Shin suddenly appeared a couple hundred kilometres away from the city of Jormun.

“Cough cough”

It was almost like he lost his strength, he coughed weakly and fell.

But, Shin knew that he was becoming stronger.

After all, he had just reaped hundreds of thousands of people’s lives and stole their strength.

“uwa…”

Shin groaned weakly, his whole body was changing in a rapid pace. His bones turned harder, his veins stronger, his blood thicker, his skin tougher, even his old scars were slowly fading away.

After a minute, Shin stood up slowly. His face was devoided of any emotion, he turned his head towards the south and a mixed feeling welled up within him. But, that vanished as his eyes displayed a firm will before he stepped slowly towards where he was staring at.

City of Jormun

In the empty city, only a few figures could be seen.

“Something’s wrong.”

Kali said straightforwardly, not wanting to spend time on this discussion.

“What do you think is wrong?”

With a nervous expression, Eline asked. She sensed the loneliness of Shin and her heart couldn’t calm down.

“He had mentioned this a few times today; ‘Time is limited’.”

Aria said with certainty and expressed her thoughts.

“I can’t figure out why and what for the time is limited for, but Shin must have figured it out and is in a rush.”

At this time, Anaj’s expression changed into shock.

Aria didn’t glance at Anaj, but towards Peutoa and asked her a question.

“You’re his Guardian, do you have a way to check where he is? You did mention something about you can enter deep within his soul, but is there a way to figure out his location with that?”

Peutoa nodded and was about to close her eyes before a voice sounded out.

“Anaj, tell us what you know…”

Kali spoke in a slightly cold voice, she was in a very bad mood the second Shin disappeared. She saw that Anaj’s expression changed when Aria mentioned Shin saying, ‘Time is limited’.

At this time, everyone stared at Anaj.

Anaj didn’t mind it, as he was thinking deeply about something.

“Mother told me a story when I was a child.”

He stopped for a while, before continuing again.

“I only thought it was a fantasy story…”

“Don’t waste time, tell us…!”

Kali commanded, her eyes turned golden.

But, Anaj didn’t care at all.

“There will come a time when darkness will fall upon the whole continent…”

Anaj spoke in a daze and his eyes turned white.

“The Dark army, Gods, Divine Beings, even stronger enemies will clash on the continent. Many civilians fell under their might, kingdoms fall one after the other.”

“Heroes appears, they try to save people. But, one after the other, they all ended up dead in the hands of the enemy.”

Anaj’s voice was monotone and no expression could be seen on his face.

“When all hope seemed to disappear, a child wandered the continent.”

“All alone, he wandered the plains without any expression, but a tinge of sadness and loneliness could be felt.”

“That child went from place to place, harvesting the lives of the enemies, not even bothering about the humans which was still alive. After killing the ones he deemed the ‘enemies’ he wandered to the next area.”

“The child’s strength became stronger and stronger, the enemies he killed became stronger and tougher. The Dark army collapsed under his feet, the gods split into two and even the Divine Beings fled if they met the child.”

“Throughout every time the child killed someone, his expression pained and he mumbled ‘Time is limited…’. He wandered and murdered everything in his front.”

“After what seemed a long time, the child killed everyone who he deemed as a ‘threat’. He slowly collapsed and murmured ‘I made it…’ blood was gushing from his mouth, eyes and nose. But, he had a smile on his face for once. ‘Sharia, Vivian, Isabella, where are you, let me meet you one more time…’ the child uttered his last words before his breathe stopped and died with his eyes open, wanting to watch the skies a little longer.”

Not knowing why, Kali, Aria and Eline shuddered with a heartache and tears could be seen running down their faces.

Azane’s expression solidified and she had no idea what to think. She of course knew that the ‘story’ Anaj was speaking should have been a prophecy his mother saw. She clenched her fists, not wanting to believe it.

I will not allow something like that to happen as long as I’m alive!

Peutoa didn’t show any expression, but her heart was pounding like crazy and her thoughts were in disorder.

Since she was young, she had always thought that no one could understand what she had went through. Therefore, she has been indifferent to everything, but that changed when she saw Shin. She could clearly sense the sadness and grief Shin had been through, she wanted to protect him, but it always feel like she is a step behind, not managing to catch up with him.

Master…

Laura could only absentmindedly listen to the story. She felt cold sweat running down her back, she nervously glanced towards Kali and Aria. Not knowing why, she slowly walked backwards, away from the group.

Not knowing what even happened, Anaj slowly calmed down and breathed softly. His eyes turned normal, not even knowing that he had been talking for a while, he could only feel his throat dry.

“Shin, my little Shin, why…”

Aria’s tears fell one after the other, not even bothering about wiping it away.

Eline couldn’t even let out a single sound, she could only choke up on her cries. Her whole being felt like being ripped into dozens of pieces, she wanted only to embrace Shin.

