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Re: Dungeon Conqueror
Chapter 17: Hidaya Wilberforce

Chapter 17: Hidaya Wilberforce

South

Fáyraen empire

Capital, Kanyú

Year 900 after The Descent

Hidaya Wilberforce

"You have failed again!" Her father Tydara barked at her little brother Ed. The dinner was just a planned interrogation for Ed who kept on failing his exams. She didn't like it but she couldn't disagree. Her brother had been acting strange for the past five years.

"You have scored less than ten percent in five basics," Tydara continued, "which means you have to repeat the class again. Sometimes I feel as if you don't belong in the family. How can you repeat the same class two times?"

"Okay, father, that's enough. Ed has tried his best, I don't want you to discourage him. Besides, he has passed the remaining subjects with flying colors, especially swordmanship. I'm sure he put his best in swordmanship because of your business." She said.

"Discourage? Hey, Faetim, did you hear your daughter? She said we are discouraging him." Tydara said incredulously.

Faetim shrugged. "She is the one spoiling him. I told her we should beat the hell out of him the last time he failed but she disagreed, and you supported her. Sometimes I feel as if she's running the family."

"Okay, you all need to calm down." Her grandpa Zaikid cut in, "Ed has tried but I believe he can do better. We will talk about it later. First, dinner." The old man pointed at the dish on the round table.

They ate dinner in silence. Occasionally, Tydara and Faetim would shot Ed a challenging look. Hidaya would grimaced and hit her plate with her spoon loudly.

He is just a child, just one hundred and fourteen. She mouthed.

She dragged her chair to sit near him protectively. Faetim just harrumphed and looked away.

They all had a bright red hair. Tydara had a dark skin like his father Zaikid. Faetim had a class 3 skin which was fairly fair. But Ed and Hidaya had class 1.

"My hair is brighter," Ed said, gently tugging at her hair.

"Mine is brighter." She argued.

"Are you done already?" Tydara asked. He would prefer silence rather than their endless bickering over hair color.

"We are done, father." She said.

"Give them extra plates, I don't want any noise from someone who has failed their exams."

"Bickering is for the young, let them enjoy their youth. Besides, I need to talk to you." Zaikid smiled at Ed as he dragged Tydara outside.

"You too." He said, signalling for Faetim to follow them.

"Let's make a bet," Ed said after making sure the parents were out of earshot. "If my hair is brighter then you will grant me a request."

"What if mine is brighter?" She asked. Her voice calm and deep. It gave an impression of focus and determination.

"Then I will grant you a request." Ed said.

Ed plugged a strand of hair from both their heads and put them on the table.

After a short debate, her hair was found to be brighter.

"What do you want?" He asked with a pretended anger.

Hidaya teleported him out of the mansion. She disappeared again and when she reappeared next she was five thousand meters above the ground.

"Woah... I'm going to fall, Hi!" He screamed.

"No, you won't." She looked him in the eye and sighed. "First it was the increasingly poor performance at school and now this, what do you want? You have granted me a request, right? Then tell me what you are up to?"

"I'm not..."

"Don't lie to me, tell me the truth." She clutched his arms.

"You, dad, mom and grandpa never tell me anything or include me in your business and yet you still think I'm up to something. Do you think I want to steal your business?"

"That's not what I'm saying and you know it. You are planning something, aren't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, and you are about to break my arms."

"What...? Er... sorry." She released him with an apologetic smile. "Look, I don't agree with keeping you in the dark. Our parents have their own approach and I can't disobey them. We all have our plans to make things right. I just can't tell you."

"You guys are really selfish. If you don't tell me your plans, how do you expect me to tell you mine? Our parents didn't tie your tongue, did they?"

Hidaya fell silent. He'd a point.

"My plan to reclaim the old Wilberforce name and take us back to the Holy Land is to find Triple-factor. He has something I need. This is all I can tell you now. I promise I'll tell you everything when you... "

"You will tell me everything when I reach three hundred and forty. Don't you think that line is getting too old."

