In a dojo on top of the mystical mountain where mists blanketed the world below, Viers and Izabella were exchanging pointers. She waved her staff and fire swords were flying at Viers. He defended by encasing himself in a water sphere but her further action made the fire swords overcome Viers’ defense. He jumped back before getting hit.

“You can now enchant your own Arte, significantly strengthening it. Neat.”

Viers praised the enchanter. She ate the Enchantment Fruit from World Tree inside Book World. It was the same tier of treasure that gave Viers the ability to create another self so of course it wasn't weak. Iz’s enchantments were growing to terrifying heights.

When he asked what was enchanting exactly, her reply was: putting magical effects on something else. Very versatile.

The two continued showing off their techniques. Some flashy, some subdued, and some mysterious. They got a feel of each other’s strength, how strong they were. On Viers’ part, he felt Iz had not been slacking off since their parting and evaluated her worth accordingly. After a while, the spar ended.

“Dear me. You’ve become quite strong, haven't you? You even got me a few times,” Viers smiled.

During the Book World she had a B++ battle rating. Now she’s an A, despite her focus on enchanting skills.

Viers thought about the battle rating that he made up on his own.

“Oh spare me. You weren't even serious,” Iz sipped her tea. “If you wanted to defeat me, you could've done so anytime.”

The two were watching the breathtaking landscape just outside the dojo. Viers used Chinese immortal abodes as an inspiration.

“How’s the project progressing?” Viers asked.

“I want to do it right, so it will take time. In return, I promise you won't be disappointed with the end result.”

“I trust your skill as an enchanter,” Viers crossed his legs while sitting on a stone. “So, what info do you have on Georgi?”

After he got trashed by Dumuzin and got the name of the Level 5 who beat him down at Valkut, he asked Izabella who belonged to a rival cult for info.

“Oh that. No good. The matter is too hot, above the safety limit.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are individuals that even the Blood Church doesn't dare to antagonize. This Georgi, other than the knowledge that he’s a high-ranking member of the Dumuzin cult and the name seems Harkelan of origin, I’ve got nothing. Don't ask me to dig deeper.”

“Why?”

“Look, a lot of Dumuzin cultists are soul or mind Pathseekers. They might be the smallest cult among the seven but their bigshots are really, really bad news. I know of an incident where one of our own tried to dig some dirt on a prominent Dumuzin cult’s figure. The spy instead leaked our side’s intel and murdered all of his own family, including his own baby child. After realizing what he had done, traumatized, he took his own life.”

“Wow. That’s messed up.”

And actually right up my alley. Truly sounds like what I might do.

“Yeah. The thing is, we're dealing with matters above our league. You might be strong but there are other people stronger and more frightening than you.”

“For now,” Viers smiled a devil’s smile.

“...For now,” Iz replied after a moment of silence.

“As always, it’s about power. So, you’re Level 3 peak. What are your thoughts now that you stand at the Level 4’s precipice?”

“I just reached this step not too long ago, far from reaching the edge to begin knocking on Level 4’s door, so nothing much. You’re already Level 3 peak. You’ll reach Level 4 before I do.”

Izabella was five years older than Viers. Looking at the leveling speed, Viers was indeed far faster than her, but that was because Viers was an anomaly. Izabella was talented and her progression was still above normal Pathseekers.

“Shouldn't we leave? We’ve been inside your soul world for a while,” Iz said with a slightly reluctant feeling.

“Don't worry about it. The outside time moves slower than here,” Viers dropped the bomb of a news. He trained a lot so he took inspiration from a famous place in Dragon Ball where the characters go when they encounter yet another super strong enemy.

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During Aletro’s trial, he wasn't able to do such a thing. Iz and the other horsemen entered the pre-updated version of Viers’ soul world.

“...Monster. Incomprehensible monster. You can do everything, can't you? How is this fair?”

“This is effort. Make no mistake, I have to learn a bunch of things and have my fair share of failures. While we're on this topic, remember, get me souls. If they have rare affinities or remarkable skills, I’ll give you a premium price. My ally that just became a space Pathseeker certainly can use the tutelage from a more informed person.”

“How do you even find the time to learn all of them!?” Iz was exasperated. “I’ve been working my body to the bone until I felt there’s not enough hours in one day and that’s just for the topic related to my Path. You just… Ahh! You speed up time in your soul world so you can have more time to train!”

“You got me,” Viers put his hands up, as if surrendering.

Iz’s answer was only a quarter right. The bigger contribution was Arsène. He served as Viers’ Kagebunshin, active for more than real 12 hours a day recently, improving nonstop.

