Chapter 36: 35. What seems like the end
As Zen and Draco'nel entered the guild, they found themselves greeted by familiar faces. They had gone on a search for the faction earlier, but their efforts yielded little besides information about two members heading toward Stormreach.
After days of searching, they returned empty-handed regarding the other members' whereabouts.
Draco'nel slumped into a chair, reaching for a bottle of alcohol reserved for him. He poured himself a drink, observing the leaders of the guild gathering.
"We have some problems," Fiera muttered, catching the attention of both Loki and Zen.
"Both teams dispatched to Stormreach are... gone," She continued, her tone grave.
"Gone? What do you mean?" Micah inquired, joining Loki's side.
"I can't detect Team A on my radar, and Team B's mana signatures vanished after they left their inn. They're completely off my sensors," Fiera explained.
Loki sank into his seat, deep in thought, while Zen approached Fiera. "The Azure is proving to be quite the foe, or is it the faction? No. It couldn't be. They wouldn't risk keeping all their members in one city."
"Do you think it was the two members currently there?" Draco'nel asked, voicing his concerns.
"It's a possibility but I refuse to believe Blair and Aurora could fall so easily, even to the faction." Zen asserted.
"But that's what the girl said," Draco'nel murmured.
"We have to head there," Zen declared, prompting a sigh from Draco'nel, who knew he would be sent out again.
"Do you realize how far it is? I can't use spells, Zen. I might be a burly, toned, red-haired god, but I'm still a man," Draco'nel complained as he sipped from his jar, attempting to guilt-trip Zen.
"You contradicted yourself," Zen muttered, rubbing his chin. "You'll all have to go. Me and Fiera will stay back. If any information comes up, we'll relay it."
"Still worried the faction will swoop in and steal the core when you're not looking?" Draco'nel retorted, rising to his feet, his jar still in hand.
"It's not like we conceal our locations. They know where we are. How we've survived this long without being attacked is honestly surprising," Zen admitted. "Plus, if they come here, is there anyone better to protect this city?"
"As much as I want to disagree, your technique is unstoppable," Draco'nel conceded. "So where on the island are we going? We don't even know their current whereabouts."
"Fiera, give me their last known locations. You guys can search there, hopefully, some info comes up," Zen instructed.
"Okay," Fiera responded, summoning the 'Space Aspect,' a unique item, that allowed her to locate everything with mana in a given area. Suddenly, she paused.
"What's wrong?" Zen inquired, noticing her reaction.
"Emirus? I think Emirus is back, that's definitely him," Fiera realized.
This was promising news. Emirus was one of the few users of Portal Magic in the world, a skill even Aurora couldn't master. "Try talking to him. If he can open a portal here, we can quickly assist them."
"That's true!" Fiera exclaimed, a glimmer of hope igniting within her. "Emirus—can you hear me? Create a portal to the guild—"
A surge of mana erupted, and Fiera spun around to see a dark spiral forming—a portal. Emirus had heard her. The team was still alive. But as she glanced at the others, expecting to share her relief, she found them seething with fury.
"Unleash: Dragon's Bone," Draco'nel commanded, causing the jar in his hand to explode as a giant sword materialized within it. Everyone in the room noticed except Erra. That wasn't Emirus's mana signature.
Someone had either intercepted their messages somehow, or someone was creating a portal into the guild. In any scenario, it wasn't good.
A hand emerged from the portal, followed by an entire body. As the figure leaped out, Draco'nel swung his sword down on it, smashing it into the ground without causing a collapse of the building. "Coming here directly? Your confidence must be above the stars."
But like a rat, the figure swiftly pulled out of Draco'nel's sword, lunging toward Fiera. It was official, someone had pinpointed Fiera as their man behind the curtain.
Micah dashed toward Fiera, moving faster than his brain could process, unleashing his sword to create a near-invisible slash of wind—toward the figure.
