Chapter 236: Taesi [4]

The atmosphere of the city of Taesi was benevolent and kind, but it was a location within the 3000 Beast Mountain Range, after all. It was impossible for it to maintain such peace at all times and in all places.

The city was simply too large for it to do so, and there wasn't a genuine Law Enforcement group that would keep order, at least, not on the surface. But without a group like that, even the outwardly peaceful atmosphere would be impossible to maintain.

There were many shadowy corners and alleyways within Taesi, especially due to the lack of sunlight. Usually, these corners would remain unpopulated, but at the moment, they seemed to be brimming with activity.

"Commander, the outsiders haven't been stirring up too much trouble yet, but this is only temporary. The ones who have arrived so far are all from peak forces and will act in accordance with our laws to maintain face."

"Indeed, once the common populace begins to arrive for the coming festivities, our jobs will become much harder. Sigh, it's quite annoying, but it's necessary."

"That's right. To protect the peaceful lives of our people, anything is fair game. I refuse to cower in a situation like last time."

"You! Don't you dare mention that! If you make the same mistake, your head will roll."

"I'm sorry. I made a mistake, Commander."

"Haa...it's fine, but you're lucky only the two of us are here. As you know, not everyone shares your sentiments. There are cowards in our midst." The commander growled.

His subordinate could only stand silently to the side, not knowing what to say. Most of their people hadn't been alive at that time. It was many millennia ago, after all. But they were elves, their lifespans were extremely long. Many of their upper echelons and older men were present at that time, and the sentiments were split.

There were cowards and there were warriors. As for which side was more prevalent, nobody could say.

While these two had their silent conversation, the rest of their squad also moved out, ensuring that their city would stay peaceful. For the lives of their people, they would do anything.

***

"Do you understand what you are meant to do?" A hoarse voice rang out in an unknown location within the city of Taesi. However, if one looked for the source of the voice, they would only be searching in vain.

"I understand, Master." The one who responded was a young man with coarse grey hair and red eyes. His body emitted a gloomy and sinister aura that made all those who gazed at him shiver in fear.

"Good. If the rest of us were able to easily manifest, things would be much simpler. But we only have you as our anchor point. If you don't accomplish what you were tasked with, you should know the consequences, right?"

"I understand, Master." The young man's monotone voice quivered slightly, but soon regained its calm. He once again uttered the same three words.

"Good. The time has finally come. 10,000 years of planning and hiding, 10,000 years of enduring. It is finally time for us to strike. That damn Primordial Undying Tree, does it truly think we have not discovered its machinations? Make it understand that our kind will not be fooled so easily."

"..."

"I understand, Master."

The sinister aura emanating from the young man's body slightly lessened, and the second presence in the room seemed to have vanished.

The young man gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with anger. His hands were clenched so hard that the armrests of his chair were reduced to dust.

Many moments later, he let out a quiet sigh. His hand moved to a locket that hung on a chain around his neck. It was a sword encircled by a miniature fox.

"Tan'er, I know you can't hear me, and I know you probably hate me already for all that I have done. But I promise, I swear to the heavens, nothing will be able to harm you. Even if the world is engulfed in the flames of purgatory, I shall ensure that you remain happy."

His eyes became distant and slightly watery as he thought of the past. Those were the days when he did not have to be like this, the days when he wasn't a mere puppet acting on the will of others.

"Vengeance...is impossible. So I shall do what I can do. This is my only option." The tears that were forming in his eyes vanished without a trace, and any signs of weariness on his face were hidden with perfection.

3 days. In 3 days, he would enter that realm. And 6 months later...

'I'm sorry, Tan'er, but this is all I can do.'

With a sharp gaze and a familiarly sinister aura, he closed his eyes and entered meditation.

Everything he did, he did it for her safety. This thought was the only thing allowing him to maintain his sanity.

***

Time flowed quickly in the fervent atmosphere that covered the city of Taesi, and the original population of millions had multiplied.

Many people, humanoid and beast, had gathered in this location, eagerly awaiting the coming event. And today, it was finally time for it to begin.

The area hundreds of kilometers around the World Tree were sectioned off and restricted to everyone, even the elves who lived their lives in the city, but today, the space in front of the restricted area was crowded with people.

Within that area, there were precisely 1,050 youths, all with human forms.

To his embarrassment, it took a few days for him to realize that the geniuses he had met before entering the city were all in human form, but once he realized it, he naturally got curious.

Asking the White Dragon King, he learned of such a thing as the Beast Transformation Art. It was an art that had circulated through the 3000 Beast Mountain Range at an unknown time, and it allowed those under the Beast King rank to achieve their human forms.

Of course, it wasn't the same. When a Beast King gained a human form, it was due to the baptism of the universe, allowing them to freely compact their power into a humanoid form.

This kind of transformation would explosively compress their strength and make their output exponentially greater.

Besides that, the true body of a beast that achieved its 4th class would be massive, to say the least. It was simply inconvenient to stay in such a body when they had the option not to.

However, the Beast Transformation Art didn't have such benefits. It didn't have any side effects or cons either, but it was a relatively simple art.

It was just a matter of convenience. They would gain human forms that were only for appearance-sake. Their power levels would remain the same whether they were in beast form or not.

When such an art was learned, the Beast form would become a trump card that they would only use when the situation became incredibly dire.

It was an interesting fact, and Damien wondered what would happen if he gave Zara the art. He even asked the White Dragon King for it, but he said he'd only give it to them after they had succeeded within the Primordial Undying Realm.

Still, Damien was fine with this. Zara was still slumbering in his shadow to this day, showing no signs of waking up any time soon. He would've been worried by this, but since over a month had already passed, he had been able to feel the subtle strengthening of her aura.

If her slumber was due to a rapid increase in strength, or if it was a manner of training, there's no way he'd selfishly interrupt it.

Anyway, Damien stood within the crowd of 1,050 geniuses and looked around, noticing a few familiar faces and many unfamiliar ones. But most of them were present on the 3000 Beast Record, so he was able to roughly understand who was who.

He even noticed the unconcealed glare of the woman named Feng Qing'er, but he only returned a slight smile before looking away.

There were more important things to see right now than any jade beauties.

After all, on a platform in front of their group, tens of Beast Kings lined up along with a beautiful jade-haired elf with solemn auras surrounding them.

Without wasting any time, the elven woman spoke in a crystal clear voice.

"Young Geniuses of the 3000 Beast Mountain Range, the time has finally come for you to enter the fabled Primordial Undying Realm."