On the outskirts of the aura barrier that concealed and protected Seleria from the outside three figures suddenly appeared out of thin air as it seemed to the naked eye. “Whoa! I can’t believe this, we are actually in space?” this voice belonged to Eitri, who struggled to gain footing as he floated, unable to gain balance. Of course, being a Spectral, his body was quite durable and didn’t need oxygen so being in space was fine. Asura, who was flailing around, finally managed to stand straight before glancing over at Seleria.

“Ooo....”

he let out a strange sound while looking over at it with fascination. Avrin, of course, had a slightly nervous look that he concealed quickly. He spoke to the two. “Both of you don’t move from here.” Avrin didn’t wait any longer as he moved slowly and carefully out of the aura boundary, entering the Spectral domain. He cautiously glanced around, his Divine Sense having extended to its full extent.

He couldn’t feel anything living or moving, not a sign of that strange entity or any wraiths. “-It doesn’t seem to be patient...good...-”Moving back in, Avrin reached over and grabbed both Eitri and Asura by the shoulders before exiting the boundary, “Hey, why do you look troubled?” Eitri noticed Avrin acting a little strange and decided to ask.

“It’s nothing, let me focus for a second.” shutting his eyes, Avrin engulfed them in his Divine Sense before Divine Stepping with them both. Of course, because he wasn’t used to the Spectral domain yet and was taking two Spectrals with him the maximum distance he could reach was several thousand kilometers but it was enough to reach the surface of the planet.

Asura and Eitri trembled, feeling their bodies quiver. Of course, Divine Stepping would be different in the Spectral domain. However, it was more the shock that came from arriving at a strange twisted looking planet.

“Huh? Master, this place...” Asura frowned a little as he looked around, seemingly not impressed. Eitri too didn’t seem happy. “Well, that kills the excitement! Avrin, boy, did you trick us? Damn, I should have stayed behind.” giving a sigh Eitri frowned.

Avrin gave a sigh of relief that he had managed to reach the planet safely. He wouldn’t want to encounter that creature again with his current strength. That being said, he turned to glance at the two. “Heh, pay attention and watch.” with that said an aura of dark matter pulsed and engulfed him and the other two.

Out of the Spectral domain, within the same location of the planet, space began to twist as static began to gather and slight rips in space formed with a strange energy seeping through and reforming into the three of figures.

“Gwuah...” Asura quickly dropped to his knees and held his stomach and mouth as he wanted to vomit. Eitri was no better as he fell on his butt holding both sides of his head with his hands as he had a splitting headache.

“It’s an aftereffect, it won’t happen again. That being said, welcome to our second temporary home.” Avrin casually glanced around, his Divine Sense extending a bit to see if anyone was within the vicinity. “Good, it doesn’t seem like anyone is close. Eitri.”

Eitri, hearing his name, grumbled before managing to slowly stand up, but not before giving a glare at Avrin. “Shit...you could have warned me beforehand. My head...hurts damn it...” the dwarven Spectral took several deep breaths by habit, hoping it would help.

Asura was willing dark matter within his stomach to help ease it. “Master...please let me go back...I don’t like this place.” Asura was simply a halfwit in Avrin’s eyes. He didn’t like to be around Avrin, but Avrin didn’t really care. He had some use for him and he wouldn’t leave him to his own machinations just yet.

“Asura, you can pick one of two tasks. One is to assist Shaded Moon and guard over the store, the second, you can go train the Spectral ants on this planet. Eitri, your task isn’t hard either, just like I said back on Seleria. I trust that you will improve upon Sigil crafting as well as forging somehow, and the best place right now to do it is on this planet with a richer variety of resources.”

“Ah good! I’ve been meaning to examine things a bit more carefully, I believe I can find a medium between both forging and Sigil crafting, but I just lacked quality material that could last. Just send me where I need to go and I’ll get started.”