The figure dodged in mid-air, its head propping up behind its body. It wasn't human, regardless of its appearance. Draco'nel threw his sword at the figure, but it missed as the creature dived toward Fiera, clawing at the Space Aspect and damaging it.
Immediately, the creature attacked the item, all mana presence within it seemed to cease. In a quick slash, Micah swung his sword once more, cutting through the creature.
As they approached it to inspect it further, they realized it was a wooden caricature—a puppet controlled by an outsider. Zen stood in the middle of the guild, slightly annoyed because this meant one thing: A member of the opposing side of the battle could use a technique that allowed them to fight from a distance.
"I've never encountered a puppet master before," Draco'nel murmured.
"I was hoping we wouldn't," Zen clenched his fist. "They're aware of the Space Aspect, which means someone close to Emirus knew we were trying to contact him, probably due to Fiera's mana signature. They know our location, have portal magic or access to it, and possess extreme knowledge of this world and the existing unique items." Zen sighed.
"Why do we always end up with them as enemies?"
"It doesn't matter. Draco'nel," Zen called.
"Yes, Sir."
"Let's ensure this is the last day that bastard can use his puppets."
"My thoughts exactly."
As Draco'nel, Loki, and Micah embarked on their journey toward Stormreach to rescue their fellow guild members, thirteen individuals stood in a barren part of the island, all members of the Azure.
Ivy relayed a plan to the rest of the team, a simple one. With the guild's presence in Stormreach, they were likely after the Azure or the faction. In unfamiliar territory, leading them into an ambush would be easy.
Originally, Ivy brought them here to brief them since the Azure members were scattered across the city. However, what the guild failed to grasp was that information was currency in a city like this. Every second, information was bought, sold, and traded until it reached the right ears.
And when the guild members appeared to be surveying them from the mountaintop, it proved something significant—they had a way to search the city, at least from a bird's eye view.
Quickly, Ivy believed it was some sort of a unique item or technique. Those were the only two feasible options. However, the guild didn't account for a lot of things. The first being the amount of creativity within their team.
Hunter, capable of disrupting the mana of anyone he chose or within a specific area, nullified Arthur's mana to the point of non-existence, allowing him to ascend the mountain undetected. However, this technique had a limited range and wore off after a certain distance.
Once they sensed Arthur's manifest go off on the cliff, they knew he'd accomplished his mission, marking a moment of success.
Swiftly, three members split from their group and headed towards the second guild team spotted in the city, aiming to intercept them before any information could be relayed.
Their efforts proved fruitful as Ivy sat amidst a pile of bodies, basking in her intelligence and beauty, with Malachi by her side, they shared a sensual kiss. Under the moonlit sky, the guild members appeared to have been defeated. "Where's Hajun?" Enoch inquired, approaching them.
As she broke up from her sensual kiss with Malachi to look at her leader. The waves of the ocean crashed against the shore, sending a surge of water washing over the boots of IX. Who stood beneath the moonlight, patiently awaiting his creation.
"Where have you been?" IX asked, standing by the sea as his creation leaped out of the water, rushing into his arms.
"I'm sorry for leaving. I was confused," It muttered, its English slightly improved.
"It doesn't matter. We're together once again, and that's all that matters," IX assured.
"I know it's not my place, but can I ask for something?" The beast started.
"Anything."
"I want a beastman. I met her in Frosthaven alongside some dangerous individuals who possessed manifests."
"Did you reveal yours to them?"
"Yes, I defended myself," The beast replied, slightly apprehensive, wondering if it shouldn't have. "Did I make a mistake, I'm sorry—"
"You haven't made an unredeemable mistake. You merely showed them a fraction of your capabilities. But regarding this beast-man, is she a Fenrir?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I've already reached out to her. The Azure will soon have her, and she'll be kept safe. But why do you desire her?"
"I want you to add her to me— I want to be together with her forever," Arsene spoke, its voice taking on a feminine tone. "I want to be with my daughter forever."
"Alright then," IX removed his mask, revealing his scarred and patchwork face to Arsene. "I'll grant your wish, My Arsene."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone