Ch. 531: Chapter 531-540

Chapter 531 Plans To Make Heaven’s Gate Stronger Than Ever

Lux held Iris in his arms and enjoyed the warmth of the blue-haired beauty's body.

Since Cai was still sleeping like a pig after the ceremony ended, the Half-Elf took advantage of her absence and monopolized his fiance.

Both of them agreed that making love inside the Tribe Chieftain's tent was a bad move, so they simply settled on sleeping together.

The good thing about this setup was that Eiko was feeling clingy as well, so she slept between Lux and Iris, enjoying the warmth of her parents.

The Baby Slime and the young lady had fallen asleep quickly because they were tired from playing the entire day.

Iris and Eiko had also chatted with Rose for a few hours, and the two young ladies enjoyed their exchange of news and rumors that were currently going around the Six Kingdoms.

'Girls can really talk a lot the moment they get to know each other,' Lux thought as he looked at his sleeping fiance.

In Lux's eyes, the two were like gossipy Aunties who exchanged juicy tidbits about the members of the young generation who were making their names known in both Solais and Elysium.

Of course, most of Roseline's questions were about Lux, who had become a celebrity among the high-ranking officials of the Six Kingdoms, Xynnar War Pact, as well as Skystead Alliance.

To his surprise, Iris told him that Roseline also asked a few things about Keane, which made the corner of Lux's lips raise up a little bit.

Earlier, he could tell that the young lady had made an impact on the skinny swordsman, especially with how she dealt with the chatterbox Cai, who gave Keane no peace of mind.

'It's still too early to tell,' Lux mused as a faint smile appeared on his face. 'If this was a novel, the readers would definitely tell the Author that they couldn't do their bro, Keane, dirty.'

Well, as long as Keane was happy, Lux was fine with anything. So, for the time being, he set this matter aside and started pondering about what he would do for the next two months.

Originally, he planned to return to Karshvar Draconis in order to handle a few matters regarding his Guild. Then after that, he would return to the Kingdom of Gweliven to look for Colette and the others and apologize for not telling them everything.

He also needed to invite his Dwarf Secretary, Emma, whom he had freed from Twilight Rain's Lycan Mutation Project, to join his Guild.

She was able to fully transform into a Lycan now, which greatly boosts her speed, strength, and fighting prowess.

'I think Emma was also in the Initiate Rank,' Lux thought. 'I wonder how strong she has become now.'

Lux had ordered Emma to remain with Colette and the others to tell them about his fake death a few days after it happened.

Also, he wanted her to better understand how a Guild was managed, so when she became his Guild Member, she could teach him some of the things that he was not aware of when it came to managing a Guild.

'I just hope Colette won't smack me with her mace when she sees me.' Lux sighed in his heart.

The little Dwarves were the first friends he made in Elysium, and they held a special place in his heart. In a Kingdom where he was considered an outsider because of his race, Lux thrived because of the friends he met along the way.

'It's a shame that I can't use my original face when I meet them,' Lux thought. 'But, it won't be long before Scarlet becomes a Ranker. When that happens, I will no longer need to worry about hiding.'

Lux was quite happy to see that Scarlet was nearing the threshold of a Ranker. However, she would still need to pass the World's Trial in order to get its blessings.

Each Ranker would face a different trial, and some of them even said that the moment they decided to take the test to become a Ranker, they were sent to a place that was far from their homeland.

Lux's Grandma, Vera, had told him that her Ranker Test sent her to an island filled with Beastkins. Her trial was to help them overcome a calamity, but as to what that calamity was, Vera didn't explain it in full.

She just said that she suffered hardships before becoming a Ranker and, to this day, she still hadn't forgotten the lessons she learned from that trial.

Lux summoned his Soul Book and glanced at his status page to see how many more stat points he needed in order to become a Ranker.

'6,360…' Lux's eyes landed on the number of combined stats he currently had. 'I will need a total of 10,000 combined stats to become an E-Ranker.'

The Half-Elf then activated his Elysium Compendium and looked for information about the hierarchy of Rankings among Mortals.

—-------------

Supreme - 1,000,000,000

Saint - 200,000,000

SSS Ranker - 50,000,000 - Pseudo Saint

SS-Ranker - 10,000,000 - High Ranker

S-Ranker - 3,000,000 - High Ranker

A-Ranker - 600,000 - High Ranker

B-Ranker - 300,000

C-Ranker - 100,000

D-Ranker - 30,000

E-Ranker - 10,000

Initiate - 5,000

—-------------

Grade A Apostles - 800

Grade B Apostles - 600

Grade C Apostles - 400

Grade D Apostles - 200

—-------------

'... Saints are amazing,' Lux thought as he looked at the combined total stats of Powerhouses like his Stepfather, Alexander, as well as Cai's Grandpa, Maximilian. 'I wonder—will I be able to step into that rank as well?'

Just looking at the combined stat points needed to become a Saint was enough to deter anyone from thinking about it.

Even Lux, who was confident that he would soon become a Ranker, felt as if the hurdle of stepping into the Saint Rank was too hard to achieve.

He didn't even bother looking at the Supreme Rank, who were beings that were like the Demigods of the World. He hadn't met one yet, but he had already met two Saints, which made them more real compared to the Mythical Supremes, who could make entire continents cower with a wave of their hand.

'One step at a time, Lux,' Lux said in his heart. 'You don't need to hurry. You will get there as long as you don't lose your way.'

After being a powerless Half-Elf for nearly sixteen years of his life, Lux was able to grow exponentially after meeting Eriol.

In fact, he had already managed to catch up to and even surpass some of the prodigies, like the Four Kings of the Six Kingdoms, whom he had defeated in the Lionheart Tournament in the past.

Even though he couldn't gain any experience points from killing monsters, consuming Beast Cores directly allowed him to grow by leaps and bounds.

His only concern was his Job Profession which was a Necromancer.

A Necromancer wasn't someone who relied on his strength alone, but relied on the power of his Undead Army. Compared to the other professions who only focused on their strength, Lux needed to split his resources in order to strengthen his Stats, his Body Constitution, and his Summons.

With that said, he burned through resources really fast. Fortunately, the rewards he got from the previous quests boosted his Necromancy Skills without needing to use Beast Cores to upgrade each one of them separately.

However, he knew well that he couldn't always be lucky with the rewards.

'I should bring my Guild to explore a Dungeon for the time being,' Lux thought. 'The Sacred Dungeon is too dangerous for now. I'll just go ask around to see if there are any B-Ranked, or A-Ranked Dungeons that I can explore to farm Beast Cores. Even if I can't become a Ranker in two months, I should at least upgrade my Body Constitution.'

Whenever Lux upgraded his Body Constitution, not only did he get an overall increase in strength, but his Necromancer Abilities grew as well.

'Looks like I need to drag Sid along with me for the time being,' Lux smiled. 'Just like Scarlet, he is also at the cusp of becoming a Ranker. I wonder, who will become a Ranker first?'

Scarlet was being supported by the resources from Twilight Rain, while Sid accompanied the Draconic Kobold, Cadmus, to the Savage Lands.

The Dhampir always put his life on the line in order to gain the Beast Cores that would allow him to grow faster, not only for Lux but for the sake of his little sisters who were now living in Leaf Village.

As someone who lived as an Assassin, Sid knew the importance of strength. Only by becoming strong would he be able to protect the people important to him and prevent anyone from harming them.

'I'll drop by Leaf Village after I finish my tasks in Karshvar Draconis,' Lux thought. 'I will bring Master Randolph and Grandma Annie with me in the Dungeon too. I want both of them to raise their Ranks in order to prolong their lifespan.'

Randolph and Annie were already old, and Lux was worried for them. Although Dwarves lived longer than Humans, they could only live up to five hundred years at most.

Lux believed that if his Master and the kind Grandma of Leaf Village were to become Rankers, they would definitely make a major improvement on the overall growth of his Guild.

Randolph was a Blacksmith, and Grandma Annie was an Alchemist. If the two of them were able to create High-Grade Equipment, Potions, and Pills, it would certainly give a boost to the performance of his Guild Members.

'I wonder… if all the Elders of Leaf Village become Rankers, will it still be considered a Beginner's Village?' Lux couldn't help but chuckle when he imagined this scene in his head.

Due to the many things that were on his mind, the Half-Elf was only able to settle into sleep a few hours before dawn. However, he now had a general plan in his head for how he would use the two months allotted to him, and make himself, and his Guild, stronger than ever before.

 

Chapter 532 A Phoenix Among Phoenixes!

"Come visit me from time to time, Iris,' Cai said as she bid goodbye to her best friend, who was about to return to Barbatos Academy.

"I will," Iris replied as she hugged Cai.

After giving her best friend a hug, the blue-haired beauty also hugged Roseline, who was standing next to Cai. "Take care as well, Rose. I'll see you when I have the opportunity."

"I will look forward to it." Rose hugged Iris back. "Don't worry. I will watch over my sister and make sure that she doesn't do anything stupid for the next two months."

Cai, who heard her sister's words, immediately cowered because she could tell that Rose was serious about keeping a close watch on her. Because of this, she threw her plans of sneaking away to the winds and decided to behave for the time being.

