Jack sent the message via the monarch system. It took several days to get a response from Hydrurond, so he could only wait.
Armstrong left to carry out Jack's order to rally the army at the border. After further discussion, they decided to mobilize a third of the army, around one million troops, with Emris as the main general.
Duchess Isabelle also left to study the information from her intelligence network to better understand the number of enemy troops and their movements.
Jeanny returned to Heavenly Citadel to organize the guild members to join Hydrurond's war summon quest. Until Themisphere could formally join the war, it could not issue any war summon quest. Jeanny could later quit Hydrurond's quest and joined Themisphere instead. If she joined Themisphere's war summon quest, she could then summon their guild army.
Jack stayed in the throne room with John and Thaergood. He was operating the monarch system to insert the one thousand mithril ores he had gained from Four Winds.
The arcane forge had been learned and built. Mithril forging from the civil path had also been learned. So, they were ready to activate the first enchantment from the arcane forge.
The monarch system accepted the one thousand mithril ores. They disappeared from Jack's inventory. A new enchantment popped up in the country enchantment list, under Serenity's Blessing and Collective Ardor.
This third enchantment was Arcane Armor and Weapon, level 1. Its effect was +5% to all units' damage and defense.
The second level would have to wait. There was a one-week timer that prevented the enchantment to be leveled directly to the max, even if one already learned the required techs and had sufficient ores.
Since all Jack could do now was wait, he decided to go monster grinding to strengthen himself. He left John and Thaergood to deal with the logistic preparation. If they were to march into Hydrurond, they would need to prepare a good supply route.
"Where will you go?" Peniel asked.
"I'm very interested in that Gold Dragon Wings you mentioned," Jack answered.
"You want to go back to the underworld?"
Jack nodded. "Unless you have a better place to farm draconic essence," Jack said.
"There is, but it's much more dangerous."
"Even for my level?"
"A dragon gives more draconic essence compared to you killing thousands of amphipterelets," Peniel answered.
"Are you crazy? I am not fighting a being the level of Syndrillis," Jack said.
"I am not talking about something of Syndrillis' power level. She is a true dragon, the same as Broidrireg and Tiemezzys. They can be considered natives of this world. What I'm referring to are dragons that are considered monsters. These dragons can't communicate like true dragons. They are mindless creatures that attack someone who came into their range of perception. Sort of like what outlaws are to human natives."
"Do they roam their territory alone?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Peniel answered.
"What are the lowest level and grade of this so-called dragon monster?"
"Most will be mythical grades of level 80 and above. But if you are lucky and patient, you might be able to find a level 75 mythical."
"Damn it. Level 80 mythical grade is as strong as Arther. I don't have another Divine Might Potion to level the playing field. You also once mentioned that monsters are generally stronger than natives of the same level and grade, right?"
"A dragon is even more so."
"Then let's just leave that option to when I am stronger. Let's limit ourselves to amphipteres and amphipterelets for now," Jack said and summoned Pandora.
After telling which region of the underworld he wanted to go to, Pandora activated his plane-crossing ability. They were soon back into the world of red and black.
"I think this world will be my primary grinding area from now on. This place is post-game content, after all. We might even get another portal-closing stone if we are lucky," Jack said.
"I will say it is unlikely. But after seeing you get the second stone just like that, I don't know anymore," Peniel said.
"Hehe," Jack chuckled. He was opening his map to check his position. He then indicated the direction to Pandora, who then flew up and cut through the sky with incredible speed.
They arrived at the familiar place where Jack used to hunt amphipterelets. Jack could even see several groups of them down there. He had Pandora landed a distance away so her aura didn't scare the amphipterelets away. He then ran over to the nearest group.
With trained effectiveness, he mowed down one group after another, harvesting their draconic essences.
In just half a day, he had covered more than half the territory where these draconic monsters roamed. As he was making his way, he sensed something unusual ahead. He stopped.
"… There is a very large rune diagram on the ground ahead," Jack said.
"Really? I don't see anything," Peniel said. She wanted to fly ahead to have a better look but Jack caught her.
"Hey! No touching without permission!" Peniel protested.
"The rune diagram is masked to be invisible. It can't be anything good. Don't go near it," Jack warned.
Peniel heeded the warning. She canceled her intention to fly ahead.
"Let's take a different path," Jack said and started walking away.
Suddenly, he sensed the rune diagram that he was avoiding came to life. Since mana sense had a limited range, the rune diagram was rather close to him when he was made aware of it. He sensed the energy erupted from the diagram and traveled outward, toward him.
He used Shooting Dash to move away, but a Magic Wall suddenly appeared on his path. He used Flame Strike when he slammed into the wall. The wall was shattered but his dash was stopped. By then, the energy from the rune diagram caught up.
He felt his body become slow. Not only that, but everything around him also slowed. The air, the mana, even his thought. Before they completely stopped, he sensed someone not far away. He glanced over sluggishly and saw someone who had not been there a moment before.
It was the demon mage, Saakir.
