Chapter 443 - A Lion With Wings

The mission was a high-risk, high reward type of mission. One of the most important findings that the Unlocked have was the mystery of certain elements, such as the Ankh Core found in Egypt. 

With the possibilities for massive energy sources that even Mid-Tiers and Top-Tiers value, the team of Unlocked had hurried to find it. And so, the desperate mission to spy on various Presiders through the power of Granite Malang was further modified to search for these legendary artifacts.

Alean led the team of spies and spent the last months trying to figure out a way to plant the right spy in the right place.

The events that followed soon turned to the advantage of the Unlocked. Tiana, a Top-Tier Presider according to Shakstress's records, was interested in Granite Malang.

Seeker and Lynd were directly involved with the plans and the Everhiss clan.

And a joint and scary operation that brought extreme tension and stress to the top members of the Unlocked occurred.

The many Paths that Seeker harnessed and acquired were put to the tests. The spies began to show their worth and abilities, and after a month of hard work, the meeting finally occurred.

Alean's decisions led to the current scenario before them.

Granite Malang finished the painting with great fear and finally stumbled down on the ground. Alean rushed to catch Granite and help him back up.

"The painting... is remarkable!" Garenjazz praised.

The painting did not depict a person at all. But the painting employed various styles. The only clearly portrayed element was a strange bird with a lion's body at the center. The winged creature looked haughty and proud and had a thick layer of colors at the back. Some parts had a thick layer of paint with various dark colors that nearly turned dark.

"Amazing! This is really a masterpiece! I shall thank you for your service. And the promise remains. Go back to the WGP. I don't know where this element is. Nor do I have the slightest guess whether or not this element that created legends such as the Fountain of Youth has an owner or not. If it is is is not, in the hands of someone, I don't know." Garenjazz continued to admire the painting.

Granite was trying to leave, but the fear in his legs caused him to lose strength. 

"Now that I think about it... The coming horrors will be too complicated even for me... I wonder if that Marrho is coming? I guess I should have other plans. Hey, Granite. Send your report. I'll pay you a hefty sum to make your life rather peaceful as long as you stay in an area that I provide. You can pay for whatever operations to fix the face of your daughter. Even her ears with that strange sickness will be healed. You can choose to live inside any building or structure that I own. It's no guarantee that you'd be alive, but you should be able to live your days with your deaf daughter. The WGP cannot offer you protection. I may require you to paint a few of my friends secretly."

"... This power... I can't paint if I haven't seen them... personally."

"Of course. Your eyes do not see just the physical but the soul. It's just that you have a natural talent to paint it. Anyway, go ahead. I will contact you when needed. Do your report and inform the Everhiss family. But tell them that you will be allying with me. If you refuse, I'll kill you and this daughter of yours. I'll be right here." Garenjazz no longer paid any attention to the pair but kept looking at his painting.

"Oh? This is interesting! Are those guys claiming to be Anti-Presiders fighting?" Garenjazz smiled.

"Anyway, gotta go." Garenjazz closed his eyes and began to sleep.

Granite and Alean left the room.

Granite's shaky form continued as they moved out of the room. The pair wobbled their way through the city and went into a small inconspicuous hotel which was actually a Mansion belonging to a WGP Emperor.

When they entered, Granite sat down and relaxed.

"You played a cruel trick on me, Commander." He gave a deep sigh.

"I had to to make it look real. But be glad! We succeed in our mission. That was the most dangerous Top-Tier on this planet! And we managed to see what he really is. Not to mention, we will soon have access to more. Emperor Pheonix." Alean called out.

An old man appeared wearing casual attire. But this man was the leader of the Everhiss family of the WGP.

"The Fountain of Youth is what we are after. Either New Great Britain or the European Nations has it."

"I must congratulate you, Commander. Will you be a General soon?"

"No. My Path can be used in combat, but it's not that effective. It's more powerful to be used this way. I still have a long way to go through. I am only using it to figure out very trivial details. But now, there is a shot."

"Using the Unlock to make Granite's cell older than it looks and using a deadly virus that doctor Charles created to destroy your own ear. Then you countered it with Amir's improved drug. It was risky, and even Seeker was worried that you'd get caught by Garenjazz."

"I was very nervous. But it all worked out perfectly. I knew his path was something similar to mine. When Arthur talked about how Shakstress could keep up with his prediction, I prepared to fight someone better than me."

"How sure are you that you won? What if he knows and is just pretending to be dumb?"

"Even if that's true, I still have a feeling that the momentum is ours." Alean smiled.

"That's just being hopeful."

"Alright. If the real painting that Granite plans to paint isn't a lion with eagles wings, then I messed up."

"How-how did you know? That is the vision I actually saw!" Granite was stunned.

"You guessed what Granite saw? How?" Phoenix was amazed.

"Perfect! Just as I thought! I told you, my Path. It's now not just being able to see momentum; it's as if I can alter the future to the way I want it to. The reason why I said it is a lion with wings is that it had to be!"

"It had to be?"

"Yes! I was reading the prophecies of Daniel and was studying many things. Since Eagle will not agree to preach this unless we are all physically present so that his Path will affect us, I know that we need to follow the bible's stories. And so I was searching for the one, the lion with the eagle's wings! This beast is the first mentioned in Daniel!"

"Amazing! If you're right, this actually creates great hope for the Unlocked! We can set the future! I hope your Path has won over his."

"That's not all... I feel that this Presider will help us carry out and accomplish many things in the near future. The Presider Wars now give us a good reason to ask for alliances with some Presiders. Shackstress refused because she was defeated. Now, we have a chance of asking for allies without defeating them and making them realize that they are not Conquerors!" Alean smiled.

"I guess you have a lot to report. We still don't know if Seeker is alive. Let's hope your right, and this Garenjazz won't act against Seeker."

"Don't worry. He has trodden on my Path. He will at least be able to keep himself alive." Alean affirmed.

Somewhere deep underground in South America, a massive military base was there.

This base was just recently created. But the speed of its creation was so fast that not even the WGP and all the techs of the human nations could copy this.

Seeker watched as various individuals were guiding him. All of these people were Aragarians. 

Seeker was visibly nervous and held a tight grip of Zeraphine. Zeraphine also looked nervous.

"This is... my boyfriend and fiance. Seeker Carlean." Zeraphine introduced.

"Ah, so the Diamons have another rebel among them. Funny, Lara! You didn't seem the type to mingle with those that have lesser class." A mocking tone came out of the lips of another beautiful teenager.

"Seeker. This is Straviia. One of my family's greatest rivals." Zeraphine introduced.

"So the 'Diamons' are interested in this as well?" A curious voice hovered, and an old man with a strange mask appeared. His figure and the many devices surrounding him made him look like a mad scientist. The way he said Diamon's had a rather mocking tone.

Zeraphine frowned for a second and returned to having a blank expression.

But as she glanced at Seeker, she could see that he was too scared to take notice of anything.

"I... do not know you, kind sir." Zeraphine pretended not to know the man.

"Just call me Enderks. You are that game streamer, correct? I have long heard of Lara's fondness for you. I even planned to use it to lure Lara. But alas, the situation dictates doing so would only make my life harder." The old man laughed.

Zeraphine showed anger but maintained her silence.

"But really... It's quite bold of you two to join this meeting. You barely have any qualifications to stand before us. But I am curious, so I decided to agree and meet with you. Lara hid it well, but I have information claiming that you are the descendant of this so-called, Progenitor!" Enderks smiled.

Zeraphine froze at Enderk's declaration.