Chapter 1981 - 1981. Departures

The departure of the powerful army put an end to the dangerous mission and forced the experts to make a point of their situation. Noah and the others gathered in the barren environment that stood right under their location and sat in a circle to enjoy Divine Demon's wine and spend some last moments together.

The words didn't arrive right away. The seven experts preferred to rest a bit before voicing matters that everyone had long since predicted due to the behavior of their other companions.

Steven, Wilfred, and Divine Demon had stepped into the ninth rank. They had to focus on improving their worlds and growing accustomed to their new powers now. Being in a group would only slow down their growth, especially since the influences of their companions would be a constant pressure to fend off during the journey.

Supreme Thief and Great Builder were in a similar situation. They had met Noah's group by chance while they were busy hindering Heaven and Earth's projects. They had a mission that didn't only involve their personal power, which inevitably put them on a path far different from Noah and the others.

The group was bound to separate and leave only King Elbas and Noah together.. The event would typically bring happiness since it hinted at the experts' improvements, but something was different now. King Elbas had asked Noah an important favor, and that made the duo's minds quite heavy.

The sky was the next goal. Noah and King Elbas wouldn't go there right away, but they both knew that a few millennia wouldn't be enough to prepare them for the mission. They could increase their power and get their hands on insane battle prowess, but everything paled in front of the might that the white layer might contain.

Noah had yet to start planning that mission, but things looked quite rough, especially since his team wouldn't have any rank 9 expert. Night was a valuable asset, and Noah planned to bring his other companions to the ninth rank, but even that might not be enough for the sky.

"We might as well leave now," Great Builder announced once the silence became deafening. "Meeting you all had been an interesting turn of events, but we have to stick to a strict schedule. I can already feel another important event happening somewhere in that direction."

Great Builder stood up, and Supreme Thief gulped his cup before imitating him. The two experts were about to leave without wasting time in futile goodbyes, but Noah stopped them before they could turn.

"Wait," Noah uttered while moving his gaze on King Elbas. "Can you make a copy of the old rulers' tracker?"

King Elbas didn't give his usual arrogant remark. His skin resembled a dense liquid as he put his hand inside his chest and took out an orange notebook.

"They are potential allies," Noah described while King Elbas handed the notebook to Great Builder.

"Potential allies that might turn into the true enemy," Wilfred commented.

"I'm sure they don't need us to explain why they shouldn't trust the old rulers," King Elbas added.

Great Builder and Supreme Thief revealed surprised expressions, but they didn't question the experts any further. They performed a bow before turning to leave and disappearing among the storms.

"What do you have in mind now?" Wilfred asked without looking at anyone, but Noah and King Elbas knew that the question was aimed at them.

"I'm not sure you want to hear that," Divine Demon laughed.

"We don't," Steven stated. "Xavier got crazier throughout the years. Noah has a bad influence on existences."

"Can we stop blaming me for this stuff?" Noah sneered. "I'm completely innocent this time around."

"I still don't want to hear it," Steven laughed while standing up and rising his cup toward his companions. "I need to go through a long journey alone. I hope to meet all of your soon."

Noah and the others raised their cups and drank. Steven left right after everyone gulped their wine.

"I think I should go too," Wilfred announced while standing up. "It's pointless to delay this. We have been together for millennia already. It's time that I explore my new power on my own."

Divine Demon refilled everyone's cups with a wave of his hand, but Wilfred left before toasting with his companion. He flew toward the storms slowly, without forgetting to sip his wine from time to time.

"Well," Divine Demon exclaimed before standing up. "It's up to me to make the departing speech."

"Please, don't," King Elbas promptly refused. "You might affect our minds or something. Let's not risk it."

"He still thinks that I listen to him," Divine Demon laughed, and Noah couldn't help but smirk when he met his gaze.

"Do as you wish, you unreasonable brute," King Elbas gave up on stopping Divine Demon. "I'll spend a few centuries removing your words from my mental sphere afterward."

"I'll miss teasing you," Divine Demon laughed before wearing a serious expression and turning toward Noah. "My heir, don't forget what it is that makes us demons. Our opponent is the very world, so fill it with the blood of your opponents before devouring it. Don't you dare to make me shatter the sky on my own."

"And you try not to make things harder for us by falling prey to Heaven and Earth," Noah replied.

"Do that only after we shatter the sky," King Elbas added, and the two experts shot confused glances at him.

"What?" King Elbas scoffed. "I would gladly study that fusion."

"The pig was right about you," Divine Demon sighed.

"Its words have never made sense!" King Elbas complained.

"He squeals like a true demon," Divine Demon declared while looking at the sky to perform a gesture that the Foolery usually made.

"You are the punishment that Heaven and Earth have prepared for me," King Elbas shook his head.

"I'm your leader's master!" Divine Demon shouted. "This makes me your master. Kowtow before I throw you into a pack of dragons!"

"Why don't you leave and be Heaven and Earth's problem already?" King Elbas asked before turning toward Noah. "You stop laughing. We have an impossible mission to prepare. We can't waste time dealing with this idiot."

"I wonder," Noah teased. "What if I made the Foolery my second in command? Wouldn't that make it Xavier's superior?"

"That's a great idea, my heir!" Divine Demon shouted as his eyes lit up.

"You can't do that," King Elbas stated before wearing a worried expression. "Can you? That pig can't even command itself."

"It squeals like a true demon," Noah repeated before hiding his grin behind his cup.

Divine Demon exploded into a loud laugh, but his serious expression returned as silence fell among the group. The time for jokes was over. He had to leave and explore the higher plane with his new world to understand how to improve further.

"We'll be fine," Noah said before nodding at Divine Demon.

"Of course you'll be," Divine Demon snorted. "I'll see you around."

Divine Demon turned to stroll through the storms. The chaotic laws changed color and gathered under his feet to create proper steps as he walked forward. They even poured wine into his cup whenever he emptied it. It seemed that the entire world was at his service, and that guess wasn't too distant from the truth.

King Elbas and Noah remained silent even after they emptied their cups. They stared at the storms trying to get past the innate pressure that their existences radiated.

"Are we really going to do that then?" Noah eventually asked.

"As long as you are up for that," King Elbas replied.

"Fine then," Noah sighed. "Let's invade the sky."

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Author's notes: I also want to take this chance to thank all of you for the support shown during my break. I honestly think that I have the best community on webnovel, and I'm grateful for that.