"Er... I guess so. Look, I know we are not doing justice by keeping you in the dark but I'm your sister - your only sister. You should trust me. Do you trust me?"

Ed harrumphed dismissively. How could he trust a family that didn't trust him?

"Then how about a bet?" Hidaya said. "If I ever find out what you are planning to do, you will abort it and grant me a request. But if I don't uncover your secrets before you enact them then I'll not interfere with your plans."

"You won't?"

"Yes. If I don't uncover it before you start, then I lose."

"You really are confident. I agree. Now, can we go back?"

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Knock.

Ed was lying on his bed and looking at the ceiling when the knocking came. The room was large but mostly empty. If you excluded the 8 by 6 bed at the centre, the wardrobe standing on the right end and the mirror on the left, most other things were clothes, shoes and half eaten foodstuffs dropped on the floor. Ed didn't like anyone cleaning his room. Not that it was never done, his mom would sneak in once or twice a month to clean things up but they would end up bickering about missing stuffs for the next few days. The rest of the family weren't allowed inside.

"Go away, mom. I'm sleeping."

She didn't go.

When Ed finally grew tired of the knocking he opened the door.

"Mom, I am really not in the mood..."

"You are supposed to go collect your results today. Dylas is outside."

Ed and Dylas. They were best friends since childhood. Many people didn't get it since Dylas was actually a horse and Ed was human.

"There's a Durbar festival today so come back before eight."

"Mom, I'm one hundred and seventy two."

Bloomsting Academy

The academy was typical of a sect with huge stone buildings surrounding the central admin and the deanery. Results were usually posted at the deanery to reduce the congestion of students around the admin block.

"Why check out the results? I know my stats." Edard murmured as they elbowed their way into the crowd.

"You have to collect the manuscript." Dylas said.

Bloomsting Academy accommodated all races and religions. Dylas easily blend in with his horse's lower and a human's upper.

Closer to the notice board, the students chatted about the results. It was always about the first position and the last.

"Look, it's Dé Ed, he's got his rightful place."

"Yeah, I always pity him. How does having a big mansion help if you always comes last?"

"The big mansion has eaten his entire brain, or so they say."

Name: Dé Ed

Class: Primary 1

Cultivation base: Primary Awakening

Race: Human

Courses

Alchemy: 3%

Longevity Study: 2%

Spellcraft: 2%

Spirits/Mounts: 4%

Summoning: 1%

Classifications Array: 48%

Geography: 50%

Demon Biology: 75%

Elements and Contracts Study: 0%

Swordmanship: 90%

Ed collected his script and left the academy. No one could physically bully him because of his family status, but you couldn't stop people from gossiping.

Prince Reids

The Durbar festival happened once every year. During the festival, he emperor, his family and commanders would wear flashy robes and ride the largest horses throughout the capital. Citizens would also dress in their best outfits and came out to greet the emperor and his army.

Today, the Durbar had been going on since morning. The king, his wife and his commanders had already cycled around and came back to the palace. It was the turn of the crown prince, prince Reids. He always came last and gave the audience the farewell greetings.

Ed had enjoyed this last part. He cherished the way people cried lovingly at their beloved prince. It reminded him of his dream.

Ed and Dylas arrived earlier and found a closer spot to watch from.

When prince Reids arrived, everyone jumped excitedly. They called his name a thousand times and praised him more. They loved him.

[A red haired boy at three o'clock, two boys at five o'clock and five boys at nine o'clock.] Prince Reids talked to his knights telepathically.

The door to the palace opened and he entered.

"Prince, the red-haired boy is from the family of Dé, are you sure you want him?" One knight whispered to the prince.

"It will only be a problem if they know. Besides, I have never been with a red-haired." The prince whispered back.

The knights nodded with a wicked smile.

Ed and Dylas left the Durbar with the rest of the crowd and picked one of the alleys. Although this alley was under a curfew it was the shortest route to their home. You might meet a knight or two on patrol but they could easily evade them. Today wasn't so lucky though. Eight knights suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"What are the royal knights doing here?" Ed asked calmly. The worst that could happen would be a few questions and his sister would get him out.