Not far from them, Lux was bidding his goodbye to Keane, who decided to stay in the Rowan Tribe for the time being.

Truth be told, the Half-Elf thought that the skinny swordsman would accompany him back to Karshvar Draconis, but Keane said that he needed to meditate and regain his peace after what happened in the Gate of Conquest.

"I am growing too fast," Keane stated. "I need to consolidate my strength first, or else, the power I gained will be put to waste. I don't want to be like those Rankers who have high stats, but don't have the ability to put their strength to good use."

Lux nodded his head in understanding because he could understand what his friend was talking about. This was the exact reason why Wildgarde Stronghold forbade parents from giving their children Beast Cores in order to boost their stats.

Sometimes, having high stats would make people too confident in their abilities. Only when they were facing a monster or someone with a rank higher than theirs would they understand that battle experience and refining your skills were just as important as having a high rank.

"I'll see you in two months," Lux said as he fist-bumped Keane. "Make sure that you're prepared to conquer the Gate of Famine by then."

Keane nodded. "I will. Don't worry. You also do your best to consolidate your strength. Although you managed to survive several fights against stronger opponents, you mustn't let your victories go into your head.

"The Six Kingdoms, Xynnar War Pact, and Skystead Alliance are gearing up for the Gate of Famine. I don't know if they plan to pull any weird tricks this time around, but it is better to be prepared for such an outcome."

Lux gave a grateful smile at the skinny swordsman before glancing at Rose, who was still having a last-minute chat with Iris.

"Thanks for the reminder. Also, good luck to you too," Lux said in a teasing tone. "I'll come here to pick you up in two months. Make sure you have made some progress by then."

Keane was unfazed by Lux's ambiguous words and brought up a topic about their Guild in order to change the topic. Naturally, the Half-Elf played along so that Keane wouldn't get too embarrassed about his subtle hints.

A few minutes later, Maximilian emerged from his tent with Gerhart in tow.

"Lux, make sure to look after Gerhart for me," Maximilian said as he patted Gerhart's shoulder. "Gerhart, make sure to not cause trouble for Lux. Also, everything you see, hear, and experience, when you are with him must be kept a secret. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Grandpa," Gerhart replied.

Although Gerhart didn't understand why the Saint of the Rowan Tribe strictly asked him to keep things confidential, he decided to listen to his requests because Maximilian had taken good care of him throughout his stay in the Rowan Tribe.

Maximilian didn't tell Gerhart that he was about to be recruited in the one and only Mythical Guild in the world.

He wanted the green-haired Half-Elf, whom he had helped for the past few years, to take his mind off revenge, and the best solution he had found was to let Gerhart accompany Lux on his escapades to who knows where.

Truth be told, Maximilian wanted to know where Lux was planning to go.

Currently, the Six Kingdoms, the Xynnar War Pact, and the Skystead Alliance were looking for Lux because they wanted to challenge the Gate of Famine as soon as possible.

However, the Half-Elf had other plans and didn't want to return to the Domain of the Fallen for at least two months.

Since his movements were being closely watched by the different factions, Maximilian wondered where Lux was going in order to make his preparations for the next two months.

"Gerhart, just so you know, following me is a very dangerous thing," Lux replied. "I know you are strong, but the places we are going to go to are very dangerous. I would appreciate it if you take responsibility for your own safety."

Gerhart nodded. "Don't worry. I don't plan on dying anytime soon. I still have scores to settle with the Elswyth Royal Family."

Maximilian sighed internally after hearing Gerhart's reply, but there was nothing he could do about it.

At that moment, a Giant Manta Ray landed in the Plaza of the Rowan Tribe.

"We can go anytime kids," Hector announced with his arms crossed over his chest. "I'll accompany all of you back to Barbatos Academy."

Lux and Iris exchanged a glance with each other before nodding their heads.

The time to return to Barbatos Academy had come, and with it, the start of a new adventure awaited.

—------------

Outer Reaches in Karshvar Draconis…

A plain-looking girl, accompanied by two beautiful maids, looked at the three floating islands in the distance.

"Finally, we have arrived at the Outer Reaches!" Valerie said with a smile. "We managed to successfully sneak out of the Inner Palace!"

"Good job, Your Highness," Ali replied as she clapped her hands. "You're amazing."

"As expected of Her Highness," Ari commented. "As long as you put your mind to it, nothing is impossible!"

Valerie's smile widened after hearing the compliments of her two handmaidens.

They made several stops along the way and ate many of the delicacies that belonged to the various cities and towns within her father's Kingdom.

There were several occasions where a few rowdy thugs tried to flirt with Ali and Ari, but the two maidens instantly dispatched these annoying creatures with their punches and kicks.

Of course, there were instances that they encountered stronger individuals, with some of them being Initiates and Rankers. However, for some reason, these hooligans suddenly pissed themselves, and ran away screaming after Valerie glared at them.

Whenever these things happened, Ali and Ari would praise her, saying that her glare was so powerful that even Rankers had no choice but to flee.

Naturally, it wasn't Valerie's glare that scared these Rankers silly.

It was due to the collective killing intent of hundreds of Rankers and High-Rankers, who were secretly protecting their Princess on her sight-seeing expedition.

Of course, the Gullible and Extremely Beautiful Princess wasn't aware of this. She just thought that those who had tried to stop her were just ordinary thugs that one would find anywhere in the streets.

"I'm a bit hungry. Why don't we go to the City of Pygmalion first?" Valerie proposed. "We can also ask about that mysterious Half-Elf while having lunch."

"As expected of Her Highness, you are wise beyond words," Ali said with a smile.

"Eating while gathering information? Truly a brilliant idea," Ari commented. "Her Highness truly is a Phoenix among Phoenixes!"

"But, Ari… I'm a dragon?" Valerie blinked as she looked at her handmaiden who was fanning her to keep herself cool.

"It's just a metaphor, Your Highness," Ari replied. "I'm just saying that among Dragons, only you are able to hit two Phoenixes with one Dragon Breath."

Valerie nodded her head because she found this answer quite logical.

"Let's go," Valerie ordered as she pointed her finger at the city in the distance. "Let's start our expedition of the Outer Reaches!"

 

Chapter 533 Father, Do You Plan To Become A King?

Iris shuddered as her hands were wrapped around Lux's head.

Her ragged breaths permeated the room as she accepted her fiance's hot and passionate love deep inside her.

"You are rougher than usual," Iris said as she looked down at the Half-Elf, whose hands were resting on her waist, holding her in place. "Is it because we didn't have the chance to do it back in the Rowan Tribe, or because you are leaving tomorrow?"

"Both," Lux replied before planting a kiss on Iris' neck, nibbling it to leave his mark.

Iris didn't resist and allowed her beloved to mark her inside and out. Lux would leave once again to go back to Elysium and handle the issues with his Guild, and they wouldn't be able to see each other for a month or two.

Perhaps, knowing that this was the last time that he would be able to make love with Iris for a while, the Half-Elf and the blue-haired beauty indulged each other's love for each other by becoming one.

"You're still hard…," Iris whimpered as Lux lightly bit her nipple, sending shivers down her spine. "Just how pent-up are you?"

"This is your punishment for teasing me back in the Rowan Tribe," Lux replied before sucking the pink tip in his mouth, making Iris gasp.

A minute later, the room was filled with Iris' seductive moans as Lux made love to her for the third time.

Eiko was currently playing with Iris' Guardian Beasts, allowing her parents to spend some quality time with each other.

The two only stopped when Iris' Red Phoenix, Zoe, informed Iris that Eiko was now on her way back to their bedroom, forcing Lux and her to cancel their 5th round of lovemaking.

—----

Fifteen minutes later…

"Pa! Ma!"

Eiko happily entered the room and jumped on Iris' lap, who was busy drying her hair with a bath towel.

"Welcome back, Eiko," Iris said as she patted the Baby Slime's head. "Did you have fun with the others?

"Un!" Eiko nodded her head. "Fun!"

"That's good."

"Yes!"

The blue-haired beauty and the Baby Slime continued to chat with each other for a few minutes before Lux placed a set of clothes beside his fiance.

He was now fully dressed and had a very satisfied smile on his face, which made Iris blush.

The blue-haired beauty had several kiss marks on her body. Fortunately, only the one on her neck could be seen by people, while the rest were hidden under her clothes.

"Are you hungry, Eiko?" Iris asked the Baby Slime who was looking at the kiss mark on Iris' neck.

"Ma!" Eiko replied before using the skill Cure on Iris' neck, erasing the mark that was left by her Papa.

Lux scratched his head when he saw what the Baby Slime did, but he didn't say a word and only smiled.

He understood that Eiko didn't want to see her Mama hurt, so she used her Cure ability in order to heal the small mark on Iris' neck.

"Good girl!" Iris said as she patted Eiko's head, making the Baby Slime giggle. She then gave Lux a teasing smile, which made the latter shake his head helplessly.

Ten minutes later, Lux, Iris, and Eiko went to the Dining Area to have dinner with Alexander and Gerhart.

