?Haylee let out a grim sigh, expressing his frustration. The dark race may have caused chaos by targeting innocent people and small villages, but as long as he remember they were never truly strong enough to engage in a full-blown war with the other races. However, for some reason, when Odiak and James were busy constructing the shield around the planet, two divine-rank individuals emerged from the same race.
When James and a few strong individuals went to confront them, they were shocked because seemingly the dark race found a natural underground earth layer filled with extremely potent weeds brimming with mana in the middle of the dark forest.
James was tempted to take the entire layer, but the two divine-rank individuals from the dark race posed a greater threat than he had imagined. In the end, although James emerged victorious, he lost a capable individual in the fight. And, to make matters worse the precious layer was lost due to the battle fought in that place.
James and his companions were vexed. It was a tedious task but they decided to finish all the people of the dark race residing on the blue planet once and for all. After all, the dark race did nothing but spread chaos. But before they could act on their plan. One of the nearby planets was attacked by the third Shadow General.
At that time, Elizabeth, the one dearest to James was coincidentally on the same planet to look for some rare herbs. She barely escaped alive and returned when James and Odiak were busy with the secret realm.
James lost his composure when she went into a deep coma in his arms. Odiak tried to stop him, but he immediately left the planet with all the divine-rank individuals to fight the third shadow general.
Odiak could do nothing but watch as his friend left. With a regretful expression, he hid the planet in a thin blanket, waiting for James's return. Regardless, the peace on the blue planet was short-lived because with the powerful seats left empty, only after a year chaos erupted. The residents started scrambling to grab a higher position, trying to secure their own place of influence on the planet.
The race who reaped the most from all this was none other than the dark race. The same race that was on the verge of being wiped out in James's presence.
In a fit of anger, Odiak took charge and trapped all the remaining people from the dark race in the secret realm. While he was cleaning the mess, a messenger from James's team finally returned to the planet. The man only had a single massage.
"We need help."
Odiak was perplexed, but he wasted no time and immediately announced to the whole planet that they needed strong people who were willing to fight for their home. Even though no one reached divine rank in James's absence, the planet still had a lot of capable individuals. Yet, at that exact moment, the Mer people lost their Queen. They started pointing fingers at the demi-humans, due to the ongoing conflict between the two races.
However, Odiak knew the reason behind the Queen's death, because he received a strange request on the day she died. She went against nature and used her life force to see the things that were meant to stay hidden.
In the end, the mermaid race decided not to join the battle and instead retreated deep into the sea.
Odiak was frustrated, but he was alone that's why he had very little influence on all the other races except his own. Not to mention the fact that he was pressed for time.
So, instead of gathering more people, he had an idea. He found the planet's core and in just one day, he was able to harness the mana from it and connect it to the protective shield around the planet. This created a powerful and constant flow of energy to the barrier around the planet, isolating it completely from the outside world. He thought, with no strong individuals present to protect the planet, this shield would become its defense until he and James returned.
Haylee expression hardened when he recalled the time when Odiak asked him to stay in the secret realm and keep an eye on the dark race. A lot of people who decided to follow Odiak also left behind pieces of their consciousness to guide the younger generation.
"After Odiak left, the secret realm was completely closed off. I have no idea what happened in the outside world during that time. But when the realm was finally opened again after countless years, the people who entered were so weak that I had to double-check to make sure I wasn't imagining things."
He paused for a few seconds and gazed at Kyle. The human had completely gone still under him. With a shake of his head, he left Kyle's shoulder.
"I watched how all of them were killed by the dark race brutally. I wanted to break the rules of the realm and help but I was tied to the last treasure island where the divine essence was kept. In the end, the guardian picked some promising individuals and forcefully threw them out from the realm."
Kyle's eyes were troubled. The information he received was overwhelming, but instead of getting answers, his questions increased.
He massaged his temples with a frown.
"It's strange, the whole story. If the planet went through so many crises why is it that the knowledge in the outsider world so lacking?"
Haylee shook his head.
"No, information about Odiak and James was never hidden. Maybe, the duo names were forgotten with time. The only information that was erased was about the power structure above (SSS+)-Rank and the lurking danger around the planet due to the mermaid Queen's request. No one knew why she made such a request to Odiak before her death."
Kyle's frown deepened as he gazed at the white ball floating around him.
"Then why did you tell me about all this?"
For some reason, he had a nagging feeling at the back of his head that it would have been better if he knew nothing about all this.
Haylee sucked in a deep breath and stopped in front of his face.
"It's because before leaving, Odiak asked me to share the information with the first outsider who mentioned his name to me."
Kyle shut his mouth for a minute and went over everything in his mind. A trail of sweat trickled down from his forehead when he asked his next question.
"So... did James and Odiak win? Did they save the planet? Or..."
Haylee closed his eyes.
"They never came back. So, I don't know."
"Also, the connection between me and James is too thin due to the distance so I am not sure if he is alive."
Kyle tapped Bia's neck and let out a dry chuckle. It's hard to believe that he discovered all of this, especially when he wasn't even sure about himself.
'Will I put my life on the line if someone unknown and strong attacked the planet out of nowhere?'
Of course, Kyle knew no matter what he would prioritize the safety of his loved ones first. As for the rest, they were always welcome to handle things on their own.
Suddenly, Alec's face flashed through his mind.
"Why do I feel like Alec is more suited to know about all this than me?"
"The whole thing about the first person to know about Odiak's name. It's like the resonite gem was not meant for me but somehow I found it...?"
Haylee raised his eyes with a frown.
"What are you thinking? You were fated to know about all this."
His voice was so firm that Kyle let out a tired sigh.
"Are you sure?"
The boar changed back into his original form with a confused expression. He wanted to say he was, but suddenly a loud cry rang out in the distance.
Haylee eyes immediately narrowed as he increased his speed. Thus he failed to hear the faint murmur echoing behind him.
"I am not."
Bia sensed Kyle's emotions and increased her speed behind Haylee.
-'Do not be depressed. I don't think the planet is in danger or else why would it stay safe for so many years?'
Kyle mused softly.
"I hope I am being paranoid but what should I do when so many things are pointing out the fact that the planet is in danger."
They traveled to the east before Haylee stopped above a grassy field. Countless individuals were fighting with the people of the dark race. The air was heavy with a thick smell of blood.
Kyle narrowed his eyes when he saw many familiar faces. Lara, Mia, Alec, and Carcel, the four of them were fighting with a (S)-
Rank winged man.
His eyes paused on Yue and Nine as he cursed out.
"What the heck is happening!?"
"I only left them alone for not more than three days!"
