"Thank you for the recognition, but I alone would have been unable to achieve as many things as I have done. After all, the sect has helped me spread my influence and organize plans that I could only dream about years ago." Zack replied to Owald with a smile.

"It seems that the resources and members that you stole from my Ventar Academy have been of great help for the development of your organization," Ethan said with a cold smile on his face.

"I did not steal anything. If your people had given a better environment for martial artists in the past, I'm sure that I wouldn't have needed to create my sect. But sadly, your predecessor, Letine Greenfire, ignored my suggestions to reform the academy, so I could only join Edwin Cloakwolf in his plan to create a new environment for warriors to grow stronger." Zack replied while laughing.

"How dare you?" Ethan whispered while gritting his teeth.

Seeing the situation, Owald couldn't help but burst into laughter, which caused Ethan to look at him with disdain.

"What are you laughing at?" Ethan finally said when he finally ran out of patience.

"I'm laughing at you, obviously. The single thought that you think that you are at the same level as Sect Master Zack is so fucking funny that I can't contain my laughter." He replied while wiping tears from his eyes." Even I, King Owald, governor of the Guburg and owner of the north part of Orixe, would not dare disrespect someone as important as him."

"He is only an old man who had the good luck to discover the life-element in his youth. Anyone on the expedition in which he participated could have discovered it." Ethan replied seriously.

"My mother was right. The Esvert is so prepotent and looks down on others so much that they don't even realize when they are just talking nonsense without knowing shit." Owald said laughing before getting completely serious. "You are in front of a fucking child of destiny, someone that Heaven itself has chosen to achieve great things in the name of humanity. Just one of his feats is much more than all the achievements that you will get in your whole life."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

After hearing those words, the Esvert and Guburg cultivators began to whisper between them, while Ethan's face went white.

"Oh, so you know about my condition?" Zack asked while laughing, without paying any attention to Ethan. "It is not something that I like to talk about a lot, so not a lot of people know about it."

"My mother was a wise woman, and before she died, she made sure to let me know about tons of things. This one was one of them. As far as I know, one of our spies managed to discover it some years ago. That's one of the reasons why she didn't mind the appearance and expansion of the Evil Cleaving Sect—because she knew that with you at its head, the actions of such an organization would always benefit humanity as a whole." Owald said with a kind smile.

"Your mother was a wise leader, and according to the stories that Edwin told me, she was also a great and brave warrior. If you reach even half of her greatness, I'm sure that the Guburg will have a bright future ahead." Zack replied with a smile on his face while nodding.

"Your words make me feel flattered. I hope that my village and your organization can maintain a good and cooperative relationship in the future." Owald said while doing a small reverence.

When Owald finished his sentence, everyone present suddenly heard a voice.

"The time has come, my children. The passage is about to open, and you must cross it to cleanse the evil from the lands behind it. But this time you won't be alone. With you, you will find another three armies that will fight alongside you with the same determination as to any inhabitant of this world. I hope you succeed in this mission and return safely here."

After hearing those words, the three groups began to look at the archway and found out that it started shining with great intensity, before a crack appeared in the air itself, which little by little widened until it covered all the inner surface of the archway, creating a tunnel.

"I guess it's about time for us to go." Owald said while looking at the entrance of the tunnel."It has been a nice talk. I hope we can continue when this is over."

"I hope so," Zack replied with a smile.

After that, they both guided their groups to enter the tunnel, leaving the Esvert behind.

'Stupid and barbaric, that's what they are. I will teach them what I'm able to achieve when I get serious.' Ethan thought to himself while gritting his teeth before crossing the tunnel.