“You must be burning Victa every day. Are you sure that’s wise?”

“I have my ways. There’s no need for concern.”

Viers’ light answer made Iz realize the man beside him had a way to solve Victa's problem, an issue that every Pathseeker faced, including her.

“Any chance that I might…” Iz phrased it delicately.

“For now, it’s only available to me. In the future, it might change. So invest in me, yeah?”

“Now I understand why so many experts or established factions cut down their budding competitors, or at least slow their growth. The sense of watching someone else growing in power so quickly is really frightening.”

“Humans are jealous beings,” Viers nodded.

Iz sighed and let the tension fall from her shoulders. She was already on Viers’ boat, even chained to it. Might as well enjoy the ride as the boat traveled to a more prosperous water.

“How’s Sakuya, by the way?” Iz thought of her fellow Horsemen. That sweet little girl who called her older sister.

“Well, other than that one time where I informed her I’m alive after my cards were burning, I have not contacted her since. She needs to find her own way and I shouldn't interfere.

“How nice of her to have a choice,” the redhead witch said sarcastically.

“Who are you to complain, after you tried to involve me in a Demon King revival plot in Marakkus?”

“Didn't she also try to kill you?” Iz retaliated.

“...You’ve got a point but that’s different.”

“By the way, the cards were originally to inform me if your life was in peril. To think it became the other way around. Yeeesh, how embarrassing.”

Above the sea of mists, the two spent some time chatting, just two people catching up after a long time of not seeing each other. At times, it was mundane topics and at other times, cultivation matters. After a while, Iz judged it was time to touch the matter that had been inside her mind for the past months.

“Lately, there’s been a blood hunt in the Blood Church. Its members are bringing in rare bloodlines for the organization. Humans, monsters, other races, it doesn't matter.”

“What for?” Viers asked.

“There’s power in blood. Lots of uses… There’s an expansion going on, decreed by the top. The Church’s treasure vault has been opened. There are rare opportunities up for grabs.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“The crown jewel among the things in our age bracket,” Iz continued, “is the Blood Seraph Arte.”

“Sounds incredible.”

“It is. Each of the seven cults has its signature Artes, just like the assassins’ Fade in Shadow. One of the Blood Church’s is called Red Angel, but this Arte is meant for the rank and file, a lesser version. Blood Seraph is the immaculate version of Red Angel Arte.”

“Hou…” Viers was intrigued.

“The records say it was the Red Goddess herself that taught the original Blood Seraph Arte to the founders of Blood Church ten thousand years ago. It remains among the greatest of blood Artes to this day.”

“And you have the chance to get the complete version of it. I see, I see.”

“Not quite right,” Iz shook her head. “There are actually three ‘Seraph’ Artes that make for a complete whole. Blood Seraph, Life Seraph, and Origin Seraph. All three are blood Artes. However, the Blood Church only possesses the Blood Seraph. Life Seraph is at the hands of a vampire clan in the Dreadnorth. They are a former faction of the Blood Church that splintered away. Lastly, the Origin Seraph is missing.”

“Blood, Life, and Origin…”

“There’s a single slot granted by the higher-ups to those under twenty-five to learn Blood Seraph Arte. I want that. It’s part of a trinity but even one is incredibly powerful. To do that I need to procure a special bloodline for the Church. The better my offering, the greater my chances.”

“What do you have in mind?” Viers asked.

“Latias royal bloodline.” Izabella answered.

“Shouldn't be too hard,” Viers snorted. “There are a hundred of them running around now. Before the day of his death two years ago, the previous king fucked multiple women every day. Are you telling me a great devil cult can't even get a single baby?”

“The blood from those children is useless for our purposes. I need the blood of an awakened, healthy, and strong Pathseeker.”

“That means the earlier-born princes and princesses, huh?”

“Around fifty and above,” Izabella nodded. “Restil, that insufferable rival of mine, has gotten his hand on the 55th prince somehow. It could be better but the matured royals have their own protections and backings, getting them isn't simple.”

“...Allow me to clarify one thing. You said you want their blood, but you actually want them whole, right? Like the whole person?” Viers asked.

“Yes. I’ve been conducting my own attempts but those didn't bear fruit. At this rate, Restil will receive the Blood Seraph.”

“Will this be worth my while?”

“The protection involving the Blood Seraph’s replication is crazy since it is among the Blood Church’s most precious. I most likely won't be able to share the complete copy with you anytime soon, but its fundamentals should be shareable. Naturally, there are many more treasures and services for you at the end of this job.”

Viers closed his eyes to think for a while before they reopened.

“You want a Latias royal family? I’ll get you a Latias royal family.”