The sliding door made a sound as it opened, showing that although the architecture looked good the work was still rushed, though no one could be blamed when so many people needed homes built for them. Sliding it back shut as he exited, Avrin glanced around the area. It seemed more like a compound estate with several important looking people making their way around. Avrin began to walk further and further away in a careful manner, and just as he expected Izanami began to follow him, so well that if he didn’t use his Divine Sense it would be nearly impossible for him to discover her.

He glanced around, enjoying the sights of people working together to survive. That was until he was in a closed off alley. He finally turned to glance at her. “I don’t like being followed. How long are you going to hide for?” Izanami appeared. She glanced at Avrin cautiously, as if he were someone dangerous.

“There has not been one person, Spectral or not, that I can’t detect....but you...its as if there is a missing part of existence where you stand. Who are you!?” she materialized two dark matter daggers as she gave Avrin a glare.

“A friend of your grandfather’s. Why are you raising weapons against me? Isn’t that enough?” Avrin spoke in a playful manner as he raised his hands up as if to urge her to calm down. “My grandfather doesn’t make friends. And these days, there are many that would wish to take advantage of this situation. I said, who are-”

Avrin smiled as his Divine Sense surged. In a swift moment, he Divine Stepped both him and Izanami several dozens of kilometers away. When they reappeared, Izanami was stunned. She carefully glanced around. “It’s been a very long time since I was last here... Ah, those dragons haven’t touched it yet. Well, most of it.”

Avrin’s voice was calm. He hadn’t taken her far from the White Dragon clan’s former home in the southern continent, the area where she wouldn't leave him alone.

“This place...?” she lowered her hands but still held the weapons. She looked around carefully, of course, she had memories of it. These memories were not only about the training that she had undergone, but also about someone she had considered prey, who she ended up falling for. She turned to look at Avrin with a complex expression filled with uncertainty.

“I’m sorry Izanami. I’ve done a lot of bad for everyone.” his human form began to dissipate, his original appearance revealing itself. “I didn’t even know that you, Ayame and Syrana spent years looking for me. And in the end, I made you all suffer. But as I promised those who I have wronged on this planet, I will definitely be sure to return it to its former glory.”

Avrin wanted to let her know that his intentions weren’t bad and that he was really here to help. He glanced at Izanami whose eyes were wide open. He saw her body tremble as if she had seen a ghost. “I....don’t know why...why is it that it’s you who I’m feeling this way towards....after what’s happened, I should hate you.....and I do.....but I also....” she began to breathe heavy, stuttered breaths. She dropped the weapons and fell to her knees. She felt like curling up into a ball.

Avrin was speechless. He rushed over and knelt beside her. “Are you ok?” he spoke to her. “Am I ok? You damn bastard, do I look ok!?!” she glanced up at him, as tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt anger and relief. “All those years, and now you suddenly show up?!!“ she grabbed him by the collar as she stood up and frowned.

“I had a lot of things I needed to take care of...I didn’t know that you three were looking for me!” Avrin felt some injustice, he was really oblivious to it all. “Blundering idiot....you’re so clueless. Not just one, but the hearts of three women were crushed because of you.” she curled her left hand into a fist and punched towards Avrin with all her might. The punch was intense and it caused the air to tremble. Avrin took it with no intention of dodging. It collided with his right cheek and caused him to skid back. He felt his cheek tingle slightly, but it didn’t hurt him at all.

“I have a lot on my mind, and romance is not a priority I need to focus on. Please understand that I have people I need to protect, things I need to do.” Avrin sighed in frustration as he looked at Izanami, who glared back at him.

“I’m one of your people now, don’t I deserve that treatment as well...” she walked over to him with fists still clenched. She moved her hands to grab his collar again and looked in his eyes. “I became like this to get closer to you. Are you telling me that even now I won’t receive the affection I deserve?!”

The hate and anger in her eyes subsided somewhat, replaced with confusion and insecurity. Looking at her, Avrin realized that in truth Izanami was someone who simply needed someone to love her for who she was and not because of how she looked.

It made his heart feel the same as when he encountered Syrana, he moved his hands down and slipped it around to her back as he hugged her closely to him, cradling her head against his chest. “Our people live for a very, very long time. Please just be patient with me. For while I do owe you this, it’s all quite new to me. Would you be interested in coming with me? I believe this way we can at least properly grow closer and you can also come to know those who I somewhat consider family.”

