"Did you manage to gather enough life-force for the ritual?"

Two shadows with a dark aura were walking in a hallway.

"Yes, I barely managed to fill my quota this time, it seems like the nearby nations are wary of Lank Kingdom's last move... It's just a pity that I didn't manage to find that vengeful soul, I had especially gone to that battlefield just for it."

After a moment of silence, the other voice replied.

"Who wouldn't, declaring war to all the nations bordering you is something only a fool or a madman would do and in both cases one should take great caution when dealing with it."

The voice was hoarse and it sounded a bit drunk.

Catching the scent of alcohol coming from his companion, the other voice replied.

"For Yura's sake Donald, you can't attend the gathering drunk like this!"

The two seemed to know each other well, as the other replied.

"Leave me alone Anne, I can handle this bit of alcohol. The Sect Master won't notice anything."

But it didn't convince the other party, as his companion replied.

"Like that time when you almost messed up a ten thousand soul sacrifice?

I still remember the face of our Sect Master that time, if it wasn't because you are his only son I highly doubt that you would still be here, getting drunk and making trouble."

It looked like Anne's words had an effect on Donald, as the latter began to shudder as he said.

"Don't bring that up, my bones can still feel the pain I went through that time.

Father was really furious."

Seeing that Donald seemed to have sobered up, Anne said.

"Let's go, the ritual is going to start."

...

...

"Is everyone here?"

A weak but authoritative voice resounded throughout the old hall, even if it was weak it made everyone in the hall feel a sense of pressure.

"Yes, Sect Master."

Hundreds of voices rumbled like thunder in the hall, shaking the pillars. After that, everyone bowed towards the altar.

After a moment of silence, the Sect Master's voice sounded again.

"Cain, I see you have returned from your undercover mission...

Come up on the altar and share with your fellow brothers and sisters your findings..."

After a brief moment, a middle-aged looking man walked up to the altar.

He had greyish air, with wrinkles around his eyes which meant that he smiled a lot.

He had an amiable disposition, which made those who looked at him feel at ease.

If Dante saw him now, he would immediately recognize him as the leader of his troop.

Looking at the crowd in front of him, Cain greeted some people before saying.

"Disciple reports to the Sect. During my stay in the Two star Dungeon which administers this sector of the continent, this disciple made some important discoveries.

The movements of our group in the Lank Kingdom haven't been discovered yet. The cover we had used in the beginning has served its purpose as they still believe that we are some Warmage mercenaries, they had some suspicion but just that, they didn't research it seriously.

I believe it will take them at least three to five days to mobilize their forces and search for my ex-team, the higher ups of the Dungeon aren't fools.

They won't sit idly. We have already wiped out several legions, this will certainly create chaos in the countries they are managing."

Cain took a break so that he could let the new information sink in.

"But I'm sure that most of you were already aware of that, I'll now say why I left the Dungeon and blew up my cover."

Cain took a deep breath, he knew the immense value of this piece of information..

"They know about our return."

It was a simple sentence, but they carried a weight which brought a heavy silence in the hall. However it lasted only for a moment as the hall immediately turned chaotic.

"Fuck, I'm dead. No doubt about it, I will be the one first to be killed in this bloody war...

What shitty luck I have, I have joined them today and I already regret it...

If I had only known before..."

The disprited voice of a young noble sounded out.

If Peter was here he would immediately recognize him. He was the Necromancer who had killed his brothers in arms.

...

"You're lying, it's impossible for someone like you to know about this... It could even be a trick of the enemies!"

There were many people which said something along this line, trying to convince themselves that what Cain had said wasn't possible.

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But no matter how much they convinced themselves, they couldn't change the truth.

"Are you questioning my qualifications?"

Cain's voice was calm but as it sounded in the ears of the crowd, a sense of foreboding welled up in them.

In the blink of an eye Cain seemed to change in a whole new person.

His face which moments before was filled with kindness was now replaced by a hideous and cruel grin

The commander level aura which Cain had until that moment abruptly soared.

It didn't stop until it reached the peak of the General level, infinitely close to the King level.

His greyish hair had now turned a deep purple, carrying a demonic feeling.

An aura of nefariousness enveloped the hall.

Cain looked at the crowd of disciples and elders, no matter where his gaze landed everyone who dared to meet his eyes would fall on the ground, foaming.

After a few fools gave the example, no one dared to raise their heads.

"Do you still question my qualifications?"

Cain's question was met by silence, no one dared to even utter a word.

Seeing the results, Cain's aura changed again reverting to his previously amiable self.

Horror could be seen in the eyes of many disciples.

The Sect Master's voice sounded again in an attempt to ease the situation.

"I offer my deepest apology to Lord Envoy, we didn't know that such a great hero was here among our ranks...

We had eyes but couldn't see Mt. Tai.

Forgive the foolish behaviour of the young generation, they are still inexeperienced and easily shaken.

We will immediately report Your Greatness's contribution to our sector's administrator."

Hearing the words of the Sect Master, Cain's smile widened even more.

The mission his teacher had given him required the acknowledgement of the Sect Master along with an important contribution to the Cultivation Alliance.

When he set out on this mission ten years ago he was only at the Liutenant level, with that meager amount of power the Sect Master would have never acknowledged him.

Now after a decade he could finally end this charade.

Clearly pleased with himself, Cain said.

"In account of your sect's hospitality I'll have my Teacher send you some treasures which can replenish your life-force and bring back your cultivation to its peak state, who knows maybe you will even be able to breakthrough.

I know that twenty years ago you managed to kill one of those Quasi-Emperor level Dungeon dogs but you also sustained heavy injuries, I will make sure to report your merits to the alliance.

They will send someone to bring you back from the front line in a month or so."

The Sect Master went wild with joy, for the last twenty years all of his efforts had been focused on healing his injuries and restoring his cultivation, the Lord Envoy's words had given him a ray of hope!

He had barely managed to survive by building a sect and having the disciples gather life-force and soul energy to replace his own expenditure, moving from country to country to avoid catching the local dungeon's attention.

For the Sect Master the Lord Envoy's grace was akin to an oasis for a thirsty traveller in the desert.

To express his gratitude the Sect Master said.

"The Lord Envoy is indeed a dragon among men, a dazzling figure which will stun our era!

May this old bag of bones know the name of Lord Envoy's Venerable Teacher?"

Cain's smile broadened even more hearing the Sect Master's flattery, after a moment of silence he said.

"My Master's name is Ceasar, he's renown across the Cultivation Alliance as Bloodthirst Emperor."

The Sect Master was stunned, he would have never expected that Cain would be the disciple of such a fearsome figure.

He was just about to flatter the name of Bloodthirst Emperor, when Cain vanished from there without any warning.

...

"It seems like the good times have ended.

Anne, do you want to stay beside me in this troubled waters?"

Donald wasn't drunk anymore, his clouded eyes had never been this clear before.

Anne nodded without hesitation, she looked at Donald with eyes full of love and care. When she looked at the horizon a firm resolution could be seen in her eyes

"In this tribulation, no matter what, I won't leave your side."

It was a starless night, the prelude of great changes.

That night was the one in which the gears of history began their race.