Guild Headquarters during my expedition in the Dungeon.
"Grandma Annie, the Alchemy Room is also ready and waiting for you. I already bought an Advanced Alchemy Recipe Book and placed it on the bookshelf of the Alchemy Room."
"Thank you, Lux," Grandma Annie replied. "I will do my best."
Since Lux was planning to take Bedivere with him on the Dungeon Expedition, he would not be able to put the Bestiary to good use. For now, he decided to ask Cethus if he could find him a Beast Breeder or Beast Tamer who could help him look for flying beasts in the areas surrounding Karshvar Draconis.
He hoped that when he returned, the flying mounts of the Guild would be ready, waiting to be used by his Guild Members.
Chapter 434 Mischievous Little Bombardiers
In a place where the adults weren't looking, several baby Slimes huddled together.
Eiko looked at her friends with a smile as she took out several red Beast Cores from her storage bag.
Fei Fei, Cora, Nora, and Cedie looked at the cores in front of them with curious gazes.
"This?" Fei Fei asked as she looked at the Beast Cores that Eiko wanted to give them.
"Boom Boom!" Eiko replied with a mischievous smile.
"Boom?" Cora asked.
"Boom Boom?" Nora tilted her head.
"Boom…" Cedie blinked in confusion.
Eiko nodded. "Boom Boom Boom!"
While their Guild Headquarters was under construction, Eiko spent her time playing with the Bomb Lover, Glee.
The two hit it off right away because Eiko had also developed a fondness for things that exploded. As if finding her soulmate, Glee decided to share dozens of Beast Cores with Eiko, which were all from the same Monster.
The name of the Monster was the Bombardier Gorilla.
The Gorilla was a Rank 4 Monster and lived in mountainous regions, especially near volcanoes.
The thing that made this Monster dangerous was its ability called "Blast Bombs", which was its one and only skill.
This Monster hurled red metallic balls at its enemies which exploded upon impact. These red balls could also be detonated remotely, allowing the Bombardier Gorilla to ambush unwary adventurers and prey, who traveled deep inside its territory.
Wanting to share her hobby, Glee was always on the lookout for like-minded people who had a passion for destroying things using bombs. Because of this, she hunted Bombardier Gorillas on a regular basis, taking their Beast Core, in the hope that she would be able to spread the skill "Blast Bombs" to the people who shared the same hobbies.
Eiko knew that the baby Slimes didn't have any powerful skills that they could use to attack other Monsters.
That was why she decided to share with her friends some of the Beast Cores that were given to her by Glee, which Eiko planned to share with the other Slimes in Leaf Village as well.
Fei Fei, who had long wanted to acquire a strong attacking ability, didn't hesitate and swallowed the Beast Core before chewing it like it was a piece of candy.
After seeing Fei Fei eat the Beast Core, the other Slimes no longer hesitated and ate the Beast Core in front of them.
Since they were the Beast Companions of the members of Heaven's Gate, all of them benefited from the 100% chance to acquire skills through consuming Beast Cores.
While the baby Slimes were chewing the Beast Cores, a shadow descended upon them, which made them all raise their heads at the same time.
"What are you little ones doing?" Cai asked in curiosity. "What are you guys eating?"
"Boom Boom!" Eiko said as she took out a Red Beast Core and rolled it over to Cai's hoof.
"Boom Boom?" Cai tilted its head before looking down on the Beast Core in front of it.
"Un!" Eiko nodded her head.
Cai, who still didn't know what Boom Boom meant, decided to absorb the Beast Core in front of it.
Although the Boar didn't know what Eiko meant, she knew that absorbing the Beast Core wouldn't bring it any harm.
< You have acquired the skill Blast Bombs. >
Out of curiosity, Cai looked at the information of the skill in its Soul Book.
A moment later, loud explosions were heard near the crater, making everyone, who wasn't aware of what was happening, come out of their Guild Headquarters with their weapons drawn.
"What's wrong?! Are we under attack?!" Randolph was one of the first people to emerge from the castle, carrying his war hammer, ready to smash anyone that dared to invade their headquarters.
Lux had also arrived at the scene and was about to summon his Skeleton Army when he noticed that Cai, as well as the baby Slimes, having fun throwing exploding bombs, while riding on top of the shameless boar.
"False alarm, everyone." Lux sighed in relief as he placed his arms over his waist as he looked at the laughing Boar, who was running around the crater while carrying the baby Slimes on its back, who were like small terrorists, throwing bombs in their surroundings and setting off consecutive explosions.
It was the day after the party, and all of them were about to return to their respective duties, leaving only some of the Kobolds behind to mine the mountains around their Guild Headquarters.
Lux, Cai, and Keane would return to Solais and head straight to Wildgarde Stronghold, while Thoram and Keelan would return to the Stronghold of Norria.
Cedwyn, Grandma Annie, the Elders, Bedivere, Lilia, Heidi, Laura, and Livia, would return to Leaf Village as well.
As for Randolph, he decided to stay at the Guild Headquarters to experiment with forging the Draconium Ore that Lux had given him.
The Dwarf said that he wouldn't be able to sit still unless he tried to craft using the rare ore at least once, so Lux decided to let him do as he pleased.
"Cai, we're leaving!" Lux shouted to catch the Boar's attention.
Knowing that their play time was now over, the little Bombardiers that sat on the Boar's back stopped throwing bombs and looked innocently at their owners as if nothing had happened.
Lux knew that this was Eiko's doing because he had seen the baby Slime use the same skill when she was still playing with Glee.
However, since no harm was done, he decided to turn a blind eye to Eiko's mischief and talk to her at a later time about the proper use of explosives.
"Everyone, I'll inform you if something unexpected happens," Lux said as he faced his Guild Members. "If there comes a time that I need everyone's help once again, I will not hesitate to ask."
"Hahaha! As long as we are able to, then we will certainly help," Thoram said. "It has been a while since I gained some stats. Doing office work has made me a little rusty."