Avrin glanced curiously at him. “Are you sure it was wise for you to not choose an assistant? You may need the help.” Eitri responded. “None of them were proficient enough in Sigil crafting and all of them would just get in my way. I also need them to make sure supply of equipment is kept in line. There are many of us and me leaving is already a hit on it. Right now I need to focus my efforts on not only training these new Spectrals but also improving my skills.”

“Good! “ Avrin’s Divine Sense extended out and engulfed the entire underground Spectral colony, his voice transmitting to all the high ranking Spectral ants. “--Listen carefully all of you. I’m sending a pure blood to help teach you another method of creating equipment.

His orders are no less than Ailirion’s, so do well to learn as much as you can--” Avrin didn’t seem to look around much, the underground colony had been improved to a decent degree. Many of them had begun to reform their homes so that they were less dirt shacks and more proper, using the home Avrin created as a source of inspiration.

The architecture, though, was a bit strange, but amazing in its own right. It resembled a mix of layered bricking and columns with layered roofing along with carvings. Each home had different carvings, as if it were a sign of who lived within.

The Spectrals that had received the divine link had all responded in greeting and acceptance as they all knew Avrin’s voice. After giving them a location, Avrin glanced at Eitri and nodded. Eitri prepared himself before he was Divine Stepped many kilometers away to the second Spectral city.

“Asura, have you made a decision?” Avrin understood time right now was quite valuable, but he wanted to be somewhat fair and gave Asura some time. “Hmnn...” Asura pictured Ailirion and cringed slightly as he imagined a whole colony of Spectrals that appeared as mysterious as him.

“-Ahh, damn it, why couldn’t I stay on Seleria. At least then I could have befriended Izanami! -” he gave a pitiful yet conflicted look before sighing and speaking. “I...I’ll help guard the store, Master...” Avrin nodded and glanced at him for a moment.

“Asura, you need to understand that it does not matter to me whether you hate me or not, what I am doing right now is for the benefit of our race. It wouldn’t be hard for me to simply leave you all to your own lives, but right now none of you are powerful enough to protect each other. When that day comes then what you all do is not my problem, I am simply helping the process along.”

Of course, Avrin wanted to give Asura the notion that once things are settled he will be done and go, but deep inside Avrin had a strange soft spot for his race. It irritated him a little but also made him happy, as it was a sign that he still had some humanity left.

“Mnm...” Asura grumbled in a conflicted manner before nodding. He would treat it as him and Avrin traveling again. He had gotten used to being the boss, but now he was simply a minion so to speak.

Avrin gave a soft smile before nodding. Without another thought, he Divine Stepped Asura and himself away before reappearing within the Shaded Moon interior. Avrin’s attention was diverted to the Spectral colony beneath the ground, looking carefully to notice Eitri was already ordering around the Spectrals as if he knew what to do.

“-It seems he wants them to show him what ores they have. It’s a good thing those were stockpiled. If I left Tardiff here they would probably all be devoured. Why do I get the ones that eat too much-” Avrin frowned a little.

Asura curiously glanced around with awe at the interior of the store. “Incredible...” his jaw dropped somewhat, revealing his sharpened teeth. “Master, is this really the store? It looks so strange...is this how buildings on this planet look? The surroundings looked like Seleria a little bit and I paid no attention...damn I was wrong...”

Asura had gotten over his small fit quite quickly as his mood was easily affected, though his attention was fixed on the architecture of the building with fascination.

“If you want to stand out and grab attention from potential buyers you need to take advantage of everything that can change it. When we get more popularity I have more plans, but yes this is Shaded Moon and where you will be making sure no troublemakers cause issues when I need to handle other matters. Of course, you also need to...huh?”

While Avrin was talking he searched Shaded Moon with his Divine Sense. He couldn’t find Calomia or Ilisia and thought they were outside gathering or doing something and he kept expanding it. After expanding it for forty-thousand kilometers he still couldn't find them, a monstrous forty-thousand.

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He quickly became quiet and expanded it to the maximum range of eighty-thousand kilometers, but still couldn’t find them. He gave a solemn expression. What he did notice though were the mercenaries who were supposed to be keeping an eye on Shaded Moon looking around the forest area as if they were searching for something. They all seemed haggard and tired.

