Ch 41: Decision

"Isn't it..."

"Yes, we are out of their territory!"

Emrys nodded before Rohan could finish his sentence. The distance of two hundred meters was enough to bring him close to the outskirts of the mountain range from where he was previously.

Rohan and Cairo appeared to be confused. They could not understand why Emrys brought them out.

Not giving them a chance to question, Emrys stated, "We are in danger. It seems the Darkborne Family are already aware of us invading their territory. We can't stay here anymore, we have to leave this place as soon as possible."

The hearts of Rohan and Cairo shuddered. They felt really scared when they found out that the Darkborne Family knew about them. It made them think that if they got caught by anyone from the Darkborne Family, they would surely be in big trouble, maybe even killed. They couldn't even imagine what might have happened to them if Emrys hadn't helped them at just the right time.

However...

"No, we can't leave. We're so close. I believe we can definitely uncover at least one clue about the Gracia Family. And once we have any lead on the Gracia Family, we might finally learn something about Serafina as well."

They were indeed very close. Having infiltrated the Darkborne Family, Rohan did not want to leave just like that. They were sure that every strange occurrence and all peculiar phenomena in the abandoned mansion was the doing of the Darkbonre Family. If they continue investigating, they might really be able to find out at least something about the Gracia Family and what happened to them.

Cairo stayed silent. First, he was not familiar with Serafina Gracia. Second, he was only here because Rohan invited him. If Rohan decided to stay, Cairo would stay too. If Rohan decided to leave, Cairo would do the same.

Emrys paused, considering something carefully. "I have a plan," he began. "You two need to leave and get as far away from here as possible. I'll go back into the Darkborne Family's stronghold alone."

Before they could protest, Emrys raised a hand. "Don't argue with me on this. I can leave whenever I need to. You both know what I'm capable of. If you two stay with me, it won't help, and it might even put us all in danger. Plus, you might end up being a burden to me if things get tough. If I'm alone, I can escape easily. So, you're leaving, and that's final. There's no room for discussion."

Rohan and Cairo exchanged glances. They understood Emrys was right. If someone, then only Emrys was capable of again infiltrating the Darkborne Family's stronghold and escape safely. If they truly go inside again, they might never return alive.

However, how can they leave Emrys to deal with all the dangers alone?

Even if they wanted to, they could not bring themselves to say anything anymore. That is not only because Emrys stopped them from saying anything more, it is also because they were truly afraid of dying here.

'Emrys is my friend. I know I should not put him in danger, but he can indeed get away easily whenever he wants. He can teleport and disappear. I think nothing bad will happen to him. However, if I go, I might never make it back alive. My life is more important. Moreover, the Darkborne Family is truly too powerful. We are definitely not their opponents. It is better to find a way to leave this place and inform the Federation about everything we have seen and experienced.'

Rohan thought in his heart.

How selfish?

It was clearly he who mentioned Serafina earlier, making Emrys change his plan, turning to take a great risk by infiltrating the stronghold of the Darkborne Family again. However, when Rohan thought of the dangers, he was scared and decided to leave everything for Emrys to deal with.

Even Rohan himself was unaware when his heart had started to sway toward self-preservation over loyalty and friendship.

It might be when Emrys killed masked men with Number 17, 18, and 19.

Anyway, Rohan made up his mind to go along with Emrys's plan. Not only would it ensure his safety, at least for now, but if Emrys succeeded, they might uncover crucial information about the Gracia Family. This could potentially shed light on whether Serafina Gracia had any ties to the Gracia Family that bought the abandoned mansion or not.

Not long after, wishing Emrys to stay safe, Rohan and Cairo left the place.

All this time, Emrys was carefully observing every change appearing in Rohan's eyes. He did not mind Cairo since Cairo and he was not that familiar with each other and only met a few days ago. However, Rohan was different. They were childhood friend.

Saying that he was not disappointed at Rohan's change would be a lie. However, he also heaved a breath of relief. Discovering that their friendship could falter during tough times was somewhat of a blessing. After all, it was better to learn this lesson sooner rather than later.

Before infiltrating the stronghold again, Emrys took out his Simulation Scroll and started looking for a crucial piece of information. Very soon, he found what he wanted to know.

╠ Soulstar Crystal: The Soulstar Crystal is a rare and powerful treasure that contains a concentrated form of Soulstar Energy, a unique essence that is renowned for its ability to enhance a person's cultivation in various aspects, elevating their prowess to new heights instantly after being absorbed.

Moreover, the Soulstar Energy imbued within the crystal possesses purifying properties, cleansing a Soul Master's body and spirit of impurities and negative influences. This purification process not only strengthens their abilities but also enhances their overall well-being, fostering clarity of mind and inner peace.

A Soul Master may also experience profound transformations and spiritual insights after absorbing Soulstar Energy.

Unfortunately, not everyone can absorb Soulstar Energy. Only a few chosen ones are capable of sensing and absorbing this energy. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure, the person capable of sensing the Soulstar Energy is destined to become a powerful Soul Master, standing on top of the world pyramid. ╣

So that's how it is!

Emrys took a deep breath, stowed away the Simulation Scroll in his backpack, and prepared for another infiltration attempt. Meanwhile, he kept the information about the Soulstar Crystal at the forefront of his mind. If possible, he now aimed to acquire as many of these crystals as he could. After all, just a small fragment of this crystal had been enough to propel him from the Elementary Stage to the Intermediate Stage of a Bronze Soul Master. Moreover, Soulstar Energy typically appears alongside the activation of the Lion Falls every three years. A large portion of the fragment's energy had likely gone to waste over the years since no one had been able to sense it.