This was the last night he would spend with his fiance and stepfather before he returned to Elysium with the green-haired Half-Elf, who had been entrusted to him by Maximilian.

When they arrived at the dining room table, the Headmaster of the Barbatos Academy and the green-haired Half-Elf were having a serious discussion about the current state of affairs within the Six Kingdoms.

"The Barbarian King plans to expand his territory once the medicine for the Purple Plague starts mass production," Gerhart stated. "The other Kingdoms are planning to do the same. I don't know if getting the cure for the Plague was a good or bad thing, but the status quo of the Six Kingdoms will certainly break once they start their expansions."

Alexander nodded. "Of course getting the medicine for the Purple Plague is a good thing. At one point in time, the Six Kingdoms were forced to exterminate entire cities, towns, and villages, to prevent the plague from spreading.

"Now, only those who venture too far from the borders have the possibility of getting infected by the disease. Land reclamation is a tedious thing, and it will allow the Six Kingdoms to focus on something else, rather than always scheming behind each other's back."

The Headmaster of Barbatos Academy smirked because he also planned to send his elite subordinates to carve out a piece of territory for their Academy after their Alchemists had finished producing enough pills to prevent those he sent from being infected by the Purple Plague.

"Father, are you planning to join the Six Kingdoms in expanding the Academy's influence?" Iris asked as she sat beside her father.

"Yes," Alexander replied. "If we move too slowly, it will be too late for us to get anything. Besides, I want to be the first one to reach Arcadia."

Lux frowned after hearing what his Stepfather was planning to do.

Arcadia was the former capital of a once prosperous Kingdom that had fallen after the Hundred Year War that razed the world.

Barbatos Academy was an Academy where anyone from the Six Kingdoms could come if they wanted to make their mark in Elysium.

Since most Guilds in the Six Kingdoms had their own factions, they only handpicked the best, leaving the others behind. Those who were not chosen would go to Barbatos Academy to try their luck.

These students were trained in various courses like Martial Arts, Sorcery, Craftsmanship, and other courses that would allow them to learn skills that they couldn't learn from their respective Kingdoms.

Truth be told, the majority of the students in Barbatos Academy were commoners.

Similar to Nero, there were gems among them, and these teenage boys and girls were then recruited into the Serenity Guild, which had become one of the most influential Guilds in Solais and Elysium.

Because of the danger of the Purple Plague, the Six Kingdoms and other factions stayed put.

Alexander also didn't bother looking for a piece of land to extend their influence to because of the danger the plague brought.

But this would change now that Maximilian developed the cure for the Purple Plague. With the capital of a once thriving Kingdom for the taking, the Saint of Barbatos Academy wouldn't sit by and watch others take Arcadia for themselves!

"Father, do you plan to become a King?" Lux asked as he sat beside Iris.

Alexander shook his head. "I plan to claim Arcadia so that there will be a place for our family to call our home. Also, this is for the sake of the future generations."

The Headmaster of Barbatos Academy gave Lux a meaningful gaze, which made the latter nod his head in understanding.

Although Alexander skirted around the subject, the Half-Elf understood that his stepfather was preparing to build a kingdom for his and Iris' future children.

Lux knew that he had no intention of becoming a King, so ruling Arcadia didn't interest him. Besides, Alexander was more fit to become a monarch since he specialized in commanding an entire organization like the Barbatos Academy.

"When you leave for Elysium, make sure to be as lowkey as possible, so the Six Kingdoms, the Xynnar War Pact, and the Skystead Alliance will not be able to sniff you out. They are currently trying to find excuses in order to force you to return to the Sacred Dungeon right away and help them conquer the last remaining gate."

Lux nodded. "Don't worry, Father. I am very good at being lowkey. No matter what the Six Kingdoms, Xynnar War Pact, and the Skystead Alliance do, they will not be able to find me."

Lux gave Alexander a meaningful smile. He wasn't too worried about his actions in Elysium being discovered by others.

He was certain that no matter how influential these factions were, they had no way to travel to the Dwarven Kingdom of Gweliven, much less the floating island of Karshvar Draconis.

Seeing how confident Lux was, Alexander felt more assured that the Half-Elf would not be bothered by the three factions, who had been trying to contact him non-stop for the past few days.

"By the way, did you give the Ore to Maximilian?" Alexander asked before making a gesture for the maids to serve the food on their table.

Lux nodded. "I left it with Keane and asked him to only give it to Sir Maximilian two days after we left the Rowan Tribe. I'm afraid that Cai's Grandpa would pester me for more if I personally gave it to him, so I decided to use a middleman to prevent future troubles from arising."

The corner of Alexander's lips slightly rose because he approved of Lux's decision.

If Maximilian knew that Lux had more Draconium Ore in his possession, the Saint of the Rowan Tribe might have prevented the Half-Elf from leaving, until he had emptied Lux's pockets of the precious Ore that was enough to make Blacksmiths and Jewel Smiths go crazy due to how rare it was.

 

Chapter 534 An Ugly Duckling [Part 1]

"Y-You gotta be kidding me," Gerhart gave Lux a dumbfounded look before shifting his attention back to the row of words that had appeared in front of him.

-----------

< You are invited to join the guild Heaven's Gate >

< Do you accept? >

< Yes / No >

-----------

Gerhart had been staying in the Rowan Tribe ever since he had sustained serious injuries in the Lionheart Tournament when he faced Enil.

However, that didn't mean that he was unaware of what was happening around him. He could still clearly recall the day when a worldwide announcement was made, stating that a Mythical Guild had been founded.

Back then, he thought that a Saint, or some kind of Powerhouse, had discovered the secret for how to create a Guild that surpassed the highest tier guild, Adamantite.

The words that had appeared in front of him were proof that all of his assumptions were wrong, shocking him to his very core.

"Now I understand why Cai doesn't want to leave your guild," Gerhart said as he accepted the invitation to join Lux's guild.

Before he could even say anything else, several more rows of text appeared in front of him, which made him question his sanity.

-----------

< You have successfully joined Heaven's Gate >

< You gained +1000 Free Stat Points. Please distribute them according to your preferences. >

-----------

< Active Guild Buffs >

300% Health Regeneration

300% Mana Regeneration

300% Stamina Regeneration

100% Chance to learn skills from Beast Cores

100% Immunity to Charm Skill

100% Increase in Experience Points when killing Monsters

25% Chance of getting better Monster Drops

25% Chance of resisting Status Ailments

20% Increase in Physical and Magical Attacks

20% Increase in Physical and Magical Defense

20% Bonus Success Rate in Crafting items

-----------

Gerhart rubbed his eye before shifting his gaze back to the rows of text in front of him. No matter how many times he rubbed his eye, the information didn't change, which made him look at Lux in disbelief.

"Is this a prank?" Gerhart asked because he was starting to doubt whether what he was seeing was real or not.

Lux smiled upon seeing his fellow Half-Elf's priceless reaction.

"Does it feel like a prank?" Lux asked back. "Why don't you open your Soul Book and see if those buffs are active or not?"

Gerhart did as he was told and summoned his Soul Book. Half a minute later, his body stiffened because the buffs he had read earlier were currently present on the Status Page of his Soul Book.

When he regained his composure, he looked at Lux with a solemn expression on his face.

"Are you really the Guildmaster of Heavens' Gate?"

"Yes."

Gerhard quieted down after hearing Lux's answer as if he was digesting everything that he had witnessed during this short period of time.

The green-haired Half-Elf was still reeling from the shock of actually meeting the Guildmaster of the one and only Mythical Guild in the world. This was something that he didn't expect to happen after the Saint of the Rowan Tribe, Maximilian, had asked him to accompany Lux in his travels.

Before they left the Rowan Tribe, Lux had told him that following him was a very dangerous thing. At first, he thought that the red-headed teenager was just joking. However, after seeing one of the secrets that Lux was hiding, Gerhart finally understood that every word that Lux had said was true.

If someone powerful were to discover that the Half-Elf in front of him was the Guildmaster of the Mythical Guild, Heaven's Gate, who knows what kind of diabolical plans they would make in order to force Lux to submit to their will?

"Thank you, and I promise that I will keep this secret safe," Gerhart vowed.

"That is all I ask," Lux replied. "Now, are you ready to go?"

Lux and Eiko had already bid their goodbyes to Iris, Alexander, and Alicia, and had left Barbatos Academy an hour ago.

Currently, he and Gerhart were in a secluded clearing in the forest near the academy. Lux didn't want to enter Elysium inside Barbatos Academy because many people had seen him come in.

If they didn't see him come out, he was worried that unnecessary rumors and problems might arise in the future.

Because of this, he decided to openly leave the Academy.

Even if there were spies that belonged to the Six Kingdoms that were paying close attention to his whereabouts, they would know that he was no longer inside the Academy and think that he might be on his way back to Wildgarde Stronghold.

"Before we go to our Guild Headquarters, make sure to keep the location of our base a secret," Lux stated. "As you may already know, we can't openly declare our organization to the world, or else we might find ourselves in a lot of trouble. The name of the Guild we currently use is Ars Goetia. If anyone asks you in the future, this is the answer that you will give them, okay?"