"Indeed," Keelan commented. "Handling the paperwork without stretching our muscles is not good in the long run."
Grandma Annie smiled. "As long as it will not break my old bones, I am willing to lend a hand."
"Me as well," Cedwyn declared as if he had regained a second wind, allowing him to return to his youthful glory. "Right now, I feel like I can even fight Dragon Borns."
"Oh really?" Cethus, who was standing not far away, arched an eyebrow. "How about we put your words to the test?"
"It was just a joke, Sir Dragon Born. Doesn't your race have some sense of humor?"
"Tch!"
Cethus clicked his tongue at the old Dwarf and decided to ignore him. When Lux told him that he would be leaving Karshvar Draconis for a month or two, he didn't believe it right away.
Because of this, he decided to keep watch and see for himself if the Half-Elf was really going to leave for a long time, or if he would sneak back inside his Guild Headquarters when the Dragon Born wasn't around.
Since he was tasked to become Lux's observer, he would not allow the Half-Elf to sneak past him. If the red-headed teenager were to cause trouble somewhere in the Dragon Kingdom, the one who would carry the blame was none other than him!
Lux, who was unaware of what Cethus was thinking, bid his goodbye to everyone and stepped into the portal.
His destination was none other than Wildgarde Stronghold, whose coordinates had already been registered in the Teleportation Gate of his Guild Headquarters.
Chapter 435 If They Want A Fight, They Will Have A Fight!
After Lux had disappeared from Wildgarde Stronghold, his friends and the elderly that had a good relationship with him and Vera had become quite worried about the two of them.
Vera's disappearance had caused a great stir, since even her fellow Guardians didn't know her current condition, except for Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer, who had been told by Alexander that his mother was in critical condition and was in an intensive care unit that forbade any visits from anyone who wanted to see her.
The moment the Half-Elf stepped out of the Teleportation Gate with Cai and Keane, news of his arrival traveled all over the entire Stronghold like wildfire.
It didn't even take ten minutes before Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer came to look for him to ask about Vera's current condition.
"Grandma is recovering well," Lux replied. "I'm sure that the next time you see her, all of you will be very surprised."
The trace of mischievousness in the Half-Elf's tone didn't escape the three Rankers, which made them breathe a sigh of relief.
If Lux was able to joke about his grandma's condition, it meant that Vera was no longer in danger and would soon return to the Stronghold.
Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer, followed Lux back to his home because they still had a lot of sensitive questions to ask, which were not meant to be heard by the public.
A few minutes later, the three Guardians, along with Cai and Keane, entered Lux's home.
There they sat in the living room, while Lux prepared to serve them some snacks and tea. When the preparations were done, the Half-Elf also sat and waited for his seniors to ask him the question that had been bugging them for quite some time.
"After you founded your Guild, you left to go to Elysium again, but no one knew where you were," Gerald said. "The Skystead Alliance and the Xynnar War Pact have been looking not only for you, but for Cai and Keane as well. The three of you hold the precious slots to enter the Domain of the Fallen, and they badly want to negotiate with you for the opportunity to enter it once more.
"Emperor Andreas had even sent his Ambassador to formally apologize for what happened in their territory when you were still doing your Trial of Leadership."
Lux snorted after hearing Gerald's words.
If it weren't for his Grandma, he would have been seriously injured in the City of Dainsleif, which belonged to the Vahan Empire.
To this day, Lux still held a grudge against Emperor Andreas for setting up a farce just to teach him a lesson.
Vera was still recuperating inside Blackfire because she had forced herself to appear despite the fact that she still hadn't fully recovered.
Although Lux wasn't too worried about her Rank going down, he still didn't want his Grandma to suffer because of him. For him, Vera and Iris were his only family in the world, and he would kill anyone who dared to hurt them.
As for Alexander, the Half-Elf didn't have to worry about his safety because his Stepfather was a Saint.
He would be more worried about the people who were foolish enough to get on his bad side.
"Einar, Val, and Xander must be feeling pretty anxious right now." Lux chuckled. "Sucks to be them."
Natasha shook her head. "You have no idea. Those three are at their wit's ends because they didn't want to offend anyone. Right now, they have implemented a rotation system where the Six Kingdoms, the Skystead Alliance, and the Xynnar War Pact would take their turns exploring the Domain of the Fallen and Sacred Dungeon, one after the other.
"This is working at the moment, but I'm sure that all of them are getting impatient by the lack of opportunities to explore the Dungeon in full. It will still take at least seven or eight months before the Domain reopens for everyone, and when that happens, everyone would definitely fight for the quotas to enter it."
Lux nodded his head in understanding. "If I remember correctly, only 500 slots are available each time the Domain of the Fallen opens to the public, right?"
"Right," Gerald replied. "By then, everyone might get a better chance to explore freely, but now, it is only you kids who hold the key to enter the Domain of the Fallen. All of you are like hot potatoes that everyone wants to take a bite out of."
Lux smiled because he understood that what Gerald was saying was true, however, he had other plans for the time being.
"I came here because I plan to go to the Domain of the Fallen with Cai and Keane," Lux stated. "Also, I plan to keep my promise to the Stronghold about sending fifteen members of the Storm Dragon Guild to explore it."
Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer looked at the Half-Elf as if he was an ancestor who had come back to life to give them gifts for being good boys and girls.
"This is indeed good news, but I'm afraid that the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, and Xynnar War Pact wouldn't like it," Rainer said as he rubbed his chin. "The entrance to the Domain is being managed by the combined forces of the three factions, and no one would be able to go inside without their approval."
Lux arched an eyebrow after hearing this development. However, he already had a plan in mind to pacify the three factions.
"Tell the Ambassador of each faction that I plan to let them use our slots for free after Wildgarde Stronghold has had their turn," Lux stated. "We will no longer hold an auction for the limited slots and allow everyone in each faction to enter it once a month.
"We will go with the rotation system that Einar, Val, and Xander are implementing right now. If we follow this format, each faction will be able to send thirty of their members inside the Dungeon, which is a sizable force, allowing them to clear one of the gates in Hell Mode. I'm sure they would like this offer very much."
Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer glanced at each other before nodding their heads in agreement.
"Very well, we will go with this plan," Gerald said as he stood up from his seat. "I will contact their people right now and discuss the conditions that you have presented. What should I say if they try to impose other conditions before they agree to your proposal?"
Lux smirked as he gazed at the commander of Wildgarde Stronghold, who was unable to sit still knowing that their own force would be able to monopolize the Domain of the Fallen for a time.
"Simple," Lux replied. "Just tell them that the deal is off. If they want to block our way then we can always ask Cai's Grandpa and my Stepfather to escort us to the entrance of the Domain. That way, even if they want to say something, they will have no choice but to hold their tongue. Cai's Grandpa is notorious for being a hot-head, and I'm sure that not even the Skystead Alliance wants to be on his bad side."
"Ahem!" Cai raised its snout proudly because, for it, its Grandpa was its idol. "Those little sh*ts won't dare to say anything once my grandpa is there. If they want a fight, they will have a fight!"
Keane, who was calmly drinking his tea on the side, was quite impressed by the Boar's unwavering confidence to its grandfather.
Gerald also thought that this was a good countermeasure in case the other parties decide to ask for something unreasonable.
After finalizing the details with Lux, the Commander of Wildgarde Stronghold went to Elysium to have a meeting with the Ambassadors of all sides.
Meanwhile, Natasha and Rainer summoned Nero to tell him the details of the expedition to the Domain of the Fallen.
Now that Lux had decided to let their Stronghold take the spotlight, they must do everything in their power to ensure that they would return home with as many gains as possible by the time their expedition was over.
After the three adults left, the Half-Elf told Cai and Keane to rest for the time being because they would be going to the Domain of the Fallen the following day.
Back then, they had entered the Gate of War, while the representatives of the Vahan Empire entered the Gate of Conquest.
The Half-Elf was very curious whether he would meet Watson and Sherlock again if he entered the Gate of Conquest this time around.
'I hope I see them there again,' Lux thought as the image of the two leading figures of the Gnome Kingdom appeared inside his head.
If his hunch proved to be true, then it might allow him to gain a better understanding about how the Gates of the Sacred Dungeon worked, and the possibility of predicting what would happen the next time they enter its doors.
Chapter 436 The Vahan Empire’s Proposal
Gerald, the Ambassadors of the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, as well as the Xynnar War Pact, met at the entrance of the Domain of the Fallen to discuss the contents of Lux's proposal.
"So, in exchange for allowing your own faction's brats to explore the Domain of the Fallen, and challenge the Sacred Dungeon, we no longer have to pay for the slots of that Half-Elf and his two lackeys, right?" the Ambassador from the Vahan Empire asked.
"Yes," Gerald answered. "That is what Lux told me."
"Hoh… this sure is a tempting offer, but it doesn't sit well with me," the Ambassador from the Xynnar War Pact said. "Since the Wildgarde Stronghold are our allies, wouldn't it be better if you just give those slots to us instead? That way the relationship between us and the Six Kingdoms will remain strong. Isn't that right, my friend?"
The Ambassador of the Xynnar War Pact glanced in the direction of the Ambasador of the Six Kingdoms, which was composed of the Kingdoms that belonged in Solais.
"Hahaha, our relationship has always been good," the Ambassador of the Six Kingdoms replied. "This is why I believe that you should allow us to explore the Domain first. Also, need I remind everyone here that we have already compromised a lot when we gave the larger portion of our quota to both of your factions?"
Although the Ambassador of the Six Kingdoms didn't like the fact that the Wildgarde Stronghold would monopolize Lux's slots to enter the Domain of the Fallen, he simply couldn't allow the two other factions to always get their way.
"Out of the 500 slots that were allowed to enter the Domain of the Fallen, the Six Kingdoms only took 100, giving 200 each to the Skystead Alliance and the Xynnar War Pact," the Ambassador continued. "With this, you guys have the advantage in numbers when the Domain opens for everyone in seven months time.
"Didn't you hear the Half-Elf's proposal? The Wildgarde Stronghold's monopoly will only be a one time thing, and the next sessions will be given to all of us in rotation for free. I say that this is a good opportunity to increase the number of explorers that we can send into the Dungeon. After all, the monsters inside it are very strong."
The Ambassador made sure that he said the last words firmly, reminding the two factions that they had already lost a significant number of elite teenagers inside the Domain of the Fallen.
While it was true that dying inside the Sacred Dungeon wasn't a permanent death, the trip to reach the Dungeon was a dangerous one.
In fact, it was so dangerous that sometimes, more than half of the people they sent were killed before they even reached the location of the Sacred Dungeon, and their deaths were a permanent one.
There were no second chances.
There were no Redos.
Each Faction had already lost dozens of promising members of the young generation, making them understand how merciless the Domain of the Fallen was.
A brief silence descended upon the meeting as the other Ambassadors digested the words that were said by their colleague.
"Tell me, will that Half-Elf also enter the Sacred Dungeon and try to conquer one of its gates?" one of the Rankers asked.
"... You're Aron, right?" Gerald asked the Ranker who also served as Emperor Andreas' right-hand man.
He was also the High-Ranker who had faced Vera in the Coliseum when Lux's Grandma was about to deal with the Ranker that tried to harm her grandson.
"Yes," Aron replied. "I was sent here by His Majesty to supervise the negotiations. So, will that boy, Lux, once again challenge one of the Gates in the Sacred Dungeon?"
Gerald nodded. "That is his intention."
"Good then how about we do it like this," Aron stated. "Currently, Xander, Einar Mordosk, and Vallaki Meitar are scheduled to bring our people to the Sacred Dungeon in a week's time. Why don't we bring five people from the Skystead Alliance, Xynnar War Pact, and the Six Kingdoms, to accompany Lux to clear the Dungeon he plans to challenge? That way, not only will it become easier, the chances of clearing it will also be higher, right?"
