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nThe Temple of Shadow spent one week preparing immensely for the attack on the Verdant Warrior Sect.

nWeapons were given out. Spells, techniques, pills of every kind.

nThey didn’t underestimate their opponents.

nEven two Elders were going to fight!

nThey were up against the entire Sect, including their Patriarch.

nAlthough it was a small-sized Clan, their Patriarch was a powerful Rank 4, a master of their Sector’s martial arts.

nFor that, Elder Verium and Elder Jane, the strongest of the Temple, were going to be there to face him.

nHowever, it wasn’t like they were fighting alone.

nElder Orisa was in charge of formations around the Sector.

nAlthough they were isolated from the rest of the region, that didn’t mean lower ranking members of the Sect couldn’t contact other Clans.

nOrisa’s presence would ensure there was no outside interference.

nNo one was to be a witness to the massacre.

nNot even their Spirit Beasts and younger disciples.

nOrisa’s Shadows were designed for that purpose, after all.

nElder Aki would forge the weapon Verium would use against the Patriarch, and Jax would inscribe it for him.

nElder Jane was there as a supporting hand, and her responsibilities were organizing the attack.

nAlthough combining all hands and striking the Verdant Warrior Sect as five was the most ideal plan, not all of the Temple were participating in the attack.

nThey couldn’t just leave the base vulnerable as they attempted a raid.

nSome were alchemists. Others were forgemasters and inscribers.

nTheir goal was to help with the raid by supplying weapons and inscribed items.

nMeanwhile, Liam was excited to the bone.

nThere was only one instance in his life that he saw a Zenith fight another Zenith.

nIt was when Liam’s grandfather and Patriarch of the Royce family punched a Lava Lion Zenith once in the head.

nAnd killed him with one attack!

nWhat could two monsters in the fourth Rank accomplish?

nLiam was just itching to find out.

nAnytime he saw something in the higher Ranks, Liam’s ambition and greed for strength grew to new heights.

nLike adding fuel to a flame.

nStill, usually, he would never be excited for such an event.

nIt was risky.

nIt was dangerous.

nDeath was a possibility.

nYet Liam still smiled!

n‘It’s the Dark Star,’ Liam realized, then frowned. ‘It’s intensifying my emotions again.’

nLiam was in his quarters, in the midst of forging a special item he thought of throughout the past two months.

nFrom the corner of his eye, Liam glanced to the left.

nEve looked back with demanding, dark, empty eyes.

n“You killed me.”

nLiam glanced back to his item and continued forging.

n“You valued power over me.”

nLiam continued forging, a slight scowl growing on his face.

n“What kind of son are you?”

nLiam’s frown deepened, but he hadn’t stopped forging.

n“You let me die!”

nJust as his fist clenched, Eve’s voice disappeared together with her presence.

nRealizing she was gone, Liam let out a soft breath.

nIt was uncomfortable, having your dead mother talk to you and guilt trip you.

nBut that’s exactly what happened to Liam ever since he applied his tattoos.

nAll he could do was ignore it.

nIn the meantime, Liam visited the Shifter again.

nWhen the Octopus saw Liam arriving, it squealed again, but didn’t attack like last time.

nLiam smiled lightly.

nHe took out Rank 3 Spirit Beast meat and threw it at the cage, slowly taking a few steps forward.

nThe Shifter let out another loud squeal, before its tentacles curled and wrapped around the pieces of food.

nIn an instant, the Octopus consumed them.

nLiam threw another, and another, until he had gone through three Spirit Beast corpses for the Shifter to eat.

nBy then, Liam was a step away from the cage, his two multi-colored eyes fixed with the Octopus’ inky six.

nIt didn’t attack, but Liam could sense that it was contemplating whether or not to.

nLiam gave the Shifter a piercing glare.

n“Behave. And I won’t turn you into food.”

nThe Octopus didn’t understand Liam’s words.

nBut with its intelligence, and Liam’s hostile gaze, it could deduce a vague threat.

n‘Now that I think about it, I haven’t named it anything.’

nLiam pursed his lips in thought, then gave it another piece of meat.

nA few names surfaced in his mind that were too grand and didn’t fit for a creature so pathetic and weak.

n“Egg. A description should suit you better.”

nThankfully, Egg didn’t understand.

nOtherwise it would have attacked Liam instantly.

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nA large group of Acolytes, Disciples and Shadows gathered outside the Temple’s halls.

nFlying above ground was Elder Jane. Her ebony hair fluttering with an invisible wind.

nBeside her were the four other Elders.

nIn front of them were the small number of Shadows, with Krel in their lead.

nBehind them were the Disciples, with Zeth leading them.

nAnd behind them, were the Acolytes.

nA total of 250 members.

nLiam had been promoted to a Disciple after receiving his tattoos.

nHe wore a tight black wrapping made from a special Spirit Beast, showing his defined muscles.

nHis lustrous hair was hung tightly in a bun.

nUsing the King’s Eye, his eye colors had reverted to black.

nNow that Liam had begun practicing the Ten Thousand Shadows Art, the Elders could give him special treatment.

nElder Jane already gave Liam pills bolstering his core and bodily progress.

n‘I’m still not at the liquid stage. I’m close, though. Maybe a week or two away.’

n“I will reiterate the plan of attack,” said Elder Jane, her voice reaching all.

nA large, 3D ethereal map made out of Shadow flickered in the air. .

nIt depicted a large, jagged, cone-like mountain that stretched to a cloud-piercing height.

nAtop of the mountain was a plateau, where the Verdant Warrior Sect had made their training grounds.

n“You all will be split into groups, led by one Shadow each.”

n“Once the Isolation Formation is activated, we will move quickly by disabling the outer forces of their Sect.”

n“After the first wave of enemies is cleared, we will move deeper in.”

n“When their Patriarch comes out, Elder Verium and I will take care of him.”

n“Kill them all. Let none survive.”

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