Chapter 272: Change of Plans

In an unknown, possibly distant place, a terrifyingly powerful presence was gazing into a floating transparent frameless window-like image in a dark, dimly lit room. Despite the singular window not too far away from his figure, it could not let get too much sunlight through, as the sky above itself was in perpetual obscure darkness. Black, ebon-colored clouds swam around menacingly on the dark red, scarlet sea of heaven. 

Inside the dimly lit room, the thin outline of this powerful, dark, shadowy figure could be seen sitting in front of a white wooden desk, focused on the floating borderless image in front of him. The image was about a particular hallway, focused on a dark-green-skinned evolved goblin with shining, black hair. 

Whenever the strange, impossible creature's eyes shone with the brilliant glimmer of gold, the figure honed the image closer to them. 

"Interesting… Could he really be one of the Ancients? But… how is that possible?" He mumbled, his brain wrecking at the impossibility of such an idea. "It shouldn't be possible… But this level of power, his essence… It's just too similar to be a coincidence."

No matter how hard he wrecked his brain, no matter how hard he tried to deny the possibility, the facts were indisputable. He watched with keen interest as his figure flashed with incredible speed that to others would have seemed akin to teleportation, how he threw the robust body of one of the toy soldiers of his servant. He wasn't angered, or mad at this boy in any way. 

On the contrary, his interest in him grew even higher. Just like how he felt before in that human settlement, this boy could be the catalyst they were missing, he could be the key to his plans. 

He needed to change some of his current plans. He leaned back against his chair, caressing his chin as his mind rapidly processed a multitude of possibilities and ideas in seconds.

After a short while, seemingly coming to a decision, he raised his dark, thin right hand in the air, grabbing the attention of the stoic bulky figure at the back. 

"Go and inform him to fall back and leave the current plans. We are changing our plans. If that idiot starts complaining just beat him into submission but try not to kill him. It would be a hassle to create another one…" He stated with an impassive, cold tone. 

The bulky being stepped forward, walking in front of the white desk, at the same time stepping into the only source of obscure, dim light in the room ruled by darkness.

The creature had dark brown skin with a tinge of dark green mixed in. His face vaguely resembled a human although both of his canines were mutated into large yellowish fangs, protruding out of his closed mouth all the way to his wide nose. He bowed, revealing his completely hairless, bald head. His forehead bulged out slightly, providing some extra cover to his small dark brown eyes hiding behind the shadow it created.

He wore a black leather, padded vest, leaving his strong wide arms free, stretched to the limit with his bulging muscles barely being kept under control. Although he seemed unarmored, there was a medallion in the shape of a scythe strapped around his neck that shone with its silvery luster under the faint pillar of light.

The creature stopped a few steps away from the desk, looking at the figure unnaturally shrouded in the shadows, giving a silent bow, only uttering two words in response with its guttural, hoarse voice.

"Yes, Master."

The figure waved with his right hand, commenting in his cold tone as the portal appeared behind the robust, bulky creature.

Straightening his back, the bulky creature nodded his head with a stern look on his face, turned around, and silently stepped into the gateway, his figure vanishing from the dark place.

Being left alone, the shadowy figure waved with his hand once again, closing the portal. He looked at the image once again and watched with even greater interest as to how the events were unfolding back in the hallway. 

"Just what are you really… Could you maybe be the answer that I was searching for? We will see…" He muttered with curiosity in her hushed tone, a great contrast to his earlier coldness. He went into deep thought, trying to get a deeper insight into the mysterious boy at the other side.

---

A sudden surge of power awoke Aiden from his stupor, forcing him to turn to the side and look at the berserker he thought would be done with his pointless struggling by now. 

However, the strength that emanated from his direction surprised him, causing him to frown as his eyes glanced at the sight. The creature's face revealed, there was blood smeared all around his mouth, he was chewing something with fervent passion, assisting the process with both of his now barren hands.

Although partially blocked, taking a glance at the peeled chest of the deceased archer laying in a large pool of similarly colored thick, dark pool of blood, it wasn't that difficult to guess at was transpiring.

The berserker, seemingly noticed the gaze of the opponent that humiliated him and trampled on his pride, made a loud gulp, swallowing the last pieces of his partner's vital organ. A cruel grin stretched across his smeared face, he opened his right palm, revealing a black crystalline object that was most likely the Monster Core of the deceased archer and with a sudden motion he swallowed it.

Immediately, he felt a change in his body. His blood boiled, as the new source of energy spread in his body, rapidly restoring his health, and revitalizing his tired muscles. His bloodshot eyes, suddenly darkened, a cloud of darkness engulfed his blood-white sclera, hiding his iris in the eternal void instead.

The berserker, suddenly felt a newfound sensation as the core reached the other one and began to merge with it. His previously faint aura exploded with new vigor, releasing a shockwave of energy, kicking up a sizable amount of dust in the demolished hall.

His muscles began to contort, and convulse, forming new strands, increasing their mass at a rate visible to the eye. His dark green skin that was previously covered with blemishes, wounds, reminders, achievements of his past victories healed at an incredible pace, restoring to a state that was akin to a newborn orc and not an elite, fearsome berserker.

His own energy rose at an incredible pace, mixing together with the residual, controlling dark magic that was imprinted deeply into him, causing his evolution to take on an unexpected, previously unexplored path.

Deciding that it would be an incredible opportunity for him, Aiden decided to wait patiently until the orc finished his transformation. Even without the System warning him, he was aware of the sudden change in the creature's evolutionary path. He felt as the creature's power skyrocketed, reaching heights that should not be possible to his level. Even if it would turn out to be a greater challenge than he expected it to be, he still had his ultimate trump card, the last use of his Blessing he was 'birthed' to this world with...

Although he wanted to save it to a truly desperate situation where his own life would hang on the line, as the opportunity of such a delicious meal presented itself in front of him, he wouldn't miss the chance. 

His mind began to think of the various possibilities of this present of mysterious life essences he was about to take for himself, causing him to completely shut everything else out, and forget that there was another fight happening next to him, reaching new heights…

---

A few floors above where the battle was still ongoing, in a large room, a mixture of powerful-looking creatures were sitting across a large table. The creatures that looked just like the orcs struggling to earn survive below, only with some minor differences were looking at the humanoid, robed figure seated at the helm with looks of trepidation and fear in their eyes.

The robed man had wrinkled, old, white skin a bald head, and a long white beard that he kept stroking with an unnaturally calm expression on his face.

Despite the tense air that lingered in the room, he was calm, as if nothing that transpiring below could affect them. He was humming an unknown tone as he kept enjoying the sensation of the feeling of his own beard.

One of the beings closest to the humming elderly human couldn't take it anymore. With a loud crash, he slapped his meaty hands on the desk, pushing himself up from his chair. His eyes that still had a mixture of fear and trepidation flashing in them, focused on the nonchalant and all-powerful being.

"[Orc] Master Dominus, we ask you that you do something about the squabble that is closing in on us! What will we do when they reach this floor? They have already passed your unbreakable spells!" His tone was agitated as he yelled at the being forgoing the difference in powers between them.

The elder's humming ceased, his face revealed a frown as he listened to the complaint. He slowly opened his eyes, taking a long look at the orc warlord that spoke up.

Heaving a sigh, his dry lips parted, his tone was apathetic and cold.

"Don't grunt at me, you disgusting pig. Sit down before I-"

Before he could take action to punish the orc's insolence, he suddenly felt a buzz in the air behind him. A moment later a dark gate formed from the thin air, causing loud gasps from the surrounding orc warlords.

As the elder slowly turned around, a tall, bulky silhouette stepped out from the black portal.