Chapter 446: Reach For Freedom [Part 1]
Northern sat cross-legged in the throne seat of the Void Palace for a while, listening to the conversations of the people in the room.
He had silently removed himself from their space and entered into the Limitless Void the moment Guillever entered the room and Lady Henai's attention was diverted.
He stayed there and listened in on their conversation until they were finally done. After which, he heaved a great sigh and uncrossed his legs, leaning back against the throne seat.
Below him, standing in front of the flames, were his notable warriors, Black Mamba and Night Terror. Those were the two creatures of the Void that had a sense of self independent of his own will.
And they had chosen to stand there of their own accord. It seemed that after meeting an incredibly strong opponent, everyone was having the time of their lives brooding with frustration.
Night Terror did not have the usual emotionless flame burning in its eyes; instead, it looked vicious and fiery. The red flames of its four eyes burned angularly with an intensity that had never been seen before.
And Black Mamba's gaze was etched with an ignition of curiosity. There was a detached look in its eyes, even though they stayed glued to the Monarch of the Void Palace who sat beyond.
Northern did not mind the two of them; he had a bigger issue at hand. And that bigger issue was getting out of Luinngard.
Compared to the others, he had a way out of this place. Even though it was a gigantic edifice, a ride in the end is still a ride.
But Northern didn't want to cause another scene. Number one, number two was that it took a while for the Tower mechanism to rev up and move.
In that little while, he'd be really lucky if the Emperor had not destroyed him by then.
Now that he was a firsthand witness of the might of a Paragon, Northern could tell that he wouldn't survive a full-scale battle with one.
The Emperor had clearly restrained himself a lot, and sincerely, Northern felt gratitude for it.
His brawl with the Emperor, a Paragon, had made things much clearer for him.
His ultimate goal was being given a definite shape and form with each experience he encountered. And how could he not be grateful for that?
Northern looked at his hands and muttered, "The power of a Paragon, a Luminary—I'm sure that is where true power begins. Then there is still the Transcendent and the Zenith, which is considered the peak that no one has ever reached, at least according to history that managed to reach the books."
Northern narrowed his eyes forward. "I want to believe otherwise." He paused a bit, his face contorting with resolve. "It does not matter, in this world and era, I will be the first to get there. I will stand at the peak, and I alone will be the honored one."
Like a chain reaction, that flaming resolve also ignited in Black Mamba and Night Terror's eyes. Both creatures of the Void gleamed with a dark resonance much deeper and more vicious than the origin of evil itself.
Northern tapped the armrest of his throne, casually standing up and ridding away the serious atmosphere just now.
"Oh, well, I do have to get out of here first. To the Tower, everyone." With a step forward, he vanished.
Northern appeared at the top of one of the noble buildings. He looked around and then fixated This gaze on the harbor.
A pale frown formed on his brows as he took in the disaster that had been wrought on the seaport.
The night was slightly dark; both moons were full and bright, casting a somewhat annoying radiance over the environment.
Even if it were darker than this, Northern would face no difficulty looking that far.
He flinched and glanced back. Immediately, someone landed on the roof and went down on one knee.
"Jeci."
"My lord."
"You are finally at home. Don't you want to stay... return to your life?"
Jeci kept her head lowered as she responded, "From the moment I pronounced my loyalty to you, my life became in your hands. I have no life here. Moreover, Lady Henai personally instructed that I come with you."
Northern raised a brow. "Mother said so?"
Jeci nodded. "Yes, sir." She looked into Northern's face and slowly stood. After a couple of seconds of silence, she then spoke.
"So, what is the plan?"
Northern looked towards the harbor again, saying, "Well, the plan is quite simple. We are going to be riding the Tower across the ocean."
Jeci tilted her head in disbelief. "Sorry, my lord. Did you say you'll ride that Tower you entered all the way to the Central Plain?"
Northern shrugged. "Yes. Do you have objections? You have seen it before, haven't you?" Jeci responded with wide and distant eyes, simultaneously trying to remember the event. "Indeed," she sounded almost like she was mumbling, "indeed, I have felt something like that." She looked at Northern, "...but at the same time, it's all the way across the sea." Northern's gaze remained fixated on the harbor even though she voiced her sincere concern. He didn't respond to her last words, drifting away in thought as he watched beyond the sea. Something registered in his head the longer his eyes stayed on the enormous body of water. 'It's within my reach. I really will be going back. I'll be meeting my father, my mother... my sister.' His brows furrowed the next second.
'...and Rughsbourgh. I owe him millions.'
He turned back swiftly to Jeci and said, "I know it won't be a smooth ride, but when has it ever been a smooth ride? You might not be able to relate, but everything I have and am right now, I've had to battle death at its brink to have it."
He gave her a melancholic smile. "I have the worst of luck. And I expect nothing less on this
journey."
"I shall write my story as the greatest challenger of fate to ever exist. I will rise above the concept of luck and carve my own destiny."
He ended his speech with his hand pointed forward.
Jeci admired his resolve from behind before suddenly remembering. She looked at him sternly
and asked,
"My lord, I forgot to mention, your friends Raven and the white-haired saintess have been captured by the Emperor."
The excitement on Northern's face died down. He looked back with deadpan eyes.
"How are they?"
Jeci answered gently, "They are fine. I'm sure the Emperor cannot lay his hands on the
saintess. I'm not too sure about Raven."
Northern breathed and turned back to the harbor. "All is done that needs to be done. I suppose
that is her definition of atonement, quite naive and stupid. Well, I don't see any need to save someone who has no value for people's lives. Jeci, let's go."
Northern leaped away from the building. Jeci also followed.