After five months of travel, Minos' group finally reached The Obsidian Shore's outskirts.
After a long journey with many problems so far, the group would enter the last city on their way this afternoon, from where they intended to continue to the place where they would split up tomorrow.
As they entered this city later that afternoon, they encountered a place with little presence of aliens. But even so, the place had a few other individuals from outside Zocarro.
That was not to surprise anyone. Even though this was an alien-unfriendly place, the natural phenomena that made the area of The Obsidian Shore virtually impenetrable for most of the time had recently changed with the end of a cycle.
For the next few years, this place would be accessible to Grandmasters or weaker individuals, so forces from various parts of the continent had already sent members to explore it.
Consequently, when they arrived in this city, the group encountered beings from other planets and many natives of Zacorro who were not common in the region they were in now.
Some of these beings were only there to escort groups like Minos', who would enter the dangerous and precious area nearby. However, some of the newcomers to the city in recent days were coming for other reasons.
What was in that dangerous region was very valuable. If an unsupported individual found something and survived their passage through The Obsidian Shore, organizations of all kinds would try to recruit them.
Not only that, if someone without support or from some 'weak' force got their hands on important things, many would be ready to take the earnings of cultivators who got their hands on more than they could afford.
...
In that city, a group of high-level 11th-stage beings were gathered somewhere.
The place looked like a party room, and the experts were eating and drinking.
However, this wasn't a celebratory gathering, as it might seem at first glance. There were the strongest envoys of the forces, with members preparing to enter The Obsidian Shore!
Among the individuals was none other than the man who had ended the war between members of Armhands and Silverdawn years ago, a guild General and a Sovereign of level 114.
"Lunel, how long has it been since we last met?" An alien of the same race as this Armhands General asked him. "6,000 years?"
"15,000 years, actually." Lunel said as he looked at the woman with interest.
"Have you Armhands gone back to try to get what your group lost in that place?" She asked as she tried to probe this man she had last seen in this same city, on another occasion similar to the present one.
"This time, we'll get it, Inqux. There's an interesting junior on my team," he said to her before suggesting, "Do you want to join my team?"
She laughed. "If you're so confident in one of your men, why do you want to join me?"
"The thought is just the opposite. If I weren't so confident in him, I'd never suggest joining people I'm not sure can be trusted."
"If that's the case, isn't it better to go it alone?"
He smiled. "I know how capable your group is. Despite being unreliable, your men will be able to help my junior achieve his goals in that place. You could benefit greatly as long as you don't betray us."
She became more serious and said. "Give me some time to think about it."
"You have until tomorrow, Inqux. When my men enter that horrible place, I'll have no way of letting them know that your people will be friendly."
"Hmm, I'll give you an answer before they leave. My group will also be leaving the city tomorrow."
After this short conversation, they went off to talk to other people, creating alliances or demonstrating the deterrent power of their respective groups.
What was on The Obsidian Shore was so valuable to their organizations, so it was to be expected that individual powers would try to act against the groups that succeeded there. To guarantee the safety of the resources that were collected in such an area, they were there to be the last defender of their organizations in the area!
...
At the same time, Minos' group had just settled into a local establishment.
While the group's Sovereigns were stationing themselves around the group in different positions to ensure their safety, Minos was meeting with the 7 members of his team who would be entering The Obsidian Shore tomorrow.
He looked at the aliens and his Spiritual World companions and said. "Tomorrow, we will enter The Obsidian Shore. As far as we know, the area has natural hazards at the Sovereign level. So we can't go wrong with our strategy.
Each of you must carry on with your duties, as I've already shared. But if you have something to say, seize the moment. Once we enter that area, I won't accept any changes."
Minos' companions agreed with him, but one of the aliens in the group said. "Isn't it too risky to bet everything on you? I know you're strong, Soldier. But there are dangers capable of killing high-level Sovereigns in the area we'll be entering."
"Exactly." Minos agreed with that alien. "Do you think it will make a difference to us if everyone acts freely and tries their best?"
"That..."
"You're right. Acting on trust or otherwise won't make any difference. If we come across something capable of killing high-level Sovereigns, we'll end up perishing in that place," another alien said. "But are you sure you don't want to change our plans a little? I see no problem in lending you my forces. But that will make you have to deal with all the problems that get in our way."
"Don't worry; I'll be fine. You just have to do what we agreed to. Lend me your powers, protect Ruth, and help me reach the guild's area of interest. We can all gain a lot if we can do this without misunderstandings.
I give you my word that if we can find places to get stronger, I'll help everyone get what they have compatible."
The aliens listened to Minos and felt more comfortable and interested in following his plans.
...
While Minos' group was planning the actions that would be very relevant to them from tomorrow onwards, a level 110 individual that Emperor Stuart already knew arrived in this city accompanied by his young master.
"What do we do now?"
"All we can do now is wait. There's nothing we can do inside The Obsidian Shore. We'll have to wait for our target to succeed and leave that place."
