"You- You... Hooii..." Tyler Anas sighed. Looked like he had given up.

Tyler Anas held up a hand. A silver ring on his finger started to brighten up.

A grain-sized particle popped out. In a blink, that particle expanded into a large metal block.

Tyler Anas then popped out a pair of scaly gloves.

Snap.

Tyler Anas shoved his hands into the gloves. Those gloves expanded like latex gloves.

Taking in a deep breath, this family head's gaze became focussed and determined.

The dude carefully grabbed onto the big black sword. Bring this sword above the metal block, Tyler slowly stabbed downwards.

Bringing out a ripple, that sword gradually submerged into the block. It's as if that block was a liquid or something.

With shivering hands and a sweating forehead, Tyler Atlas continued this process.

A moment later, that black sword finally became fully-emerged.

Tyler sighed in relief. Letting out a smile, squinting his eyes, this guy looked like he'd just arrived heaven.

"Good. That was easier than expected." Tyler looked around with a big smile. Grabbing onto the metal block, this guy put it into the corner of this room.

"Very well." Tyler's walking became more lively. "Now, I will explain what we are dealing with. Void-"

Sensing something, Tyler Anas looked out the window.

Jeff looked in that direction as well. He sensed a ripple in space. Yep. This was a sub-ability Jeff had gained from his staff.

Sensing an energy signature, Jeff turned back to the round table. This energy signature was not even stealthy. Everyone here noticed.

Black mist quickly rose from the table, converging into somewhat a human figure. The dude still looked like a cluster of black mist though.

His energy reading... C-rank? B-rank? Maybe E-rank? Jeff couldn't be certain. Too weak to tell the difference.

"Greetings, people of my old species." The dude looked around.

Jeff raised his brows. "Fan of Bloodline Ninjas huh."

"Yeah man." The mist dude pointed at Jeff. "Thank you. Someone here gets my tribute."

"Anyways, I have a message for you people."

"Some of you may have noticed already, but it's too late for you!"

"Our rituals have already began!"

"In an instance, our leaders will gain power beyond SSS-rank! They will become living deities on Earth!"

"Join us now! For the void gives generously! Immortality! Overwhelming strength! Limitless riches! True freedom! No more living in fear! No more sickness! Anything you wish for, you can get it from the void!"

"You know the void is the future! Anyone in the path of destiny will be crashed!"

"We want nothing from you! Join us, gain strength, keep your authorities!"

Unfortunately, nobody in this room looked interested.

"You only say what we'll receive." Tyler scoffed. "But never once, did you mention what the cost is."

"Sounds like a scam to me." Jeff nodded in agreement.

The others in this room looked at this messenger in disdain.

"To receive anything from the void, you have to be either oblivious, stupid, or a plain maniac." Tyler Anas snickered. "The void gives you anything you want with a low cost. Few man can resist their greed, and stop before it's too late. At one point, you will gain unrivaled powers. Men may not be able to stop you. But this world can do just that."

"After you die, the void takes back everything it gave to you, and it owns you." Tyler explained to the fellas in this room. "You'll lose your chance of reincarnation, and remain the void's tool for eternity."

"That's the real cost."

"An immortal tool though. With endless possibility and growth ahead of us. It's anyone's game to become a deity. Just might take a long time." The messenger shrugged.

"Enough! He's just distracting us. He's buying time for their rituals." Tyler's gaze turned cold. "We need to act quickly."

"Alright. Cool. War it is." The mist messenger carelessly shrugged. "But I am invincible and unkillable in this world. So don't bother. Adios."

The mist messenger started to sink into the table.

An invisible ray shot out of Telepathy's forehead.

With ease, that attacked landed into the mist dude.

"Impossible... I am-" The void messenger quickly disintegrated into thin air.

Jeff expected a void rift to open up. But there wasn't one.

"They have already started. If they succeed, they could potentially gain five ancestral tiers."

