Souta sat quietly, waiting for Fadu to wake.
There was much to consider, much to plan.
Wave Bond City would be his. He would claim it silently, thodically, and establish a foothold in the Depth of Banquet. The city would be the first step in a larger sche, a foundation for what was to co.
This is good, he thought, glancing at Fadu before closing his eyes.
Hours passed as if in the blink of an eye.
Souta didn’t sleep. Not really. His senses remained sharp, scanning the surface for any sign of movent, any hint that soone might be approaching.
A faint stirring beside him caught his attention. Fadu was waking.
...
In the Land of Fire, Souta’s main body hovered above the capital, surveying the city below.
His gaze shifted toward the location of his clone.
"It’s a good start."
Looking down at the sprawling streets and towers, he felt this was the right mont, an opportunity to act, and to see what was unfolding across the continents.
A faint glow drew his attention. An artifact hovered in the air, radiating a subtle, steady energy.
[eting Table of the Outer Realm]
This one had survived the battle, unlike most of his other artifacts, those of red grade and below, which had been destroyed. Though it was red grade itself, it was part of a higher-grade set, giving it resilience beyond its apparent quality.
Souta poured his best feram into the artifact. Light flared, bright and pure, spilling around him as the object activated.
Ohm!
...
Sowhere in the Immortal Land.
Alexander trudged through the endless desert alongside Yaniesvyl. Both were clad in loose, light-colored robes, with long sleeves and pants to shield them from the harsh sun. Cloths covered their faces, protecting them from the fine, scorching sand that whipped across the dunes.
"We’re getting close to our destination," Alexander said, his voice low and steady.
Yaniesvyl nodded, scanning the horizon.
Life here was scarce. The desert was a cruel place: during the peak of a mana storm, temperatures could spike to three thousand degrees Celsius, and at night, it plunged to freezing cold. Survival required caution and vigilance.
Suddenly, Alexander halted. His senses sharpened, detecting sothing unseen.
Yaniesvyl noticed imdiately. "Is sothing wrong, Alex?" she asked, turning toward him.
"Soone is requesting a eting. Soone who hasn’t appeared in months," Alexander said, producing a miniature artifact from his robes, the [eting Table of the Outer Realm].
"Hasn’t appeared in months?" Yaniesvyl’s eyes widened in recognition. "Don’t tell ..."
Alexander’s nod was grim. "Souta. The Blood Lightning Monster."
"He’s... really alive..." Yaniesvyl whispered, disbelief and awe mingling in her voice.
"It seems our journey must pause for now," Alexander said.
They exchanged a brief, knowing glance, then launched into the sky, moving with the precision of predators.
Within monts, they had found a concealed vantage point.
Alexander set the artifact in front of him. Its surface glowed faintly. Soon, it would reveal everything they needed to know.
Ohm!!
...
Inside the [eting Table of the Outer Realm], Alexander’s consciousness materialized at the entrance.
He pushed open the massive door and found himself facing a grand chamber. A huge table dominated the room, around which several figures were seated.
His gaze drifted to a striking, full-figured woman in a flowing blue-and-white robe.
"You’re here," Alexander said.
"Of course," she replied with a faint smile. "The legendary Blood Lightning Monster is about to make his appearance. I must admit that I’m curious." Xue Yi’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.
Alexander took his seat, scanning the others around the table. Besides the familiar Fourth Head, the Third Head was present as well but she had changed.
She now stood a full head taller than before. Her hair, dyed green likely a side effect of her advanced techniques, cascaded over a loose ensemble of blue-and-pink long sleeves and white pants.
This was Ferlyn Duman, the Third Head of the Dragon Council.
Alexander’s attention then shifted to a new figure at the table.
A woman of ethereal beauty, her chestnut hair spilling over her shoulders, and a pair of magnificent white wings fanning gracefully behind her.
She was an Angel, the newly appointed Sixth Head of the Dragon Council, Esriel Georagnisus.
Seated with her arms folded and eyes closed, Esriel exuded a calm authority, radiating a presence that demanded respect even in stillness.