Gerhart nodded. "Understood. I will tell them that I am a member of the Guild Ars Goetia."

Lux gave Gerhart a brief nod before telling him the password that would allow him to teleport to their Guild Headquarters.

In order to make things simple, as well as make an excuse for his ability to travel anywhere, Lux used the same words that Eriol told him whenever he activated the Ring of Arondight, which sent him to the Dwarven Kingdom of Gweliven.

"Open! Heaven's Gate!" Lux declared.

Gerhart said the same, and a moment later, both of them turned into particles of light as they began their journey and teleported to their Guild Headquarters that was currently stationed in the Outer Reaches of Karshvar Draconis.

------------

Outer Reaches, Karshvar Draconis...

"Who are you girls, and what are you doing here?" Cethus asked the three ladies who had suddenly appeared in front of the white, marble palace that served as Lux's headquarters.

"Our mistress here came to meet the owner of this place," Ali said as she fearlessly looked at the Dragon Born, who stood at the entrance of Lux's Guild Headquarters, preventing the three ladies from barging inside without permission.

"Meet the owner of this place?" Cethus snorted. "Lux is currently not here, so all of you can scram."

"What do you mean he's not here?" Ari inquired. "Our mistress has traveled a long way just to meet him. It would be best if you get in touch with him as soon as you can before our Mistress gets angry."

The corner of the Dragon Born's lips twitched when he heard Ari's words. He didn't know whether he was talking to country bumpkins because they seemed to not recognize the uniform that he was wearing.

As one of the Royal Guards that served directly under the Dragon King, his position was enough to command a degree of awe and respect from the residents of Karshvar Draconis.

However, the three ladies who were standing in front of him didn't seem to know his position and Rank.

"Listen, Country Bumpkins," Cethus said in a firm and resolute tone.

"This is not a place for sightseeing. Go back to where you have come from and leave this place at once. Otherwise, I will arrest you for obstructing my duty. Can't you see my uniform? I am one of the Royal Guards of his Majesty. If you three know what's good for you, you better behave yourselves and leave while I'm still being nice."

Ali and Ari looked at Cethus with contempt.

So what if you are a Royal Guard? Do you know who we are?

Do you know who my mistress is?

Even the Dragon King doesn't dare to offend our young lady, and you dare call us Country Bumpkins?

Ali and Ari were very tempted to say these words to Cethus, but they held their tongues. They understood that their Princess was supposed to be traveling in secret.

Taking this into consideration, they couldn't possibly expose her identity, especially in front of one of the Royal Guards that served the Dragon King.

While the two maids were contemplating on what to do, Valerie, who was disguised as a plain-looking young lady, took a step forward and placed her two hands on her waist.

"Listen here, Mr. Royal Guard," Valerie said. "I am the second princess of Karshvar Draconis, Princess Valerie. I command you to step aside so that we can explore this marble castle."

Cethus looked down at the plain-looking girl for a few seconds before roaring in laughter.

"Girl, that was a good one!" Cethus laughed. "Just who do you think I am? I am Cethus, one of the most trusted subordinates of the Dragon King. Do you really think I don't know what Princess Valerie looks like? Do you think that our beautiful princess looks like an ugly duckling like you?"

Ali and Ari gasped after hearing Cethus teasing words. Both of the maids looked at the Dragon Born as if they were looking at a pig about to be slaughtered.

Hiding above the clouds of the Outer Reaches, an old lady sighed after hearing Cethus' words.

"Isn't that your grandson?" one of the High-Rankers standing beside the old lady asked in a teasing tone. "It seems that he had become bolder after becoming one of the Royal Guards."

The old lady sighed for the second time before summoning a walking stick in her hand.

Just as she was planning to descend from her hiding place to whack her stupid grandson, two beams of light landed in front of the entrance of the white marble castle.

When the light receded, Lux, Eiko, and Gerhart materialized in front of Cethus and the three ladies, which caught them completely by surprise.

"Long time no see, Cethus," Lux said with a smile. "Did anything happen to my guild while I was away?"

The plain-looking girl, who was standing behind the two beautiful maids, looked at the red-headed teenager who had appeared out of nowhere.

As if sensing her gaze, the Half-Elf turned to look in her direction and gave Valerie a casual smile before shifting his gaze back to the Dragon Born, who seemed to be in conflict with the three ladies, who were currently standing at the entrance of his Guild Headquarters.

This was how Valerie met Lux and also the beginning of the Half-Elf's hardships in the floating Kingdom of Karshvar Draconis.

 

 

Chapter 535 An Ugly Duckling [Part 2]

"About time you return," Cethus scoffed after hearing Lux's inquiry. "Aside from your Kobold friends mining underground, nothing else has happened while you are gone. Only today have we gotten some pesky country bumpkins who do not know their place."

Cethus gave Valerie, as well as her two handmaidens, a sidelong glance before turning his attention back to the Half-Elf, who had just returned from who knows where.

"You really should fix that high and mighty attitude of yours, Cethus." Lux sighed. "One day, you will get into trouble for looking down on everyone."

"That day will not come." Cethus scoffed. "I am a member of the Royal Guard. Who dares to challenge the authority of the Dragon King?"

Lux shook his head helplessly before looking at the three guests that he had not met before now.

"I apologize if Cethus has been rude to the three of you," Lux said with a smile. "His mother accidentally dropped him when he was still an egg, so he's a little whacked in the head."

To his surprise, the plain-looking girl giggled after hearing his words. She then looked at Cethus with a pitying look as if she finally understood why the Dragon Born didn't look so smart.

"Well, I'm sure his mother didn't mean to drop him when he was still an egg, so I'll be the bigger person and forgive him for his trespass against me," Valerie said with her arms crossed over his chest.

Ali and Ari, who were beside her, immediately praised her for being an understanding and magnanimous person.

Cethus, who was listening to the side, snapped and grabbed the Half-Elf's shoulder, gripping it tightly.

"Oi! Just who was dropped when he was an egg?" Cethus asked with a glare as he increased the power of his grip.

He knew that Lux was just an Apostle, so he was planning to teach the Half-Elf a lesson that he shouldn't mess with a Dragon Born like him.

However, to his surprise, Lux just arched an eyebrow as his shoulder was grabbed by Cethus, who had the intention of breaking his arm.

Although it couldn't be seen on the surface, red dragon scales covered part of Lux's arm, preventing the Dragon Born from using his strength to break it.

"Are you done?" Lux asked after a minute had passed. He then unceremoniously pried the Dragon Born's hand from his arm, making Cethus look at him in disbelief.

"You're now an Initiate?" Cethus looked at the Half-Elf with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Yes," Lux replied.

Cethus couldn't believe that the red-headed teenager who was weaker than him had suddenly risen to his Rank in a short period of time.

The Dragon Born was only in the middle of the Initiate Rank, but his position as a Royal Guard allowed him to move unhindered anywhere in Karshvar Draconis. Even Rankers didn't dare to challenge his authority because of who he represented.

However, Lux was different. He was someone that the Crystal Dragon, Keoza, had recognized, allowing him to have full control of the Island granted to him by the Dragon King.

Cethus might be able to bully him when he was still weaker than him, but now, things would change.

Lux was no longer an Apostle, but an Initiate who was on his way to becoming a Ranker!

After getting his fill from looking at Cethus' shocked expression, the Half-Elf glanced at his three guests and made a gesture for them to enter his castle.

"Since the three of you are our first guests in my Guild Headquarters, allow me to offer you some refreshments," Lux said with a friendly smile.

"Can we also tour the castle?" Valerie asked.

"Sure," Lux replied, "but there is nothing much to see right now. The castle has just been built and it doesn't have any decorations inside. The most we have are a few tables, chairs, and beds for the Kobolds that are currently staying inside our headquarters."

Valerie was slightly disappointed because she thought that the interior of the marble castle was just as majestic as its exterior. Even so, she was still thankful that Lux agreed to her request to tour the interior of the castle.

"It is I who have come here without any announcement, so I will just enjoy the experience," Valerie commented. "By the way, my name is Vale... Valencia. These two ladies here are my handmaidens, Ali and Ari."

Valerie didn't want others to know her real name, so she decided to use an alias. Her reason for visiting the Outer Reaches was to meet the Half-Elf, whose notoriety had traveled all the way to the capital of Karhsvar Draconis, making her very curious about him.

"Ali thanks you for accepting our Mistress' requests," Ali said as she gave Lux a brief bow.

"On behalf of my Mistress, Ari thanks you for your hospitality," Ari stated as she also gave Lux a brief bow.

Lux bowed back and introduced himself to his three guests, who had come all the way to tour his guild headquarters.

"My name is Lux Von Kaizer, and I am the Guildmaster of Ars Goetia," Lux announced. "This cute Slime on top of my head is my daughter, Eiko, and the Half-Elf beside me is Gerhart. As for Cethus... well, you already know him, so let's skip his introduction."

Cethus, who was treated as an extra, glared at the Half-Elf, but he no longer made any moves to apprehend him.