The Ambassadors and the Rankers of the other Kingdoms, who were also present in the entrance of the Domain of the Fallen all realized what Aron was suggesting.
Lux, as well as his friends, were the only people that had managed to clear two of the five gates of the Sacred Dungeon.
Since he was going to challenge them a third time, Aron believed that the Half-Elf had the confidence that he would be able to clear it.
If the Half-Elf managed to clear it with their own elites working alongside him, they would also gain the recognition of the Sacred Dungeon, allowing them to bring their own people inside it, similar to what Lux, and his friends were doing right now.
Of course, if Aron only said that only the members of the Skystead Alliance would enter alongside Lux, he would be facing harsh opposition from their counterparts.
However, since he said that they would each send five of their members to accompany Lux, that meant that all of them would gain five people that could potentially bring their own faction inside the Domain of the Fallen, without needing to wait for the Half-Elf to bring them inside.
Of course, this would only work if the Dungeon was cleared. But, Aron believed that Lux would be able to do it.
This was also the opinion of the others, making Gerald reconsider sending the Storm Dragons to explore on their own.
'If Nero's Guild also accompanied Lux, and they managed to clear one of the dungeons, that would mean that the people on our side could gain the authority to bring more people from our faction inside in the future,' Gerald thought. 'This Aron is very devious, trying to gain an advantage even in this situation, but his idea isn't bad. If everyone were to work together to clear a dungeon, I believe that our chances of success would indeed be higher.'
All the Ambassadors were smart individuals, so they already grasped what Aron was hinting at.
"I agree with this proposal." The Ambassador of the Skystead Alliance nodded. "How about the rest of you?"
"I have no objections," the Ambassador of the Xynnar War Pact replied.
"No objections from me as well," the Ambassador of the Six Kingdoms smiled, agreeing with this arrangement.
"Good, it's settled then," Aron said as he shifted his gaze towards Gerald, who was the Commander of the Stronghold that Lux was currently living in. "Tell Lux that we accept his proposal. Also, Emperor Andreas felt truly sorry for what happened back in our Empire. He told me that he was willing to compensate Lux for his traumatic experience, and give him a Silver Token that would allow him to make a Silver-Ranked Guild.
"We will also shoulder the expenses of building his Guild Headquarters, and are more than happy to have it built in one of the best locations in our Empire. Please, pass this message to him, won't you?"
Gerald smiled and nodded his head. "I will pass your message to him."
"Thank you."
"It's not a big deal."
Gerald was doing his best to keep the sneer on his face from appearing.
'A Silver Token so he can make a Silver-Ranked Guild? What a bunch of Fools,' Gerald mused. 'If you only knew what rank Lux's Guild was, you'd probably regret the farce you put on in your Empire.'
A Guild could only raise its rank if the Kingdom where the Guild was founded recognized that their performance had reached a standard where they could be promoted.
This was similar to Aina's Silver-Ranked Guild, Eternal, where Colette, Matty, and the other Dwarfs who had become Lux's friends were staying.
The Storm Dragon Guild, which Nero led, also fell under this category. They had achieved feats that gained the approval of the Kingdom that they belonged in, allowing them to get promoted.
Simply put, it was the Kings and Emperors of the World that decided whether a Guild could be promoted or not. Those they favored could be promoted without encountering any hardships, allowing them to rise above their peers in a heartbeat.
The Old Lux might have jumped at the opportunity to own a Silver-Ranked Guild, but now, the Half-Elf would only spit at the offer of the Vahan Empire.
Naturally, Gerald wouldn't say these things and only kept the friendly smile on his face as he, and the other Ambassadors wrapped up their discussions.
Three hours later, Gerald returned to the Wildgarde Stronghold and informed the Half-Elf of the agreement that all parties had decided to make for the next Dungeon expedition.
"Oh? So they plan to hitch a ride?" Lux arched an eyebrow after hearing the outcome of the negotiations. 'They also want to give me a Silver Token to create a Silver-Ranked Guild? It seems that Emperor Andreas thinks that I am very desperate to create a Guild. Good, maybe I can use this to my advantage.'
The Half-Elf didn't expect Aron to give such a daring proposal. However, since he was growing tired of dealing with the Skystead Alliance, Xynnar War Pact, as well as the Six Kingdoms, he decided to go along with what they suggested, so that they would leave him alone.
Although he could go to the Gweliven Kingdom, and Karshvar Draconis to do some exploration, he felt very restricted because he couldn't explore the places in his own backyard, which was the territory of the Xynnar War Pact in Elysium.
Vera had told him in the past that there were some interesting places to be found there, and Lux planned to check them out.
However, after getting on the bad side of the different factions, he was banned from spreading his wings in the Human kingdoms, causing him to resort to flying back to the Dwarves, where he was forced to face the Monster of Ruin, whose strength made him shudder every time he thought about it.
'This is just a one time thing,' Lux thought as he contemplated his next course of action. 'This will not change what I needed to do. But, if they think that they can leech off me, they have another thing coming to them.'
The Half-Elf wasn't someone who let others take advantage of him, so he decided to squeeze the leeches for what they were worth until they puked blood, making them understand that he wasn't a soft persimmon that they could pinch anytime they wanted.
He had already decided to enter the Gate of Conquest, which the members of the Vahan Empires had challenged last time.
If his hunch was right, he might be thrown onto the same battlefield as last time, allowing him to meet Sherlock and Watson, giving him some advantage for whatever the Dungeon would throw at him.
Chapter 437 Hello, Villager A. Nice To Meet You
One week later…
Lux, Cai, and Keane, stood at the entrance of the Domain of the Fallen with the members of the Storm Dragon Guild.
Nero had already been briefed of his mission to support Lux.
The handsome young man didn't show any signs of dissatisfaction on the surface, but deep inside, he didn't like the idea of teaming up with Lux.
However, since this was the order of the higher-ups he had no choice but to nod his head and agree to obey his orders without fail.