Alexander studied Esriel for a mont. He had read her profile before. She’s a Tenth Shackle Realm expert and had held a high position in the Angel Faction.
’How did they even manage to pull soone this powerful into the Dragon Council?’ he wondered.
Before he could ponder further, the massive door opened again.
A man stepped inside. Almost two ters tall, with smooth black hair cropped short, pointed ears, and arms covered in intricate tattoos. His red-and-white armor glead under the chamber’s light.
The Fifth Head of the Dragon Council, Jursa Redmantle.
’He’s changed too...’ Alexander thought.
Then his gaze fell on the figure behind Jursa, and his brows furrowed.
A monstrous presence filled the doorway. Horned, with glowing red eyes and rows of jagged teeth, its dark skin pulsed with crimson veins. Its body was encased in a black exoskeleton, a long spiked tail swinging behind it. A greenish gem glimred at the center of its chest, with smaller gems embedded on its forehead and shoulders.
This was Gerxuzs, the First Head of the Dragon Council.
’He beca infamous after reaching Fifth Stage,’ Alexander reminded himself silently.
Participated in countless battles across the continents... hunted thousands of monsters, demis, and humans alike.
The monstrous figure exuded raw power as it moved. Its re presence seed to press down on the chamber, demanding respect.
Gerxuzs and Jursa took their seats, settling into their places at the table.
"Even that... monster is here?" Xue Yi’s voice held a trace of surprise. "It’s funny since he rarely shows up to etings like this."
She shook her head, a small laugh escaping her lips. "Almost everyone is here."
Then, the door opened once more.
Alexander’s eyes narrowed, and he raised an eyebrow. ’He’s finally here,’ he thought.
Through the doorway stepped a man in a dark robe. Red hair flowed down his back, contrasting sharply with the shadows around him. Two pairs of horns crowned his head, crimson eyes glinting beneath a slit in the center of his forehead. Pointed ears peeked through his hair, giving him an otherworldly aura.
This was Souta.
All at once, the room fell into a tense silence.
Esriel opened her eyes slowly, her gaze locking onto him, assessing. Xue Yi and the others followed suit.
For Esriel and Xue Yi, this was their first ti seeing him in person. The rest had glimpsed him months ago but much had changed since then. Sothing about him radiated an even greater power, a presence that could not be ignored.
Even seated, the mbers of the Dragon Council felt the weight of his arrival. Souta was no longer just the Blood Lightning Monster they had heard of, he was sothing far more formidable.
Souta’s crimson eyes swept across the table before he sank into his seat.
From the First Head to the Ninth Head, all were present except for the one vacant seat. It was the first ti in months that the entire Dragon Council had convened.
Clap!
The Fourth Head’s hands rang against the table, drawing every eye to him. Once he had the room’s attention, he began, "Everyone is here. The Seventh Head called this eting. First, let introduce the new Heads to him."
He gestured toward the newcors. One by one, he introduced Esriel Georagnisus and Xue Yi, both newly appointed mbers of the Dragon Council, each with extraordinary combat ability.
Souta’s gaze lingered on Xue Yi. ’I know her from the ga...’ he mused. He hadn’t expected to see her here, but after a mont’s thought, it made sense, her connection to Alexander likely secured her position.
Then his eyes shifted to Esriel.
This is new.
He had never seen her before, even in the ga.
Once the introductions were complete, Souta turned his attention to the council as a whole. His voice, calm yet authoritative, filled the room.
"I appreciate the support the Dragon Council provided during the battles months ago."
The Dragon Council had suffered heavy losses during that ti. Several Heads had fallen, and the remaining mbers had been forced into hiding, all because of their ties to him. Souta’s gratitude toward the organization ran deep. He knew the cost of their loyalty.
Even now, the Hall Plains and the Mine Valley were no longer under the Council’s control. Danger still lingered; enemies hunted them relentlessly.
"I have co to understand the current situation and to share so information," Souta said, his tone asured, commanding.
He intended to assist the Dragon Council, just as they had co to his aid when he faced impossible odds.
Though he did not consider himself a virtuous man, he was not ungrateful. He never forgot those who had stood by him when it mattered most.
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