Earlier, he had used almost his full strength to break Lux's arm, but the Half-Elf didn't even budge, making him feel that the Half-Elf's strength might have even surpassed his.

Lux then took a step forward and placed both of his hands over the main entrance of his castle and pushed it open.

The giant doors made of marble made rumbling sounds, but they parted, welcoming their Master as he returned to manage his Guild.

---------

Half an hour later...

"Uh... this tea tastes bland," Valerie complained after sipping the tea that Lux had made for her. "You're not good at preparing tea, aren't you?"

"No," Lux admitted. "But, I am confident about the taste of these cookies."

Lux offered the cookies that were made by Rose from the Rowan Tribe.

Valerie picked one and took a bite. A second later, a very satisfied expression appeared on her face as she continued to eat the cookie that was offered to her.

"This is indeed good," Valerie said. "Can I have another?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."

After offering the plain-looking lady another cookie, the Half-Elf took one and offered it to Eiko, who had crawled down onto his shoulder.

Eiko happily munched the cookie, making Valerie look at the baby slime with great interest. Even Ali and Ari found this interaction between Lux and Eiko very endearing to their eyes.

"Um, I'd like to confirm something. You said Eiko a Slime?" Valerie inquired as she continued to look at the Baby Slime, who was about to eat another cookie.

"She is a Slime," Lux answered. "Is this your first time seeing one?"

"Yes." Valerie nodded. "There are no Slimes in Karshvar Draconis. C-Can I touch her?"

Lux glanced at Eiko, and the latter nodded her head. Since the Baby Slime didn't mind getting touched by Valerie, the Half-Elf decided to grant the plain-looking girl's wish.

"Don't squish her, okay?" Lux warned as she presented Eiko to Valerie. "She might attack if you squish her too much."

"Okay," Valerie replied as she used her finger to lightly poke Eiko's cheeks, making the baby slime giggle. "She's so soft... and jiggly."

A few minutes later, Eiko sat on Valerie's lap, while the young lady patted her head to her heart's content.

She had never seen a Slime before, but she had heard many things about them. According to the book she read, they were one of the weakest creatures in existence and were most often killed by the young land dwellers as part of their training.

Because of this, she didn't think much about them.

However, after Valerie saw how well-behaved Eiko was and how the baby slime giggled every time she lightly squeezed her cheeks, she wondered if she could also get a Baby Slime as a pet that was just as cute as Eiko.

Cethus, who had also entered the castle alongside Lux, observed the Half-Elf from a distance away.

He was dying to ask Lux how he had gotten stronger in a short period of time, but his pride wouldn't allow it.

'I'll pay closer attention to you now that you're here,' Cethus thought. 'If you really have a secret for how to become stronger in a short period of time, I must find a way to learn it as well.'

Cethus was the weakest member of the Royal Guards.

Truth be told, all the members of the Royal Guards were A-Rankers and above.

The only reason why he became a Royal Guard was due to his grandma's outstanding merit and loyalty to the Dragon King. If it weren't for that, Cethus wouldn't have received an exception to enter the ranks of the King's personal guards.

Although many of the members of the Royal Guard weren't too thrilled with their King's decision, they still reluctantly accepted it because the Dragon Born's grandmother was truly an outstanding individual.

She was one of the SSS-Rankers of Karshvar Draconis and had stayed with the Dragon King even before he was crowned the King of all Dragonkind.

Cethus was painfully aware that his position and influence were all because of his Grandma's efforts, so he didn't want to disappoint her.

However, even after becoming a member of the Royal Guard, Cethus' Rank stagnated.

No matter how much he trained, he was unable to accomplish the missions that members of the Royal Guard should be able to do.

Just like all organizations, the Royal Guards had a merit system in which they could use points to exchange resources from the Royal Treasury.

Because of how tough the missions were, Cethus was unable to gain any points. He was too proud to beg his grandma for resources and didn't dare to ask for pity from the Dragon King.

This was why, when he was assigned to become Lux's observer, the Dragon Born decided that he would do his best to accomplish his task.

After all, he thought that observing the Half-Elf and his Guild was a very easy thing to do, allowing him to finally gain the merit points he would need to increase his rank.

But now, Cethus had completely forgotten the merit point system as he eyed the Half-Elf who was talking to the plain-looking girl that he had called an Ugly Duckling a while ago.

'Whatever secret you are hiding, I will be sure to discover it,' Cethus thought. 'That way, I can show those who look down upon me that even I can become strong if I put my mind to it!'

A faint smile appeared on the Dragon Born's lips, as he imagined a bright future waiting for him.

He wasn't aware that high above the skies of the Outer Reaches, the Old Lady who had summoned a walking stick earlier was looking down at him with a calm expression on her face.

She had already put her walking stick away, but her hands weren't empty.

The Old Lady, who earned the nickname the Bloody Berserker during her younger years, was lightly tapping the palm of her hand with the sandal she was holding.

Everyone in the army was quite familiar with this sandal because aside from the walking stick that she used, this was the tool that made many Dragons and Dragon Borns weep bitter tears.

There was even a rumor going around in the army that when the Dragon King was still young, the old lady had used the sandal to give him a good beating, making the latter fearful of her.

Naturally, these were just rumors and the Dragon King neither denied nor admitted that such a thing had happened in the past.

The High-Rankers, who were standing by her side, felt pity for the Dragon Born, who still didn't know the hardship that awaited him. They were sure that when Cethus discovered whom he just called an Ugly Duckling, he would definitely drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness.

After all, Princess Valerie was the spoiled daughter of the Dragon King.

If the Golden Dragon, who sat upon the Draconian Throne, knew of what the Dragon Born had said to his daughter, Cethus would definitely wish that he could turn back time, so he could be a little nicer to the plain-looking lady, who had the power to make the Dragon Born kiss his bright future goodbye.

 

 

Chapter 536 The Brighter The Light, The Deeper The Shadow

Vahan Empire…

"Welcome, Nero," Aron said as he greeted the teenage boy, who had traveled all the way from the territory of the Xynnar War Pact to the capital city of the Vahan Empire.

"Your Excellency," Nero bowed respectfully to Emperor Andreas' right-hand man, who had invited him to become a member of their faction.

Aron rested his hands on Nero's shoulders as he looked at the tool he would use to increase the chances of their success in clearing the Gate of Famine.

"I'm sure you are tired from your journey," Aron said before making a gesture for Nero to follow him. "We have prepared the best accommodations for you. Don't worry. Leaving the Wildgarde Stronghold was the best decision you had made. Staying there would have only hindered your growth."

Nero didn't reply and simply followed behind the High-Ranker, who thought that he had acquired a convenient tool that he could boss around.

The Wildgarde Stronghold had been kind to him, and if he was left with no other choice, he wouldn't have gone here. But since he was already in the Vahan Empire, he would just use whatever means necessary to achieve his own goal during his stay.

Aron was confident that he already had Nero in the palm of his hand.

Since the brown-haired teenager had nowhere else to go and had even given up his position as the Guildmaster of the Storm Dragon's Guild, there was no one else in the world that he could lean on aside from the Vahan Empire, who also led the Skystead Alliance.

"Today, you should just rest," Aron said as he stopped in front of Nero's Quarters, which was located inside the Royal Palace. "Tomorrow, you will meet Malcolm and the others. All of you will train together in preparation for the conquest of the Gate of Famine. I expect great things from you Nero. Don't let me down."

Nero bowed respectfully before giving his reply. "I will do my best, Your Excellency."

"Good." Aron nodded in satisfaction. "I'll have someone to fetch you tomorrow. Once again, welcome to the Vahan Empire!"

The High Ranker patted Nero's back before walking away to meet with Emperor Andreas.

Nero watched Aron go with a calm expression. However, his real emotions could be seen in the depths of his eyes, and none of them had the word "submission" written on them.

'Lux, it seems that the world is about to become your enemy,' Nero mused before turning to open the door of his room. 'I wonder how you will be able to get out of this trap that the Skystead Alliance and the Xynnar War Pact are planning behind your back.'

Nero had already let go of his grudge against the Half-Elf, but that didn't mean that he thought kindly of his rival.

This time around, Nero only planned to become a spectator in order to watch how Lux would prevail against the combined efforts of the factions who were making their moves in the shadows.

Nero opened the window of his room, and looked at the city in the distance. Now that he was in a new place, he would have to learn the unwritten rules of the Vahan Empire, which would allow him to achieve his own goals.

'Perhaps, nothing will happen when we enter the Gate of Famine,' Nero thought as he admired the scenery in front of him. 'But the fifth and final gate will surely be different.'

Nero could still remember the words of the silver-haired man when he helped him overcome the Abyssal Corruption that was tearing his body and soul apart.

"I am sealed in the Gate of the Apocalypse," the silver-haired man once said to Nero. "Free me, and I will grant you one wish."

During that time, Nero's only goal was to defeat Lux using the powers that had been bestowed upon him by the silver-haired man.

Now that the Seed of the Abyss was no longer in his heart, he was now able to think properly and understand what kind of creature the silver-haired man was.

"A High-Ranking Noble from the Abyss," Nero muttered. "I'd better think of a good excuse that would let me avoid entering the Gate of the Apocalypse. I have a feeling that meeting that silver-haired man again will not be a good thing."

