I ignored the duo and their antics, my mind sorting through everything I knew about the Ferans.
The Ferans were a race of humanoid beastkin, towering figures of raw strength and primal elegance. Their appearances varied by their clans.
The Ferans were divided into many clans, and in the Prime Galaxy, they were even ruled by dragons.
Most Ferans stood between five to nine feet tall, their frames a balance of raw power and refined control. Their claws or taloned fingers could tear through steel, yet they had the dexterity to wield weapons, write, or even fasten a tie with ease.
Unlike mindless beasts, they were highly intelligent, with a deep-rooted warrior culture.
All Ferans had two distinct forms, one humanoid and the other their natural-born bestial state.
In our Blue Spire Galaxy, they had only one planet—Feradros—but there were entire galaxies where Ferans made up the dominant population.
Feradros had nearly five to six times more Grandmaster-ranked individuals than my world Vaythos.
It was easy to see why the Empire was concerned.
I had no doubt the Emperor and the Rayleigh family were already negotiating with the Holts for the Ferans' release, but the outcome depended on whoever was backing the Holts from the shadows.
If my mission involved the Ferans, then this wasn't going to be easy.
But what worried me more was how I could even take on something like this.
I was sure the Holts would keep the Ferans secured, well-guarded, and completely surrounded.
I cleared my throat and looked at Arkas.
"Commander, I'll be direct. I don't see how I can help with this mission. If the Holts are holding onto the Ferans as leverage, their security must be extremely tight. I'm just level 25. I don't see how I can make a difference."
Arkas glanced at Edgar before speaking.
"Edgar, sit down for a moment."
Edgar coughed, waved his hand, and a completely black swinging chair formed out of nowhere. He sat down casually.
My eyes lit up seeing that.
'So cool.'
Arkas turned back to me.
"You're looking at this the wrong way. Your mission isn't to fight the Holts, it's to free the captives. If I thought you were just walking to your death, I wouldn't send you. That said, the danger is real. I'd say there's about a fifty percent chance you won't make it back."
That shook me. I turned to Steve, needing confirmation that I'd heard correctly. His wide-open mouth told me I had.
Edgar sighed from the side.
"Don't scare the kids, Arkas. What he means, Billion, is that your survival chances are fifty percent."
'Damn old man.'
I smiled.
"I'm pretty good at math, sir. I get it."
Edgar nodded approvingly.
"Oh, that's good."
I looked back at Arkas.
"Can you explain the mission in detail?"
He gave a short nod.
"In the coming month, the Empire is going to put immense pressure on the Holt family. We'll threaten them to the brink, something we've done before. And like before, we know exactly how they'll respond.
They'll deny everything. They'll even invite us to inspect their territories. So we'll send our forces to check, and, as expected, we'll find nothing.
That's because their secret base isn't on the Central Continent. It's on the East Continent."
He pointed at Edgar.
"The infiltration plan came from him. He'll explain."
I turned to Edgar, who was casually juggling shadowy spheres between his hands. He only stopped when he noticed us all staring at him.
"Oh, I guess it's my turn." He grinned.
"Alright, Billion, I'm about eighty-five percent sure the Ferans are being held on the East Continent. And since no one can awaken without the Empire's knowledge, we have detailed records of every awakened individual and their levels.
We accounted for all the Holt family members and their allies, tracking every Mortal Rank and above individual. Almost all of them have been located, except for a few. Those few are the ones in charge of guarding the Ferans.
"I'm about eighty-five percent sure none of them have surpassed Mortal Rank, and at most, they would be around level 100."
'Is it really eighty-five, or does he just like the number that much?'
He spread his hands.
"The goal is simple—you infiltrate, locate the Ferans, report their condition, and help us free them. The Empire will back you, and higher-level Mortals will be on standby. Arkas will oversee the mission, so you won't be alone.
But the real danger isn't just the guards. Once you're captured, there's no telling what the Holts might do to you. And escaping with the Ferans? That's when things will get even more unpredictable.
Of course, whether you accept this mission is up to you. Why Arkas specifically wants you for this… well, you can ask him."
I turned back to Arkas, waiting for his reasoning.
He only said one word.
"Friendship."
Then he continued.
"I don't want you to invade the Holts. I want you to befriend the captured Ferans. And to do that, you'll need to be taken prisoner yourself."
This time, I kept my expression neutral and waited for Arkas to continue.
"I understand the risk is high, but the rewards will be even greater.
First, you'll fight—a lot. That alone will sharpen your skills and push your level higher.
Second, this won't be a battle against Abominations. You'll be fighting humans. Another kind of experience you need.
And more importantly, you need to get used to killing them. Peanu is ruled by humans, and they are our enemies. A war with them is inevitable. The sooner you understand that humans are no different from Abominations, the better."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Third, the most important reason, the Ferans possess a unique ability, one that only they can pass down. It grants even a human the power to undergo a second transformation, just like the Ferans, who can shift between their humanoid and bestial forms. And I want you to have it."
Then, Arkas picked up a tablet from his desk and played a video in front of me.
On the screen, a middle-aged man fought against a horde of Abominations. Wielding a massive great sword, he tore through them with ease, cutting down one after another. His movements were fierce, relentless. For a moment, it seemed like nothing could stop him.
Then the Phantoms joined the battle.
The tide shifted instantly. The man, once dominant, was now struggling. Abominations swarmed him, and the Phantoms smashed into him from all sides. He was getting overwhelmed.
And then it happened.
The man let out a deafening roar, his body beginning to transform.
His frame expanded from six feet to nearly nine, muscles swelling with raw power. His eyes burned crimson, radiating an intense energy. What followed was pure carnage. He tore through the Phantoms and Abominations alike, massacring them in brutal, overwhelming force.
Arkas set the tablet aside and spoke.
"I met this man when I was stationed at the frontlines as a young soldier.
He was a late Master Rank, around level 180, but even at that level, he was unstoppable. He could take on ten, maybe even twenty, warriors of his rank at once. And the craziest part? That transformation you just saw was a failure. He never mastered it. Yet, even in an incomplete state, he was that powerful."
Watching the fight, I felt something ignite within me. The energy radiating from the man was unreal, pulsing in waves that I could almost feel through the screen. He was strong. And that was with a failed transformation.
That was insane.
But I pushed my thoughts aside and asked.
"Why would the Ferans share that skill with us? Just because we free their captured people?"
Arkas shook his head.
"No, they won't. But I have a way to bring them to the negotiation table. If you succeed, I'll tell you the details later."
I leaned back, letting it all sink in. The mission was insane, but the pieces started coming together.
I wasn't sneaking into the Holts' stronghold, I was getting captured.
Once inside, I had to find the imprisoned Ferans and gain their trust or atleast build a fake friendship. That was the real goal. Arkas didn't just want them freed; he wanted an alliance.
The Empire would put pressure on the Holts, forcing them to deny everything. While they scrambled, I'd be inside, gathering information and waiting for the right moment.
And if I pulled this off? I'd grow stronger. I'd fight real battles, not against mindless Abominations, but humans. More than that, if the plan worked, I might gain something that could change everything.
A second transformation.
I exhaled slowly.
'Fifty percent chance of survival.'