Izanami’s eyes slowly shut as she eased up. Hearing Avrin’s words were relieving for her. She knew that his words were spoken carefully; Assuring her that they could still be with each other, however, he needed to handle matters first, and he even offered to have her go with him to help him, showing that he did want to reconcile the situation. With her heart beating quicker but her mind relaxing she began to relax. “Go with you? Hmph, I wouldn’t mind considering it on the condition that I receive a kiss as payment. I believe I deserve that.”

Avrin's brows narrowed slightly. “Don’t push your luck...one step at a time.“ he gave her a cautious yet light look in response to her cheeky glance. Avrin had decided to not visit who he intended to that day, feeling that he owed it to Izanami to spend time with her.

He spent several hours with her, discussing things such as what he had missed out on and her journey with the other two. Avrin explained several things to her, including the reason why he needed to convert Seleria. He left out the fact that he was a Fragment possessor with the dark matter heart.

He made sure his intention was known, that if he didn’t go forward with his plan Orphelium would have destroyed the planet. He also explained his meetings with the other gods. Izanami was an incredibly good listener and often recounted several things to him. He understood that her ability in obtaining information was very remarkable.

Knowingly, they had spent several hours, or to put it fairly, Izanami had bombarded Avrin with questions that required a lot of time to answer. He had offered her a Sphere of Knowledge but she refused. Avrin knew this was because she wanted to spend time with him. It left him feeling a little strange, not in a bad or good way. He knew a future hurdle would be women and for someone like him he had no experience in relationships at all. It left him a little nervous.

“Why did you do this to the planet? Everyone sees Spectrals as monsters and devil worshippers. I don't blame them, as our kind in the north have even taken slaves.” Izanami asked, her arms folded and leaning against a tree that resembled a great oak.

“I can tell you this was not my intention. Had I been here, none of this would have happened. I have already given the culprits to the chain of command in the south and I also have settled matters for supplies so no one here starves.”

Izanami frowned a little as she listened and then spoke. “You think this little amount will do? Are you not some great powerful god or something equal? Why can’t you do more, you owe it to these people, our entire race does. This planet was snatched from their hands.”

Avrin’s expression twisted for a slight moment. He had the thought, but he wasn’t sure if they would accept a lot more or not. “As I told your grandfather, I will be doing what I can to supply Lucent crystals for those who use mana, but if you want more than tell me what it is you want and if it is within my ability I will do it.”

Izanami nodded as she began to think for a few moments. “Although I want to go to the north with you, I can’t abandon the people here or my family until I am satisfied with their situation.”

Avrin, who was leaning against a moss covered boulder embedded in the ground, suddenly stood up and gave a slight sigh. “There is no rush. I should get going. I still have something I need to do.”

Looking at Avrin, Izanami shuddered somewhat. She spent a few years searching and wondering about him and yet here he was. There was much more she wanted to say and do, but she held herself back. “When will you return?” her voice carried a tone of worry.

Avrin didn’t feel there was any need to worry, as he had heard that change in her voice. “It won’t be like before, I can assure you that. I won’t make you wait another year before I see you, I’ll return tomorrow. For now, I’ll send you off.”

Izanami looked at Avrin quietly and forced a smile. Even though they had spent several hours together, she didn’t feel like she had had much of an impact on him; judging their current relationship to be one of acquaintances or friends. “Your word has been given, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Hmm, what do they call you again? Oh yes. Farewell, Lord Monarch.” she gave another cheeky glance as she spoke in a playful manner.

Avrin’s face paled a little as she was somewhat of a troublemaker. He used his ability to Divine Step her back to the city and was now left standing in that open area that was recovering from the dragons’ attacks.

Avrin suddenly shut his eyes and looked at his inner workings carefully. He looked at each particle that contained that small sliver of dimensional warping that had almost been his end. Each particle that made his body was constantly being fed and strengthened with dark matter. His C.Particles had reached 5% completion while his normal particles were at 2%. That being said, the rate was astonishing considering the fact that it had only been a few days and he didn’t dedicate any time to improve.

“Matters are taken care of, for now, I don’t want to give a stupid substitute. What I will give them is their planet back as it was.” speaking to himself, Avrin suddenly vanished before reappearing several thousand kilometers away. He was standing on space that distorted under his boots. He looked down towards the remnants of a fortress that had been destroyed by a dragon during Orochi’s uprising.

“There it is” he spoke as he pointed his finger towards the ground. The ground began to shake as a small sinkhole formed, and a massive twenty meter long and ten-meter wide cluster of the strange dark matter crystal emerged.

