Death… And Me

Rean and Roan couldn't help but feel like their bodies were off. It was as if a second copy of them appeared out of nowhere. However, it wasn't a clone or anything, just the Nascent Soul. It was part of them, and not at the same time.

'Sister Orb, does that mean we're ready to breakthrough?' Rean asked as he examined the Soul Core inside his Dantian. He felt like he could make his Nascent Soul break out of its shell anytime he wanted.

Sister Orb confirmed, responding, [Yes. However, I would rather wait than doing it now.]

Roan agreed with her words, saying, 'Sister Orb's right. This isn't the right time to make our breakthrough. If everyone sees that I've achieved the Nascent Soul Realm, the Zasfins guarding this place will become restless. After all, my cultivation is improving too quickly.'

Rean understood where Roan was coming from, asking in response, 'You want to wait until Sister Orb finishes taking control over the Bloodline Trial Control Formations, right?'

[Exactly. You two can have your breakthroughs at the same time and then come out of the Dimensional Realm to take the kids. While you do that, I'll mess with the Bloodline Trial Control Formations and make everything blow apart as you planned with the Soul Stone Formations, Rean. The system for that is just way too complex. It'll take many years before they can create a new one.] 

Rean couldn't help but ask, 'What about the Hafel Clan? Once we disappear, it'll become obvious that we were the ones responsible for it. Wouldn't they be punished, maybe even get wiped out because of us?' The Hafel Clan tried to help the humans, so Rean didn't feel like it was right to condemn them.

Roan snorted as he couldn't care less. 'Hmph! So what? They tried to relieve the humans suffering here, but they never tried to save anyone. That's just hypocrisy. Besides, their faction won't just stand by and simply let themselves be destroyed. After all, they are well-versed in the formations of the Soul Rulers. They'll need their help to rebuild everything. That being said, they won't be wiped out as you think.' 

Roan then warned Rean, 'Remember, we're already swamped as we are. We can't take care of everything in this world.'

Rean sighed but nodded in the end. 'I was being too naive, sorry. Let's follow the plan.' 

He then asked something else, 'Sister Orb, how long until you finish taking control over all the formations?'

Sister Orb checked the current progress before answering, [One month at most. Perhaps I'll be ready in three weeks.]

'Understood.' Rean already knew what to do. 'In that case, I'll take Clad back into the Dimensional Realm once I see him again. His group should surface in the next few days as always.'

Roan and Sister Orb agreed with him. After all, they still needed a Zasfin to play the owner role.

*Chick!* 'Rean, Roan, when you breakthrough, I'll do the same and reach Stage Five. We have to help Liza, Luna, and the others!' Kentucky seemed quite excited to finally be outside the Dimensional Realm.

Rean smiled in response, saying, 'Obviously.'

Rean's group then discussed their next steps for a while. Eventually, they finished what they had to say and returned to their own things. Obviously, neither Rean nor Roan tried to break through after that.

A few days later, Rean left to do his walk around the territory he was allowed to do as he always did. That had already become a routine of him, so the Zasfins of Sevinia's estate and the others outside didn't care that much anymore. Not to mention that he had become an important human, so no one would touch him unless they had a valid reason to do so.

As Rean passed by the airship dock, he saw a group of Zasfins coming back from the excavations. That was obviously a Zasfin Group that was about to be swapped by another one. In the middle of the group, Rean found Clad, who once again had a different appearance thanks to Roan's skills. 'Clad, I'm bringing you away now.'

Clad was taken aback since it was quite earlier than usual. However, his expression didn't show anything as he continued to talk with the Zasfins around him. It was as if he hadn't even heard anything from Rean. He had become used to do it. Of course, he still answered Rean's Spiritual Sense Message while at it, asking with a hint of confusion, 'Already? Is something wrong?'

'We're about to make our move, so I won't be able to take you back anymore after today. There won't be more excavations going on for a long time after that.' Without revealing what they would do, Rean explained the consequences.

Clad couldn't help but become a little worried. After all, they were still in the Soul Rulers' territory. Clad then took a deep breath before telling Rean something else, 'Rean, the Zasfin responsible for my group noticed that my cultivation was growing incredibly fast while I was here. He offered me to join the Soul Rulers because of that.'

Rean was surprised to hear that. After all, the Soul Rulers were very strict with their recruitment. Not to mention that he had never heard of any of the excavators being taken in. Once they worked for some time, they would be sent back to wherever they came from, and a new group would take their place.

'Hmm...do you want to stay?' Rean asked that question seriously. 'To be honest, I don't know how the situation will develop after we're done with our part. By now, you should have noticed that our objective here isn't simple and definitely not something the Soul Rulers will like.' 

After saying that, Rean warned Clad, 'There's a huge chance you might be caught once they investigate things thoroughly.'

Clad was taken aback as he noticed Rean's way of speaking was slightly different. Soon, he asked, 'Wait. Why does it feel like you would let me escape? I still have your poison in my body.' Sure enough, that was what he thought of first before anything else.

Rean mentally laughed before saying, 'Don't worry. We can find a replacement for you. So far, you've helped us a lot by gathering information, so I don't mind paying you with your freedom. In any case, we'd already be gone before you could denounce us. Well...I wouldn't tell the Zasfins about us since they'll definitely blame you as well for what will happen. Chances are you would be killed right after because of their anger. Hahaha!'

Rean was right. Clad understood that fooling the Soul Rulers would end up in harsh punishment. That being said, he didn't intend to talk about it to start with, even if he obtained his freedom and joined the Soul Rulers. 'That's not funny, alright?' 

Clad then took a deep breath before saying, 'I didn't expect that you and your brother would let me go. Also, I understand the risks of staying behind even if I don't know what you two want to do. However, being part of the Soul Rulers is exactly what my Imperial Family Branch needs to escape doom, so I want to take the risk.'

One must remember that Clad only joined in this journey to save his family. That was his main objective above anything else.

Rean didn't mind, saying, 'I'll have the full antidote of your poison delivered once our plan starts. Thanks for your help so far.'

Rean then kept walking around as if he hadn't talked with anyone whatsoever.

He quickly went back to his room and was just about to work on a few formation runes when out of nowhere, a robotic voice he and Roan haven't heard in a very long time echoed in their minds.

*Pin!*

[System Recovery Complete.]

[Soul Gem System Restarting...]

[12%...]

[32%...]

[59%...]

[83%...]

[100%]

[Assessing Situation...]

[New Mission Available: Soul Gem System Processing Power Upgrade.]