"We could ask you the same. This alley is under a twenty-four curfew."

"Are we under arrest?"

"You will be asked questions in the palace, depending on your answers."

Ed and Dylas were taken to the palace where they met seven other children waiting.

"Do you think we are in trouble?"

"You idiot, the prince is giving out spirit stones?"

"No, the prince rewards in longevity, not stones."

"It's my lucky day, my mom always says to pray for luck."

"Do you think he'll honor us with knighthood?"

"Probably, he's definitely the best crown prince in all the lands."

Ed didn't know what the knights told the other boys but they all had a similar opinion. That they were going to be rewarded. Ed recognized the child next to him from the crowd.

The prince strolled out of his quarters with a happy smile on his face.

All the children went stiff with awe. How often did someone got close with the royalty?

"The eight of you," the prince said.

Yes, that was the statement they had been waiting for. Where they would receive spirit stones, longevity and honor.

"The eight of you have greatly sinned against the empire."

What?

"You didn't greet me when I passed. Maybe you don't recognize me as the crown prince?"

He'd got to be kidding. The child next to Ed had almost fainted from shouting praises.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"No, prince, we wouldn't dare." The children said collectively. Ed looked in shock.

"You," the prince pointed at Ed, "kneel."

Although the order wasn't directed at them, the children knelt. Their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Ed didn't kneel. He didn't know how to kneel.

"Kneel, you idiot, the prince is at his limits already." One knight shouted angrily.

"If I kneel, you will be in big trouble. How about I make you a deal? Release the children and we will all pretend like this has never happened."

"Huh? Are you negotiating with me?" The prince said. His eyes vicious.

Before Ed could answer five knights had surrounded him. Three held him still while two hit his popliteal fossa and forced him down to a kneeling position.

"That's more like it, brat." Another knight said, emptying his bottle of wine on Ed.

"Haha.. now your red hair is even brighter." The prince said, laughing. "Cut his Achilles tendon and threw him in the dungeon with the horse. The rest of the boys will serve me tonight before they receive their punishment in the morning."

The knights nodded.

Prince Reids turned to leave but he suddenly lost his footing. Probably, because of the sudden storm cloud.

The sky churned and the clouds formed a gigantic face in the sky. If you looked closely, this face belonged to Hidaya.

The prince went stiff and his vision blurred. The last thing he saw was a warning notification.

You are running low on longevity.

Current longevity: 00:00:59

The knights weren't as lucky. Their longevity was drained instantly and they died without a warning.

Ed shared a knowing look with Dylas. "I told them." He said.

Emperor Fáyra, his wife and his top ten commanders appeared at the scene.

"This is all a big misunderstanding, we can set things right. Please, Hidaya, I will pay for my son's mistake with my blood but please don't kill him. He is my only son." Emperor Fáyra rattled. Beads of sweat ran down his face. His wife wrapped her arms around the shaking body of her son.

"The punishment for making my brother kneel is death. Your son is already dead. The question is whether you want to follow him." Hidaya (the face in the sky) said.

"The punishment for making your brother kneel is death?! That's bulshit. YOU ARE NOT URÚRÚ: YOU DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY." Emperor Fáyra exclaimed, amplifying his voice with a skill.

The whole world fell silent.

"The punishment has been upped. Anyone who saw the crime once will lose two-thirds of their longevity. If you saw the crime twice, your punishment is death." She said.

"You are damn crazy! I will avenge my son. I will kill you and everyone in your family." The emperor pointed at Ed murderously.

"For cerebrating about murdering my brother, you are Cursed to lose 100 hours every hour for the rest of your life. For saying it, the amount has been upped to 250 hours."

He opened his mouth to talk but he decided against it.

Renaissance Council

That evening, the three emperors and and the fleet admiral of the Salvation Army convened a meeting in the Army's headquarters.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but the Memorandum prevents the family of Dé from ever assuming their former Wilberforce authority. Why is the Army reluctant to act?" Emperor Fáyra asked angrily.

