Chapter 209: Convergence Of Races 3
As the human domain became bustling due to the news that sent shocking waves through the entire human domain, somewhere in the demon continent, a stag like beast ran through a thick forest at full speed.
It looked like a specter moving between corporeal and illusory form due to how fast it was moving. It’s eyes seemed to tilt to the side every other second like it was trying to see if what it was running from was still coming after it.
Fwoooosh!
A wind arrow suddenly whistled towards the stag with incredibly speed. But the stag twisted it’s body as if it had eyes behind it’s head.
Bang! Boom!
The wind arrow struck the ground, sending out a wave of wind blades filled shockwave, thereby knocking the stag to the ground, and injuring it with multiple cut wounds. But the stag, with surprising agility, got right back on it’s feet and continued running even with the injuries on its body.
However, that small timeframe where the stag fell to the ground gave more than enough time for it’s pursuers to close up the gap.
A massive crystal figure jumped the stag, it’s crystal arms holding tight against the stag’s neck. The sheer speed both had been moving at, and the sudden disruption sent both the stag and the crystal figure tumbling through the forest so fast they crashed through multiple trees before coming to a stop.
Even still, the stag was still struggling in the crystal figure’s arms, however, one strong twist to its neck rendered it permanently unconscious.
Clap! clap! clap!
Three claps sounded in the air and a demon with particularly menacing crown of horns suddenly appeared next to bran.
"You did well Bran." I said with a grin. As you must have guessed, the demon with the particularly menacing crown of horns was, yours truly.
It had been over two months since we set out for Valon, the capital of the demon continent. It was understandable that we still hadn’t reach Valon, after all we were on foot, and it wasn’t like we were particularly fast paced.
"He wasn’t the only one who did it, you know." A woman said, coming out from the nearby bushes.
"Hungry for praise from me, are we, dear Misra?" I smirked looking at the horned woman.
Did I forget to mention that we had gained a new addition to the team? Misra, that was the name of the demoness who’s crew had attacked us not long after we landed in the demon continent.
After she regained consciousness after I rendered her unconscious, I offered her two choices, which to be frank was one. Become my subordinate or die. That was the only choice I had given her.
In the end, she wasn’t really some crazy bitch that would rather die than bend the knee to another, so she accepted my offer. Of course I tied her up in a strict aether contract, one that had severe consequences if she were to ever betray me, either directly or indirectly.
"Tsk, you wish." Misra clicked her tongue. "Who needs praise from you.
"Whatever lets you sleep at night." I shrugged. "Alright, Bran, get off the floor. Misra, bring the food back to the others." I said disappearing from my spot.
A moment later, I appeared next to multiple tents with six figures crowded in their center.
"I swear Boss, would you stop disappearing and reappearing?" Khloe jolted, startled by my appearance.
"After all this time, you’re still this easily scared, how disappointing." I shook my head in mock disappointment.
After Khloe, the others also looked towards me, but in contrast to the warm welcome that I had expected, they had all looks that asked the question, ’Where’s the food?’ Not one of them seemed to think about anything else.
’I spoiled them too much.’
I thought as a bitter smile appeared on my face, but I kept walking regardless. Over the past two months, partly because I wanted to work Misra out and partly because I wanted each and everyone of them to have enough nourishment after grueling training sessions, Misra was the one usually in charge of hunting, and Bran assisted her sometimes.
But still, I could guess why they behaved like that. Over the past two months, I had make them train like hell. And why they did get significantly stronger, they did hold a bit of resentment towards me.
The one that held the most resentment was probably Khloe who would snort from time to time whenever she would see my face. ’Why do I need to train when you know that I have no talent?’ she would repeatedly mutter.
But of course, I ignored her words.
She needed to get used to such dangerous environments. She wasn’t always going to be inside of a safe location like back in underground market in Silver city.
"Boss, we should head back soon. I think we’ve trained enough, you said the convergence of races is in three weeks remember?" Vera stood and stretched her arms.
"Do I look like I care?" I cocked my head.
A collective groan echoed through the camp at my words, but before they could protest further, Misra and Bran arrived with the food, lifting up their spirits.
"Wat happened here?" Misra raised a brow noticing the depressing atmosphere that clouded the camp before their arrival .
"Boss doesn’t think we have enough training yet." Khloe groaned.
"Of course you haven’t, look at your hands, they’re no thicker than spaghetti. One would think you would have gained more muscle by now, Tsk." I clicked my tongue.
"Well, whatever." Misra shrugged her shoulders. With a wave of her hand, the stag floating behind her slowly moved towards the side of the camp before gently settling in the ground.
With that, Pixie, Bob, and Hugo began preparing the meal while I took out a reclining chair from my spatial storage and sat back.
’Well, this isn’t too bad.’
I thought as a smile crept on my face as I stared at everyone present. The feeling of a Boss watching his subordinates that had grown in ability.
Who knows, this could very well be the last moment of peace that I would enjoy for a very long time. I hoped not, but, my previous experiences suggested otherwise.
Leaning back on my chair, I tried to make the best out of the little time of rest I had remaining.
Over the past two months, not only did I get way stronger, but the team had also progressed in strength by at least a rank. Bran had broken through from the Zeta- to the Zeta rank, while Alan and had advanced into the Zeta- rank from the Theta+ rank. He even gained a really good ability that complemented his predictive danger sense.
Such was the case for Hugo who gained the ability to keep his body conscious even when his spirit was out of his body.
Pixie and Bob however, were still lagging behind, they still lacked that push to break through to the Zeta- rank.
But the most surprising one was Khloe, she broke through past two ranks in just two months. Though admittedly, the training I put her through and the long amounts of monotonous channeling was hellish, it was still worth it. Khloe was now at the Theta rank.
As for Vera’s case, she had grown very troublesome. As for why I said that, well after breaking through to the Zeta- rank, Vera gained a new ability, one a tad much troublesome.
If Vera decides to use her ability, whenever she asks you a question, you are forced to answer truthfully. Even I myself, couldn’t resist it much at my current strength.
’Everyone has really improved huh?’ I thought in melancholy. Maybe it really was time for us to head into the capital. Last week, we had come under the vast canopy of the divine tree. It leaves and branches were so thick that we couldn’t and hadn’t even see the sky for the past five days. It was at the point where it didn’t look like anything was covering the sky, but like the branches were the sky itself.
We had gone by numerous cities, all living under the canopy of the divine tree. In short, there were whole ecosystems under this massive tree, though, it was forbidden to live on the branches of the tree, only the royal family of the demon race deserved that place.
From where I was I could see the trunk of the divine tree no longer even when with it’s massive size. Luckily we had bought a map, so I wasn’t worried about that part.
The convergence of races would be in three weeks, and I was sure the human domain had already finished picking the one hundred youths it was allowed by now.
That was a problem I’d have to find my way around when the time comes, eventually. I couldn’t help but think of what faces the others would make when they see me, hehehehe. I couldn’t contain my excitement.
But for now, I steed myself, stood up, which drew attention to myself.
"Pack up everyone, we’ll be reaching the capital today itself." I muttered with a smile.
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