“DAMN IT!”

Kali roared out in frustration, her body slowly ascended and she stared towards the heavens and roared out.

“You bastards, who the hell do you think you are!?”

“I promise, I will rip every single one of you! I will not let any one of you survive.”

“I PROMISE!”

Kali tried her best to calm down, but no matter what, she felt an anger well up within her.

As Kali turned towards the rest, her expression changed once again.

“You traitor!”

Her aura gushed out like a volcano, she hurriedly glanced everywhere.

Not knowing why Kali was acting like that, everyone glanced around, finding out that Laura was missing.

“Humph!”

Kali descended, coldly staring at everyone.

“I will give you one chance, either leave now, I won’t attack you, or STAY here!”

Aria squinted her eyes and said slowly.

“Calm yourself down…”

“You want me to calm down?!”

Kali sneered and stared at Aria.

“I will calm down after I know that the ones we’re with are on our side, not a traitorous lapdog of the Gods…!”

Aria wanted to speak, but she swallowed it and didn’t say anything. She glanced slowly at Azane, Anaj, Eline and Peutoa.

Azane snorted and stared back at Aria and Kali.

“You think I will leave?”

She even stared at them with disdain.

“I will not care even if I die protecting him, my Lord. If you think that I might betray him, don’t you think I have also been having this thought running through my mind?”

Azane coldly gazed at Aria and Kali.

“Since the beginning, I have been trying to make countermeasures against the both of you. I will only believe my Lord, I won’t let him die because of myself not being prepared.”

“Humph!”

Both Kali and Aria took their gazes away from Azane. They didn’t mind hearing that Azane had been planning ways to kill them, because they had the same thoughts. Only with this, would they believe that the other party would protect Shin.

Before the glares went his way, Anaj said without thinking twice.

“I’m not like you guys, I don’t love that kid, nor do I care much about him.”

Not waiting much, Anaj continued, that was because he knew if he waited too long, he would get ripped into pieces.

“But, he did save my mother. The deal was that I was going to follow him, I will not go back from my promise, I will not leave until everything is finished.”

Aria nodded without minding Anaj, she knew that Seers are prideful and would rather die than to break their promises.

Peutoa didn’t speak a single word even after a couple of eyes stared at her. She only slowly reached her hand towards her chest and closed her eyes.

Not long after, a light-yellow shine emerged from within her body, it shrouded her body.

“I will stay by his side, no matter what.”

Peutoa spoke every word clearly, and for once, she slowly narrowed before speaking.

“I do not know when, but I started liking him.”

“Humph!”

Kali took her eyes off Peutoa, she did understand that Peutoa wouldn’t betray Shin as she’s one of his Guardians.

“I like Shin too…!”

Eline said in an anxious tone as she glanced between Aria and Kali. Even if Eline is usually unconstrained, she wouldn’t act arrogantly in front of Aria or Kali, as both could destroy her in an instant.

“Haah…”

Aria breathed deeply before sighing, she had of course heard Eline, but she only mustered a bitter smile.

“We know. You came with us, even with the risk of losing your life, even if both Kali and I are angry, we’re not naïve enough to not see things clearly.”

“Isn’t that right, Kali?”

Aria sent a glance towards Kali, wanting to know her response too.

Kali frowned and said in a displeased tone.

“Yes, of course…”

“Like I’m afraid of some little chick, humph…”

Kali was rather unhappy that way too many girls liked Shin, but she wouldn’t harm them, as she knew that Shin had feelings for all of them.

“Besides…”

Aria remembered something and glanced at Peutoa.

“Can you find out anything about Shin?”

Peutoa didn’t respond, but she closed her eyes once again. Not knowing when, the surrounding changed and Peutoa appeared in a dark world with only light coming from thirteen sculptures.

“You’re finally back, Night Empress.”

A hoarse voice sounded out the moment Peutoa appeared within Shin’s soul.

“Where is Shin? What is happening?”

Peutoa asked at once, not wanting to delay.

Ker’Vrak sighed weakly before answering Peutoa.

“Shin is currently moving swiftly from one enemy base to the other.”

“Why?”

Peutoa interrupted Ker’Vrak, wanting to know more details.

“Little Shin wants to become stronger.”

Shenya’s weak voice sounded out instead of Ker’Vrak’s.

“Little Shin is currently forcefully developing his strength, by putting way too much energy inside of his body.”

Peutoa frowned slightly before asking another question.

“Why is Shin doing this? Why did he say that there is limited time?”

“Look at his sculpture.”

The golden sculpture – Kira answered this time, his voice was hoarse, but he still tried to speak calmly.

Not knowing what to expect, Peutoa moved her sight towards the dark sculpture in the middle. Her eyes widened, but she hastily narrowed it and stared at every details of the sculpture.

“It can not be true…”

That was the only thing Peutoa felt, that there was no way for something like this to happen.