Strings Of Domination

The creature that the three were currently looking at was quite weird, to say the least.

A big frame that towered at least 5 meters above the ground, a body which was filled with various sized gaps and holes, some even filled with either sharp teeth or moving eyes, and a pair of arms that was so long that its fingers touched the ground with ease despite the creature standing perfectly straight!

Furthermore, the creature's physique was almost completely transparent, hence from afar it almost felt like it was one with the dense fog!

'How is this still alive? Didn't you say your pet would kill any Lost Soul in our proximity?' snapping out of her daze, Amy quickly grabbed a stick from the side and began to write on the ground.

Nash upon seeing Amy's question didn't answer. No, it would be better to say he couldn't as he had nothing he could say!

His Soul Swallowing Raven was indeed capable of consuming Lost Souls as he clearly felt just how his Ancient Beast became stronger and stronger over time, so seeing that a Lost Soul was still alive Nash couldn't help but become speechless.

'Could it be that... it has died?' was the first thing Nash thought about, but that belief was quickly forgotten as when he closed his eyes and concentrated slightly, he was able to feel his connection with Soul Swallowing Raven just as he was able to feel his connection with his other Ancient Treasures!

'Should I call it over to take care of this thing?' Nash wondered as he opened his eyes, but soon just shook his head and thought, 'No, let's not. I am more than enough.'

As those words emerged in Nash's mind, Nash looked at the two and said, "Stay here. I will take care of that thing."

Miles and Amy were surprised when they heard Nash's words, but as they knew his personality which was only confident if he was sure to succeed, they nodded and took a step behind.

"Finally! I thought they will never meet with a Lost Soul! I almost thought something was wrong!" inside the palace, Bane let out a deep sigh once he heard Nash's voice.

And it was not only him but almost everyone that heard his voice!

Until now, they had been listening to everything the three were talking about together with the things they had been doing, and they couldn't help but feel stupified by the fact that throughout two whole days the trio met with no Lost Soul!

One had to know that King Helio was continuously sending hundreds of soldiers into the Lost Forest on numerous occasions but almost none of them came back alive as according to those that were lucky enough to survive, they encountered Lost Souls after almost every 100 meters!

Yet, right now, not only did not Nash and his friends meet with a Lost Soul after almost every 100 steps but they were also able to travel all the way to the Lost Ruins and search even its interior without crossing paths with a single one!

This was something that King Helio has never seen before and he felt extremely confused about how something like this could happen.

However, soon, that confusion of his grew only deeper in the following seconds.

Bam!

The sound of something exploding and breaking into numerous pieces resounded in the hall followed by Nash's usual indifferent voice;

"Done. Let's get moving."

'...'

The whole palace fell into silence and none of the individuals present said a single word. Flake, Bane, and Serio stared at the projection with widened eyes while King Helio and Queen Ayanna's expressions were as stiff as rock.

While the first three didn't know what happened or at least knew but couldn't comprehend its meaning, until then King Helio And his wife were perfectly well aware of what happened just now as they were quite familiar with the sound that they have just heard.

It was the sound of a Lost Soul getting shattered into numerous pieces!

Though, while they were familiar with such a sound as they have already found means to kill Lost Souls, thus allowing them to replicate such a sound from time to time, they could not understand how Nash was capable of killing the Lost Soul without any former knowledge!

"H-How did he do it? Do we really have no way to see what they are doing?" Ayanna quickly snapped out of her daze and asked.

King Helio frowned before quickly shaking his head, "Although I wish to say we have, in truth, we don't. The fog in the Lost Forest is not ordinary and is the ability of the relic, not only functioning as a wall that allows only those inside that are below the Soul Devourer Rank but also works as a layer of a barrier that prevents any type of skill or power to penetrate from the outside."

"I see..." Ayanna sighed with disappointment, but her eyes remained calm as her gaze and especially her ears were firmly fixed on the projection.

After that, time passed quickly as after killing the Lost Soul, Nash and the rest didn't meet with a second one despite walking around the Lost Ruins for half a day!

However, although they have met with no creature after killing the first Lost Soul with his Soul Shattering Grab, Nash finally found something.

It was a small golden leaf with silver veins running across its surface. It was resting on the ground while several more could be seen in the distance in greater numbers!

"This way." Nash gestured toward the two behind him and quickly began to follow the leaves.

And soon enough, after about 10 minutes of running without encountering any danger, the three reached this small and circular empty area where the entire ground was covered in golden leaves.

And exactly at the very center of this circular space, a small ancient black pot sat lonely with a miniature golden tree placed in it, its branches covered in the same golden leaves that covered the entire surroundings!

"It's the tree from the image! We have found it!" Miles exclaimed out loud with joy and was ready to take a step forward when suddenly a firm palm grabbed his shoulder, stopping him from moving.

"Huh?" Miles was confused and thought Nash was the one who stopped him, but to his great surprise, it was not him but Amy!

Even Nash looked at her with puzzlement, but soon enough, their confusion was answered as she pointed to the right, or to be more specific at the ground on the right and said, "Look carefully."

Nash and Miles followed Amy's finger, but no matter how long and hard they stared, they found nothing strange about that location.

Or at least they thought that until the leaves did not start to move and stop on their own accord as if someone was stepping on them!

"What is that? A Lost Soul which is invisible? No, more importantly, why is it not attacking us?" Nash mumbled quietly with a deep frown.

"Perhaps it is not hostile?" Miles asked, guessing with a simple shrug.

"No, that is not the case either. Look, whatever that thing is, it is walking around that tree as if..."

"As if it is guarding it." Nash finished Amy's words with a nod.

"So until we don't go too close we are safe?" Miles asked and Amy nodded before shaking her head as an answer.

"Yes and at the same time no. Although at this very moment it seems that the thing is only guarding the tree without any hint of malice, we can't be sure if all of a sudden it won't go on a rampage and kill us all."

"Then what should we do?" Miles asked as he watched the route which on the invisible creature was going, "Should I try to form a domain and see if it will help us reveal it?"

"I don't think that is a wise choice." Nash suddenly talked, his eyes moving slowly left and right as if his gaze was following something!

Amy and Miles noticed this and quickly asked, "You... Can you see it?"

"Yes, I can. Though, this thing... is a little special." Nash nodded and after remaining silent for a brief moment explained, "As far as I can see, this is not a Lost Soul. Or at least not akin to those Lost Souls we have seen before on the images and encountered with previously."

"How so?" Amy decided to ask.

Nash continued to stare at the creature and only after a few seconds later did he explain, "You must have noticed this, but all Lost Souls have a transparent physique with no armament, weapons, or items on their bodies. However, this creature is different. Its seemingly half-transparent body is clad in light armor, one that clearly can be touched by our hands, while it even carries a pair of daggers in both hands!"

Then taking a deep breath, Nash said in a low voice, "Furthermore, although I can only feel it briefly, I am sure that it is currently at the peak Warmaster Rank. It's not something we can just go and start a fight with, thinking we will be able to kill it easily.. We need a plan."