"The memorandum has three parts: first, they should hide the name Wilberforce; second, they should not transform into their Dragonelf form; third, they should obey the two Commandments. Breaking a single part wouldn't amount to war. Besides, it was your son that has tried to harm her brother. The Salvation Army can't help you." Fleet admiral Sauro explained.

"What?! This is nonsense. Are you afraid of her? The honor of all the emperors is at stake." Fáyra said, hitting the table angrily.

"And what does the other two emperors think about it?" Fleet admiral Sauro asked the other emperors.

Emperor Daljári cleared his throat. "Without the help of the Salvation Army, we can't take this woman down even if the three of us team up. If the Army is not ready then we have to wait."

Emperor Micro nodded. "Daljari is right, Fáyra. You are only talking about Hidaya the Death Dealer, what about the rest of the family? Tydara of the Ancestral Grave, professor Zaikid of the Blur Dance and Faetim of the Uncertainty. I don't think we have what it takes to take them down now."

"It's not about winning, it's about honor. What would the rest of the world say if they find out the Renaissance Council is too afraid to lift a finger? We need to stay together."

Fleet admiral Sauro cut in, "About that, the Holy Land has expressed its concern about your strength. The Eternal Empire has given you permission to pursue Deva. Whoever reaches Deva within a six-year cycle will be rewarded with a Contract."

"Why are you digressing? My son is dead for Dais sake!"

The meeting dragged on for another hour. In the end, Fáyra lost the argument.

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After that fateful incident, Ed and Dylas returned home. His mom was waiting at the door.

"Why did you let that bastard bullied you?" Faetim shouted angrily. "And, you Dylas, where were you when my son almost got killed?"

"Oh mom, please..." Ed entered his room and closed the door behind.

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"Are you ready?" Ed asked.

Dylas nodded. "The bet with your sister is..."

"It is a trap? But why today? Why did she chose today when she could choose any other day? Why did she mentioned Triple-factor?"

Ed put his hands on the mirror in the room. The mirror cycled three times to reveal a hidden door behind it.

Ed led the way.

The hidden room was mostly empty except for two polished chairs, one at each end, and several transparent pots filled with a yellow smoke. A large round book sat at the centre of the room, between the chairs.

"What do you suggest?" Dylas asked as he sat on the chair.

Ed sat on the other chair. "She knows."

Dylas knitted his brows. "How? Just because she mentioned Triple-factor I don't think she knows. If she knows she would have confronted you already."

"She doesn't know the exact plans but, trust me, she knows enough to cause a problem. My sister doesn't slip up; every word she says and every step she takes is exactly as she intends it to be."

"I just don't get your sister, she just punished an emperor like it was nothing. Why the hell is she afraid of attacking the Holy Land. Maybe she's just a coward."

"What!? I dare you to say that again." Ed said furiously. "Everyone has their way of doing things. My sister is the most powerful woman alive but she prefers to take things... slow. That doesn't mean she is afraid."

Dylas raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, bro, I... didn't mean that. What are we going to do about this trap?"

"We are going to step on it." Ed said.

"Step on it? Do you mean..."

"Listen, Dylas, if two rats are in your room, you set a trap and catch one while the other fled. Would you mind hunting it down? No, because your target is to make them leave the room. My sister knows someone is making an attempt on the dais; she doesn't know who. If that someone were to make their intentions known then she would relax and stop giving an extra attention on the matter. With time she may even miss a step or two that will give us the needed opportunity. On the other hand, if her trap doesn't catch any rat, she would forever be suspicious."

"What are you trying to say?" Dylas asked.

"That one of us has to sacrifice himself. The other will accomplish the mission afterwards."

"I guess it's unavoidable. Who do you suggest?"

"Of course, it would be me. She suspects me the most." Ed said with a shrug.

"No, it should be me." Dylas said. "Remember this is just a decoy, it's only natural to sacrifice the less important member of the formation. Besides, I don't have any combat class, if you leave me behind I'll have to hire someone else to do it."

"Before you sacrifice yourself you have to remember my intentions aren't noble." Ed pointed out.