Glancing at it carefully, Avrin said, “This should be big enough to have an effect on my improvement. I may also find out what is so mysterious about it too.”

Avrin made his way down to the surface and then sat cross-legged willing the crystal to move towards him. The moment it neared him it began to shake, and then it turned into an ash-like mist that flooded down and began to orbit around Avrin.

Shutting his eyes Avrin willed the mist to him and rushed into his body. Avrin felt his body quiver for a moment as his consciousness was within his inner workings.

He glanced at the particles, looking around carefully. Seconds turned to minutes and his expression was one of delight. “Incredible...this energy really is amazing. The rate of improvement...astonishing. I can see why Erebus and the others valued this so much. The effects of such small crystals won’t do anything for me but this large one...it’s enough to show results.”

Avrin had gone to see Shimaru in the morning and had spent the early afternoon with Izanami, the remainder of the day was him improving himself. Around Seleria sinkholes would sometimes appear. Caves would collapse and minor caves would form, this was the result of Avrin Divine Stepping the largest of dark matter crystals to him.

With each one absorbed he felt incredible and reinvigorated. His particles had significantly risen in power. His normal particles had reached 10% in Type 13 and his C.Particles 20% Type 13. This massive jump in less than an afternoon was crazy to him.

“Huh? There should be more...I’ve already used up the largest ones? I need more...there has to be mo-” it was then that Avrin came to a realization. He quickly broke out of his inner workings and opened the eyes of his physical body. He was currently in a cold sweat, shaking as he glanced around. His head was hurting yet he felt incredibly refreshed.

“I knew it was too good to be true!!... disgusting!!” he suddenly shut his eyes again before his hands extended in front of him. A surge of Nebula Mist shot outward and formed into a ball. The source of this mist had come from his particles and with each strand and sliver taken from them, their would decrease the % of completion. This lasted for fifteen seconds, and although Avrin was weaker he had no regrets, but a fascinated and somewhat worried look.

In front of him was a 1x1 meter spherical mass of energy that resembled dark matter and Nebula Mist but was odd. It emitted an ominous aura, yet looking at it made one feel mesmerized as if they had to have it.

“My race will not consume such things...it's no better than a drug. It’s definitely dangerous, but it will have its uses.” Avrin squeezed his hand into a fist, causing the mass of energy that tried to resist, to condense into a small dark core that emitted a purple and black light that floated towards Avrin’s right hand.

“It was a good idea to absorb the larger ones. I knew they felt somewhat strange, these things have the same feeling as the things Mallik was chasing. The relation between this and them still eludes me, but I know enough to make sure no Spectral consumes them.”

Avrin’s eyes narrowed before he Divine Stepped back to the Spectral city to handle the situation with this. Although he felt a little regretful about his progress, he knew his decision to try it out in large quantities was right, as it allowed him to know several things that would keep his race out of trouble.

Meanwhile, outside of the Spectral domain and within Shaded Moon, Calomia and Ilisia were outside tending to a small garden that they both wanted to focus on.

“Child, stop whimpering and go bring me those seeds. I’ve been looking forward to this all week, don’t make this an issue!” Calomia was hunched over a small patch of tilled dirt, frowning as she looked at Ilisia who was pouting while pacing back and forth.

“Grandma, I miss Avrin, he made things really fun! I want to sell stuff again. I’m sick of gardening, urgh!!” just by her words alone one could tell she was bored out of her mind and not enjoying the quiet life. Calomia, on the other hand, had a relaxed look. “You silly thing. He hasn’t even been gone three days and you’ve already gone out of your mind.“

Ilisia gave a sour look as she listened to Calomia. She crossed her arms and took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m not out of my mind Grandma!” Calomia looked up at Ilisia with shock. “You little...hehe you want to speak back, good!! See if I don’t tell Avrin that he should not spoil you after this!”

The two seemed to be having an easy time with no problems or issues in regards to their next meal or if they needed to be afraid of wild beasts as well as their home being tidy and secure.

Within the Artificer Consortium branch, the high members were kneeling. This included Meutin, Malvin and Galum at the front. The three of them, like the rest, were shaking with fear and sweating bullets. In front of them was a figure who wore a robe befitting a wizard, and a wizard’s hat as well. The strange thing about this individual was that his attire was reflecting light to a degree. His face was covered by a faceplate in the shape of an open tome with four words, two on each page “”Gravanus Tiorenith Munun Gagath“”

The most astonishing thing about this man was the fact that although hiding his mana, he gave off a choking atmosphere. He sat casually with his left hand tapping at the arm of Meutin’s chair while his other hand contained a letter that he was reading through.

