Sabrina couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Even though she, Hector, and Sabrina were closer after the breakthrough, Dante's absence was weighing on the shadow cultivator's mood. The young man's affectionate personality, always trying to take care of the team, left a vacuum that was impossible to fill.
In an attempt to reduce the guilt she felt about leaving Dante behind, Sabrina reminded herself that school would be even more dangerous for him.
The last few days had proven that.
After the team returned, constantly someone from the Draco clan watched them. She suspected that if they hadn't advanced to Gold, those bastards would have attacked by now.
"You should stop worrying so much. If we had brought Dante with us, we would only have put him at risk," Hector said, trying to comfort Sabrina. "You know how resilient he is. I'm sure by the time we find him again, he'll be almost Gold."
Rim was, as usual, fiddling with her metal objects. As the days passed, the three of them continued to kill monsters so as not to fall behind in the rankings. Of course, none of them were really trying. Now that they had awakened the Oversoul, the proper focus was on discovering the new limits of the new ability.
After saying goodbye to Hector and Rim, Sabrina went to the lobby to check everyone's rankings.
Hector was in sixth place, unsurprisingly. Sabrina was next, in ninth place, and Rim in twelfth. Of the top twenty rankings, the Draco clan occupied eleven.
Her heart tightened as she looked for Dante. The boy was in position 110. Although she knew his score would only change when he came back and delivered his Harvester, she couldn't imagine a world in which every member of the team didn't move on to the next phase. Knowing Dante well, points should not be the boy's major focus. He must be training like crazy to get stronger.
"Looks like the competition is getting tougher," said Nadia, who had quietly approached Sabrina.
"Oh, hi Nadia," Sabrina replied. She knew Nadia through Dante, although she had never spoken to her much.
"These little brats are oppressing the other disciples more and more. The hostility between them and the other clans is increasing. But with you guys it seems personal," said the young woman.
Sabrina gave a long sigh. She knew it was natural in the world of cultivators for clans to accumulate resource, and consequently power. She didn't feel bad for her and her team, as everyone was making progress. The worst off were the smaller clans, who didn't have the strength to carry out an offensive against the Draco clan.
"It's personal. Don't worry, we'll sort it out soon," Sabrina replied. The confrontation would soon be inevitable. The problem was that they didn't have many allies yet. Just the three of them couldn't defeat an entire clan.
Looking at the rankings again, she noticed that after the top 20, things got more democratic. Other clans were showing up significantly. One consequence of concentrating resources at the top of the pyramid was that the bottom would starve, after all.
The number of cultivators who reached Gold was growing. Despite this, Sabrina was not so worried, as most had not exactly developed Oversoul. Few had a super strong elder than their personal teacher.
Still, she could not afford to waste time. After saying goodbye to Nadia, Sabrina headed for the nearest entrance to the underground. This time, she didn't rationalize her choice by the Qi type of the monsters, but by the proximity. She would need to exterminate as many monsters as possible to buy more cultivation materials.
Even though Dante was far away, Sabina was careful to always go in the opposite direction of the boy. Any hint of Dante's location could deliver him into the hands of his enemies.
When she went underground again, she quickly identified the ambient Qi. Small thunders echoed off the cave walls. The opening part was full of cultivators, who probably did not risk exploring the dungeon any further. Thus, she looked for a place where she could fight quietly, without worrying about showing her skills or hurting anyone.
In this, she envied Dante. He was at the edge of the cave, in a place that most disciples would probably never reach. There must be no shortage of monsters for the fire cultivator to fight.
"So you're the lucky ones this time," Sabrina said to the humanoid monster in front of her.
The monsters with thunder Qi looked like a mixture of gorilla body and tiger head. Electricity enveloped them, giving a sense of static in the air.
Sabrina smiled and closed her eyes. With just a thought, Qi circulated through her meridians as she activated the Oversoul.
Night-colored wings formed on her back, and she could feel the darkness of the cave. While with the Oversoul activated, all the cultivator's abilities grew stronger.
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Although she still didn't know exactly what the wings were for, they would certainly be a good way to scare her enemies. She felt herself becoming a genuine lady of the shadows more than ever.
Diligently following Sabrina's orders, hundreds of shadow hands attacked the humanoid monsters in the environment. In response, the monsters tried to counterattack with blows of electricity.
The cultivator had learned not to underestimate C-class monsters. With her skills strengthened to the maximum, Sabrina felt that her shadow limbs were getting stronger. She had the impression that some were coming out of their wings, and not out of their hair. Perhaps the wings had a purpose other than to make her look like a bat, after all.
When her shadow hands–which were now the size of hector's hands–clasped the enemies, Sabrina didn't flinch. The breaking of her enemy's bones was the symphony of victory, and the reddened ground the red carpet for the lady of shadows.
After resorting to the spoils with her harvester as usual, she continued following through the cave and doing the same thing.
She collected the rewards with her harvester. Sabrina continued exploring the dungeon until she felt something different in the air. A Qi higher than the others, denser.