"Haha... revenge is the most noble intention." Dylas countered. "Joke aside, I care little about your intentions, the end justifies the means. If you Conquer the immortal dais then everyone gets to live forever. That includes my parents and my little sister. No one has to die like my wife."

"I don't like it when people call it 'immortal dais', it makes it... invincible. Why don't you call it by its name?"

"The Final Dungeon?"

Ed nodded. The immortal dais was the first and final dungeon. You shall only be a true Dungeon Conqueror when you conquer it.

Dylas agreed to do it and Ed didn't object.

"Shall we begin?" Ed asked, flipping the book on the ground.

"Yeah... but how many of those pots are you willing to donate?"

"What....? I already gave you two longevity reserves. Why do you need my pots?"

"Look, we stole those longevity reserves together so by definition you gave me what already belongs to me."

"What?! But I gave you my share as well."

"I know, I know, bro, but you have fifty pots, it won't hurt to donate a few."

"Actually, it will hurt. Look, the things I have to do to get them... "

"Shut up already. I'll take my leave. Eat your pots."

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Five weeks later, Dylas left for the sky city to conquer the Final Dungeon.

At night, the sky burned but in the morning the sky city still stood.

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Two years later...

Ed was right. After what happened with Dylas, his family's suspicion was piqued. But after years of fruitless investigations, they decided to let go.

The long awaited day came.

Ed was finally free. His sister had gone to the North and the rest of the family were away on a business trip.

Ed entered his hidden room and opened all the fifty pots. The smoke inside flew out and entered his body.

You have absorbed fifty longevity reserves.

Calculating your longevity....

Calculating your longevity....

Calculating your longevity....

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Longevity has surpassed the recorded limit of your Timer.

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You have activated Lightning Elementalist through an unknown ritual.

You have activated Lightning Ancestor.

Lightning Elementalist has reached level 10 (primary)

Lightning Elementalist has Awakened to Secondary Awakening.

You have activated Thunderbird.

Lightning Elementalist has Awakened to Tertiary Awakening.

You have activated Lightning Contract.

Lightning Elementalist has Awakened to Sage Awakening.

Lightning Elementalist has Awakened to Renaissance Awakening.

You can't step into Deva until all your classes are at peak Renaissance.

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Dragonbreath has Awakened to Primary Awakening.

You have chosen Dimensional Annihilation.

Dragonbreath has Awakened to Secondary Awakening.

You have achieved the first upgrade for Dimensional Annihilation. You can now create a Dragon-essense blade.

Dragonbreath has Awakened to Tertiary Awakening.

Dragonbreath has reached second upgrade for Dimensional Annihilation. You can now send a blast of Dragon-essence through your blade. Distance and precision depends on willpower.

Dragonbreath has Awakened to Sage Awakening.

Dragonbreath has reached third upgrade for Dimensional Annihilation. Your sword has reached the first level of consciousness: you have achieved a minor telepathic connection with your Dragon-essence blade.

Dragonbreath has Awakened to Renaissance Awakening.

Dragonbreath has reached fourth upgrade for Dimensional Annihilation. Your sword has reached the second level of consciousness: you have achieved a major telepathic connection with your sword; blade ambition can be transmitted to your conscious to temporarily change character. +20% correction per level.

Dragonbreath has reached peak Renaissance. You can't Awakened to Deva until all your classes are Peak Renaissance.

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Cloning has Awakened to Primary Awakening.

You have chosen Speed Clone.

Cloning has Awakened to Secondary Awakening.

You have achieved the first upgrade for speed clone. You can now create afterimages.

Cloning has Awakened to Tertiary Awakening.

Cloning has reached second upgrade for Speed Clone. You can now both teleport and create conscious afterimages.

Cloning has Awakened to Sage Awakening.

Cloning has reached third upgrade for Speed Clone. You have received the title time dilator: slow down time within a limited area. Affected area and duration depends on level.

Cloning has Awakened to Renaissance Awakening.

Cloning has reached fourth upgrade for Speed Clone. You have received the title Time Looper: repeat a certain period in a specific area several times over. Everything will be erased after loop. Number of loops and size of the affected area depends on level.