Avrin’s face twisted a little before he spoke. “Wait here till I get back.” with that said he vanished. A fair distance away from Shaded Moon, Urkan was within the Anzazia mercenary home base. He was holding one hand against his head while glancing over a map with circles.

He looked tired and nervous. Right now several people were around him. “This is ridiculous!!! How can you not find any traces of them....just who is it that attacked!!...Shit!!” Urkan gripped the ink pen tightly, snapping it and throwing it against the floor before standing up.

“C-Commander, we have already spent quite a few resources and used all our connections, but not a word. All that we know is the same time they disappeared several of our men on usual patrol around Shaded Moon were knocked unconscious, and when they woke up they found that other creatures were also in the same state. Whoever it is that is responsible most likely is powerful and has some conflict with Shaded Moon. I suggest we keep out of this.” this was one of the other lower leaders of Anzazia who was sweating bullets while speaking. Urkan clenched his teeth.

“You damned...” Urkan stopped as he glanced over at his underlings seeing pale looks of fear as they trembled. He raised his brow before one of them slowly pointed behind Urkan.

Urkan’s eyes widened before turning around to look behind him. He spotted Avrin with the hood over his head, and his face changed.

“I see...so that’s what’s going on huh...” Urkan froze as if he were a statue. He wasn’t sure what to say to Avrin. His heart was feeling an intense fright, he had gotten used to Avrin’s mysterious aura-less presence but for some odd reason, he sensed a deep danger.

“Mister...Mister Avrin, welcome back...but...since you have heard everything it seems....the only culprits we can think of is the Artificer Consortium. They took a hit not too long ago but quickly recovered soon after and are doing even better than before.”

Avrin tilted his head and gave a thoughtful look. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions and lose his patience. Whoever was the culprit most likely took Calomia and Ilisia with them to use as some sort of leverage to scare Avrin. If they wanted something from Avrin then they wouldn’t harm them, though that was just his belief.

 “Stop your search, it’s pointless. I’ll handle the issue. I’ll contact you when I’m done, thank you for the assistance.” Avrin then vanished in a haze of ash right in front of their eyes.

Urkan dropped back into his seat as he gave a heavy sigh. “What a dangerous individual...heh...the Artificer Consortium branch really messed up if they were behind it all.”

Within the village of Roth, trade was booming as shops and stalls were open with vendors selling their wares to adventurers who were eager to upgrade. Of course, right now there was one place that was busier than the rest, this was the Artificer Consortium branch that had somehow shot up with the items they were creating in a single day.

The Highland Syndicate store was only half as busy, showing just how much the difference was.Within the branch of the consortium, Meutin was sitting in his office with a wide grin on his face as he was reading profit reports. Beside him was a female assistant who was holding documents and would every now and then take the one Meutin was reading after he used an ink stamp on the piece of paper.

“-Good. If we can keep up this pace we can restore all connections that those bastards at Shaded Moon destroyed and profit even more. Eventually we can even run those Highland Syndicate fools out of here. Hehe, the Four Heavens must love me if fate has sent a Grand Forerunner to handle the pests-”

Of course, Meutin should have known that fate was not one to choose sides. His words spoken to himself were truly wrong. The entire room trembled for a moment, Meutin quickly looked up feeling something was wrong. He was just about to stand up but felt a heavy pressure on him. A surge of Nebula Mist engulfed him and the assistant before a Phantom Pulse pressed over the Nebula Mist, locking them in place.

Forming from dark matter, Avrin’s figure was revealed. He glanced at Meutin and spoke. “Ten seconds. Tell me who is responsible for attacking Shaded Moon. Otherwise, the moments after these ten seconds will be excruciatingly painful for everyone within this building. Man or woman, it makes no difference to me.”

Meutin glanced at Avrin with a trace of shock as he struggled with fear. He looked from the corner of his eyes to see his assistant doing the same thing. She was just about to scream but Avrin’s Phantom Pulse extended over to her lips, causing them to shut. She began to mumble and squirm.

“Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...” Avrin began a countdown. Meutin simply laughed as he spoke with pride and caution. “It makes no difference!! You shouldn’t have made an enemy of the Artificer Consortium. You attracted the attention and anger of a Grand Forerunner! Hahaha, if I were you I would pack up and leave....in fact, never return!!”

Avrin thought for a moment before speaking. “Where does this Grand Forerunner live?” Meutin blinked with surprise before bursting out in laughter. “HAHAHA! Y...you actually think it makes a difference!! The only reason I’m telling you is because it doesn’t matter who you are.

You can’t hurt a being that is a God!! But I’ll humor you. Not too far from the province of Lav’Faliva is where the Artificer Consortium’s headquarters is located, a place of unimaginable magnificence and prosperity, ruled by gods and children smiled upon by the Four Heavens. Do you think a little worm like y-?”

Avrin gave an expressionless look before he willed the Nebula Mist into action. Almost in a near instant, Meutin was disintegrated. Avrin would not bother converting such trash into a Dark Core, it would leave a bad taste in his mouth as if he were absorbing some of his stupidity. Avrin was quite irritated with this branch of the Artificer Consortium, for now, he would leave it and handle the main issue at hand.

He still had time to tie loose ends.

Avrin had read about the province of Lav’Faliva in a book he purchased in Roth and understood its size which exceeded the scope of his Divine Sense for now. It took a single Divine Step before appearing in the grassy mountainous plains that were also being used to herd a special kind of animal. Ignoring the inhabitants, Avrin focused his Divine Sense again.

This time he got results. Though he was a bit at a loss what to think. He wondered why Calomia hadn’t used the object he gave her but also felt it was a good decision. If she used it she would most likely have been found. Avrin could sense the massive castle that was the headquarters of the Artificer Consortium.

Within it were thousands of individuals of varying strength, including six new Deities, three high Deities, and one Elder Deity. None of which had noticed Avrin’s Divine Sense. Avrin felt the small device Calomia kept on her which was dark matter allowing him to pinpoint them in an instant. He found them behind bars in a cell, which made him frown.

Avrin waved his hand as if to try and Divine Step them out, but the moment dark matter began to form around them the cell emitted a rune that sent out a pulse that dispersed the dark matter.

Calomia and Ilisia, who were inside the cell, were frightened by what was going on but looked around with curiosity. “Grandma?” Ilisia spoke with uncertainty. Calomia nodded. “He’s here.”

The moment the cell emitted that rune, Tyron was instantly alerted. He snickered before he used his finger to form an aqua colored rune. The moment the rune was formed it expanded and engulfed Tyron.

Within the prison, in the corner of Calomia and Ilisia’s cell, the ground lit up with that same rune and expanded upward to show Tyron had teleported there. He didn’t waste time before rushing over and snickering. He reached up and grabbed Ilisia by her hair and raised her up.

“AHH!..” Ilisia let out a scream “STOP!” Calomia shouted out and rushed over to try and rescue Ilisia, but was kicked to the side by Tyron. Of course, he controlled his strength. “Scram, withered husk.” he cursed at her somewhat before speaking up in laughter. “Hahaha...don’t try and trick me. Owner of Shaded Moon, was it? I know you’re he-”

Tyron felt his mind twist and tremble as his vision faded into darkness. The moment this happened the entire castle shook, causing some of the towers to crack and even fall apart. This alerted the other Deities in the Artificer Consortium.

“What was that? It came from the dungeon.” a Deity with a black fitted leather robes with chain straps spoke. The tome on his face reflected two moons that emitted a faint glow. This was one of the high Deities that were within a large chamber. Beside him was Vice Magister Elorin, who had a bitter look. “That’s the dungeon Tyron is presiding over. That fool is up to no good. Arch Thero’lizer, I will handle this issue.”

Seated on a small flat stool was an individual wearing a deep azure robe that covered their entire figure. Not moving an inch, they gave no response. Their right hand was waved up to the right as if giving acceptance to Elorin’s words. Elorin nodded with a snicker under his tome mask.

