Three and a half months later...
Currently, the Gray Clouds Sect had 51 Spiritual Saints and 7,100 Spiritual Emperors in the Black Plain Empire under Minos' orders to act against Abe's group.
This group had lost some of its 8th and 7th stage members in the weeks that had passed by then but was still going strong while helping the empire resume its development.
For a long time, the local forces were prevented from developing their state due to the actions of Abe's terrorist group.
This group constantly attacked strategic posts of the local forces and government, destroying essential infrastructure and hindering activities such as agriculture and mining.
Due to these constant setbacks, the Black Plain had been forced not to grow since the beginning of Abe's group's attacks and had even shrunk in some respects.
But with the arrival of the Gray Clouds Sect reinforcements, Minos had finally achieved enough to protect his outposts, farmlands, and mines.
Now he could have men to protect these places essential to local growth, making life difficult for the terrorists.
And with that, the Black Plain had returned to growth in this period, with areas affected during the past two years being recuperated and new ones starting to be used.
Migration from neighboring states to this empire was still at a standstill, as few would risk migrating to a place facing such a complicated problem as the terrorist attacks. But the governments under Minos had enough labor force for this return of development, so there was room for growth before the state needed migrants.
In any case, Minos already intended to reestablish the migration routes of people from outside the northern region to the Black Plain and of people from the other states in that region to the empire.
With the ability to defend themselves, rebuild destroyed outposts, and develop new ones around the territory, the local forces had also managed to destroy quite a bit of Abe's forces.
It was true that that member of the runaway Vogel family had mercenaries coming when his men in this empire died. But before, he always 'recovered' his attack power and threat to the Black Plain, and now he could no longer do that.
Even when more reinforcements arrived from the Western Empire to help Abe's purpose, his group could not recover from the setbacks generated by the local forces. On the contrary, even after replacing ten individuals with ten of the same level, their situation only seemed to get more difficult.
Because of this, Abe's group, which could threaten even medium-sized cities in the Black Plain Empire one year ago, now had a hard time taking on even towns!
At the same time, with the number of dead mercenaries reaching higher and higher numbers, mercenary groups from different parts of the Western Empire were already making it difficult for Abe to get more men.
Thus, he was reaching a hopeless point that even the Spiritual Sage watching him had decided to approach him to give some advice.
...
In a part of the Black Plain, 200 meters above ground level in that area not far from Dry City, Abe was in front of the Spiritual Sage, who was floating cross-legged in the air.
Seconds ago, he was caught by a hand through a spatial crack and appeared in front of this man.
He had met this Spiritual Sage on different occasions in the past when this man had saved him from Minos or another high-level member of the local forces. But he was surprised this time, as this was the first occasion he had been 'called' by this expert without risking his life!
As such, he was curiously looking at that man's face as he waited in silence for the Spiritual Sage's words.
"Abe." That Spiritual Sage said after some time being observed by the level 73 individual there.
"Senior..."
"Abe, you know that the group I represent is not in this to help you get revenge, right?" He asked but did not wait for Abe to answer. "Well, our purpose has not yet been fulfilled, so it is in our interest that you do not die."
'That is also my interest...' Abe thought quietly, thanking heaven that these people had not yet found what they were looking for.
"But even if that is our interest, Abe, it doesn't mean we will pursue it to the end." This expert said this, startling the young man in front of him. "That's why I called you here. If you continue as you are, it won't be long before that young man manages to kill you."
"It's hard for me to say this, but that Minos is tricky to read and fight against." He looked toward the direction of Dry City, feeling quite a bit of admiration for this opponent. "Because of this, if things continue as they are, the point will come when I'm unable to rescue you without actually using my powers... When that happens, to avoid attracting the enemy's attention, I will have to abandon you."
"To avoid attracting the enemy's attention?" Abe questioned, as he felt cold sweat dripping down his clothes.
But that Spiritual Sage said nothing to him. This man just looked in another direction, where he felt as if the 'void' was watching him.
"That doesn't matter. I am giving you this warning as a courtesy of an ally." He turned his face back toward Abe's direction and said. "I didn't want to have to do that, but I'll be honest with you. You have about six months or so to live, Abe."
"If you fail to accomplish your goals in that period, you will die."
Abe could not run away from the confrontations against Minos because it was in the interest of the organization that had funded him to keep him making trouble in the northern region. So if he simply got scared and decided to retreat or even run away, what would happen was that organization itself killing him.
He could not return this organization's 'help' with 'ingratitude!'
That would be unacceptable and seen in a horrible light!
Abe knew this and had only the alternative of fighting Minos. Unfortunately, if he did not successfully escape, he would die to his enemy within the range quoted by that expert.
That is, of course, if he could not accomplish his purpose within that period!
To kill Minos Stuart!
He then said after sighing deeply. "I understand the senior's advice. I will try my best to prevent Minos from reaching the end of that period alive."
"Hmm..." That man nodded before opening a wormhole and sending Abe back to where this level 73 fellow was earlier.
When that man was once again 'alone' in that place, he looked toward the 'void.' 'I hope that fellow really can make it through that period...'
"Sigh!"
'Anyway, my time is running out! If I keep this up, I'll be empty-handed when...' He was thinking when suddenly he felt powerful auras that he did not expect to feel coming towards his vicinity.
'Who are these people? What are they doing?' He turned back to look in the direction of where a group of three people had just appeared after a spatial crack had opened at that point.
Someone in the 'void' at a distance from this level 80 man also sensed this and looked at those people. 'Why are they here?'
...
