Souta sat before a grave, the final resting place of Yenxa, one of his trusted subordinates. Alongside Yenxa, the fallen members of Astros rested in this sacred ground, a testament to their sacrifice in battle.

A figure approached Souta, breaking his reverie.

"My Lord, someone wishes to meet you,

" they informed him.

Souta turned, curiosity evident in his expression.

"Who?

" he inquired.

"The Head of the Shimpan Family. They said an emissary from the Palleo Kingdom in the Obsidian Desert is here,

" came the response, delivered with respectful deference.

"The Obsidian Desert?

" Souta's eyebrows lifted in surprise. He knew of the vast desert adjacent to the Hall Plains.

Rising to his feet, Souta made his decision.

"Very well. I will receive them. Arrange the meeting,

" he instructed.

With a bow, the messenger departed, leaving Souta to contemplate the implications of this unexpected encounter.

Souta furrowed his brow, wracking his brain for any knowledge he might possess about the Obsidian Desert. However, he soon realized that his familiarity with the region was limited to hearsay; he had never personally ventured there during his time in the game.

Leaving the grave site behind, Souta hastened to his office, eager to gather more information. Consulting his subordinates, he requested any details they could provide regarding the Obsidian Desert.

The reports revealed that the Obsidian Desert was vast, stretching several times the size of the Hall Plains. It was home to numerous small countries, each boasting considerable power and longevity. In terms of military strength, these desert nations were formidable, comparable to the affluent countries of the Hall Plains that harbored high-ranked Shackled Realms. Among these nations stood the Palleo Kingdom, a significant force in the region.

Surveying the documents spread across his desk, Souta pondered the implications of this new information.

"What do you think?

" Souta asked, placing the paper files on the table.

"I believe their interest in us stems from our connection to Olympus. It's no secret that we're warriors of Athen's Champion, and your position as a Grain Leader sets us apart,

" Alice remarked, offering her perspective on the Palleo Kingdom's visit.

"I share the same sentiment,

" Souta nodded in agreement.

The situation in the Obsidian Desert was dire, with tens of thousands of refugees fleeing to the Hall Plains a few months ago. The influx of refugees had reached staggering numbers, nearing the millions. Even before Souta's journey to Selnes Country, refugees from the Obsidian Desert had been arriving.

"It's likely they seek to leverage our strength to aid them in their current predicament,

" Souta mused.

"Let's await their visit and discern their intentions,

" he concluded.

He wasn't concerned about potential attacks here. With Kessa by his side, they were the strongest monsters in all of Astros. Even a Hero-rank expert would hesitate to cause trouble in their presence. Moreover, a powerful formation covered the land, further bolstering their defenses. The Astros could take on a Seventh Shackle Realm, and even Eighth Shackle Realms would find it difficult to infiltrate.

As the time for the meeting arrived, the group from the Palleo Kingdom gathered at the table, opposite Souta and his men.

Crown Prince Servon observed the man with a striking appearance seated across from him. Despite sensing no discernible aura from this man, his instincts warned him of his danger. With crimson hair and a dark horn protruding from his forehead, along with eyes tinged with a crimson hue and dark-toned skin, the Crown Prince recognized him instantly as the infamous Blood Lightning Monster. The individuals beside him, though somewhat known, paled in comparison to their leader's notoriety.

The Crown Prince stood up and introduced himself.

"I am Servon De Von Palleo, Crown Prince of the Palleo Kingdom, and this is my sister, Iris De Von Palleo.

"

Princess Iris rose gracefully, clasping the hem of her dress, and offered a polite bow.

Souta reciprocated their greeting with a smile, even though they were already acquainted with his name. It was customary and a gesture of respect.

Observing them, Souta noted the strength of the Crown Prince and his companion. Alongside them, the Princess, while somewhat weaker, still possessed formidable abilities, comparable to Alice's level. This was to be expected from individuals representing a nation that could be ranked a rick country.

Crown Prince Servon was about to proceed with explaining the purpose of their visit when something unexpected occurred.

Ohm!

The air rippled with an unsettling vibration, and an eerie energy permeated the surroundings.

Princess Iris, Sarguan, Alice, and the others felt an abrupt chill run down their spines.

Souta fixed his gaze on the Crown Prince and the other two individuals, noting their surprise at the sudden turn of events. From their reactions, he deduced that they were not responsible for this anomaly.

