Chapter 895: Zentika Empire
Many things changed over the course of two years. For one, the reign of the Valyr in the Savannah Region ended. They did not lose full control of the Savannah Region, but a horde of High Beasts settled at the border to the Savannah Region a year ago. The High Beasts expanded their territory and claimed a small portion of the Savannah Region after bulldozing two border settlements.
Some High Beasts died in the clashes with the Valyr, but they emerged victorious nonetheless. The Valyr requested aid from the Untamed Awakened, yet they were unwilling to pay what Hiraku, Thaor, and others had asked for. Once the Valyr cursed Hiraku and the others for demanding an atrocious price for killing the High Beasts, they stopped hunting with the Untamed Awakened. Only Zira remained in contact with Michael's subjects, ensuring the consistent payment of one hundred million Ordinary Summoning Scrolls wouldn't stop.
It looked like the trades with the Valyr would stop for some time, but they couldn't afford to terminate their contracts with Michael. The Valyr gained too much from their trades with Michael. Thus, all business transactions prevailed, but their amiable relationship cracked. All because the Untamed Awakened were unwilling to risk their life for free against an entire horde of High Beasts.
Michael could have defeated the High Beasts alone but was unwilling to do so. He didn't have a reason to deal with the High Beasts since they didn't harm or anything important to him. It would be different if the Valyr had paid the price, but since they not only rejected the Untamed Awakened's offer with unnecessarily harsh - and demeaning - comments but also severed all amiable ties with them, Michael didn't even think about it.
He was sad for Zira and her mother. Valkyria might be considered the Lordess of the Savannah Region, but she was certainly not in control of her territory and people. Her Clan controlled the Savannah Region by commanding Valkyria.
If the Lordess had been strong enough to oppose her Clan, Michael would have considered helping her. Reaching out with a helping hand wouldn't have been a problem. However, Valkyria decided to follow her elders blindly and go against him by allowing her people to throw demeaning comments at the Untamed Awakened. Michael's opinion of the Valyr decreased considerably during the last two years and was already at no regret. If a horde of High Beasts reclaimed the Savannah Region...so be it. The High Beast horde might be more pleasant to have as neighbors than the Valyr race!
Interestingly enough, the Valyr weren't the only neighbors with news. Michael also heard about the Zentika Empire again. First, he had been certain that the Zentika Empire would fall apart and cease to exist within a few months. However, the months passed quietly and turned into years. The Zentika Empire survived, though only barely. It couldn't hold on much longer.
The surrounding Lords, Native Kingdoms, and intelligent monsters pushed deeper into the Zentika Empire's territory, claiming a big chunk of their lands. At this point, the Zentika Empire was only one-tenth of the massive size it used to be. Michael decided it was time to make his move. He waited long enough for his revenge. Senator Keltos of the Zentika Empire's Congress was waiting for him.
**
Michael was ready to finish his business in the Origin Expanse - complete his vengeance with everyone in the Origin Expanse - and leave the place to meet up with Selena, Eren, and the others.
It hadn't been long since Eren woke up from a coma, but he was already in full health and in his prime since Michael and two Curse Users with powerful Healing Soultraits tended to him for a while.
Selena and Eren followed Michael's progress intently and urged him not to stay in the Origin Expanse too long each time. Michael ignored their suggestions most of the time, but he returned from the Origin Expanse more often after Evee managed to procure some information about Alice, Kaleb, and the rest.
She found out where they had been for the last two years and what they were up to. The first time Michael heard about his lover and friends, he wanted to rush into the Supreme Human Alliance's territory to get them, but Selena and Eren convinced him that it would be stupid and suicidal. Michael might be strong for someone his age, but the central region of the Supreme Human Alliance's territory was not something he could reach alive. Even if he could, Divine Lifeforms - dozens of them - would be waiting to capture and dissect him. That was how Michael ended up training tirelessly. His Tier progressed slowly, and his Soultraits had grown stronger as well. Michael had more resources at his disposal than ever, and his Subordinates also advanced rapidly. Nonetheless, he wasn't a Divine Lifeform just yet. He was not yet ready to rescue his lover and friends.
"They can take care of themselves," Selena had said at some point after Evee told them about the lives of Alice and the others. They might have been manipulated and were slowly transforming into devout believers of the Supreme Human Alliance, but that didn't mean they could reverse something like that. Evee was already experimenting with something. It was only a matter of time and resources before she would make a breakthrough and come up with a perfect solution to deal with the Supreme Human Alliance's intense manipulative treatment.
Michael wanted to help, but Evee told him not to bother her. Instead of bothering her, he should grow stronger. That was what he had been doing and what he would continue doing.
However, before he would undergo his next training session with Selena and Eren, Michael had to kill Senator Keltos. He didn't mind the other members of the Zentika Empire's Council as much as Senator Keltos. The old Lionheart had to die at his hands. Others could cover their hands in the remaining members' blood.
Michael traveled lightly on foot to the border of the Zentika Empire. He crossed the border and entered the massive plains without any issues. It was almost too easy.
There was no need to prepare anything grand to attack the Zentika Empire. It had been years since the monsters of the Untamed Jungle attacked the Zentika Empire, which was why the weakened empire deployed the border control where it was needed the most. There were still some weaker members of the border control checking the Untamed Jungle's border, but Michael found them quickly with True Vision and avoided them.
There was no need to kill the border control and attract unwanted attention. He would much rather kill the Senator and return to the Untamed Jungle within a few hours.
But that might not be as easy as Michael had hoped for. As he traveled through the Zentika Empire with fast strides and basic usage of Cosmic Stride, Michael discovered several enemy forces. He ignored most of them but froze when he found a massive creature gliding through the air. Its body covered a portion of the sun, casting shade all over Michael.
The creature didn't even notice Michael as it flew high above him to the closest settlement, where it released rays of flames. Its flames were searing hot, deadly, and something Michael was very familiar with.
Michael remained frozen, but his blood boiled as memories of the Lord Rift resurfaced.
The creature's signature move, dragon breath, spread fear and desperation across the settlement as it burned hundreds of buildings and its residents to cinder.
No one could escape the flames of the mythical creature.
Michael recognized it immediately. It was a Red Dragon.
Taros' Red Dragon.
Before Michael realized what was happening, something within him shattered, and two familiar voices rang through his mind.
[Show us how strong you've grown, brat!]
[Devour!]