Standing above the Necoris city, Zimo, Deng Kun, and Lang Bai wore solemn expressions. Their emperor had been gone for over twelve years, which was highly unusual.
On the Magma Plain, he was invincible—nothing could stop him. However, thinking about the Necoris' sacred land, they couldn't help but worry.
"Nothing will happen to His Majesty, right?" Lang Bai asked, looking at Deng Kun and Zimo.
"What could possibly happen to His Majesty?" Deng Kun scoffed. "I believe sothing important must have happened—that's the only reason His Majesty has not returned."
"Indeed, sothing significant must have taken place for His Majesty to delay his return. We just have to wait for good news," Zimo added confidently.
"Let's return and continue our mission."
"What about the Necoris?" Deng Kun asked.
"Send them a ssage to co to Clear Wind City," Zimo commanded and disappeared from his spot.
Inside the Necoris Clan
Ozall and the clan elders sat in the main hall, their faces clouded with unease.
"Elders, what should we do?" Ozall asked, his voice laced with nervousness.
They had promised the humans to take them to the Necoris' sacred land, but the deadly traps had forced them to retreat halfway.
Now, they all feared human retaliation against their city. Even though it was not their fault, they couldn't help but panic.
"There is nothing we can do. We have already shown our loyalty to the humans by guiding them to the sacred land. Now, we can only leave the rest to fate," the oldest Necoris elder said with a deep sigh.
They had once dominated the Magma Plain, but now, the re thought of human retaliation made them tremble.
Suddenly, Derin rushed into the hall, his face lit with excitent.
"Son, why would you barge in while we're having an important discussion?" Ozall berated, his voice laced with anger.
"Father, I apologize for my intrusion, but this information cannot wait," Derin said, his grin widening.
"What information?" one of the elders asked with a slight frown.
Taking a deep breath, Derin replied, "I've just received a ssage from the humans. They are inviting us to Clear Wind City to strengthen our cooperation."
"Hm? What exactly did they say?" Ozall asked, rising to his feet.
Derin quickly explained Deng Kun's ssage to his father and the elders. As they listened, the tension in the room lifted, and bright smiles replaced their previous expressions of worry.
They had been on edge ever since the humans left for the sacred land, fearing they would return in fury.
But now…
Their fears were unfounded.
These humans were not as narrow-minded as they had assud.
"Son, how did you receive ssages from the humans?" one of the elders asked after the excitent settled.
"Hahaha! I was given a Spirit Comms!" Derin proudly displayed the ring-like artifact on his hand.
"Really? Is it true that you can speak to one another through that small ring?" an old elder asked skeptically.
"Yes! This is just one of the magical artifacts the humans created. There are many more. As long as we surrender to them and allow them to establish their store in our territory, we will have access to all of these wonders," Derin said earnestly.
The elders exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with newfound understanding.
Since they had already shown the humans their sacred land, why shouldn't they submit?
As Necoris, they respected power, and the humans had proven themselves to be far superior.
Thus, surrendering was not difficult for them.
Besides… did they even have a choice?
Without hesitation, the Necoris elders began planning for their journey to Clear Wind City. This ti, they would not send just the younger generation.
The elders and the clan leader would personally visit the humans for deeper cooperation.
While the Necoris prepared for their alliance with the humans, earth-shattering changes were taking place in the Burning Hinterland.
At the very heart of the Hinterland—where no human, beast, or Necoris dared set foot—a long, gaping fissure stretched for miles, its width over five hundred ters.
It was no ordinary fissure.
The air reeked of decay, thick dark smoke rising from the depths. Staring into the fissure was like staring into the endless abyss of death itself.
Even the most powerful beasts in the Burning Hinterland instinctively feared it, avoiding it at all costs.
However, amidst the horror of the fissure, a figure was clawing its way out.
A withered old man struggled desperately, his skeletal fingers gripping the jagged edges of the cliffside as he pulled himself upward.
His once-proud golden mane was gone, leaving behind a bald, scarred scalp. His muscles had shriveled, and his skin clung to his bones like dried parchnt.
His robe was in tatters, barely clinging to his wasted fra.
And yet, despite his pitiful state… his eyes burned with desperation.
"I must… escape this cursed place… and report to my master," he rasped, his voice hoarse, his lips cracked and bleeding.
That short sentence alone nearly drained the last ounce of his strength.
Had he been human, he would have died long ago.
But he was not.
He was a Space Monster—a being capable of slipping between dinsions, navigating the void itself.
Yet, even he had barely survived what lurked beneath the fissure.
He had once been subdued by Su Yen, sent on a mission to investigate any strange locations in the Magma Plain.
With his innate space abilities, such a mission should have been simple.
And indeed, his journey had started easily enough.
He had discovered the Necoris Imperial Ancestor living beneath the palace.
In addition, he had found many hidden caves around the Necoris city but had ignored them.
As for the human kingdom, there was nothing of interest. In the Larila Kingdom, he had co across a mysterious pool hidden deep within the mountains.
Everything had seed mundane… until he reached the Burning Hinterland.
There, he had witnessed the mighty Beast Kings ruling over their domains.
He had even found the ruins of a fallen city, covered in creeping vines.
And then, he had co upon the fissure.
At first, it seed… ordinary.
A simple, massive crack in the earth.
He had decided to investigate. And that decision had nearly cost him his life.
For what he had discovered beneath the fissure was sothing that should never have been awakened.
His lips trembled as he rembered the horrors he had seen.
"Master…" he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
He had to escape. He had to warn Su Yen.
But could he even make it in ti?
Beneath him, deep within the abyss, sothing shifted.
The darkness stirred.
And then…
A pair of enormous, glowing crimson eyes snapped open.
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