“G...Grand Forerunner, may this lowly existence inquire as to what brings your presence here...?” Meutin managed to speak. He kept his head down, afraid to look at the man as if he were a holy emperor of heaven. In fact his face was sweating immensely, showing how afraid he was of this person.

“What brings me here? Are you a dimwit? Did you not send a letter of aid to headquarters to help with your situation?” the man behind the book mask threw the letter towards Meutin. This letter contained his plea for help after explaining the situation.

“I.....this....indeed...this lowly existence did....I would have never thought a Grand Forerunner would be sent...we all hold deep respect towards you...and the others...” Meutin continued to speak in reply as he trembled. If one was quiet enough, they would be able to hear his heart beating.

“True, this situation isn't necessarily important enough for me to handle, but things have been quite peaceful and I have had nothing to do but craft Sigil weapons for a while. I wanted to see what the lower lands have to offer, but what really caught my attention is this Shaded Moon business that sells interesting products.”

As he spoke the man raised a dark matter Sigil and looked at it with fascination. “Trigger dagger.” he spoke, to which the item responded and immediately changed into a dagger. “Amazing...such nice tinkering,” in his mind, he had more thoughts. “-If I am able to incorporate such techniques with my own, I may receive a nice bonus and some resources to allow me to advance in strength. These little lower worms have no idea what they stumbled upon. It’s a good thing I found this letter before Arch Thero’lizer-”

Meutin listened to the man praise Avrin’s weapons. He held a deep hatred for Avrin and couldn’t stand anyone praising it, but never once did the thought of doubt appear in his mind in front of this man who was a Grand Forerunner of the consortium.

“O..of course the Forerunner has keener eyes than any of us. If you say this item is amazing than surely your talent is as matchless as the Four Heavens....” Malvin was the one to speak this. If he could manage to get in a Forerunner’s good books it would be really good news for him who would not even be able to speak to someone several ranks below a Forerunner let alone look at one.

“Well at the consortium we do not tolerate failure...killing you all would be no problem....” the robed man spoke casually as if it were no big deal, but his words made all those in front and kneeling quiver with fear. Despite this, no one dared to raise their voice in protest. "That being said, I’m in a good mood today. I’ll give you a few resources to help you all backup. Be thankful that the Highland Syndicate is here, otherwise, we would have no need to set up a branch here as competition.”

The man threw an enchanted sack towards Meutin. Meutin happily took it but dared not look at the Forerunner. When he opened the sack and looked inside he could see an incredible amount of ingredients, all of which, although low level, were enough to fill up four of the vaults below.

“Shaded Moon, huh...” the robed man suddenly stood up. The moment he did, the air in the room began to grow colder and thicker. This was not just an issue for this room, the entirety of Roth village was covered by an invisible aura that made it seem as if winter had arrived. This aura began to spread more and more until in a near instant it was retracted back into the man.

“Do not mess up again. And as for Shaded Moon, leave that to me.” the man’s body suddenly emitted a white light before runes and engravings emitting a green light engulfed him and he suddenly vanished.

When he left, the others eased up only after a few dozen seconds. Meutin clutched the high quality enchanted sack to his chest as a dark snicker appeared on his face. “Shaded Moon...hahahaha.....let’s see you stand up to a god!”

From the roof of the consortium branch, a green blur of light shot up like a shooting star before moving at an incredible speed. It was only after a couple of minutes had passed that this light reached above an area. This area was of course where Shaded Moon was located.

“Grandma look, what’s that!!” Ilisia, who was carrying a bucket of water, pointed up towards the green light. “Huh?...” Calomia stopped what she was doing, which was planting some vegetable seeds. When she looked up at the light her eyes focused, a deep sense of terror and dread filled her eyes.

“Ilisia, run!!” Calomia spoke. And at that moment, the light shot down towards the ground. The moment it collided with the earth a ripple was sent out which made the land shake. Every living animal or bird that felt this ripple suddenly felt their body quiver and within moments they all fell to the ground unconscious. Even the hidden guards of the mercenary group were affected.

Within a five kilometer radius, every living thing was knocked out with no external or internal injuries. Ilisia and Calomia collapsed near each other, the bucket of water and the bag of seeds spilling onto the ground. The source of the crash, no crater or debris or even a dirt cloud was seen, there was simply the round orbed head of a staff which was held by the man with the book face plate. He suddenly raised his head and glanced around. “Run?...how are you going to flee from a deity...disgusting mortals...”