The devil-like man that Nero met in the Gate of Conquest was just an avatar. Judging by the strength he possessed during that time, the brown-haired teenager was certain that the High-Ranking Abyssal Noble's true body was a High-Ranker.

If that was the case, there was no way that mere Initiates would be able to deal with him once the Gate of the Apocalypse opened.

'Even if I become a Ranker, there is still no chance of winning against that person.' Nero's gaze hardened as the thought of meeting the silver-haired man again surfaced inside his head.

Truth be told, Nero was thankful that the Seed of the Abyss was taken away from him.

When the silver-haired man helped him stabilize his condition, the High-Ranking Abyssal Noble also left a spell inside his body, allowing him to control Nero remotely.

As a proud person, Nero didn't want others to treat him as cannon fodder, controlling his fate. Now that he was free from the hold of the devil, he didn't want to be controlled a second time.

Unlike Nero, the other factions thought that the appearance of the silver-haired man was just a one-time thing.

The only thing that was on their minds was finding ways to effectively gather the resources inside the Domain of the Fallen and use those resources to strengthen their own Kingdoms.

Watching the entire world off Elysium from the Heavens, the God of Games sighed.

"The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow," Eriol said softly.

"It is not the Beasts that prowl the lands of Elysium or the Abyssal Creatures that came from the void that has pushed the world to the brink of ruin. It is the insatiable greed in each person's heart that strips this world of its future. Max… I hope you wake up soon. Your chosen candidate is treading in dangerous waters."

The God of Games could only observe the world from the Heavens and keep his intervention to the bare minimum. Right now, their chosen candidate, Lux, was still not strong enough to face the true Powerhouses of the world.

And yet, just like a moth to a flame, the Half-Elf was flying dangerously near the center of an inferno.

An Inferno that would annihilate everything it touched.

 

Chapter 537 Don’t Worry, That's Just Fake News

"This is the Smithy."

"This is the Alchemy Shop."

"This is the Bestiary."

"This is…"

Lux took Valerie and her two maids around to explore the entirety of his Guild Headquarters. Originally, he thought that his first three guests wouldn't enjoy his guided tour. But, to his surprise, Valerie seemed to be genuinely satisfied with everything she saw.

'The Game-Shin Impact Merchant Guild's meticulous designs paid off,' Lux thought with a smile. He was truly lucky he hired them to build his Guild Headquarters.

Although his castle didn't have many furnishings, the walls were filled with carved out designs, making it an artistic marvel.

Several beasts like Gryphons, Dragons, Hippogriffs, Wyverns, and other creatures both known and unknown to the Half-Elf were etched along the walls.

The Main Guild Hall, which also served as the throne room, was located in the center of the castle. Inside it, a life-like Crystal Dragon painting with its wings spread wide could be seen behind the marble throne, overlooking anyone who faced the throne.

Lux had requested Bentley to add this touch to the throne room as a tribute to Keoza. If it weren't for the Dragon Token given to him by the Crystal Dragon, the Half-Elf wouldn't have been able to found a Mythical Guild, much less step foot in the Legendary Kingdom of Karshvar Draconis.

Valerie liked the design very much. Even Ali and Ari sang praises of it because of how magnificent it was.

"My father told me that long ago, there was a Crystal Dragon who was supposed to be the next King of all Dragonkind," Valerie said in a respectful tone. "I can't remember his full name, but I know his shortened name, and it was Keoza.

"Long ago, the nations of the world were embroiled in a war. However, these wars came to an abrupt end when the creatures from the Void attacked. Only the Dragon King, who was the strongest creature in the world could stop their advance, but when the world needed him the most, he vanished.

"A hundred years of fighting ensued, and during that time, the Dragons decided that it was time to elect a new Dragon King to help turn the tide of battle for the Elysians. But, just like the first Dragon King, Keoza vanished when the world needed him the most.

"My father, who was next in line for succession, performed the Dragon King's Ceremony and gained the power of Supreme. He then helped the other races push the creatures of the Void back to where they came from, and thus, an uneasy peace befell the nations of the world."

Valerie then looked in Lux's direction with a faint smile.

"Tell me, is the Crystal Dragon painted on that wall the same Dragon that I spoke of?" Valerie asked. "Or is it just a whim on your part?"

When Lux was about to give her an answer, a firm, and authoritative voice echoed inside his head.

'Don't tell her.'

Three words. It was just three words, but the weight it carried influenced Lux into changing the answer he was originally about to say.

"After I became an Apostle, I came across a very dangerous Dungeon," Lux said as he looked at the giant painting of the Crystal Dragon behind his throne. "The name of that Dungeon was the Grotto of the Forbidden Guardian. It was a very dangerous Dungeon, and inside it, I met a Crystal Dragon. That same dragon is the one you see here today."

Valerie nodded her head in understanding as she gazed at the Crystal Dragon with a smile.

"What kind of Dragon was it? Is it male or female?"

"Male."

"What was he like?"

Valerie was genuinely curious about what kind of Crystal Dragon Lux had met when he was still an Apostle.

"Well, for starters, he was a very sociable Dragon," Lux replied after organizing his thoughts. "It seemed he had been alone for such a very long time, because when he appeared in front of us, the first thing he did was initiate a conversation instead of attacking us."

Lux then narrated the tale on how he fought against the Draconian Kobold, Cadmus along with the monster's brethren when he was inside that Dungeon. He added that as a reward, the Crystal Dragon gave him the Dragon Token, which allowed him to appear in Karshvar Draconis to build his Guild Headquarters.

"Amazing!" Valerie looked at Lux with sparkling eyes. "You met a Fairy God Dragon!"

"A Fairy what?" Lux blinked in confusion.

"A Fairy God Dragon!" Valerie repeated. "You know, the Dragon that turns a pumpkin into a carriage and mice into horses. Although I haven't seen any horses in my life, some Dragons said that they taste good! I want to eat one someday!"

Lux chuckled after hearing Valerie's reply. He didn't know if a Fairy God Dragon really existed, but one thing was for sure—Keoza wasn't the one that Valerie was referring to.

'I'd better not add any horses to my Bestiary,' Lux thought. 'If the Dragons see them, they might think that I'm raising them to become their snack.'

A while later, Valerie looked at the Half-Elf with a serious expression on her face once more.

"Some say that Half-Elves eat dragons," Valerie stated. "Is this true?"

"No," Lux answered in a heartbeat. "If there is a Half-Elf that can eat a Dragon, they must have balls of steel."

Valerie sighed after hearing Lux's reply.

"Good!" Valerie said. "You know, I was really worried when I came here. I thought that when you saw me, you were going to take a bite of my chest or something."

Lux's gaze subconsciously landed on Valerie's chest, which was bigger than Iris' and Cai's. Although he wasn't thinking of doing such a thing, now that the plain-looking girl mentioned it, he couldn't help but look at her "bountiful chest" that any man would love to take a bite of, even if they weren't Half-Elves.

"Don't worry, that's just fake news," Lux replied as he forcefully tore his gaze away from Valerie's assets and looked at her plain-looking face. "I don't randomly bite the chest of strangers."

Valerie's eyes widened in shock after hearing Lux's reply.

"D-Does that mean that you bite the chest of people that you know?!" Valerie immediately took four steps back to distance herself away from the handsome Half-Elf, whose gaze had lingered on her chest for a brief moment. "You plan to bite my chest too now that we are acquainted?!"

Ali and Ari immediately stood in front of Valerie with their arms crossed over their chests.

"I will not allow you to bite our mistress' chest," Ali declared. "You will have to bite ours first!"

"I know that this is just a misunderstanding, but since it sounds fun, I'll play along!" Ari stated, making Lux almost choke on his saliva.

Gerhart, who had been following Lux since they arrived in the Outer Reaches, decided to walk away.

Now that Lux had finished guiding him around, he decided to check the entirety of the floating island, leaving the Half-Elf to deal with his guests, whom he felt planned to stay in their Guild Headquarters for a day or two.

 

Chapter 538 The Whereabouts Of A Transcendent Flame

Just past midnight in the Outer Reaches…

Lux went to talk to the Kobolds, who were currently digging a series of underground networks just below his Guild Headquarters.

When the Half-Elf got over a thousand Draconium Ores from the mountain range that belonged to him, he knew instantly that he would find other resources within his territory.

Since the Kobolds were part of his guild and they were the perfect race for the job, they had permission to do what they've always wanted while collecting treasures at the same time.

"Guildmaster, you were right," Cadmus' second in command, Walter, said with a smile. "We discovered a few things that will definitely make you happy."

Seeing how happy the Kobold was, Lux's interest was piqued. He then followed Walter to the Central Cavern that they had designated as the treasury, where they would place the things they had found underground.

As soon as Lux entered the cavern, he saw countless Draconium Ores gathered together which made him gulp subconsciously. However, aside from the precious metal, the Kobolds also found other rare metals, which they had placed to the side of the small hill of Draconium Ore.

"What metal is this?" Lux asked as he picked up the pitch-black metal that was similar to an obsidian gemstone.

