Short Of Things To Do

Heian Ciemnosc and his entourage came walking away from the auction house. Elena was beside him as he led the way into a bar. It was huge since it was a Medium City and not a tavern where his Concealed Ornament Team celebrated their reunion with their team leader. After entering, they spent 3 hours there before coming out. They were at ease as they wanted to return to their respective hotels and the likes of it. However, they were called upon to their underground for a meeting, so they dragged their feet towards there.

Heian Ciemnosc and Elena were walking down the stairs when they were approached by a drunken Fera waving her body around. She stumbled upon Heian Ciemnosc and looked at him as if it was a wall someone put there and didn’t warn others, causing her to crash against it. With her right eyebrow up and her left one down, she innocently asked, “Who put this here?”

“...” Elena rolled her eyes upwards and held Fera’s hand. As the latter felt the wall moving, her eyes widened. Before she went crazy, she realized this might be a person. She looked up and saw Elena’s diminishing gaze after getting this heavily drunk. With a helpless, shy smile, Fera was like their daughter as Elena walked Fera beside her. When everyone arrived down, they were surprised to see Fera treated like a little baby but ignored it right after.

Step, step, step, step, step. Heian Ciemnosc, Elena, and their teams waited for everyone to come down and sit around them. After everyone formed a circle in the underground garage, Greg and his people also walked there. He had the same people following him, clearly not losing faith in him. And from the few team leaders following Greg, some were clear and intriguing fellows and gals.

One was a young man with light brown skin, semi-tall, exotic short hair with steep and wide strands. This one was named Los and was arguably one of the strongest First Step cultivators from the Academy. The others were twins. They had long blonde hair, azure green eyes, short height, and slightly muscular. They were a mix of Dwarf, Elf, and Human Races. Those 3 had cultivation bases half a step into the Second Step.

The only Second Step in their group was their leader, Greg, even though they had other team protectors whom they naturally chased away and joined other teams. Only Greg remained among them as the mighty figure leading them. Without wasting time, as soon as they showed up in the others’ retinas, Greg opened his filthy mouth. “Ey, Commander. I heard you couldn’t buy the most precious item in the auction for the Academy? And that you even bid for a useless puppet nobody even thinks it’s worth it anymore?”

“What is it?” Heian Ciemnosc responded casually, his words set to the ground as he didn’t look up. Greg’s eyes trembled momentarily, but he kept his cool and continued. “If it wasn’t because of that puppet, with the difference in price and with what you sold earlier at the auction, we would’ve taken it no matter what! How could you care about a useless puppet instead of the Academy?!”

“But he did buy the other 2 device-” One student standing by talked in, but Greg looked at him and waved his hand in dismissal. “You shut up. What’s your position here? Let the important people speak!”

Greg’s face returned to stare at Heian Ciemnosc as the latter continued ignoring the former. Greg’s teeth were gritted so hard they screeched behind his closed, relaxed lips. He said with disbelief, “And where is that gal you bought that thing for? She must give us that puppet! How dare she keep it with the Academy’s money?!”

“... Okay.” Heian Ciemnosc stood up, saying that as Greg mistook it for Heian Ciemnosc acquiescing when not even Fera thought Heian Ciemnosc was giving her puppet away. Heian Ciemnosc walked 2 steps towards Greg but stopped, still not close enough. With his darkest eyes wide open. He said, “Should I explain myself to you? Who are you? Even if no one is here to protect me from people like you, what can make me do as you wish? Shut it and listen, or you’ll appear outside this garage in the next minute in one way or another.”

“...” Greg actually shut it. He didn’t speak any further but didn’t back down either. Maintaining his stance, Heian Ciemnosc only glared at Greg and his entourage a little more before returning to the center of their 10,000 group before starting to speak after spinning to look at everyone on the spot.

“I got news and answers from the Supervisor yesterday. First,” Heian Ciemnosc crouched, placed a device on the floor, and stood back up. As he continued speaking, the device revealed a hologram with a map of the Region they were currently in. “Our mission here is over, and these items must be rapidly delivered to the Academy. However, there’s another thing. According to the information about the place little Fera gathered, there can be good things inside to help in anyone’s cultivation base.”