"I haven't seen the three of you in ages," Einar said as he walked towards Lux with a smile.
In the past, the proud Barbarian Prince had fought with the Half-Elf, who had disguised himself as a chubby Human teenager in the tournament.
After fighting side by side with Lux in the Gate of Death, the Barbarian finally threw his grudges to the side and accepted Lux as one of the strongest members of the young generation, whom he had set as his goal to defeat.
Also, after conquering two Gates with the Half-Elf, the Barbarian had subconsciously made a decision in his heart to always go with Lux whenever he was going to challenge one of the Gates in the Sacred Dungeon.
"Yo, are you guys ready to conquer the third Dungeon?" Val said as he approached the Half-Elf and his friends. "This will be another walk in the park, right?"
"You bastard! What walk in the park?" Einar lightly pounded Val's chest in mock anger. "I still haven't forgotten what you did to me last time."
Val patted his chest before glaring at the Barbarian.
"It's not my fault you are weak," Val replied. "Next time, do better, and don't blame others for your shortcomings."
Einar only shrugged after hearing Val's futile attempt to taunt him.
Xander shook his head as he looked at everyone who was going to conquer another Dungeon. Their small group wouldn't be entering alone this time.
"We meet again, Half-Elf," Malcolm, who was the party leader that led the elite members of the Vahan Empire on the last expedition, said in a teasing tone. "Have you grown a little stronger since the last time we met?"
Lux glanced at the arrogant, young man with dark-blue hair and eyes.
"Who are you?" Lux asked.
"Surely you jest?" Malcolm asked back. "How can you forget someone like me?"
"Cai, do you know who this is?" Lux asked the Boar who was busy talking to Laura and Livia in the Guild Chat.
Cai frowned before shifting its attention to the Initiate that was standing in front of them.
"Sorry, I don't know the name of Cannon Fodders," Cai replied. "How about we call him Villager A for now?"
"Sounds good." Lux nodded. "Hello, Villager A. Nice to meet you."
Malcolm laughed, but his laughter was filled with irritation. He could still remember the time when the Half-Elf had thwarted his plans.
If not for the fact that Lux had used such a diabolical skill to wipeout the army he was serving during the war, he would have been one of the most important figures in the young generation after conquering the Gate of Conquest, and have his name placed among the conquerors who managed to beat the Dungeon.
After his defeat, Malcolm had trained very hard and raised his Rank by a small margin. Even though he was already an Initiate, he wanted to become a Ranker as soon as possible in order to gain a higher position in the Vahan Empire, where his father served as its Great General.
"We'll see who's the Villager A later," Malcolm replied before taking a few steps back. He knew that this was an important mission for his Empire, so he didn't want to cause any problems before they entered the Domain.
He only planned to give Lux a greeting and a warning that he wasn't the same person that the Half-Elf had fought in the past.
Malcolm was confident that if he and the Half-Elf met again on opposing sides, the one who would lose this time would be Lux and his friends.
Half an hour later, all of the members for the expedition had arrived. However, before anyone started, Lux decided to take the initiative to tell everyone what he had in mind.
"I will be the one to lead this expedition, so I want everyone to listen to my orders," Lux announced. "If you cannot listen to my orders then you should back away. I don't have time to deal with deadweights, and those who just plan to leech off of me.
"All of you are carrying observer crystals so your superiors can see what you're doing inside the dungeon. Don't blame me later if you get killed inside for not following orders. I have no use for useless people."
Nero frowned but he didn't say anything. Since he had already agreed with Gerald's orders, he would cater to the Half-Elf's whims for the duration of the expedition.
As for the members of the Skystead Alliance, Xynnar War Pact, as well as Six Kingdoms, they wanted to complain, but after getting a glare from their superiors, all of them held back their words, and simply glared back at the Half-Elf who was standing at the entrance of the Domain of the Fallen with his arms crossed over his chest.
The reason why Lux was confident in challenging the Domain was due to his Summons getting an upgrade.
All of his units were now Rank 4 Monsters. In short, Lux could summon forces that could easily match a Bronze Guild in terms of quality and quantity. Because of this, he was confident that he could challenge the Gate of Conquest even if he only brought Cai, Keane, Einar, Val, and Xander with him.
This was something that the other factions didn't know, so they were still underestimating his abilities.
Depending on how the situation turned out, the Half-Elf would not hesitate to leave everyone behind, bringing only those who had fought alongside him to conquer the Gate of Death and the Gate of War a few months ago, with him.
Chapter 438 The Expedition’s Temporary Leader [Part 1]
"Look at you, acting like a big shot," Henrietta, the Guildmaster of Serenity, which represented Barbatos Academy said as she elbowed the Half-Elf's side playfully. "To think that the sickly caterpillar whom Iris loved would emerge into a handsome butterfly. You've surely made her proud."
Lux smiled as he looked at Henrietta, who served as one of Iris' close confidants in Barbatos Academy.
He didn't expect Henrietta to be one of the five members that would represent the Six Kingdoms on this Dungeon expedition.
"What made you come here?" Lux asked. "Aren't you supposed to be doing a mission somewhere?"
Henrietta covered her lips and chuckled before giving Lux the "I knew you'd say that" gaze.
"The Headmaster told me to keep an eye on you and make sure that you didn't do anything stupid," Henrietta replied. "Also, I wasn't present at the tournament, so I didn't see how awesome you were. This time, show me a bit of that awesomeness, okay?"
Henrietta gave Lux a playful wink, making the Half-Elf roll his eyes. For him, Henrietta was that Big Sister he never had, always protecting Iris and him from those who said bad things about them.
"Okay, Sister," Lux replied. "I will show you how awesome I am. Just make sure you don't fall in love with me, okay?"
"Fool. Did you forget that I already have a fiance? Even if you are stronger than my man, I will not exchange him for you. Otherwise, Iris would definitely give me a good nagging."
"Speaking of your fiance, where is Hector?" Lux asked.
"Managing the Guild in my place."
