Chapter 734: Leaving for the war I
Three weeks later, Kyle hovered opposite Hubert above the forest where they had lingered for nearly a month.
Bia was seated on his shoulder in her smaller form. She was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to move!
Over the past few weeks, Hubert had subjected her to intense physical training and had even taught her close combat-all while she was in her human form!
To make matters worse, he even used a weird artifact to prevent her from tapping into her mana, divine, and spiritual energy during training! Just a week ago, Hubert had excavated a tunnel in the ground with his spiritual energy and tossed her inside, instructing her to climb out without relying on her phoenix form or any of her skills! It took her two whole days to crawl out of that dark, narrow place!
-'I think I have successfully developed a trauma toward human physical training...'
That's why, she couldn't fathom how Kyle had endured the old man's grueling training for countless years when she struggled to withstand it for just a month.
-'Any longer and I would have perished!'
Resentment flickered in her eyes as she recalled how Kyle hadn't lifted a finger to help her and had just watched her suffer from the sidelines, entirety nonchalant!
-'Hmph! I will... I will... Ugh, I can't even take revenge! Why does Kyle have to be so much stronger than me?!'
Kyle sensed her discomfort and caressed her head, wearing an amused expression as he exchanged a nod with Hubert.
It was finally time to part ways.
Hubert smiled wryly as he gazed at the silver spear floating behind Kyle. He wanted to take it back... but ultimately decided to let it remain with Kyle.
"Just don't find yourself in a similar situation again. You survived from Damien this time, but we can't predict the future. Try not to get into too much trouble."
"Take care."
With that, he turned and vanished toward the clear sky dotted with clouds. He needed to make his way back to No Mana Land.
Hopefully, the young members of his race who wished to leave hadn't departed during his absence, as the outside world had become increasingly perilous.
After he disappeared, Kyle turned around, stretching his neck.
"We should head back too and join the twins. I just hope Zask and the people under him haven't left for the war yet."
Bia shifted on his shoulder, slightly annoyed at the thought of traveling again. But before she could even protest, a portal illuminated before them, and Kyle stepped through.
In the next moment, they stood before the massive border where the grand gate of the city, protected by Zask and his three fellow elders, awaited them. Bia's eyebrow twitched as she folded her wings.
-"How convenient..."
She glanced at the many armored demi-human guards stationed at the gate, who immediately became wary at the sight of Kyle materializing out of thin air. One of them quickly approached to check on him, but before the guard could reach him, Kyle stepped into another portal that lit up in front of him and vanished with Bia, leaving the guards dumbfounded.
Kyle reappeared inside the city, before a bustling two-story hotel. After renting a room, he ordered a large amount of food for Bia to lift her spirits. He then took a long bath before finally allowing his aura to leak, letting Zask know that he had returned.
After just a minute, a soft knock echoed on his door. He rolled up his sleeves, intrigued by the oddly pleasant politeness.
"That was fast."
Glancing at the small phoenix, who had made a mess on the round table beside the bed because of her habit of overeating, he stood up with a shake of his head and went to open the door, only to find Zhask's familiar figure standing outside.
Kyle's eyes traveled past Zhask when he noticed three more figures behind the old demi- human. He recognized one of them as Galdor, one of the elders who protected the city in the absence of Old Hal and his wife. Therefore, he concluded that the other two individuals were also elders of the city.
Zhask's robes were wrinkled, and the clothes of the others behind him also looked disheveled. It seemed they had rushed to see Kyle.
However, that didn't stop them from scrutinizing Kyle; after all, he was the reason they were sending their people to war a few months earlier this time.
The preparations had been completed a few days ago, but the human was nowhere to be found, so the four elders had been waiting for his arrival. Some of them even suspected that Kyle wouldn't return. Yet he did.
Kyle stepped back after Zhask and the other elders greeted him.
"Come in."
They exchanged glances but stepped into the room. It was quite small, containing a bed and a table where Bia's tiny figure lay sprawled, breathing softly from having eaten too much.
Kyle didn't intend to keep them longer than necessary, but Zhask took out some chairs from his mind space and arranged them for everyone to sit. With a sigh, he decided to sit down opposite the elders.
"Is the preparation ready?"
Galdor responded to him.
"Everything is ready. Zhask will be leading the ship. We can leave at any time."
Kyle nodded, realizing they had been waiting for his arrival. Suddenly, he said something that
surprised everyone.
"The twins, are they going too?"
Zhask, who understood whom Kyle was referring to, nodded.
"They are. They have grown stronger with the help of the treasures you gave them, so they decided to join the war. However, since they are only at the divine rank and the least powerful among everyone, they will return to the city with me after a few months."
Kyle stood up to check on Bia.
"Alright, we can depart tomorrow as early as possible. There's no need for the elders to come personally to fetch me; I believe you all have your own matters to attend to. Just send the
twins to inform me."
Hearing his words, Zhask and the elders didn't linger and quickly departed. Still, they were somewhat intrigued by Kyle's specific request for the twins. Had he developed a liking for their company? No, that can't be possible since the twins were treated more like servants than
friends.
They had no answers to their questions, so they decided to set them aside and hurried to inform those who would be heading off to war to gather in one place.
When the twins, who were enjoying their normal lives, were informed by Zhask that they
would once again have to take care of Kyle, they instantly rejected the idea. But upon seeing the elder's solemn eyes, they could do nothing but accept their fate.