The rest of the Great Transfer was completely normal. There were no more fights or anything and it seemed like Jeral’s people had backed off completely. Mash wondered if Daniel had managed to change their minds. If he did the bigger question was how. Jeral had seemed desperate for immortality and the look in his eyes was not one of someone who was likely to bend or break. Mash just hoped that nothing bad had happened to Daniel, but he wasn’t sure. The longer they had gone without any interruptions the greater the fear became. It had wormed into his thoughts. He shared it with the others, but they expected the worst punishment Daniel could receive would be imprisonment.

That didn’t change the group's decision in the slightest. As soon as the last of the people got to his world, he closed the portal and started meditating immediately. Luke picked him up and started heading towards the entrance to Daniel’s world. There were plenty of portals that would lead them there, but they wanted to be as close to Virtuous Sun Sect as possible. Other than Daniel, he didn’t really know anyone else in his world.

The travel was quick, even if he wasn’t the one flying. Luke was still plenty fast with his own skills. It did give Mash enough time to recover his energy, although he didn’t really want to start any fights. His plan was to just tell Jeral of the situation and then leave. Honestly, Mash didn’t even owe them that much, but he didn’t want Daniel to suffer needlessly. Once they found out that there was nothing left on this side then they would have no reason to detain Daniel. That or he could break him out if he wanted. Mash wouldn’t mind taking Daniel to his world or actual home too. He felt somewhat responsible for putting Daniel in his current situation and wanted to do what he could.

As the portal came into sight, they slowed their approach. The trees around the portal were destroyed, and Mash knew that there was probably a fight here at some point. The crater was slightly bigger now too. They didn’t need to slow their arrival like that but rushing through would make them seem hostile. It was a better idea to go slowly and just react to an attack. It would hopefully give them the opportunity to at least try and diffuse the situation without violence. Or any displays of grand power. Mash didn’t want to do that again. He didn’t need more people to fear him irrationally. Well, he guessed it was pretty rational considering what he would seem like to them. Mash wasn’t a dragon, but he imagined that he had to be getting there. He wasn’t human anymore, and he would bet that his new race was pretty special.

Luke stopped before the portal, unceremoniously depositing Mash on his feet. He couldn’t help but think of when he had been carrying Jill. How she had used him as a spring to jump from. That was a long time ago. Wait, it was only a couple of months ago, wasn’t it? It felt like it was something from his distant past. He shook his head slowly, as he made to head into the portal. Jill was the first to enter, and Mash followed in a close second along with Red. Luke had the rear so that he could heal any damage that could happen from a trap or ambush. The world shifted around him. The familiar crater filled his domain, as he appeared on the other side.

His vision came quickly, and he was somewhat disappointed to see nothing. That thought was a little troubling. He craved a good fight and had been unable to do anything for the last one. Even if the fight would be pointless, he was still hoping for a scrap. All he wanted to do was experience new powers and abilities but had been unable to leave his job for even a moment. After receiving a path, he had an idea of how complex they could be. He was curious to see what skills other people would have. Mash knew where the sect was, but they decided to travel on foot this time. Flying into the city would be a mistake. They had no idea what to expect from the sect, but they didn’t want to provoke them more.

The group walked quickly. Well, some jogged and others ran. Mash was happy to see that he was one of the faster in the group. His agility wasn’t the highest, but his body was more suited to the high stats. Unlike Jill who was still adjusting, Mash’s body did most of the work. At the moment, he got to enjoy being the fastest among them. They didn’t make it an official race, but all four of them were moving quickly. A normal race wouldn’t be fair, so Jill and Mash took some handicaps. Mash and Jill were forced to carry some weights, which ultimately benefited him more than Jill.

It still wasn’t a very close race. Mash was ahead though not by much. Jill followed close behind, though she was obviously struggling more with the weight. Red and Luke were slowly catching up, but it would be too late for them to have a genuine shot. The race was just to the end of the forest, and Mash sped up when he saw an opening in the tree line. The exit was in sight, and this time he wouldn’t let himself get tripped up by anything. Unsurprisingly, Mash came in first, with Jill in second, and Luke and Red at the end.

“That means you cook!”

Jill spoke while bent over and taking a few big breathes. She must have really struggled with the additional weight, and Mash realized it might have to do with her constitution. Her advancements had gradually made her body lighter, and he wouldn’t be surprised to find out that it made it harder to lift heavy items.