Cloning has reached peak Renaissance Awakening. You can't Awakened to Deva until all your classes are peak renaissance.

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Psychomancy has Awakened to Primary Awakening.

You have chosen Mind Read.

Psychomancy has Awakened to Secondary Awakening.

You have achieved the first upgrade for Mind Read. You can now read the target's memories without them knowing.

Psychomancy has Awakened to Tertiary Awakening.

Psychomancy has reached second upgrade for Mind Read. Your mind read can see through mind shield and mind trap.

Psychomancy has Awakened to Sage Awakening.

Psychomancy has reached third upgrade for Mind Read. You can bypass even a Mind Loop without the target knowing.

Psychomancy has Awakened to Renaissance Awakening.

Psychomancy has reached fourth upgrade for Mind read. You have received the title Mind Warper: read and write a person's memory without them knowing.

Psychomancy has reached peak Renaissance Awakening. You can't Awakened to Deva until all your classes are at Peak Renaissance.

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All four classes are at the peak of renaissance. You can step into Deva now.

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Lightning Elementalist has reached Deva

You have received the title Lightning Emperor: all your lightning skills are now bound to nature energy. You will never be exhausted or run out.

Cloning has reached Deva

You have received the title Clone: all your cloning skills are now bound to nature energy. You will never be exhausted or run out.

Psychomancy has reached Deva

You have received the title Psychomancer Breeder: all your psychomancy skills are now bound to nature energy. You will never be exhausted or run out.

Dragonbreath has reached Deva

You have received the title Dragon King: all your draconic skills are now bound to nature energy. You will never be exhausted or run out.

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All your accumulated life energy have been transformed into a Deva core.

Deva core absorbs life energy from opponents which renders all attacks below Deva ineffective.

"Good. That was the first step." Ed murmured.

It was time. He teleported out from the house to the Black Sea. From there he teleported upward toward the sky city.

The distance between the sky city and the lower plane was roughly ten thousand meters. The first obstacle was a cloud: a black and white cloud. After you crossed the black and white cloud, you would meet the thick cloud that was as hard as the ground. Above the thick cloud rested the sacred Final Dungeon, the so-called immortal dais.

Ed had all the knowledge he needed to get there. His teleport was immune to wards and shields so he just teleported above the white and black cloud, making sure he didn't touch any. Afterward, he stealthily moved to the thick clouds supporting the dais.

Since the beginning of time, there had always been only ten knights guarding the dais. These knights wore face masks with numbers from one to ten.

Ed would let his troop devoured them while he found a way to destroy the dais once and for all. Talking about troops, Ed touched the ring on his left ring finger and one thousand demons appeared behind him.

Each demon had a different set of heads: some had two, some had nine and some had more than that. All joined together by a single neck. These demons looked entirely different as well. Some of them were colored paper white while others charcoal black. More than half were green. A few yellows could be seen as well. Their body colors extended to their hair and eyes; everything was the same color.

They stood in ten rows. The demons in front of each row had eleven heads and were at the peak of the Deva realm.

"Do you know who I am?" The knight with '1' on his mask asked.

Ed smiled. "You are all hiding behind veils like women, how can I recognize you, Dumakisu son of murderer Kuyurussa'ayi Urúrú."

The man who had asked the question smiled behind his mask and said, "the horse that came a few years ago mentioned something about a dragon coming to avenge him. I guess you are the dragon he talked about."

"Should I ask what happened to him?"

"He's dead." Dumakisu said. He pointed at the demons behind Ed. "Not that it matters but how did you Tame one thousand Dordors?"

"You are going to die anyway so I will tell you." Ed said. "They are not Tamed. My Tier 8 Curse can install a variant of the skill on others, giving them the same ability. They are part of my tribe."

"Hmm... are you ready?" Dumakisu asked.

"I have been ready long before you were born." Ed said through his teeth.

"I mean ready to end the simulation?"

"What?"

The world warped and shifted. When it became clear again, Ed was sitting on his bed with his sister. Zaikid, Tydara and Faetim stood at the opposite end of the room.