"I already knew that he is going to be a henpecked husband, but hearing it from your own lips confirms my guess."
The two exchanged several playful jabs at each other while the Half-Elf gave the other representatives of the Six Kingdoms a side-long glance.
The Prince of the Elves, Enlil Neifion, who had escaped during the tournament in fear of his life, was there to represent the Elves.
Gilmore Faisal, the young sword prodigy, who had fought against Keane in the tournament, was there to represent the Axton Kingdom.
Two other teenagers, whom Lux didn't recognize, were also there to represent the rest of the Six Kingdoms. According to Henrietta, both of them were also prodigies, who were known in their circle as Brett and Rhett.
The two of them were twins, and both had short black hair. The only difference between them was the color of their eyes. Brett had blue eyes, while Rhett had green, allowing others to tell who was who.
As for the representatives of the Xynnar War Pact and Skystead Alliance, Lux didn't really care who they were.
"Let's go," Lux said. "Remember, follow my orders. Those who don't want to obey can just solo the Dungeon on their own."
The Half-Elf, alongside Cai, Keane, Einar, Val, and Xander, placed their hands and hoof on the Gate of the Domain, allowing them and their party members to enter the Domain of the Fallen.
The people that accompanied Lux had all entered the Domain at least once, making them very familiar with their surroundings.
Everyone knew that the hardest part of the journey was the trek to the entrance of the Sacred Dungeon.
Several powerful Monsters that were Deimos-Ranked and above wandered in the vicinity, always on the lookout for the flesh and blood of the weaker teenagers, who were starting to become a regular part of their diet.
Lux, who was paying attention to his Soul Book that was hovering beside him, frowned.
Right now, his Soul Book was invisible to everyone because the owner of the book had the option to only allow those whom they trusted to see it and keep it hidden from those whom they didn't trust.
'This is bad,' Lux thought. 'The moment we entered, the monsters positioned themselves to ambush us along the way.'
While the Half-Elf was deep in thought, Malcolm and his group had started to walk in the direction of the Sacred Dungeon without waiting for Lux's orders.
"Aren't we going to follow them?" Henrietta, who stood beside Lux, asked as she tapped his shoulder.
"If they want to die so badly then let them die," Lux replied. "I'm not here to babysit them. They've been inside this Domain numerous times already, and they still don't know the basic rule that there is safety in numbers. Maybe they think that the five of them can beat an Argonaut Ranked Beast by themselves."
After entering the dungeon, Einar, Val, and Xander didn't move from their spot and waited for Lux to give his orders.
Although they were the leaders of their own Guilds, they already treated Lux as their temporary leader whenever they entered the Domain of the Fallen.
The members of the Six Kingdoms, as well as the Xynnar War Pact, also stood by his side. Although they didn't know what the Half-Elf was waiting for, they had been given strict orders to follow him whether they liked it or not.
Malcolm, who was leading the representatives of the Skystead Alliance, glanced behind him and frowned.
"What are you all waiting for?" Malcolm asked. "Do you plan to stay there for the entire day? Hey, Leader, what's wrong? Did you suddenly get cold feet?"
The members of the Skystead Alliance all laughed after hearing Malcolm's words.
They were already very annoyed by the fact that they had to follow the Half-Elf's orders, but now that Lux wasn't moving from his spot, their annoyance turned to irritation.
"Let's go," Lux said as he walked in a different direction, stepping away from the established route that those who entered the Domain of the Fallen had always used to head towards the Sacred Dungeon, catching everyone by surprise.
Cai and Keane followed behind Lux, as did Einar, Val, and Xander.
They had complete trust in the Half-Elf, so even though they weren't sure where he was going, they still followed him due to their previous experiences when they fought alongside him.
'This is interesting,' Henrietta thought as she followed behind Lux.
She was sent there by the Headmaster of Barbatos Academy to keep an eye on Lux, so she would do as she was commanded.
Enlil clicked his tongue, but he also followed behind the Half-Elf despite his innate hate for filthy half-bloods.
Gilmore also followed, not because he trusted Lux, but because he trusted the judgment of the person whom he deemed as his rival, which was Keane.
He believed that the mysterious swordsman could make sound decisions, so he decided to follow his hunch and tagged along.
One by one, the representatives of the different factions followed the Half-Elf, leaving Malcolm and his group staring at them from a distance.
"Captain, what should we do?" one of Malcolm's subordinates asked.
Malcolm narrowed his eyes before making a gesture that they should follow Lux.
Since they were all wearing artifacts that allowed their superiors to observe what was happening inside the Domain, they couldn't defy Lux's orders, or they would be punished if their mission ended early due to their stubbornness.
As the teenagers took a detour, the Monsters that planned to ambush them remained. They were not aware that the Humans were already heading in a different direction instead of following the path they had always taken whenever they entered the Domain of the Fallen.
Chapter 439 The Expedition’s Temporary Leader [Part 2]
Each time people entered the Domain of the Fallen, the Monsters inside it would sense a faint ripple in the air.
This told them that the Humans had once again returned, and it was time to take a bite out of some of them once more.
All the monsters inside the Domain of the Fallen had their own agendas, and they were not allied with each other. All of them were hunters and preyed on each other, which meant that they mustn't engage in a drawn out battle and injure themselves, or else, their rivals would prey upon them.
Everytime the teenagers entered, the Monsters would hide in different places along the route they normally took to ambush them.
Also, they made sure to stay a fair distance from each other, preventing the other monsters from taking advantage of them.
Lux had a serious look on his face as he led the teenagers on a path that was void of Monsters. Since the majority of them had decided to ambush them, some places were left wide open, allowing the Half-Elf to exploit them.
"Hey, when are we goin–" Malcolm wasn't able to finish his words because the Half-Elf glared at him, making him flinch.
"We are deep in the Monsters' territories," Lux stated. "Unless you want to announce our location to them, feel free to talk, but we're kicking you out of the team."
The Half-Elf no longer bothered with Malcom, despite the latter being an Initiate, and thus, stronger than him.
