Ryu shot into an open space that looked no different from an ancient, underground city. Well… At least it seemed that whoever built this place was going for that kind of look but ended up failing miserably.
The homes were shabby, the streets were unkempt, and even the temple at the very center looked like it was nothing more than a few large slabs of rock piled on top of one another.
However, Ryu didn't spend much time at all observing the landscape. With his Origin Flame, his memory was infallible down to the smallest of details. He was easily able to pick out the fact that this was the very center of the mountain range despite the fact he had been underground the whole time.
According to Giveon's information, this was exactly the location of the alter they were aiming for, so Ryu found no reason to hesitate.
At that moment, the shrieks, grating whistles and roars of the barbarian people shook this city. It was clear that they were already aware that there was an intruder in their midst.
Ryu's lip curled. He had yet to be able to go all out since he gained this new strength. Maybe it was finally time to blow some steam.
His body grew a size, beautiful sapphire scales racing across his skin.
He roared into the skies, his hot breath booming to the point the underground city quaked.
…
Outside the mountain range, a familiar group of individuals was steadily moving. They didn't seem to be trying very hard to hide their presence, but given the current situation, it didn't seem necessary.
"You were right, Leader. They've chosen speed ahead of precaution. It seems that they're aware they don't really stand a chance to begin with."
The man who they referred to as Leader didn't seem to react very much to this praise. He gazed toward the mountain range silently, his eyes hiding his thoughts behind a veil of emotionless indifference.
"I still don't understand why we didn't just snatch the item before they could even get here. Why even risk all of this." One of the Team members mumbled.
"Idiot. The Mountain Barbarians aren't a real people. Their culture and customs are all made up. The item won't even appear unless someone who's accepted the mission clears certain requirements."
They would have tried something like sabotaging the group from the inside out, but Giveon had actually killed the spy they managed to leave behind. That idiot had clearly exposed his tail. Since then, no one else dared to risk joining over to their side secretly so the Violet Olive Team had forged themselves into a steel plate.
"Even then, we should have just blown up the mountain or something."
His words received a slap to the back of the head. It was clear the woman was getting impatient and was also far too lazy to explain.
With the resources they'd need to blow up the mountain, they wouldn't even have to care about the Event that was quickly coming up. If they had such resources, why would they even have gotten into any conflict to begin with?
"You died once and you suddenly became an idiot." The woman snorted.
"You…!"
It was then that the identity of the man became clear. He was none other than Grinder, a man who was just as strong as any one of Deep Valley's three Vice Leaders and also the man Ryu had taken the life of.
Unfortunately, ever since Grinder died in such horrible and embarrassing fashion, everyone seemed to have forgotten how powerful he was. Or, rather, an injury to one's soul was far too great of an impact on one's talent to be ignored.
It wasn't that they had forgotten how powerful he was, but rather that he was truly much weaker than he had been in the past.
With a damaged soul, one's senses become duller, comprehension speed is slowed, and even cultivation speed is directly affected. Beyond that, communicating with one's Inheritances also became many times more difficult as well.
Even though Grinder had finally gotten to the point where an aching pain didn't have to haunt him at every moment of every day, he still was nowhere near recovered. At this moment, he needed the rewards of the Event far more than anyone else. But, whether or not he would be able to lay claim to them himself was an unknown matter.
"What, you want to fight? Griiiinder?" The woman sent a face of disdain toward Grinder, but when coupled with her partially seductive air, it almost felt as though she was calling him impotent at the same time.
Grinder's temper flared. But he knew well that he no longer stood a chance against this woman.
He ground his teeth, his rage boiling over. His mind flashed with the image of a young man with a head of white hair. He wanted nothing more than to rip this person limb from limb.
The Team Leader of Deep Valley pretended as though he hadn't heard or seen any of this. In fact, he looked as though he was the only person in the vicinity. Nothing could rattle his concentration.
At that moment, a floating panel only visible to his eye appeared before him. On the other side of it there was another man who seemed almost as stoic as he was.
"Are you in position?"
"Yes. And on your side?"
"Yes."
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Just as quickly as the call began, it ended just as fast with almost no one being any wiser that such communication had occurred.
"Move out." The Team Leader of Deep Valley finally spoke out.
The moment he did, all chattering fell into a deep silence. It was as though his voice was an ultimate commandment none of them could ignore.
This man was Izril, an undefeated legend of Osiris no less lofty than the Leaders of the top three Teams of the Immortal Sakura Alliance.
However, for whatever reason, he hadn't participated in any missions in decades, causing his Deep Valley squad to fall down the rankings.
Yet, for some reason… He had finally decided to step into the sun today.