?"Oh? What do you mean? I think she is nice," Peniel said. "I feel comfortable around her."
"I can't sense any mana from her," Domon said.
"Really? Well, my mana sense is not as developed as you, outworlders, so I can't tell," Peniel said.
"It's not only mana sense, even my mana perception can't see her mana. It is as if a veil is surrounding her," Grace added. "I think I know who she is."
"Who she is? Isn't she one of our guild members?" Domon asked.
"She is more than our guild member. I know only one person who can block my mana perception like she did. I originally wanted to bring Jack to him if Jack still doesn't wake up, but if Quiet can't do anything to wake Jack up, he can't as well."
"Well, I don't really get what you are saying. But as long as Jack isn't in danger, then I say we just let him rest," Domon said.
Grace nodded. She took the seat next to Jack's bed.
"I hope he doesn't take too long to wake up," she said. "If he wakes up after Broidrireg passes, I don't think he will forgive himself."
"Hm... Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Domon agreed. "I don't know that dragon well enough, but I know he is close to Jack. Yes, he will feel truly bad if he doesn't get to say his farewell."
*
Inside World Throne, Master walked out from the portal of his guild's legacy dungeon. Motherboard was there waiting for him.
"How is it, my lord?" Motherboard asked.
Master answered by turning into a lightning being. Motherboard had to retreat a few steps from the pressure.
"Congratulations, my lord, for upgrading the Lightning God Blessing to its peak state," Motherboard commended.
Master had fused with Lightning God Sphere the second he returned to World Throne after leaving the battle in Dritzuut. He had been using their guild's multiple legacy dungeons to feed the Lightning God Blessing with the exp points it required for leveling up. As for the magic crystals, divine gems, and divine crystals required for the upgrade, he had accumulated plenty of them.
"Three more, and I will gain everything!" Master declared. Once he fused with the remaining divine treasures, he would gain power equivalent to a God. If everything went as planned, that would be three months from now.
Master felt very satisfied after fully upgrading the Lightning God Blessing. He was admiring himself which was still in lightning form. When he noticed that Motherboard was having trouble approaching due to the lightning sparks he generated, he deactivated the Lightning God Incarnation and reverted to himself.
Logically, Master should have fused with the Book of Creation first. That divine treasure gave him the ability to multiply rare items using mana cores, a resource that he had plenty of. But he picked the Lightning God Sphere as the first divine treasure to fuse simply out of sentiment.
With the Lightning God Blessing inside him, it was the same as a statement that he had permanently taken the strongest power of his nemesis. In his mind, he always convinced himself that no one was his worthy opponent. But subconsciously, he knew that the biggest threat to his goal was Jack. By making Jack's divine power his, this was a statement of his victory.
"How is the Allied forces' movement?" Master asked Motherboard who could now approach.
"Reporting, my lord. They left Dritzuut four days ago. From our scouts' estimation, they should arrive here in one day," Motherboard reported.
"I see… I guess it's time," Master muttered.
"It's time… Is it the time for us to leave this place, my lord?" Motherboard asked.
Master turned to her. He could see the worry in her expression. A force that would overwhelm their tiny headquarters would arrive tomorrow. How could she not worry? The only way out that she could think of was to leave and go into hiding. They could return once Master finished fusing with the rest of the divine treasures and became a God.
Master grinned when he saw her like that. He asked, "Do you think we should flee?"
"I… Do you have a different plan, my lord?" She asked in return. She didn't want to take the chance of giving a wrong answer.
Master's grin became wider. "I will just show you," he said. "But before that, call Mistress and Sizhad. Have them gather a squad of our able combatants. We will need to fight some natives."
Motherboard didn't truly understand but she was used to carrying out Master's instructions without asking questions. She went away and gathered the people.
*
Around two hours later, the gathered squad waited at the main square of the headquarters. Aside from Motherboard, Mistress, and Sizhad, there were Ronald, the last heavenly enforcer, GraphicZ, Soundeffect, Lead Designer, Axelmax, Serviceman, Giddo, White Death, and several other experts from World Maker, World Ruler, State of Galhana, and Death Associates. They numbered forty people. Everyone was wondering what Master was planning with this small team.
Master flew over after receiving a message from Motherboard that the squad had been assembled.
"Where are we going?" Mistress asked.
"Are we finally preparing for the enemies that were on their way here?" Sizhad asked.
It was his underlings who scouted the Allied forces' advance. He had been asking Master what should they do to prepare for the enemy's arrival. As someone with military experience, he was not used to just sitting around and doing nothing when he knew the enemies were coming. Yet, Master just asked him to continue monitoring the enemy's movements and to simply inform him when the enemies were close.
This seemingly idle approach displeased Sizhad, but he was already in this too deep. He just hoped his gamble paid off and Master did have something to turn this around.
Master grinned at the question.
"We are preparing, all right," Master said. "We will give those fools who think they can defeat me a very big surprise. We are going to give them hell!"