Nero, who was observing this exchange, kept a calm look on his face, but made sure to take note that Malcolm and Lux didn't get along.
—------
Outside of the Sacred Dungeon…
"If this mission fails, it will be the fault of the Skystead Alliance," a Ranker of the Xynnar War Pact said with a smile. "Damn bastard doesn't know when to shut up."
The Rankers and Ambassadors that belonged to the Skystead Alliance glared at the Ranker who spoke up, but they didn't say anything in return.
They were also very displeased with how Malcolm was conducting himself, making them reconsider whether he was fit to lead their representatives the next time they entered the Dungeon.
Aron, who was King Andreas' right hand man, simply observed the teenagers for now.
Although the only thing he could see was the Half-Elf's back, the earlier exchange allowed him to glimpse Lux's serious expression, making him understand that the red-headed teenager wasn't fooling around when he chose to take a different route.
—-------
Back at the Domain of the Fallen…
The Half-Elf suddenly raised a hand, stopping everyone from moving.
He then turned around to place a finger on his lips, and motioned for everyone to crouch down.
He then pointed at their left side and made a gesture of slicing his neck, telling them that there was a Monster on their left side that could potentially kill them.
The Half-Elf then crouched beside a nearby tree and made a hand signal for everyone to hide.
Everyone followed his orders because they had also sensed a strong presence in the surroundings.
All of them were Grade A Apostles and Initiates. They were at the rank when their perceptions of their surroundings had reached a certain threshold, allowing them to instinctively feel if danger was near.
Soon, the ground started to shake as heavy footsteps were heard in the distance. Everyone used their skills to make their presence as small and as unnoticeable as possible.
Some slowed their heart rate, some used a spell to remove their scents, while others used artifacts to blend in with their surroundings.
Eiko hid inside Lux's robes, and Fei Fei huddled with Cai.
The Boar had decreased its size, making it difficult for anyone to spot it.
Soon, the footsteps came to a complete stop as the Argonaut-Ranked Gorilla looked around.
A minute later, it caught the presence of a weaker Monster, whom it deemed perfect for a snack, and headed in that direction.
Only when the Gorilla left did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
However, Lux still had his hand raised in a stopping motion, telling everyone to hold their position.
Only when the Argonaut Monster had distanced itself from their location did the Half-Elf motion for everyone to follow him.
After that incident, everyone had become more obedient to the Half-Elf and silently followed him as they waded through uncharted territories, in a jungle that was infested with Monsters stronger than them.
Six agonizing hours later, they finally arrived at their destination without losing a single member.
A special barrier surrounded the Sacred Dungeon, repelling the monsters around it.
It was also considered a "Safe Zone", giving the teenagers an opportunity to catch their breath and rest.
"We'll stay here for a few hours to rest," Lux ordered. "Until then, all of you are free to do whatever you want, just as long as you don't wander far from the barrier."
Malcolm walked away as soon as Lux had given that order. He was quite exhausted from the long trek, and even though he was one of the strongest members in their group, the close encounters along the way still took a toll on his physical and emotional state.
After the Argonaut Ranked Gorilla, Lux and the others had encountered six more Monsters of the same rank, making them fear for their life each time it happened.
Fortunately, the Half-Elf was able to warn them in advance, allowing them to hide and erase their presence and preventing the Monster from detecting them.
Just as he expected, the members of the Xynnar War Pact, Skystead Alliance, Six Kingdoms, as well as the Storm Dragon Guild, all went to different locations to rest, with the exception of Henrietta, who decided to stay with Lux's group.
"How were you able to know where we were going?" Henrietta asked. "We have never seen anyone take that route before, so how did you do it?"
Lux looked at the beautiful lady in front of him with a serious expression on his face before giving his answer.
"Half-Elf's intuition," Lux replied, which made Henrietta shake her head bitterly.
Unlike Iris, who treated her as her confidant, Lux kept his secrets close to his heart, only telling those whom he deemed to be trustworthy.
Although he trusted Henrietta to a certain extent, his trust in her wasn't as strong as the trust he had with Iris and his grandmother, Vera.
On top of that, everyone had the artifacts that allowed those who were outside the Domain to see and hear what they were talking about, making it impossible for the Half-Elf to tell anyone the truth.
"Still, to think that all of you could get along is something new to me," Henrietta glanced at the Barbarian Prince, Einar, the Spiderboy, Val, and Xander, who was also one of the most outstanding members of the young generation.
She had noticed that all of them always took Lux's words to heart, making her sense that they had developed some kind of bond that was hard to explain.
"It's normal to have a little faith in the people who have shared life and death battles with you," Einar, who was sharpening his Great Axe, commented when he heard Henrietta's words.
"We have conquered two of the Gates of this Dungeon together, so isn't it normal for us to stick together?" Val stated. "We have witnessed how capable everyone is, so we'd rather be with them than those who are stronger but lack the attitude to conquer the challenges of the Dungeon together. Even that pig over there is better than the Initiates of the Vahan Empire."
Cai, who heard Val's words, glared at the pale-faced boy who seemed to be suffering from a lack of sunlight.
"Oi! I'm a Boar not a Pig!" Cai shouted. "Spiderboy, you better correct your attitude towards me, or I'll not help you in the Dungeon later."
"Who needs your help?" Val arched an eyebrow. "The only thing you are good at is taking advantage of opportunities."
"Ahem! Taking advantage of opportunities is a good trait to have," Cai replied. "It is that one small opening that separates winners from losers. I am a winner, unlike you Spiderboy, who lost to My Daddy in the tournament."
"Stop calling me Spiderboy," Val glared at the boar. "Didn't you lose as well? You are one to talk!"
"At least, I was second place," Cai replied with a smug look on its face. "Unlike you who lost before even getting into the Finals."
"You want a piece of me, Pig?"
"Hah! Bring it on, Spidey! I eat Spiders like you for breakfast!"