She looked at one room with greed in her gaze. Class C monsters had very variable powers. A leader at the top of the food chain was infinitely stronger than a minion.
Still, she would have to be careful. In case the creature was a B-class monster, it would be foolish of her to attack without support. She had learned the immensity of power that such creatures possess.
In any case, the hunt for the shadows would continue, for the hunter was not yet satisfied. It was time for the monsters to feel fear.
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At the edge of the Sapphire Sect, Xiao Draco and Xun Draco waited anxiously. They had been trying for weeks to find that damned white-haired cultivator. Soon after he had entered the cave with his friends, they had not located him. They ordered the clan officials to search for those, but had no success.
"Very well, young ones. I am happy with your punctuality." The sudden voice made Xiao and Xun jump, startled. They expected to be visited, but that didn't make the encounter any less frightening.
"We live to serve, elder," Xiao said as he bowed his torso in reverence.
Elder Zeng was the kind of cultivator who demanded respect. Whether for his fortune or cruelty, he was used to people bending to his wishes.
With disgust, Xun did the same as his brother.
"Looks like the wonder boy didn't show up today," said the elder angrily.
Xun did his best to disguise the disgust on his face. If only Xing Draco had been with them, the encounter would not have been so frightening. But without Xing present, there wasn't much to be done.
After a long sigh, the elder looked at the boys again. "Any news on the arrangements?"
"Everything is according to your instructions, honorable elder. Our clan is falling behind in positions, just as you ordered. It won't be long before they begin to underestimate us," Xiao said. Xiao was thin and tall, unlike his brother. Also, different was his personality. He knew it was no use fighting with the Draco clan. It was better to obey without causing trouble.
"Very good. Don't forget to wipe out those who don't hand over the resources to you. Our clan will not tolerate disobedience," added the Elder.
Xun looked away in anger. If only the other young masters would refuse to obey that stupid plan. It was true that he was third in the raking, and Xun was second. But they alone offered no threat to elder Zeng.
The elder saw that something bothered Xun. "What's the matter, young man? You will not tell me that you feel sorry for those filth ones. With what the Onyx Sect has promised us, our clan will finally be able to ascend. One or the other dead makes no difference. The important thing is to get what we want for the clan," the elder spoke maliciously.
"Yes, Elder," said Xun. He controlled the tone of his voice as much as he could. He was angry, but he knew he couldn't rejoice. For his family's sake.
"Have you made any progress in destabilizing those four?" asked the elder.
Xiao could not disguise his embarrassed tone. "Unpredictable events happen, Elder. Dante disappeared, and the other three ascended to Gold. If we could attack them openly...Meanwhile, we are looking for that Phoenix boy."
Since they were on the edge of the Sapphire Sect territory, a Qi barrier protected Xiao and Xun. Even so, they could feel the pressure coming from elder Zeng.
"Even though you are the most promising, don't forget that you are disposable."
Silence marked the way back to the castle. With the sunlight reflecting off Xun's bald head, he just wanted to go to his room. He was third, Xiao second, and Xing first. That had always been the order in which the cousins were treated. Xun knew Xiao was only behaving for the clan's sake, but Xing...That man was just cruel.
With the speed of a body shaped by Qi and martial arts, it didn't take long for them to get back to the castle.
"So, did you put that grouchy old man in his place?" said Xing, as soon as they reached the clan room. In fact, the Draco clan occupied almost an entire floor, but the three prodigies got the biggest room.
"Next time you go over and do that, how about it?" replied Xun. He had no patience left.
With superhuman strength, Xing got up from the chair he was in and pressed Xun against the wall. Xun heard the wall cracking.
"Don't forget who you're talking to, little cousin."
After a few tense seconds, Xing let go of Xun. Xiao stood in the room's corner, inert.
After that, Xun went to his personal room. He sealed the door with some sacred materials. At least there, he had some peace.
As he lay on his bed and looked up at the ceiling, all he wished for was to have enough power. Power to do something.
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Isaac felt the disturbance in the section barrier immediately. When he went to check it, he again saw him there again. For the third time in a month, an old member of the Draco clan was passing some information to the youngsters.
There were no rules that prohibited that. Isaac could intervene, but he waited. It would be the best way to understand what they were up to.
After the elder said goodbye to the youngsters, Isaac flew over the outer territory.
He widened his eyes. Several Class B monsters were in the valley surrounding the school. Many more than usual. The most impressive thing was that a veil covered the core of the monsters, so that Isaac could only detect them by sight.
Even if he could finish them, he decided it would not be prudent. At least not yet. If a battle of that magnitude happened now, the school would not be unscathed. He also suspected that the other side had someone strong enough to give even Isaac a hard time. It would be stupid to come to a sword fight armed only with sticks.
He would do it for his disciples. A little longer, he would let them train and grow stronger. When the time came, those monsters and that clan would know the wrath of a volcano.