Chapter 20: Proprietor?

“Tsk!” The towering figure of an olive skinned, blond haired woman, shielded by a piece of glowing armor and skinny white pants with silver strings, stood midair and clucked her tongue irritably. To her back she wore a short, white mantle that reflected light.

“A bunch of reckless idiots!” She cursed as her gaze mused on a distant location. “The Mercenary Association’s and army’s careful planing has gone down the drain all because of the greed and ignorance of loose cultivators”. White aura emitted from her body. “Is there a point for you to keep lurking?” She composed her tone, but not the aggression in her aura.

BOOM!

WHOOSH!

A mountain wall collapsed and a blue silhouette flashed from within the crushing boulders, moving to an exposed mountain side.

“So troops dispatched you”. The towering woman restricted her aura once she got a clear view at her stalker.

“Helev Hetra”, the blue figure, Pink Eyes Agama muttered in response and then shifted his attention to the same direction the towering woman, Helev Hetra, was looking. “Someone impatient triggered the self detonation of a slumbering wraith. The aftermath will soon stir the entire ridge has wraiths already began to awake. I assume your Blessed Army’s and Mercenary Association’s conspiracy is now terminated”. He returned his gaze to Helev Hetra and sneered in contempt.

“Boolian”, Helev Hetra said tolerantly to the Pink Eyes Agama as she approached him. “The Blessed Army and Violet Scaled Troops are the sovereigns of the Western Continent. Considering current development, it is no longer a contest between us and the other three powers over who collects more dark attribute’s essences, but who won’t return empty handed”.

“Are you suggesting collaboration?” Boolian spat strips of fire in indignation.

“Yes, together with the Mercenary Association”. Helev Hetra said, settling an arm length from Boolian. “It is not a secret that the Golden Desert Forte and Blue Sea have the best relations. If they will disregard the repercussions and decide to cooperate with the Luminous Church for the period time of the Event, than without a doubt, our native forces would end up being the losing side”.

Boolian’s pink reptilian eyes depicted Helev Hetra. “Groups of wraiths across the ridge already started to massacre each other. It will be far more dangerous and complicated for even third level Martial Mortals to snatch a dark attribute’s essence”.

Helev Hetra nodded. “It is now depends on luck and decisiveness. Worst case scenario, the five powers and other prominent, notorious parties will have a confrontation”.

Boolian snorted. “Other parties aren’t worth mentioning. Except from the Mercenary Association and one or two other parties, none would have the strength nor be gutsy enough to fight with us over a dark attribute’s essence!”

Helev Hetra smiled awkwardly, half for interpreting from the conversation’s flow that Boolian consented to collaborate and half for seeing that he has the same misjudging mindset that allowed loose cultivators to ruin the esteem Blessed Army’s and Mercenary Association’s plans.

...

Outside a star shaped bus size aircraft, roughly five hundred meter above Demirva Ridge, three pious figures floated with mix expressions.

“Are you certain, Sister Beatriz?” His Young Eminence asked while glowering.

“Yes, Your Young Eminence. The wraiths’ slumber was interrupted in the most disruptive manner. If we were a few hundred meters closer to the ridge, you would have also felt the fluctuations”.

“Sister Beatriz, is it really that bad? Can’t you just forcefully capture couple of wraith for His Young Eminence?” Sister Iaura tried to mediate in hope of soothing His Young Eminence’s anger.

Shaking her, Sister Beatriz was about to explain when His Young Eminence replied first.

“My darling, Sister Iaura”, he said, maintaining his sublime composure before the young lass. “God Demirva is not benevolent like The Almighty. There is a special method to awake the slumbering wraith and extract their dark attribute’s essences. That, however, is now useless since the self detonation of one wraith is enough to promote a chain effect that would eventually cause all the wraiths to awake, render the chances of successfully extracting the dark attribute’s essence nearly null”.

“In that case, why would someone make a wraith self detonate?” Sister Iaura naively continued to ask.

Upon hearing the question, His Young Eminence’s vision turned to an ominous glare that skimmed the ridge below him.

Knowing His Young Eminence’s current mood and how much efforts he put in order to stay calm to not frighten Sister Iaura, Sister Beatriz grabbed and pulled to her embrace the young lass.

“No one in their right mind will deliberately and improperly extract a dark attribute’s essence. The issue is, not many know about the special method or the consequence of inadequate extraction. There is also the possibility that someone did manage to obtain a dark attribute’s essence and simply wanted to sabotage the chances of those who did not”. Sister Beatriz narrated in a soft and quiet voice.

“Oh...” Sister Iaura uttered in an understanding tone, which quickly followed by a confident demeanor. “I’m still not worrying! With Sister Beatriz and Your Young Eminence we will definitely obtain a dark attribute’s essence! Nobody down there can compete with our Luminous Church!”

“Um”, upon hearing this resolute declaration, His Young Eminence could not help to smirk and then laugh out loud. “Hahahaha! Precisely! Oh, Sister Iaura, how right you are and how pleasurable are your words to my ears, hahaha!” A complacent countenance adorned his face. “Have fate in The Almighty’s guidance, for in times of troubles and sorrows, that is when we are truly tested, evaluated and bestowed accordingly!”

“Your Young Eminence is wise”. Sister Beatriz acclaimed.

“Yes, His Young Eminence is very wise!” Sister Iaura admired.

“Come, Sister Beatriz, Sister Iaura!” His Young Eminence suddenly announced. “Let us meet The Almighty’s heathen pawns, and see which of them there to rob me!”

“Yes, Your Young Eminence!” Sister Iaura hurried to comply.

Sister Beatriz merely nodded and followed. She did not need to support them in their endeavor. Although the two were Core Masters, they could fly perfectly well on their own.

...

“Colonel Rijok!” Two voices respectfully called toward the descending military, desert colors uniformed, feeble looking man.

On his right shoulder the man had a “Golden Desert Fort” cinderblock badge, while on the left a badge of three iron cinderblocks inline.

“At ease”. Colonel Rijok said.

Cattelin, and even Blue Sea’s Martial Mortal, Darvajka, relaxed their pose.