The first day inside the realm of storms passed silently. Shortly after the appearance of the demon emperor’s shadow and its destruction, no one had time to deeply reflect on the event. The entire place, after the removal of its core, entered a state of frenzy as if it were giving its desperate last breaths.
All the electrical laws permeating the air condensed, and all the beasts inhabiting this environment roared, attacking any enemy that appeared. Similar to the realm of flames, they seemed to know that an invader caused this collapse; this was probably another defense mechanism.
Unlike the realm of flames, where demon clans did not take risks and only explored the periphery, the sixth and seventh-level clans advanced toward the center with caution, seeking not only treasures but also to enhance their physical bodies.
When the frenzy began, most were startled but focused on the short opportunity to refine themselves. The demon clan that came from the fifth level, which was already pushing their limits, having witnessed what happened before in the realm of flames, did not hesitate; they all fled, anticipating the imminent disaster.
Alm and Bruno, after collecting all the crystals, just felt the atmosphere and mentally discussed fervently.
’These are just low-level demon clans. They shouldn’t have contact with high-level clans. No one would believe what happened here; I refuse to massacre them to keep it quiet or to get resources.’ Bruno said decisively.
Alm snorted and spoke coldly. ’The cultivation of that demon emperor is at the peak of mortal realms. If he really wants, we’ll be hunted all over the planet, and everything will get more complicated; you yourself said we need to plan measures. We have to take advantage of this period in the abyss while he’s recovering and suck every drop of resource.’
’It won’t be hard for the emperor to figure out our connection with the two clans we’re carrying. The safe play now is for them to leave the abyss, then be protected in the city until we get strong enough,’ Bruno said calmly, feeling Ruri wake up on his back. ’Let’s take it slow, but they must want that first. Or I admit, our approach must change drastically. After all, we handed over a lot to them.’
’How many times have we been betrayed before? Now that we’ve messed with someone invincible to them, someone revered all their lives as a god. Do you think all your theatrics will convince them? They were just going with the flow while we handed things over to them.’
Alm said coldly, feeling boundless bitterness. Bruno felt the same, recalling their dark past. It was then that they felt the little girl climbing their backs and perching on their shoulders.
Their gazes met, and she smiled radiantly, seeming to sense their bitterness. Both sighed, feeling everything melt away before that smile. They were starting anew and wanted to believe that their different actions would bring different results.
Then, they turned to Ruri with a tender look. She was soon internally examined by them for any other consequences of using that technique. The cutting power generated was something far beyond what someone with her cultivation could endure.
Theoretically, either side could use the technique, but Ruri completely loses all her mental power in the technique after its use. If they were the attackers, she would be left unprotected and rely solely on the power of the earth stored in the runic seal. After being used once in the abyss, she couldn’t replenish those laws.
So, the most efficient scenario would be for her to attack, and they become her shield. The technique relied on the multi-layered connection between them, costing only a bit of their souls and lives, preserving their QIs. It was a powerful and useful creation.
’She’s perfectly healthy; the lost life force is irrelevant.’ Bruno thought, looking at her intently. Then, he saw those bright eyes full of expectation directed at him.
"Your meridians and acupuncture points are practically formed. I’d say in less than a year, you’ll be able to cultivate normally." Bruno commented lightly, and a sweet laugh echoed from those small rosy lips.
They then began to walk calmly. Soon, Bruno spoke aloud, "When you’re just over fourteen, you’ll be fully formed, it’s a very early start even for the divine worlds... unfortunately, you’re growing up too fast."
Ruri laughed contentedly, but soon felt the weight in those words and murmured, "But master doesn’t like children as much anymore; his taste has changed quite a bit since we met. Initially, he even asked me to look for which maid sisters hadn’t..."
"Forget about that time!" Bruno immediately cut her off. "And I never liked children either!"
"Hmm... true, master, despite sometimes asking me to remove..." Ruri stopped halfway as she felt the piercing gaze directed at her. "Yes! Master just glanced, but he didn’t react enthusiastically."
She smiled awkwardly, then after a few seconds spoke timidly, "But... I really never understood why you treated me so well until today."
Bruno scoffed. It all started just because he thought Alm would soften a bit with her around, after seeing his reaction in the clan’s library. But now, remembering, both he and Alm reacted the same way, and he just used that as an initial excuse back then.
"Don’t think too much about it. Just consider it fate, and I did everything because you were someone special." Bruno spoke lightly, but he was startled to hear a muffled whimper.
Turning around, Bruno saw Ruri on his shoulder, looking at them frozen, her eyes trembling, her heart beating uncontrollably, and her whole face completely red like an apple.
’You... really say whatever comes to mind without thinking when you’re relaxed,’ Alm said dryly to Bruno. ’We stopped doing that a long time ago on Earth because it brought us a lot of problems. Now, you’re doing it again like an idiot, and she’s getting more attached. We’ll have to fix this in the worst way in the future because of you.’
Bruno heard and felt strange. Fixing it in the worst way... at that moment, both he and Alm felt a strange tightness in their chests. Just thinking about doing something to separate from her, they would both prefer to die. Neither of them spoke, but both thought in unison: That was impossible.