"So that's what you have planned?" Hidaya said.

"You put me under a Reality spell, how? When? Both Dylas and I are protected by a Mind Loop."

"Lesson number one: never trust a mental shield. I invaded your mind right after I punished that stupid emperor."

"So the whole of last year was a dream? Dylas is... okay?"

"Yeah. He's somewhere safe."

Ed sighed softly. He'd lost.

"Are you ready to grant my request?" She asked.

He gritted his teeth. "I have planned this for three decades: gradually accumulating longevity, mapping out my way to the dais, knowing my enemies, researching and experimenting. Dammit, I reached Deva six times, each time I'll cripple my cultivation back to the Primary Awakening just to get the right skills."

"And yet you lost." Hidaya said, caressing his hair.

Ed sighed. He did lost. Miserably.

"Are you ready to grant my request?"

He nodded. "I am."

"The enemy has their eyes on you, you need to go somewhere far away from here. I'll summon you back when everything is safe."

"You think I'll be safer in this far away land than with my family?" He asked incredulously.

"Well, that's the thing. Dad, mom, grandpa and I are all going to the Spirit Realm. We can't take you with us, and we can't leave you here. The only option is to take you somewhere else where no one would ever find you. You are my only brother, if something happens to you I won't be able to live with myself. You..."

"I am ready." Ed cut in furiously. "Where are you taking me?"

"A neighboring realm called Earth. A century here is just a couple months there. A few years from now, some mysterious witches and wizards would start summoning people from these neighboring realms. They will call these people Outsiders. Years later, my hunters will start hunting these Outsiders. They will get to you as soon as you arrived." Hidaya explained.

"What a clumsy plan! I thought you would at least be against this." Faetim bolted out of the room, fuming with anger.

"I am against it." Hidaya said defensively. "It was dad's idea."

"A million things can go wrong: he can die on this.. Earth, he can die immediately after being summoned back, your hunters can end up killing him and even the summoner can take advantage of him, especially if they realized who he was. Not to mention the enemy targeting him." Zaikid pointed out the obvious flaw.

"That's why father and I are going on a trip to the Wandering Church."

Zaikid shot her an angry glare. "Why wasn't I told about this? You don't just visit the Wandering Church; you have to be invited."

"I got my invitation today." Tydara said. "Hidaya is an old friend of the church so she can manage."

"You stupid kids, you can't leave me out of this trip. You need me."

"Grandpa, just say the word. You want to see the shining, shimmering and splendid Wandering Church."

Ed sat there silently. He had lost, and the honorable thing would be to grant his sister's request. Hell, he could even dominate this Earth place and restrategize from there.

Dylas

The container was so dark he couldn't even see his hands. He didn't know where he was or how he'd come to be there.

Occasionally, the sound of turbulence would hit the container and sent him flying. His cuffed hands would hit the walls of the container, releasing a stony dull thud.

No food, no water and no companion. Only the smell of his shit mixed with his concentrated pee.

One day, Hidaya appeared in front of him.

"I have a mission for you." She said.

He gritted his teeth. Now that he thought about it she was number one on his list of suspects.

"Why...?" He stuttered.

"Because you two are idiots. You think destroying the immortal dais is a child's play? Well, your friend is not here anymore. You can live the rest of your life in a container at the bottom of the Black Sea, or you can accept the mission."

"It has been nine hundred years since Urúrú snatched your home, killed everyone you've ever known and forced everyone down to the lower plane, what have you all achieved? Nothing. Your brother is the only one that has the spine to act. My loyalty is to him and I will never betray him." Dylas said.

Hidaya sighed softly. Children always thought they were smarter than their parents. "I am not strong enough to attack the immortal dais directly. What makes you think you can do it? What you did was not smart, it's suicide. The smartest thing would be to clear the lower plane first. Win it. If you own both the North and the South then you might have a chance.

"I'm sending my brother to a distant land. When he comes back he is gonna need you. I will make you a Deva and give you more longevity and money than you can ever spend. What I want is just a little help from you when my brother comes back."

"What!?"