“I’m not sure if it is for any Step considering that place’s stories and tales, but I can assure everyone here in the First Step will benefit because of it. Don’t mistake things. The lethality of going there is almost certain. With me, that ‘certain’ became only near. That means… if we go there, you will follow every instruction I showed each team leader when we first started the trip to the Sanz Kingdom.”

“I know most of you wish not to risk it, and that makes sense. But I do have reasons to do it. We’ll make a vote, but since this is not a democracy, we’ll simply decide if we go there or not for ourselves, not as a whole. We’ll start with me. I and my Concealed Ornament Team will enter that place to look for treasures and fortune. Now you,” Heian Ciemnosc generally said as he walked out of the center, letting others take a step forward to declare their intentions.

“I… rather not go…” - “I won’t either.” - “My team also won’t go.” - “We won’t be going there…” - “I’m ready to follow Commander. Appoint my team as ready, sir!” - “We’ll follow you, Commander.”

The students started making their own decisions. Some teams didn’t need to communicate through their medallions, coming to a consensus, and directly refused or agreed to this extra trip. Elena’s Crystal Fist Team accepted, but only some people would go. The rest would return to the Academy, which was wise. Cari wanted to speak after Elena, but Heian Ciemnosc shook his head towards him. Cari thus waited and respected Heian Ciemnosc’s intentions.

Finally, after everyone except Cari’s team and Greg’s entourage decided, with a 77% of the students returning home. Heian Ciemnosc looked at Greg and asked in a lackadaisical manner. He asked with a light tone, “What is your choice?”

“Me? Aaah~! Haha, we will stay, of course! Why wouldn’t we? We can’t miss this, too.” Greg said. His teams calmly nodded and looked at Heian Ciemnosc as if looking at the idiots of idiots. Heian Ciemnosc nodded without looking at them and walked towards Cari, who wanted to speak to him.

“Heian Ciemnosc, I want to stay as well,” Cari said. He was close and capable enough to cover his words with Spirit Sense. Only if Greg tried to pry on them with his Spirit Sense, under Arla’s watch, would have them be heard. Naturally, Greg didn’t dare to do that. Heian Ciemnosc whispered into Cari’s ears as the latter’s eyes opened to a full. “I need someone to safely return the Academy’s money change and the items. Only with you can I be sure you won’t be ‘funny’ about this.”

“I understand. I will return as well,” Cari nodded and took the Inferior Covert Space bag, with only the two of them knowing what happened. Greg kept looking at Heian Ciemnosc’s back in a bothersome way and peeping at the females with him, especially Fera. Cari turned around and joined the crowd as Heian Ciemnosc returned to the center and directed his words to everybody. “Since the mission’s goal has concluded, but the Commander isn’t returning, you’ll have to wait a week before another spaceship traveling to the Wrath Nihility Academy’s Universe arrives.”

“Until then, feel free to see the City around. Don’t cause any trouble. But if there is some, come to me. We are not supposed to be afraid of it.” Heian Ciemnosc saw many sighs in relief inside their minds at the ringing of his words. He then directed his speech at those 2,000-something who would remain. “The rest should keep a low profile, mediate, cultivate, and train until the end of the week. We’ll wait until our fellow students leave before departing for that place.”

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“Thank you, Commander!” - “We’ll get ready in time, sir.” - “Are we free to go? I saw a boy’s brothel last night, and I’m still not done being nicely ‘hugged’ by many strong arms… mmm~.”

“Go. One last warning. I have requested for the Academy’s transport to arrive 1 week before the year’s third month. If anyone doesn’t return before the start of the third last day of the second month, we’ll leave without you. And as for those who will leave in a week… If, for whatever reason, you think you can evade your responsibilities, I will personally punish you as I see fit if you dare to try returning with us next month! You may leave.” Heian Ciemnosc calmly said.