"Actually, we were also surprised to see this metal here in the mountains," Walter replied with a complicated look on his face.

"The name of this metal is Aenarium. It is a mutated form of Tungsten. Although Tungsten is a very strong metal, no sane blacksmith will use it to create weapons and armors because it is also very brittle. It shatters upon impact, so it is not advisable to use it as it is."

Lux tilted his head in confusion. "Wait. You just said that Tungsten is a strong metal, but it shatters upon impact? How can a metal be strong and be brittle at the same time?"

Walter looked at Lux as if he was looking at an idiot. For Kobolds, it was perfectly normal for them to understand what metal was strong and what was not.

But after realizing that their Guildmaster really didn't know anything about metals, the Kobold decided to give the Half-Elf a crash course on how Tungsten was strong and brittle at the same time.

After the Kobold's explanation, the Half-Elf still didn't understand about half what the Kobold was saying, but it was enough to tell him that Tungsten wouldn't be of much use to their guild for the time being.

"Guildmaster, I think you have a big misunderstanding here," Walter commented when he saw the disappointed look on the Half-Elf's face. "I said that Tungsten alone is not a strong metal, but that metal has mutated into Aenarium. This metal can only be formed when Tungsten is exposed to Dragon's Blood for a very long period of time—I am talking about decades long

"Simply put, all of the Tungsten's weaknesses are erased the moment it becomes Aenarium. Although this metal is not as strong as Adamantite, it is strong enough to be forged into armor for our Guild Members. But there is one problem."

Lux crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for Walter to finish his words. He was very curious about what the problem was, and if it could be fixed, then they would definitely be able to create a strong set of armor for his current Guild Members.

"Aenarium has a similarity with Draconium Ores," Walter stated. "They cannot be forged under regular flames. Only Transcendent Flames can mold them."

Lux sighed after Walter finished his explanation.

Transcendent Flames were the flames that Blacksmiths and Jewelsmiths sought after because it was one of the requirements that allowed them to forge Legendary Equipment and above.

The reason why his Master, Randolph, could only create Mythical Ranked Equipment, was not only due to his lack of skill, but also because he didn't possess a Transcendent Flame.

Blacksmiths and Jewelsmiths gained a lot of experience through forging things using rare metals that couldn't be molded using ordinary flames. They needed something stronger that would allow them to combine the strongest and rarest of metals.

Even Adamantite Equipment could only be forged by possessors of Transcendent Flames.

While a Blacksmith without a Transcendent Flame could reach the Grandmaster Rank, they would not become Transcendent Blacksmiths without the flame that everyone in their profession wanted so badly.

"Do you know where I can find a Transcendent Flame?" Lux inquired. He hoped that the Kobold would be able to tell him what he could go in order to get these flames that his Master needed.

Walter shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I do not know where these flames are located. All I know is that these flames typically materialize in places that are dense in magical or spiritual energy. According to the books I read in the past, there is a Transcendent Miasma Flame that was born when an entire Kingdom was covered in Miasma.

"As to whether this information is based on actual facts or merely hearsay, I cannot say for certain. You can even think of finding one as a fortuitous encounter, which is a miracle in itself."

Lux scratched his head as he looked at the pile of Draconium Ore, as well as Aenarium in front of him. Without a Transcendent Flame, they were just precious metals that they could sell for a high price, but couldn't be used for their own purposes.

Just as the Half-Elf was feeling down due to his inability to use the resources in front of him, a familiar voice spoke inside his mind.

'If it is a Transcendent Flame, I might be able to know where to find one.'

The Dragon Token, which was glowing faintly, floated beside the Half-Elf as Keoza's voice spoke inside his head.

'Hundreds of years ago, when I was still roaming the World, I happened to come across a small Transcendent Spark," Keoza stated. "These small sparks are the makings of a Transcendent Flame that is about to be born. Back then, I knew that it would take at least a decade more before the flame came into being.

"It has been nearly a hundred years since then. I don't know if the spark has grown or disappeared completely as time has gone on. It is also highly possible that someone has found it and used its powers for themself."

The Half-Elf felt hopeful because this was the only lead he currently had. As long as he was able to secure the Transcendent Flame for Randolph, he would definitely make a breakthrough in his profession, which would allow him to reach greater heights.

"Where can I find the spark that you speak of?" Lux asked as he held the Dragon Token firmly in his hands.

"It is in a place called Dinas Affaraon," Keoza replied. "It is a sacred place to the Druids of Affaraon and is often called the City of Higher Powers. If my memory serves me right… it is in the Northern Regions of the Wanid Kingdom, which is jointly ruled by the Mountain Folk and the Forest Keepers.

"This Kingdom is located on the Western Borders of the Kingdom of Gweliven. If you're lucky, that spark has already turned into a Transcendent Flame and is still out there somewhere. If you're unlucky… well, at least you tried."

The Dragon Token then lost its radiance and returned to its dormant state. Keoza had already done what he could, and the rest was up to Lux to figure out.

'I guess that settles it,' Lux thought. 'Within two months, I need to find the Transcendent Flames before I return to the Domain of the Fallen.'

Lux wanted to make full preparations before facing the Gate of Famine. He didn't know what kind of dangers he would face inside it, so he wanted to equip his subordinates to the teeth, and allow them to perform better the next time he entered the Sacred Dungeon.

He could only summon Keoza one last time and, if possible, he didn't want to use his ultimate Trump Card. This was why getting the Transcendent Flame was a must if Lux wanted to make his Undead Army a true force to be reckoned with.

Just like Nero, the Half-Elf had a feeling that he hadn't seen the last of the silver-haired man that had corrupted the brown-haired teenager and used him as a pawn to tilt the war to favor the Ammarian Kingdom.

With such an unknown variable, which may or may not appear at any given time during the Dungeon Exploration, Lux knew that he needed all the help he could get in order to come out victorious.

 

 

Chapter 539 All Of You Are Delusional Creatures

"Delicious!" Lux said as he ate the food that Ali and Ari prepared. "You two are amazing."

"I know, right?!" Valerie puffed her chest up as if she was the one who prepared the soup that they were currently eating for breakfast.

For her, Ali's and Ari's achievements were also her achievements since the two of them were her handmaidens.

"This soup is really good!" one of the Kobolds exclaimed as he happily drank the bowl of soup. "And the bread--it's so soft! I've never eaten bread this soft before!"

"Indeed! This is the best breakfast I've eaten in my life!"

"I wish someone in the Kobold's Nest would specialize in cooking. Eating grilled food everyday is getting boring."

The Kobolds praised Ali and Ari, which made the two handmaidens smile from ear to ear. They had prepared a large pot of soup for everyone, so there was more than enough to go around.

Even Gerhart, who had eaten many delicious things in the Rowan Tribe, agreed that the soup was indeed quite delicious. Perhaps the two handmaidens had used high-quality ingredients in order to bring out such a rich and yummy flavor that suited his taste perfectly.

After the sumptuous breakfast ended, all the Kobolds returned underground to resume working on their duties. Since Lux was planning to look for a Transcendent Flame, they decided to keep looking for rare ores and metals underground in order to prepare for the future.

"Cethus, I'll be leaving the Outer Reaches again," Lux stated. "Keep watch on my Guild Headquarters for me."

The Dragon Born, who had just finished his meal, narrowed his eyes at the Half-Elf who was planning to leave again after staying for only a day.

"I'm not here to watch your Guild Headquarters all day," Cethus replied. "The Dragon King has ordered me to watch over you--not your Guild."

"Even if you say that, you can't come with me," Lux shook his head. "The place I am going to go to is very far from Karshvar Draconis. If you wander off on your own, the possibility of you not being able to return here is very high."

"Nonsense! Do you think I am a child that will easily get lost? I'm going with you and that's final!"

"..."

The Half-Elf looked at the determined Dragon Born with a frown. It was not like he couldn't bring Cethus with him to the Kingdom of Gweliven. As long as the Dragon Born was in his party, he could take him to the Dwarven Kingdom without any problems.

That was how he brought Cai and Keane to Leaf Village, but taking Cethus wasn't the problem.

The true problem was that he didn't have any obligation or reason to bring the Dragon Born with him in the first place.

"If you don't bring me with you, I will vandalize your Guild Headquarters!" Cethus stated.

"... Are you a kid?" Lux sighed. "If you really vandalize this place, I will complain to the Dragon King and have you replaced."

Cethus was about to say more, but after hearing Lux's words, the retort he was about to say became stuck in his throat. Even so, he wanted to go with Lux because he had a feeling that when the Half-Elf returned to the Outer Reaches, he would become stronger than he was now.

The Dragon Born wanted to know how the Half-Elf increased his rank so fast, and for this reason, he wanted to accompany him to raise his rank as well.

"Don't even try to sneak away without me." Cethus glared. "I will make you regret it!"

The Half-Elf crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at the Dragon Born from head to toe.

Cethus was an Intermediate Ranked Initiate, so his fighting ability was decent.

Lux was only at the Initial Stages of the Initiate Rank. If he was compared to Cethus on Rank alone, the Dragon Born was stronger than him. At least, that was true when it came to their combined stats.