The words themselves caused Mash to start chuckling. They were familiar. He could remember a time when he was saddled with a similar punishment. He remembered making that sweet stew and getting many questions about his addiction to sugar. Comparing that to what he ate lately was a little disturbing. If he just considered all of the raw meat, then it was already fairly disgusting. It got worse when he thought about the creatures, he had eaten alive. He knew that there had been several times where he ate a creature while it was still alive, albeit that was usually done through his wooden imitations.

The sect was mostly unchanged, though Mash did feel like it was quieter. Not many signs of movement could be seen nor heard. He did notice the occasional passerby, but they didn’t feel like Daniel or Jeral. They felt more normal as if they didn’t have a path. As they got closer to the sect, they noticed fewer people wandering about. Already it had seemed like the surrounding city had been gutted, but it was beginning to feel more ominous the closer he got. Once they were near the gate into the sect, Red spoke, hammering in the ominous feeling that was sneaking into his thoughts.

“I feel a lot of blood and death.”

Red’s words caused his fists to tighten. His earlier expectation that Daniel would be fine had broken. Mash feared for the life of his friend and started moving a bit faster. The smell of blood hit him as soon as he stepped past the gates. It was like they had been holding it back this whole time. Now it filled the air with its usual scent. The quiet within the sect was also worrisome. Mash wasn’t the first to start flying, but he was the fastest. He didn’t hold back, choosing his wyvern wings for their speed. Overtaking his friends, he darted toward the tower at the top of the mountain. Jeral would probably be there. If not, his corpse would be.

The mountain blurred as they reached the apex in a few seconds. Mash didn’t hesitate to climb over the lip of the tower and land where he expected to see Jeral. Instantly, Mash noticed the difference with Jeral. Something about his very presence had changed. His domain let him know that Jeral was a lot stronger now. He had probably advanced at least one time. The others arrived in time to hear him.

“What did you do?”

Mash was shouting, but he didn’t bother restraining himself. The question was rather pointless too. The truth was obvious. Jeral had killed a lot of people for this. Mash couldn’t help but take the blame. It was Mash’s fault. He had prevented Jeral from seeking power in the other world, but he had done it too late. Jeral had gained the taste for power and was close to achieving his goals. Mash knew how easy it was to ignore other concerns when you were close to something. He had done similar things to gain his own power. The obvious things he had pushed aside to focus on his own desires. Whether they were selfish or not, he had been the same as Jeral. That connection only fueled the rage.

Jeral didn’t say anything but turned to acknowledge Mash’s presence. The robes Jeral was wearing had changed. They were made of a silver and gold cloth and wrapped around him tightly. They framed his body well and made him look bigger than he actually was.

“So, you have finished with the other world. Congratulations. I had found that those who explored that world had come back with more than enough power for my own advancement.”

Mash didn’t really want a response from Jeral, and the easy tone he was using felt like he was jamming nails in Mash’s ears. Why did he even bother explaining? It felt entirely too pointless, and it wouldn’t change anything. Mash would need to fight Jeral and probably kill him too. He could tell from how the others had tensed up that they were thinking the same thing. Although mash had something else, he wanted to ask.

“What about Daniel?”

Mash needed to hear the answer. He felt conflicted and guilty. Already suspecting the worst, he realized he hoped for it too. If Daniel was alive and all of his friends were dead that wouldn’t be much better. Honestly, Mash didn’t know what he would prefer in that situation. Whether to die along with all his friends or be the one to live through it all. Each situation was awful. Jeral’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. His response came in a cold and unforgiving tone. The hate was obvious despite the relative lightness of his words.

“He is a traitor and has been dealt with. This conversation grows boring.”

Mash’s eyebrow twitched when Jeral said “dealt with.” The implication bothered him more than he could accept. He didn’t know why, but Mash knew that Daniel was a good person. Learning that he had been killed because of what Mash had done was grating. Jeral rose to his feet, but Mash didn’t give him the chance and jumped at him. Something unexpected happened, and Mash felt as if he stepped into another domain. It was identical to his own, but a lot smaller. That wasn’t the only thing Jeral revealed; his blood formed into a sleek blade which he jabbed at Mash’s throat.

Mash blocked with one of his hands and pushed through to strike Jeral. His robes hardened into metal and rose to block the fist. It bent as Mash’s hand became draconic, his muscles bulging from the form. Jeral slid across the tower’s top but stayed standing. Jill appeared beside him, striking toward his head. If her weapon made contact the fight would be over. Jeral did something surprising and teleport across the space to stand beside Luke. The blade of blood swinging to slice Luke across one of his arms. The blade couldn’t cut through Luke’s defenses, and he retaliated by swinging his arm in an arc. Jeral was caught off guard, but he teleported again. He only moved a few inches but managed to dodge the swing. Mash froze realizing what was happening with his domain.