Henrietta watched the two bicker with an amused expression on her face. Originally, she thought that everyone in Lux's party got along, but after seeing Cai's and Val's exchange, she felt like her assumptions were a bit off the mark.
Even so, for now, she had determined that Lux was qualified to be the temporary leader of their group.
'I will observe him more for now, so I can give a proper report when I get back,' Henrietta thought. 'Iris, I thought that I knew Lux well, but it seems that the image of the sickly boy in my head is no longer an appropriate way to describe your fiance.'
Just like everyone else, Henrietta was carrying an artifact that allowed Alexander to see what was happening inside the Domain of the Fallen.
Iris and Alicia were also in the Headmaster's office, watching the expedition in real time.
In truth, Alexander wanted to see how much Lux had grown since the tournament. Because of this, he assigned Henrietta to stick close to him so that he would be able to observe what other secrets the Half-Elf was hiding from him.
Chapter 440 Ars Goetia Mercenary Group [Part 1]
Lux and his entourage rested for a full six hours before finally regrouping to challenge the Gate of Conquest.
This particular gate was strongly requested by the Vahan Empire, which made Lux wonder if the gate had something inside that Emperor Andreas wanted.
Since his original target was also the Gate of Conquest, he had no problems with their request.
However, he made it look like he was very reluctant to agree to their condition, which forced Aron, who was Emperor Andreas' right-hand man, to talk to him in private.
The High-Ranker secretly passed a storage ring to the Half-Elf, which contained a silver token, half a million gold coins, as well as a deed of a plot of land that was located near the capital of the Vahan Empire.
Aron told him that Emperor Andreas wanted to fix their shaky relationship and promised the Half-Elf that, if he built his Guild Headquarters in the Vahan Empire, he would get the Emperor's full support.
Lux thanked Aron and even showed interest in the plan to build a Guild Headquarters in the Vahan Empire. Of course, this was only on the surface. Deep inside, Lux was sneering at them for their futile attempts to butter him up after what they had done to him in their capital city of Dainsleif.
"We are going to challenge the Gate of Conquest this time," Lux said as he looked at the people around him. "I'm sure you have already experienced what it was like to challenge the Hell Mode of the Sacred Dungeon. I don't have to remind you all how hard it is. With that said, I want everyone to listen to my orders, no matter how weird it may seem."
Seeing that all of them still had a reluctant look on their faces, the Half-Elf decided to brag a little bit to make them step up their game.
"As someone that had conquered two of the Gates of the Sacred Dungeon, I already know what I'm talking about," Lux stated. "None of you have done it, despite the fact that some of you are stronger than me. Clearing a dungeon doesn't only require having a high rank. It also requires everyone to work together to achieve a common goal, just like I, and my comrades here, have achieved.
"If you don't choose to cooperate, that is fine with me. However, don't forget that you are now being watched. If this expedition fails then, hehehe…"
The Half-Elf gave the Factions of the Six Kingdoms, Skystead Alliance, and Xynnar Warpact a devilish smile, making all of their livers itch.
Even those who were watching them from the outside could feel the pressure because their counterparts were observing their representatives as well.
If the mission truly failed, everyone would know who was to blame, and that would put them at a disadvantage when future negotiations for the exploration of the Domain of the Fallen, as well as the Sacred Dungeon, were held again.
Malcolm knew that if he f*cked this up, he would lose Emperor Andreas' support, making him unable to climb up in the ranks of nobility because of his lackluster performance.
Although he didn't like Lux, he would hate it if his future prospects became dim because of a personal grudge against him. So, for the time being, Malcolm made a vow to himself to do what he was ordered to do, even if it meant obeying the Half-Elf's orders to the dot.
Seeing that his point had been carried across to everyone, the Half-Elf nodded and pressed his right hand over the Gate of Conquest.
Everyone on the expedition was now in his party, so they would accompany him as members of his group.
A moment later, all of theme bathed in a radiant light, momentarily blinding them.
Not long after, they found themselves standing at a hill, overlooking a fortress.
"That's the flag of the Ammar Kingdom," Malcolm stated as he pointed at the flags that were fluttering on the ramparts of the fortress. "There is no mistake about it. This is a fortress that belongs to the Ammar Kingdom."
Several months ago, Malcolm and his team entered the Gate of Conquest, while Lux, and his friends entered the Gate of War.
Malcolm's team joined the Ammar Kingdom, which was backed by Dwarven Technology.
Lux's team, on the other hand, joined the Yelan Kingdom, which was supported by Gnome Technology.
That was also when Lux was given the Pseudo-Legendary Item, Map Projector, which he had merged with his Soul Book, allowing him to see friends and foes within a three-mile radius around him.
For some unknown reason, the two teams found themselves on the same battlefield but on different sides and were forced to fight against each other, with Lux and his team emerging victorious.
Since then, Malcolm had suffered many setbacks every time he tried to reclaim his honor.
Unfortunately, his recent expeditions hadn't been successful, and now, this was probably the last chance he had to redeem himself.
'Just as I expected, we are still brought to this place,' Lux thought.
Cai, Keane, Einar, Val, and Xander, who fought against the Ammar Kingdom in the past all had frowns on their faces because they had already labeled the enemy of the Yelan Kingdom as their enemy.
"Let's go to the Fortress," Lux said after pondering for a minute. "If someone asks, tell them we are a Mercenary Group called Ars Goetia. I'll do the talking, so make sure to not say anything out of place. Do you understand, Cai?"
Lux smiled as he patted the Boar's head, making the latter shudder.
"O-Of course! Hahaha! You know me, I'm very tight-lipped!" Cai replied. "You can count on me!"
"Fei!" Fei Fei, who was perched on top of Cai's head, looked at Lux with a pout.
The Half-Elf chuckled and also patted the baby Slime's head, making the latter smile.
"Follow me," Lux ordered as he walked towards the Fortress.
After what happened in the Domain of the Fallen, everyone followed his orders to the dot, as if afraid that some random Argonaut-Ranked Monster would appear and gobble them whole.