However, if the two were to fight, the Half-Elf could wipe the floor with the Dragon Born's face due to how disgusting he was in one-on-one battles.

The reason? Necromancers don't do one-on-one battles!

"Bring him along," Gerhart, who was listening to the conversation at the side commented. "I'm also curious to know how strong a Dragon Born is."

The green-haired Half-Elf never thought that Lux would be bringing him to the Floating Kingdom of the Dragon Race. A day ago, he was shocked at this discovery, but now, he had come to terms with it.

Lux had warned him to not offend the citizens of Karshvar Draconis because it might cause complications later on. Gerhart knew that he still didn't know the rules of the Dragon Race, so he decided to obey Lux's orders.

But, he was also very curious. He wanted to know how strong Dragon Borns were. He had heard about the Dragons, but the Dragon Borns was a new knowledge to him.

Because of this, he wanted to gauge the difference in strength between him and Cethus.

Cethus snorted and gave the green-haired Half-Elf a side-long glance.

"You might be an Initiate like me, but the difference between a filthy mongrel and a Dragon Born is like Heaven and Earth." Cethus sneered. "This is why I dislike those that come from the Lower Realm. All of you are delusional creatures."

Gerhart shrugged because he didn't take Cethus' words to heart. He didn't believe that the Dragon Born would walk away unscathed if the two of them fought a life and death battle.

It was at that moment when an idea popped up inside the Half-Elf's head, which made him laugh internally.

For him, this was a good opportunity to bring Cethus' arrogance down a peg, and it would also allow him to see what the Dragon Born was capable of.

Since Cethus wanted to go with him so badly, then he would give a condition. And if the Dragon Born couldn't meet the condition, then he won't let Cethus go with him.

"Cethus, you want to go with me, right?" Lux flashed the Dragon Born a devilish smile, which made the latter feel that something wasn't right.

"Yes," Cethus replied despite the weird feeling he was getting from the Half-Elf.

"Perfect! Since that is the case, how about you fight me?" Lux answered. "I am a Necromancer, and you are a Dragon Born. I only take strong individuals with me on my journey. If you can beat me then I will allow you to accompany me, deal?"

The Dragon Born narrowed his eyes after hearing Lux's proposal. Truth be told, he also wanted to fight the Half-Elf to teach him a lesson.

'This is a good opportunity to make Lux more obedient to me.' Cethus chuckled internally.

'This is a good opportunity to make Cethus obedient to me,' Lux laughed in his heart.

The Half-Elf and the Dragon Born chuckled as they looked at each other, which made Valerie stare at the two of them as if they had a few screws loose in their heads.

Gerhart, who heard Lux's proposal, found this a very good opportunity to gauge Lux's strength as well.

He had suffered grievous injuries during the Lionheart Tournament and had to escape to the Rowan Tribe to recuperate.

The green-haired Half-Elf heard a few weeks later that a fellow Half-Elf had won the tournament, which made him very interested in Lux.

Now that an opportunity had presented itself to the green-haired Half-Elf, he wouldn't let it go. It wasn't easy for him to personally witness his Guild Leader's strength, so he would definitely watch Lux's and Cethus' battle without fail.

 

 

Chapter 540 A Very Disgusting Necromancer [Part 1]

"Let's fight at the base of the mountain," Lux said.

"Sure," Cethus replied. "Don't regret challenging me after I beat you up, okay?"

"Hahaha. I hope you bought life insurance," Lux stated. "I might accidentally kill you."

"Kukuku, You're funny Half-Elf."

"I'd like to see if you will be able to laugh after our battle, Cethus."

The two sneered at each other because both of them were confident in their own strength. Clearly, neither of them believed that their opponent had a chance of winning against them.

—---------

Ten minutes later…

Lux and Cethus stared at each other as they prepared for their duel.

They were a hundred meters away from each other, and Gerhart, whom they decided to be the judge of their battle, was at a safe distance.

Eiko was currently sitting on Valerie's lap. The plain-looking lady and her two handmaidens had also decided to watch the battle.

Truth be told, they didn't believe that Lux could win against Cethus.

Why? The reason was simple.

It was because Cethus was a Dragon Born.

Those who lived in the Floating Kingdom of Karshvar Draconis had an unwavering belief that they were a blessed race.

They believed that the Gods had blessed them with the power to ensure the safety of the world, which allowed them to build a Floating Kingdom that looked down upon the Lower Realm from the sky.

This was the mentality of the Dragons and Dragon Borns, who had never stepped foot outside Karshvar Draconis.

Only the Dragons who liked to roam the world understood that the world was a big place, and there were many powerful individuals that could threaten their existence.

"Don't worry, Lux," Cethus said. "I'll take it easy on you."

"Thank you?" Lux chuckled as he made a come-and-get-me gesture to the Dragon Born who was looking down on him.

Not far away, Valerie lightly patted Eiko's head as she asked the Baby Slime a question.

"Eiko, who do you think will win?" Valerie asked.

"Pa!" Eiko answered in a heartbeat.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Un!"

Valerie smiled faintly because she could understand why Eiko would naturally be on her Papa's side. She was just worried that the Baby Slime would be devastated once she saw her Papa get beaten up by Cethus.

"Ali, Ari, make sure to stop the match if Cethus goes too far," Valerie ordered. "Dragon Borns shouldn't bully those from the Lower Realm."

"Yes, Mistress," Ali replied.

"If the Dragon Born goes too far, I will definitely stop him, Mistress," Ari stated.

The three ladies were not aware that high above the clouds, hundreds of Rankers were also making bets on who would win the duel between Lux and Cethus.

"Who do you think will win?" one of the High-Rankers asked the Old Lady, who was looking down on the two combatants, in a volume that only the old lady could hear.

"The Half-Elf," the Old Lady replied.

"Right," the High-Ranker replied. "Aren't you worried for your grandson?"

"No, actually. This is a good thing." The Old Lady smiled. "Cethus hasn't gone to the Lower Realms, and his biased opinion about Dragon Borns needs to be corrected. Who knows? This lesson might save his life in the future. Also, this is a good opportunity for the new recruits to realize that even if we live above the Lower Realm, that doesn't mean that we are superior to them."

The High Ranker nodded. "Indeed. It will also be a good wake-up call for our own troops."

The High-Ranker glanced at the Dragon Borns who had accompanied them to keep watch over their Princess' escapades. Just like Cethus, they also had a biased opinion of their race, which made them look down on those who lived on the lands below their kingdom.

'I wonder how they will react once they see the outcome of this battle,' the High Ranker thought.

As someone who had fought many life and death battles, he could tell at a glance if someone was proficient in fighting.

People who just trained and sparred with others wouldn't understand the battle experience that could be gained when fighting with your life on the line. This was what separated beginners from veterans, and the Half-Elf that was about to fight Cethus had seen his share of fights that surpassed his current level of strength.

"Ready!" Gerhart shouted as he raised his hand to signal the start of the battle. "Fight!"

As soon as Gerhart gave the signal to fight, Cethus immediately flapped his wings and flew up in the air.

Dragon Borns were proficient in both close combat and ranged battles. However, since they could fly, the majority of them focused on using long-range attacks to decimate their opponents by using their air superiority.

Those who specialized in close combat would find themselves at a great disadvantage against flying creatures because they were simply out of their strike range.

However, Lux was different.

He wasn't just a close combat fighter, he was also a Necromancer.

A very disgusting Necromancer.

Lux raised his right hand as he stared at the Dragon Born in the sky with a sneer.

"Arise!" Lux ordered.

A moment later, his named Creatures, the members of his Covenants, as well as the hundreds of Undead under his command materialized around him.

Cethus was unperturbed as he opened his mouth to use his Dragon's Breath.

'So what if you have many Undead under your command?' Cethus thought as the blazing flames gathered in front of his lips. 'All I need to do is blast them all to ashes!'

However, just as the Dragon Born was about to unleash the signature move of Dragons and Dragon Borns alike, a booming and powerful voice reached his ears.

"Duel [EX]!" Orion roared as he pointed his finger at Cethus, locking him in place.

The Dragon Born immediately felt that something was wrong as the power he was gathering disappeared without a trace.

A second later, he found his body being pulled down from the sky, which made him panic.

Pazuzu took a step forward and raised his spiked mace with a sneer on his face.

The Skeleton Gang Bangers gathered beside him as they eyed the Dragon Born, who was desperately trying to resist the powerful taunt ability that would give Cethus nightmares.

Asmodeus and Lazarus chuckled because they already knew what was coming next.

"It's Gang Bang Time!" Pazuzu shouted, and all the Skeleton Gang Bangers raised their swords and cheered.

"""HA-OOH!"""

"""HA-OOH!"""

"""HA-OOH!"""

Nothing could have prepared Valerie, Gerhart, Ali, Ari, the Rankers, the High-Rankers, as well as Cethus' Grandmother for the scene that they would witness that day.

It was the day they came to understand that the Half-Elf, who had built his Guild Headquarters in the Outer Reaches, was someone that they shouldn't provoke lightly.