A few cowardly fellows’ eyes widened before relaxing, feeling more glad their Commander spoke these things beforehand and not after they decided to risk their lives. From the looks of it, this Commander, who had been ‘just a child’ a few years back, was now a different person. However, the students felt glad it was this way, nothing like a meager kid trying to order them what and how to do everything.

Step, step, step. As they vacated the underground garage, Heian Ciemnosc and Elena were slowly left alone under the obscure place, yet illuminated Fighters all around. With the world to themselves and Greg no longer grounded here, Heian Ciemnosc and Elena looked at each other as the former leaned his head to the left, and the latter looked up proudly at how tall her husband was. Not that it mattered, but after being beaten back and forth by him and pinned against even a barrier made of pure air, she was convinced it was significant in Heian Ciemnosc.

“I know I should leave, but. Can I also go? My Sect is going there too, definitely!” A young girl’s head popped behind Elena as Fera spoke. They looked at her, with Elena twisting her neck, as they saw the desire and worship this little thing had for them. They were older than her by a few years, but it felt like she was their little sweetheart. Heian Ciemnosc looked at those large black eyes more before succumbing to cuteness. “You can come, but obey my every word. Elena here will guide you through the things you must listen and adhere to from today onwards.”

“Me? Why? What did I do to deserve this?” Elena frowned her charming, woman-maturing face and held Heian Ciemnosc’s hands fiercely while asking as if threatening to hurt his long, slender, and attractive hands… Mmm…

Pah. Heian Ciemnosc slapped her wrists, and Elena quickly noticed her blush. Ignoring his Elena, Heian Ciemnosc looked at Fera again, who enjoyed their little gimmicks, before saying. “She will be your Big Sis since I am your Big Bro. It wasn’t a joke, you know? She’s really my wife. Can’t you tell the strange fluctuations between us even when we are not close?”

“Ooooh~...” Fera’s eyes widened. She gained more worldly experience with Heian Ciemnosc’s indicating words. But she also realized her peeping had been noticed and slapped her left sideburn, “Aiyo!”

As the night passed, Heian Ciemnosc watched as Elena and Fera got to know each other. He felt somewhat glad to fill this tiny spot in Elena’s heart as he couldn’t give it to her naturally. Heian Ciemnosc enjoyed the process.

. . .

Days passed by quickly.

Heian Ciemnosc enjoyed seeing not only the girls interact with Fera more and Esteban and the others becoming best bros to her, but he also enjoyed a reverse gangbang! He was finally mating with 3 women again! Last time, it was with his wives and either Tania or Grietta. Strangely, he was never banged by 4 women at once, which was curious. Anyhow, Heian Ciemnosc tasted Elena, Sakura, and Arla altogether. Exhilarated and pleasured to no end as not a part of him was left without feeling pleasure in the 2 days’ worth of carnal times with them during the week.

Elena was still ‘shy’ when sharing her plate, so she only received tongue and fingers as she either watched Heian Ciemnosc destroy the brains of either of the other two or was doing that to herself. All in all, Sakura and Arla found themselves enjoying sharing their lesbian expertise, competing to please the other 2 with their mouths in all imaginable ways. It was a crazy time for the Golden Array Snakes. Good thing it was just an Artifact and not an Armament or a rare Relic with a Soul.

On the other hand, the students soon to leave enjoyed their time in the Medium City like no other fella. They went from section to section every day, meeting new places and doing all sorts of things, from betting to competing and from sparring to finding new recipes and methods to practice Craftsmaking. They used their time wisely to experience as much of their trip here as possible. There was no need to endanger their lives, and Heian Ciemnosc didn’t employ any tactic to get them to stay and help him secure more benefits.

Towards this, Elena was silent. She wasn’t stupid, nor were the others on this trip, but she was also willing to risk her life a little to find ways to grow stronger. Elena was also of a similar mindset to Heian Ciemnosc, especially after experiencing quite a few things alongside him. She wouldn’t let others be sacrificed for her benefit. It wasn’t something she would ever want to do. Heian Ciemnosc, similarly, loathed such ideals.

