*sob*

Eilish cried as she tightly wrapped her dainty hands around Souta. She buried her face in his chest.

Those traumatic experiences never left her mind. It was the most horrible thing that she had experienced in her life.

"It's fine,

" Souta said gently as he caressed her back.

A girl without her energy in an unknown world with stronger beings. She didn't need to explain for Souta to understand what happened to her.

He looked at her and said,

"You can rest for a while. I promise I will help you find your brother.

"

"Thank you... Souta...

" Eilish said while sobbing. She kept crying until she fell asleep.

Souta stood up and he placed her on the bed. He covered her with a blanket before he left the room.

As soon as he left Eilish's room, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. His expression changed quickly as he muttered,

"Noxious...

"

Swoosh!!

Two people appeared behind him.

"Lord...

"

Both of them fell on their knees.

These two experts were members of the Noxious Corps that Franklin trained to become assassins. It was good but the overall might of the corps still couldn't be compared to the Witch Corps.

These two experts were one of the few Solidifying Realm of the corps. They were only at the intermediate stage of S-rank.

"Gather a few people that have the power level of S-rank. Also, notify Elder Hanmi and quickly depart to the battlefield where Eilish fought the tribes of the Earthen Woods. I will follow soon.

"

Souta gave them an order without looking back. He continued to walk as his mind wandered about the previous events in the Hall Plains.

Eilish met her brother and there was a woman that visited him before. There was something that happened that he didn't know about.

He went to his office and read all the reports. He already heard some of the reports from Gragas but there was still something that he didn't know about.

The Dragon Council.

Governor Ray, the founder of the organization, didn't make out and die before he could even receive a proper treatment.

Also... The Ninth Head died in Bland City? So while he was fighting No God Emperor someone attacked that city and it demolished almost everything within.

According to the residents of the city, they were mysteriously transported out of the city before the whole area collapsed. It was unknown who saved their lives but they were grateful for whoever was that person.

"So while I was fighting No God Emperor, someone attacked Bland City, and at the same time, Eilish and Eight Head along with Fourth Head fought an unknown group on the battlefield against the tribes. Eilish's brother was included in that group...

"

Is there a connection to it?

Maybe, these two are from different organizations?

Souta rubbed his chin.

Aside from that, there were changes in Dragon Council.

This piece of report surprised him.

A week after the battle against No God Emperor, Alexander and Gerxuzs fought in the central region for an entire day.

The battle shook the region and a lot of people were affected. Most of the survivors were still recovering from the war when the two fought without holding back. As a result, it devastated the central region even more. It already suffered from the war as various organizations fought all over it.

Surprisingly, they became members of the Dragon Council, taking over Governor Ray and Ninth Head's seats.

"What are they thinking...?!

"

Souta furrowed his brows. This was beyond his expectations and he didn't think that those two would join a measly organization such as Dragon Council.

As for their current location, it was unknown. They disappeared ever since then. Not even the other members could contact them.

He couldn't contact them since their location was unknown. He wanted to ask them various things, especially that monster Gerxuzs. Souta could understand if it was Alexander alone but Gerxuzs... What sort of things comes into that brain for him to join the Dragon Council?

"The two fought in the central region and then they joined the Dragon Council before disappearing... Is there an agreement between the two of them?

"

Souta shook his head as he couldn't guess what were they thinking.

Sigh...

Just reading the reports already drained his mental capability.

Souta leaned on his chair as he turned his head to the window. There were lots of behind the scene that happened while he was fighting No God Emperor.

Speaking of No God Emperor, it's his first time hearing the name of this god. Similar events happened in the game but they weren't No God Emperor. A god trying to break out of their seal wasn't the first time.

Even Yamato no Orochi was trying to do the same thing. It's just that he hasn't heard of No God Emperor even in the game.

Nevermind...

He guessed that he should go to the Earthen Woods first to gather some information.

He would help Eilish find her brother.

But before that...

Souta stood up from his seat. He opened his hands and a snake quickly coiled around his arm. It was Kessa.

"I have something to do so you have to stay here and guard this place while I'm gone,

" Souta said to her.

Kessa disappointingly rolled out of his arms. She slithered across the table, trying to find a spot where she could comfortably rest.

Souta observed her for a while.

Kessa was the strongest force in Ekatoe City so he could leave this place to her. The sealing technique using the energy from Blood Sacrifice wasn't common. So it wouldn't probably happen for the time being. Even the Hall of Power used several decades to accumulate so much energy yet they mostly used it just to seal Kessa. If they had a little bit left, they could seal him too.

They didn't expect that Souta would grow faster beyond their information. For them, Kessa was the only threat to their plan and the others could be dealt with by their own strength.

She was strong but she easily fell into the enemy's trap. So he needed to remind her to stay here so that other experts of Astros could support her. Also, the rewards that Souta got by helping Alexander in conquering the Multiple Elements Realm, he hasn't used it yet.

The Five Element Rune Formation would be a great addition to Astros' defenses. It would solidify the whole city of Ekatoe, turning it into a fortress with powerful defense and attack.

Souta already planned to erect it around the Guardian Fortress. One of the two Guardian Fortresses of Astros would stay here at the center of the Ekatoe and would act as a medium for the rune formation. So Souta could bring it out in the future.

He smiled before he turned his back to Kessa.

"I will be back...

"

Souta said to her before he left the room.

He burst through the sky with insane speed. It caused a huge disturbance when he left but it only lasted for a second since he was already several kilometers away.

Soon, Souta arrived at the site where Eilish fought the unknown group. Elder Hanmi and the others that he tasked were also here.

"My Lord!!

"

The soldiers greeted him when he arrived. Souta gave them a nod before he focused his attention on his surrounding.

"This...?

"

This place surprised him.

Everything within a radius of ten kilometers was a barren land. Even the soil was dead and Souta guessed that no grasses would be able to grow here for a while. It would eventually turn back to normal since the Imperium's energy would flow through it but this was still devastating.

Souta squatted and placed his palm on the land. It felt like he was touching some ashes. It wasn't burned but instead, it was as if life was sucked out of this piece of land, turning this place into a dead land.

"If there is a user of dead mana here then they could use this land to turn it into their den. The land will not recover but instead will turn into something else.

"

Souta turned his head to the soldiers close to him and asked,

"Did you discover anything in this place?

"

"Nothing, My Lord! Every part of this land is the same!

" The soldiers answered.

"Hmm...

" Souta rubbed his chin as he went into deep thought.

After a while, he glanced at Elder Hanmi and said,

"Prepare yourself, we'll go to the Earthen Woods.

"

"Earthen Woods...?!

" Elder Hanmi was surprised when he heard Souta's words.

"Yeah,

" Souta nodded.

"That's... We just went into a temporary treaty with them after the war in the central region.

" Elder Hanmi said.

"It's temporary. The groups in Earthen Woods are unified, unlike any other region. After the war, most factions have submitted to us yet this piece of land closed their borders. Plus, I wanted to know who collaborated with them. Is it the Hall of Power or something else that we don't know about?

"

Souta said as he turned his eyes in the direction of the Earthen Woods. A glint of coldness flashed deep within his eyes.

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