Hearing this, Jeff squinted. 'Five sage-tiers at once huh...'

'With my stacked abilities, and my radiant-tier staff, I should be able to win easily.'

'But only if these five-sage tiers have nothing though... No abilities. No equipments. No special buffs.'

'Yeah... I'm not interested in taking risks. Not today.'

"There is no way they can hide disturbances of this level." Tyler Anas placed a plate-like device onto the table.

Five arrow-shaped holograms popped out. After spinning around a little, they pointed into five different directions.

"We need to act fast. Five locations. Each SS-ranks here can take care of one, yes?"

"I think I'll stay behind." Magni subtly looked at Atlas. "As reserve reinforcement."

Some questioning gazes were thrown at Atlas and Magni.

"In this case, I'll take care of one myself." Tyler Anas quickly continued.

"Jeff, by handing over the Void Key, you have proven yourself to be trustworthy. You can take care of one spot."

"The five of us will destroy their ritual altars as quickly as possible. Members of the Anas family will be in your aid. We'll help you locate the rituals. We will help you close the void rifts."

"The S-ranks and A-ranks can follow behind. They are needed for eliminating the servants of the void."

"Any questions? Good. We are short on time, let's move out." Receiving some nods, Tyler Anas headed out the door.

"Wait. Your block." Jeff pointed at the metal block at the corner.

"I cannot place it into my ring now. I'll have to leave it here. This building is secure right?" Tyler Anas looked at Jeff.

"Tss... Yeah..." Jeff took a glance at Atlas. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The three SS-rank guests looked at Jeff with a questioning gaze. Then, they turned the questioning gaze to Atlas.

Something was fishy here.

"I know you want to stay vigilant." Tyler Anas turned his gaze to Atlas. "But there is no void scent on this man. He is trustworthy."

Liam cleared his throat. "There is a lot of civilians in the sanctuary. That's our main concern."

"We don't want to bring the fight to here. It could lead to severe collateral casualties. Maybe you can hide the block at your place? You guys are the professionals right?"

"Very well. This is no critical matter. You will need 3 SS-ranks to open the safe by force."

"Once the Void Key is confined, we can be certain that it's a goner. Now. We have little time to waste. Let's move out."

...

...

[Alice's House of Wonders]

"Hi. You are looking for me?" Alice asked with a confused look.

Karline Anas looked at Alice with an examining gaze.

Just a cute neighborhood girl. Nothing extraordinary.

"Hmm." Wearing a smirk, Karline squinted down at Alice.

Pa!

Karline tried to slap Alice's face. However, in an instance, a blue barrier covered Alice.

Alice widened her eyes at Karline in surprise.

Why?

[ Hostile Action Detected ]

A hand made out of blue glowing energy extended out of Alice's bracelet.

Pa!

A firm slap landed onto Karline's face.

With her head turned to her shoulder, Karline widened her eyes in sheer disbelief, confusion, and a quickly rising rage.

"You-" Karline turned to Alice with a pointing finger.

[ Hostile Threat Detected ]

Pa!

Karline's head turned to her other shoulder. Karline stood still and widened her eyes.

"Hiiiii-Aaarrrgghhh." Feeling the burning sensation on her cheeks, Karline was about to lose it. "You!"

[ Removing Hostile Threat ]

The front door snapped open. Karline flew out the door.

"Hey. Alice?" Jeff's voice sounded out Alice's bracelet.

"Yes Jeff?"

"You alright?"

"Yeah... I'm fine... This bracelet..." With a glowing smile, Alice looked at the bracelet on her wrist. She seemed to be emerged in satisfaction.

"Uh. We can talk about it later. I'll need you for a favor. Can you grab my mana stones from the storage."

Hearing this message, Alice widened her eyes. This girl's breathing became short. She was starting to panic.

Taking in a deep breath, Alice turned to Cindy the waitress. "We are shutting down for the day. Don't worry, you are still getting paid."

Leaving that, Alice rushed out the back door.