Others, such as Sakura and Arla, weren’t complaining a bit. Arla had no feelings for the pale, hung young man. Sakura was still thinking about it because she genuinely wasn’t fond of men but also not obstinate. His and Elena’s team members were okay with it. After all, these leaders already helped them grow this much, be it during the war or peaceful times. It wouldn’t be bad for them to grow hella stronger, too.

Day quickly passed by. Above the underground hangar, the floor opened and slid in twisted trajectories to reveal a few thousand Fighters getting ready to take flight, already hovering above the hangar’s floor. However, they didn’t send air everywhere. It wasn’t an aerial fighter, nor did it need to force its way into the skies with the gravitational array formations and/or devices.

Ssrriiiiiee~, sliiiiiide~, craaaaank~.

Machine noises could be barely heard by Heian Ciemnosc’s unique hearing senses. He was amazed as he looked at the mechanisms beneath his feet. Even though they were layers of armor as thick as his leg, they would turn into thin layers of semi-liquid and semi-solid that would overlap each other between all the opened hatches’ structures.

“Go! Return!” Heian Ciemnosc said, not bothering to take his medallion out or activate his Universal Conveyance with his Spirit Sense. At once, the Fighters below seemed to hear him as they all faced the sky and shot into it!

Pfu, pfu, pfu, pfu, pfu, pfu… wheesh wheesh wheesh wheesh…

Their speed and momentum were still limited, but even for Heian Ciemnosc, it was exceptionally snappy and filled with tremendous vigor. As he watched those Fighters dissipate up into the sky, his endless gaze followed their smallish engine’s contrails as they passed from patrolling team to another until they finally penetrated into space when Heian Ciemnosc could barely see them detour to enter one of the space station’s lightning hangars.

“Mn, let’s go,” Heian Ciemnosc lowered his head and said. He walked to the underground garage’s stairs, surprising the leading worker around as Heian Ciemnosc approached him and calmly said. “I want to go out with the rest of the Fighters outside the City. Can you arrange it for me?”

“R- right now??” The lead worker asked for confirmation, his eyes unbelievable as he saw Heian Ciemnosc nod at his words, keeping his head low. The worker nodded back but added after hesitating to say something, which Heian Ciemnosc noticed and halted his steps so the worker could get some confidence.

“Be careful then. These days, many people have gone outside the City and headed in the same direction.” The lead worker didn’t have to inquire about Heian Ciemnosc’s objective. It would also be plainly rude. Heian Ciemnosc understood and said a few words to the caring lead worker. “Mmm, it’s alright. Thank you for the reminder.”

“Ah, please have this. The higher-ups told me to give this to you if you ever went outside the City, but you didn’t, so I didn’t give it to you until now. As long as you ignite it however you cultivators do, a peak Third Step cultivator will come to your aid.” The lead worker passed a talisman to Heian Ciemnosc, whose properties made the latter’s eyebrows jump in praise. They were of a complexity and quality he couldn’t match at all.

“Tell you what,” Heian Ciemnosc looked at the lead worker, didn’t accept the talisman, and softly pushed it into a holding hand of the latter before smiling and speaking face-to-face. “You keep it and save yourself someday. If even I need the help of someone while dealing with whatever is there, nobody will be able to save me.”

“Ah…” The lead worker was paralyzed by the prospect of Heian Ciemnosc’s words, meaning he could deal with what an almost peak Third Step organization couldn’t for millions of years. When he sobered up, he realized this talisman was useless for him! Only cultivators knew how to activate it. Even if civilians were told how to, they still wouldn’t know how to trigger it in their way. Setting it on fire never worked, even for the weakest talismans. Only energy worked!

‘Sigh, whatever. If any of my grandchildren end up as cultivators, I’ll give this to them, maybe one day…’ The lead worker walked to the terminal to notify the central command tower of Heian Ciemnosc’s second request for departure. This time, it was only outside the Medium City and not the Kingdom, so it wouldn’t take long.

However, because Heian Ciemnosc was mentioned to come out with a frankly small force, it took a little more time before Heian Ciemnosc and his group, ready on their seats to pilot their Fighters and prepared to set off, were allowed to take flight into the skies of the Sanz Upper Kingdom!

…