Looking upward, Souta observed the distortion in space, one directly above him and another above the Crown Prince. Gray wisps of smoke emanated from these rifts, carrying with them an unfamiliar energy.

'Souta... Dream Power!' Saya's voice resonated within his mind.

'Yes, it's Dream Power,' Souta affirmed silently, acknowledging her insight. There was no mistaking it; he was familiar with Dream Power and could readily identify its presence.

In Selnes Country, Souta had employed his Dream Power to vanquish Nine Yin of the Gluttony Army.

Swoosh!!

Two pieces of paper fluttered down from the distorted spaces above. One landed before Souta, while the other descended in front of the Crown Prince.

Both Souta and the Crown Prince reached for the papers that had appeared before them.

Crown Prince Servon's eyes widened in alarm as he read the contents of the paper.

"What is it, brother?

" Princess Iris inquired, noticing her brother's sudden change in demeanor. She glanced at the paper in his hand and gasped in astonishment.

Souta laid the paper on the table with a grin.

"This is unexpected. I didn't deliberately conceal it, but it appears they've learned it.

"

Alice and Eilish leaned in to examine the paper. The first thing that caught their attention was a symbol—a broom against the backdrop of a peculiarly drawn moon, with clock hands and numbers indicating midnight.

Alice furrowed her brow in confusion, but Eilish's reaction was different. Recognition sparked in her eyes as she recalled encountering the symbol before, while reading a history book in the Champion's Den.

A broom against the backdrop of a moon with clock-like features.

Walpurgis Night.

"It's an invitation from the remnants of Walpurgis Night,

" Souta stated, tapping the paper with his finger.

Crown Prince Servon, now composed, laid his paper on the table.

"I received the same invitation. It seems it's truly from Walpurgis Night.

"

...

A man sat perched on the roof of a modest house, his short brown hair tousled by the breeze. His eyes, one blue and the other green, held a peculiar gaze as he studied a piece of paper clutched in his hand. Engraved on it was a symbol: a broom set against a backdrop of a moon with clock-like features.

"Tsk, Walpurgis Night... Those fellows couldn't let it rest. They must be dreaming,

" he muttered, his voice carrying a note of disdain as he continued to gaze at the symbol before him.

...

A woman reclined in a bikini, her curves accentuated by the scant fabric. Crimson hair cascaded down her back, and a pair of sunglasses rested atop her head.

She was Red Mist, known among the experts who had invaded Selnes Country. With a glass of juice in one hand, she held a piece of paper in the other, her gaze fixed upon it.

"Walpurgis...? Those fools never learn. They'll never restore the glory of Walpurgis Night,

" she muttered before taking a sip of her juice.

Beside her, a small figure flitted through the air.

"Are you attending? Or will you decline the invitation?

" the figure asked.

It was Red Mist's spirit, Fiamma.

"Of course, I'm going. I'll never forget what they did. It's about time I paid that cursed place a visit,

" Red Mist replied with a smile.

...

In the heart of a dense forest, a man sat before an altar, surrounded by dozens of monster carcasses. He was bald, clad in a simple white robe, with a string of red beads adorning his neck.

Beside him sat a petite woman, her long blue hair tied back in a neat knot. She gripped an exquisite longbow in her hand.

"Witches... What schemes do they harbor in this turbulent age?

" the bald man murmured.

"I cannot fathom their intentions. It has been an age since I last set foot in that realm. I wonder whose side they are on,

" the woman replied, her voice calm and composed.

...

Naturally, Souta wasn't the only one to receive an invitation from Walpurgis Night. Across the land, various individuals found invitations in their possession. The common thread among them was their connection to witches, either through affiliation or their own status as witches.

Souta tapped the invitation with his finger, his gaze shifting to the Crown Prince.

"So, what brings you here? It seems the invitation is related to your visit, given that you've also received one.

"

Crown Prince Servon studied Souta for a moment before sighing. He nodded and replied,

"Yes and no. My purpose here is indeed linked to the invitation, but I wasn't aware that Walpurgis Night would make a move at this time. My visit concerns my sister.

"

"Hmm... Can you shed some light on Walpurgis Night? I assume your sister is involved, considering you received an invitation,

" Souta inquired, turning his gaze towards the princess.