'The Catastrophe?'

Arthur didn't expect to hear about it so soon. He read and heard about it on Astria, the four Divine Beasts which attacked the small world and caused a lot of destruction but not enough to push all the races into extinction.

Zodiak mentioned that every world was attacked, but the power of the four Divine Beasts in every Realm varied. It depends on who's residing in that world, it's like an automatically prepared system that fixes the power of the invaders to match the overall power of the world.

For example, the Underworld, which could barely be considered a Medium-Realm is called a High-Realm because the behemoth is living there, and its strength is enough to raise the rank of the Realm. Moreover, when the catastrophe fell upon it, the strength of the Divine Beasts was unimaginable, far stronger than what attacked normal Medium-Realms.

It isn't a confirmed speculation, but Zodiak guessed that the existence of one strong being in a small world could potentially raise the power of the beasts.

So, for example, if a Sovereign is residing on Astria when it occurs, the power of the Divine Beasts that attack it will be drastically increased to match the Sovereign, if not stronger.

When he thought of this, Arthur started worrying. Astria has no strong individuals, however, it has something unique, something that could cause its destruction.

It was none other than the young World Tree that Zodiak hid there. He doesn't know how powerful it is, but the Divine Beasts will surely not be easy to deal with, which made him feel a sense of urgency and uneasiness.

"When will it happen?"

"Many confirmed that'll happen in three months but… a man is sure that in two months, those beasts will start their invasion."

Arthur frowned and questioned again

"Two months? Why are you so sure?"

"A man can see the shadow of Death cloaking this land. It is even possible that this time will be different and the defending party will be the one losing."

The origin of the Divine Beasts has always been a mystery, they just arrived from nowhere and started destroying and killing everybody, the weak were not spared and strong who tried resisting ended up perishing in the end too.

There are many strong planets and Realms which were unscathed by this attack, however, that's only thanks to the union of the strong factions and the ancient and powerful individuals that participated in that fight.

The Divine Planet is a good example, the biggest planet in the Cloud Sea Universe and the most powerful in terms of factions. It remained undamaged by the attack, which only lasted a few hours before the Divine Beasts were either pushed off or killed.

Astria, on the other side, wasn't so lucky. One of the reasons the Forgotten continent wasn't remembered anymore is because of that event, the beasts focused on that continent specifically, it was even forcefully pushed away from the rest, rendering it absent from the history books of Astria and long forgotten by its inhabitants as only a few old beings have knowledge of it.

"Master, the strings of fate have changed, we must improvise."

Swain knew how his master thought, Astria is Lucy's original home and his too. Despite the fact that she had a tragic childhood there, she still held affection toward it as it's a place where she met Arthur.

He was also wasn't willing to let the Divine Beasts rampage there, his sect and friends were there.

The problem was, he doesn't know if they'll attack the four big lands or the forgotten continent, it'll be better if they focused on the latter, but that's just wishful thinking from his part.

"What are our chances against them?"

Arthur asked Swain, who seemed to be knowledgeable about these Divine Beasts.

"Hard to tell… a man reckons that we're, by far, weaker than them. It wouldn't even be a fight since they'll be really strong due to… you know what."

'World Tree *sigh*'

"I can ask some of the elders of my sect to help you."

Jian Si, who stopped inspecting Makaze and focused on their conversation, spoke after hearing that. In response, Arthur shook his head and retorted

"No need, having strangers come to my home is more dangerous."

Surprisingly, Swain didn't agree with Arthur this time.

"Master, a man thinks that we could use all the help we can get… they are no mere beasts, even a single one of them is disgustingly strong, much less the four together."

"No, we'll deal with it ourselves."

Arthur was still against getting external help. Astria is a cast out world and it has many mysteries. If they discover the World Tree and its true origin, it would really be a disaster to the whole world and at that time, even he, won't be able to stop all the strong individuals who will raid his home, after all, he's but one person.

"But Master…"

"Enough!"

Arthur shouted at Swain, making him stop insisting and bow politely. The red-haired youth closed his eyes and remained standing next to Arthur, like an obedient servant.

He looked at Jian Si and ordered

"You, study those notes in meantimes and go back to your sect."

He retrieved a dozen or so notes and books which have useful things about swordsmanship which could help her breakthrough to the God Realm.

Jian Si showed an unwilling expression as if she wasn't pleased with his decision. She didn't think much of the catastrophe as the Green-Leaf world is the strongest Medium-Realm in all the Universe and it's incredibly big so there is very little chance that her sect will suffer, it'll only send a few elders to aid those in need.

Before she could think of something to say to make him change his mind, Arthur took out two paintings he drew before coming to this world, he showed them to Jian Si and added:

"These are two people I'm looking out. You're going to help me find them, the boy is your senior brother, he's my first student."

Syth wasn't an official student of Arthur as he only trained him a few times, however, he considered that kid a student of his, he was diligent and hard-working, what's more, he was talented in wielding swords.

As for his sister, although they had some grudges at first, she properly apologized to him and Lucy especially. She wasn't a bad person, she was a princess so she became a bit arrogant but after what happened with Arthur, she became quite docile and obedient.

These two siblings were the only people he needs to look for, they disappeared when the Emperor's castle was raided by Bucama's underlings. They were missing ever since and apparently, they weren't abducted by the factions in this wasteland else they would have been found by Gutcha, who has a wide network across all this area yet he found no information about them, not even a little clue.

"Hmpf! I only respect those stronger than myself!"

Cold Sword became even more irritated when she discovered that she had a senior brother. She wasn't the person to bow to those weaker than her.

"It's true that he's weaker than you, much weaker, in fact. Nonetheless, he came before you and he's considered your Senior. If you want to remain as my student, you better get rid of that high and mighty attitude, I hate it."

Jian Si gritted her teeth and didn't retort, mainly because she'll burst out in anger if she started talking.

"Did anything happen while I was asleep?"

"Except the signs of the incoming doom, nothing too important. Though, Kang Amidel wishes to talk to you."

Arthur nodded and prepared to leave when Jian Si couldn't hold it any longer, she grabbed his shoulder and said

"Wait! You didn't even show me your sword style. You promised me, right?"

Arthur shrugged her hands off and said in a cold tone

"Firstly, don't ever touch me again. Secondly, I promised to show you but I didn't specify when, so you'll have to wait. I have much more important matters to take care of."

The girl's face flushed red, he showed a disgusted expression when she touched him which angered her. It's as if he was touched by some filth and not a prodigious person like her, it was really a shameful matter.

She guessed that he must have a problem with all people, then again, he doesn't act like this with Kithel or Emily, but the truth she doesn't know is that Arthur doesn't want to touch or be touched by other women. It's not like Lucy, who literally can't touch men except for him, but he just finds it unpleasant and disgusting, moreover, he doesn't want to hurt Lucy, although she wasn't here right now.

She hates it when other women touch him so he promised to try and not touch them while she's absent and he'll uphold this promise the best he can.