***
A few hours later, both clans in the center of the realm still fought with determination. The electrical laws, once inert and devoid of will, no longer shook them as they did when they first arrived. However, as the powerful beasts controlling these laws emerged, the situation changed drastically.
With their instinctive intelligence controlling the laws, any physical contact transmitted the electrical laws to the enemy, acting like a poison penetrating the body. Everyone with demon blood suffered from this. However, no survivor up to that moment was weak.
The three newly recruited members of the Soul Eater clan, Langrum, Almin, and Loeus, fought together, eliminating the beasts in precise movements, preventing the two clans from falling into a desperate struggle. Soon, the half-demons, using the new technique, combining the physical power of the wyverns and teamwork, in a few hours, managed to stabilize the battle.
After a final flaming strike with Almin’s spear, the last beast was destroyed. Almin sighed lightly and saw no more beasts in the vicinity. "It was simple this time..."
"Yes, the warm-up is over."
He was interrupted by the presence of the whale, which appeared in front of him without Almin noticing. Only a subtle violet aura dispersed, and Almin looked at Ruri, smiling. The level of her mental power was becoming more and more terrifying.
The two clans eliminated their enemies and turned their attention to the whale. It advanced towards the two leaders.
"As you saw, I caused you quite a big problem to handle," the whale spoke, looking seriously at Calirer. "You have two options: you can expel me from the clan and spread the word to everyone. I won’t hold a grudge, and you can enjoy everything you’ve gained so far."
Runula immediately furrowed her brows, ready to say something, but the whale cut her off with a glance and continued.
"The second option is to follow me to the end. It will be a potentially deadly path, but I can keep you safe for a while. The cost of this... you’ll have to leave the abyss and abandon your lands."
All members of both clans forgot to breathe; they never imagined getting this far and felt limitless confidence in their abilities. No one doubted that sacred, round figure, and everyone envisioned the future they desired if they followed it. However, the enemy was the demon emperor, someone they were taught to respect and fear from the moment they were born.
Runula quickly opened her mouth without hesitation. "Those with dragon blood don’t bow to any demon out of fear; we prefer to fight and die than be subjugated! We gain nothing but contempt and misery from demons. We will follow the one who blessed us and taught us!"
Runula threatened to kneel, but a subtle mental force compelled her to stay standing. She looked at the whale, her eyes trembling, feeling lost and not understanding.
’If you kneel, Deryu will treat you as a slave forever.’ The whale’s mental message echoed in her mind.
Tense, Runula snorted, and her human body glowed. Immediately, she returned to her true wyvern form and freed herself from the mental force. Then, she bowed her wyvern body, with wings and head touching the ground.
"If he is someone who doesn’t know how to repay kindness with kindness and fails to recognize his worth... I will kill him myself and end our engagement." She said confidently. "All wyverns will follow him!" Runula roared.
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Immediately, the entire Serpent Wing clan stepped forward, replicating the movement of their leader.
Calirer watched everything with a complicated expression, and everyone from her clan looked at her silently. Langrum behind her stopped breathing in suspense, and the whale simply waited without caring.
"I... the abyss is our home; I can’t make this decision alone." She murmured and turned to her clan.
Most looked at her with a fighting spirit emerging in their auras, then several glances turned towards her with clear disdain. Calirer felt all of this and sighed heavily. Then, she turned to Goku and lowered her head. She felt a strong sense of shame, thinking that she was acting cowardly again.
"No need to blame yourself; a leader must also consider their people and their well-being. The slightest mistake can cause everyone’s death, and it will be the end of the clan. I also gave you no assurance or explanation." The whale spoke gently.
"Just state your will; no matter your choice, there will be those who support and those who don’t. Everyone knows that you love your clan. The key is to follow your feelings, even if it seems crazy. If you don’t trust yourself, no one will trust you, especially as a leader." The whale concluded and fell silent.
Calirer lifted her head and looked into their eyes. This round figure had always been abnormal and unbelievable since she met it, but her years of life in the midst of misery and survival taught her to think logically to survive. Now... she clenched her fists, feeling the strong demonic blood flowing.
"Sorry, it’s hard to stop being a humble half-breed who will be trampled like an insect by anyone. Now... thanks to the opportunity you gave me, everything changed very quickly. But I promise not to hesitate anymore."
She spoke and looked back, and her entire clan snorted, nodding in satisfaction. Everyone perfectly understood her feelings from the youngest to the oldest; they had lived this way for a long time. And it became ingrained in them.
The whale nodded without emotion. "It’s understandable; even a slave, after many years, ends up truly believing they are just that and becoming a slave forever willingly."
He then nodded, and a grayish sphere appeared in his hand; in the same second, Almin felt a cold sweat running down his back.
"Initially, I thought of training you until you became strong enough to defend yourselves. But things have changed. If everyone wants to follow me to the end, you’ll have to become, at a minimum, greater than any pure demon." The whale spoke, and the sphere began to swirl, and space stirred.
"I will gradually increase the level of the electrical laws of this realm every hour. Your bodies will quickly become half-dead. Then, I will inject as much Qi as possible into each of you, and we’ll continue until your bodies reach the maximum limit... or you die in the middle of the process; let’s see what happens first."