The Rise of the Black Plain

Weeks after making his alliance with Forfax, Minos and the alien found what he was looking for when they made their alliance.",

Coming across a glowing crystal at the bottom of an underground cavern where scalding magma covered part of the surroundings, the two level 100 Sovereigns cracked a smile on their faces as they felt the value of it.

As much as they couldn't add powers to their bodies while they were in The Red Expanse, that didn't mean they couldn't feel the benefit that resources from this plane could generate for them in the future.

"This is a top level elemental crystal. If we cultivate its energy, it's possible that we'll raise the characteristics of our bodies, increase our energy reserves and even have the chance to inherit some kind of ability." Forfax said as a smile broke across his face, looking at the crystal embedded in the middle of that cave, surrounded by magma.

"First, we have to get to it, Forfax." Minos reminded as he analyzed the path.

But Forfax was right in his analysis. That crystal should be able to stimulate those who cultivate by using it to refine the energy they absorb.

"How should we do this? Do you have any good feelings?" Forfex looked at Minos, hoping to know what would be the best future for them there.

Minos closed his eyes for a second as a golden hourglass appeared in one of his hands, its energy vibrating with the surroundings as he saw scenes from the future.

"The magma in front of us is extremely corrosive. If we bring our limbs into direct contact with it, we will be crippled. The best way to the crystal is for you to help me reach it with your enormous body."

"Can you do that?" Forfex looked at the crystal 7 meters away from them.

To achieve what he had just said, Minos would have to jump about 5 meters. Forfex's arms were just over 2 meters long, which would help him complete the last leg.

"I think I can do it. My physical strength is very good. Just be ready to catch me in the air and save me." Minos said as he prepared himself, with his companion agreeing to go ahead with it.

Shortly afterwards, Forfex picked up Minos' small body and threw it towards the red crystal.

Minos landed successfully on top of the crystal, which was the size of human chest armor, with an irregular shape and several sharp points.

Luckily, the crystal wasn't stuck to the ground. With only part of his strength, Minos collected it before signaling Forfex to get ready.

With his ally signaling that he was ready, Minos prepared to jump over the small 'island' in the middle of the lake of magma, using all his strength to propel himself towards Forfex.

In an instant, he jumped, while Forfex stretched his arms out towards Minos, trying to get as close as he could.

Forfex narrowed his pupils as he saw Minos falling a little in front of him, feeling sweat forming on his body.

At the last second to rescue him, he felt Minos had stopped in mid-air with the golden hourglass appearing there.

'This is my chance!'

He spun around, changing his body position by putting all his weight on one of his arms, standing upside down as he stretched one of his legs out to Minos.

His legs were 40 centimeters longer than his arms, enough to reach Minos.

Seeing this, Minos stopped controlling time to use Forfex's foot to get enough momentum to jump again.

This threw Forfex off balance toward the magma, but just as he was about to land on the ground, Minos controlled time again, preventing the worst by making his ally stop while he positioned himself to pull Forfex towards him.

Having escaped the corrosive magma of the cave, Forfex laughed as he sat down on the ground, eager to cultivate with the scarlet crystal.

"How do we split it?" He asked as he looked into Minos' eyes.

"We can't cultivate with it at the same time, but even if we could, that wouldn't be good. One of us has to be on guard when the other is cultivating." Minos replied. "We'll split up to cultivate the crystal in shifts. You can go first."

"All right. But we'd better stay here for a while. This crystal has a lot of energy; it could be dangerous to cultivate it while we're traveling."

Minos agreed. "You're right. Let's not bother getting to the center of The Red Expanse for now. Some competitors must be rushing there, but I feel that's a mistake. A thousand years is more than enough time to slowly explore the place while we travel to the center of the plane."

"Then we'll stay here until we've at least cultivated more than half the potential of this crystal."

With that decided, Forfex would soon infuse his energy into that item, starting to cultivate with this natural wonder while Minos stood guard.

...

In the blink of an eye, an entire year had passed for Minos' group in The Enchanted Realm!

Minos didn't know it, but when he was taken to The Red Expanse by the infinity seal, his body had traveled for a few thousand years, enough for a year to pass in The Enchanted Realm even though he had only been there for a little over a year.

The time difference between the two places should be 1 to 10. But Minos' travel time had lasted longer than the seconds he thought he had spent!

But while he was already on his journey in The Red Expanse, his companions in The Enchanted Realm had used the last year to cultivate in seclusion. Ruth had advanced to level 102, and Callie had reached level 101. Besides the two of them, the last level 102 Sovereign before Ruth's breakthrough had also succeeded in his cultivation, reaching level 103.

The group had no problem cultivating in seclusion in the area chosen by Minos, having spent these months concerned only with meditating and advancing their strength while they were still together.

After the advances made by the three of them, the time was coming for them to separate in order to get to know this world better and explore the opportunities for collecting important resources for the future.

They were just waiting for the children and wives of Minos to awaken, which would happen this afternoon!

Today they would finally have the result of Minos' actions months ago before he was taken to The Red Expanse!