Within the dungeon chamber, a crack in the ground was formed as a figure was lying motionlessly. Avrin was knelt over with his right hand grasping the head of Tyron who he had smashed into the ground and defeated with one anger filled move. Avrin’s right hand was missing the leather covering, showing that the force he put into that hit was more than his clothes could handle.

Avrin’s face was darkened, he knew things would get dangerous and immediately Divine Stepped Calomia and Ilisia away. With this point blank distance it was not interrupted at all.

Avrin then casually raised Tyron up by his head. Tyron’s face was bloodied and his body trembling. His tome mask was cracked and shattered to reveal his bloodied face. Despite that, Avrin glanced to see that a metallic like aura reflecting runes was emitting around Tyron’s skin.

“Hmm...So this is the strength of a High Magus.” Avrin spoke with a casual expression. Tyron was badly bruised, despite having a fortified layer of magical protection it was nearly completely shattered. Under Avrin’s strength, Tyron’s entire mana pool within his mana core was depleted. Another attack from Avrin would surely end him.

Avrin gave a crude grin, revealing his pearl white set of teeth. He glanced at Tyron not as if he were a living being but as if he were a resource. “You’re going to make a fine Dark Core. “

Avrin raised his left hand with Nebula Mist gathering, preparing to engulf Tyron. But at that moment his eyes turned to the right as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Elorin was behind Avrin with a cautious stance. “Friend, to have defeated Grand forerunner Tyron you must be quite strong, but you have made a very very big mistake attacking our Artificer Consortium. Do you have any idea who we are? No Deity on Tya’shara is clueless about the Second Heaven alliance. Who the hell do you think you are?!!”

Elorin was a high Deity with a sense of superiority even among Deities. He saw new Deities as weak. Of course, he couldn’t feel Avrin’s strength, but it was nothing new for a mage to hide one’s power. Elorin looked at Avrin carefully, ready to attack if he made a move on Tyron. Of course, what he saw was Avrin turn his hood covered head to face him.

Elorin felt a dangerous sense of urgency as he spotted a malicious grin on Avrin’s face.

Elorin raised his left hand on instinct and spoke out. “Epitaph of Protection.” a flood of runes surged out from Elorin’s hand, converging in front of him. But at that moment, Avrin unleashed a powerful Phantom Pulse that smashed right against the shield.

The force of the attack caused a sonic boom as Elorin was blown away like a ragdoll. Whenever he bounced on the ground, a flash of greyish light would form right under the part of his body that would be hit, protecting him from the damage.

After being knocked away several dozens of meters, Elorin began to get up on his knees with a sense of surprise. Around him, the ceiling of the dungeon was crumbling from the sonic boom and force formed from Avrin’s Phantom Pulse hitting his shield.

Elorin was stunned. From the side of his lips, blood was leaking out. He could feel his organs were shaken and injured somewhat. He clenched his teeth and spat out a small mouthful of blood.

He raised his right hand and a four meter long staff that was half a foot thick except for the part it was held was revealed. The shaft of the staff was a strange brown wood that emitted a living sort of reflection, almost like a dirty mirror. At the tip of the staff was a round black orb with an orange aura around it. It gave off a chilling mana, one could tell this weapon was not normal.

“H...how dare you!!” Avrin ignored Elorin and focused on Tyron again. He was just about to start again, but Elorin acted before him. “Shadow Epitaph: Chaos Entangle!” as Elorin spoke he drew runes with his left hand which moved at a quick speed. The runes drawn emitted a dark mana aura.

The moment he finished the runes clumped up together and began to form a sphere of darkness. Elorin raised the enormous staff in his hand and tapped the end onto the ground, sending a heavy pulse. The orb on the staff tip emitted a dark light that affected Elorin’s spell.

The strange spell began to twist and form before static formed around it. A beam of dark light shot into the sky and almost immediately clouds began to gather around it almost like a vortex. The center of this vortex was an ominous black.