Cultivation Through Artifacts

"Busy my ass! You were away for several weeks without coming back at least for a hi!" Neo sneered, his eyes as sharp as razors and if he could, he would definitely pierce a hole into the middle of Khal's forehead.

As for Khal, he could do nothing but show an awkward smile before sighing helplessly. Although he felt Neo was acting strange and maybe like a wife who got angry over his husband getting back late from work, he couldn't blame him at all. He was forced to remain inside this place with literally no one around, so it was only natural for him to become so angry as he would feel and act the same if he were in his shoes.

"I am sorry, I really do." was what Khal could think of and say after several minutes of pondering.

Seeing that Khal was truly feeling sorry Neo could only sigh helplessly and cross his arms before asking, "Whatever. Instead, tell me what made you so 'busy'... I am dying to know what happened!"

Khal feeling relief that Neo didn't throw a tantrum and accepted the past nodded and quickly narrated to him what happened in the past few weeks, including the part where the bracelet's origin had been finally revealed!

After a long and slightly tiring speech later Khal just shook his head and said, "And now I plan to increase my strength as much as possible before I attempt to go back to the First Realm."

Neo who remained silent all this time and whose face had undergone different emotions such as shock, awe, anger, surprise, and slight panic closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his nerves down. It was obvious he needed a little bit of time to digest the information that Khal has just given him.

Time ticked silently, and after close to ten minutes Neo finally opened his eyes and asked, "How long will it take for you to get back to the First Realm?"

"Honestly? I don't have a fricking clue." Khal shook his head in a defeated manner and said, "It could take weeks, maybe months, or even a year or more. Although I hate to admit it, reaching the peak of the Second Realm maybe sounds easy, it is, in fact, not and cannot be rushed. I can only do my best."

"A month!? A YEAR!? Do you have a fucking clue just how long that is!?" Neo's nerves snapped when he heard Khal's answer and began to yell, "Those fuckers are still alive out there, looking for clues about the one who killed that rat, Andre! It's only a matter of time before they put the pieces together and then Liza and Miss Mary will be in great danger! Do you even realize the weight behind your current situation!? THEIR LIVES ARE ON THE FUCKING LINE HERE!"

"Calm down angry boy. Take a deep breath and relax." Khal said calmly and added, "Do you think I don't feel the same way as you, frustrated and angry? That I don't know what will happen if I don't hurry up and go back? Naturally, I do, but would yelling and grieving over things you cannot change help? Of course, it wouldn't and you shouldn't do that either as that is only a waste of your energy."

Neo clenched his teeth so hard where it almost broke under the force, but exactly because of this reason why he was able to swallow back the words he wished to tell next and calm down.

"Then what will you do?" Neo hissed with surpassed anger through his teeth, his clenched fingers on his side trembling like crazy.

"What I will do?" Khal raised a brow and said, "I have already told you. I will do my best to reach the peak travel back to the First Realm."

"And then?"

"And then what, you ask?" Khal this time showed a terrifyingly cold smile and sneered, "Isn't that obvious? I will make sure to erase those bastards right out of existence itself then reveal everything they have done with the world to everyone to know!"

Neo nodded slightly and sighed deeply, letting out all the accumulated frustration inside him with that single breathe.

"Anyways, it seems it's time for me to go." Khal suddenly said as he lifted his head as if he wanted to see something above. Neo did the same but except for the infinite greyness, he was unable to see a thing.

"Sure." Neo nodded indifferently, trying to show he didn't care, but unfortunately, he couldn't fool Khal. His eyes told everything, including his true thoughts and current emotions.

"I will make sure to come more often. We still have a lot of things to discuss."

"Whatever." Neo just waved his hand and lay down, seemingly ready to fall asleep as he had no better thing to do.

Upon seeing this, Khal just simply shook his head and with a flash vanished from the Soul Prison and opened his eyes on the spaceship.

"We have finally arrived."

Turning his head to the side, Khal saw as the one talking to him was Astro, hence quickly stood up and bowed.

"Thank you very much and I apologize for the trouble."

"Please, I only did what I was told to do." Astro shook his head before looking toward the exit and said, "Then let's go outside, shall we?"

"Un." Khal nodded and followed Astro outside, but the moment they took a step outside of the ship, several creatures with long spears blocked their paths, their weapons pointing toward them threateningly.

"What business do you have on Planet Thov?"

'Night Crawlers?' Khal immediately recognized the creatures in front of him, but didn't act nervous nor scared, but simply raised his hands and said, "I just wish to hunt some beasts, that's all."

The creatures, that had charcoal-like skin looked at each other before shifting their soulless gaze back to Khal and asked, "I hope you know that you will have to pay a hefty amount to be allowed to hunt, right?"

"Yeah, I am well aware of the rules here." Khal nodded, obviously not surprised what he was just told.

"I see, then follow us." the creature nodded as he lowered his weapon, gesturing toward Khal to follow them.