446 Chapter 444

"Now I understand why they attacked with all their forces... attacking with all their soldiers would actually increase their chances of success."

A few thousand demi-minotaurs started to run from the battlefield from the very moment the one who faced Hector died. Leon and the other soldiers hunted them, but not for long. Leon didn't have much mana left since he wasn't holding back and also was controlling several spears. Besides, the human side also looked pretty beat down.

"I guess my job here is done..."

Leon recalled that Hector wanted to talk with him, even though he was busy tending his wounds and identifying the fallen soldiers, Leon decided to wait for him at the same spot where he created the metal containers. It took a few hours for him to appear, but Leon didn't feel bothered by it since he obtained more coins than he spent. Thanks to it, he bought more potions and let his spirits do whatever they wanted. Regardless, Hector came not with his soldiers, but with Amanda and Maya.

"Thank you for your help again," Hector said. "I guess I can say that you saved my ass."

"No problem, given the circumstances, it couldn't be helped that I had to do that," Leon said. "Anyway, did you learn your lesson? I can imagine how you or anyone else is tired of fighting, but unfortunately, you nor anyone else don't have a choice. It doesn't make any sense, but you will only find true peace after fighting for several more hundred years."

"Can you explain to me what you know?" Hector asked. "It is clear that despite having lived less, you know a lot more."

It took a while, but Leon explained to those three most of the things he knew. However, he kept as a secret what he was doing and where he was hiding. Leon also didn't mention in any way about Ilyana's existence. Although there was a chance that Leon could be being observed by some harvesters, there wasn't any other way to make Hector and the others understand the real danger of the situation.

"I see..." Hector let out a long sigh. "I guess we don't have much choice. We have been hiding for hundreds of years, and this is the fifth attack we suffered so far. Honestly, I'm going to talk with the other survivors, but I'm tired of moving from one place to another. I don't want to run away anymore, and I want to return to Earth."

"Is that so?" Leon asked. "But are you sure of that? In four hundred years, the harvesters will come. I don't think you guys will be ready for that."

"Yeah," Leon said.

"Well, uh..."Hector hesitated. "I will try not to be a burden when the time comes."

Hector really changed, Leon couldn't remember a single time when he hesitated in saying something. He wasn't someone who would act like that in front of anyone. Although Hector wanted to leave, Amanda stepped forward and forced a smile. She was thankful for the help, but she still didn't feel comfortable to be around with him.

"Thank you for your help... brother," Amanda said.

"You don't have to call me brother," Leon said. "Just treat me as usual, unless you remember something. However, don't try to fool me. I will know."

Leon got up and then turned around toward the purple crystal but then turned around again and gave Efreet the order to give part of his powers to them. In the end, Leon couldn't help but spoil his friends a bit. Many humans died in that battle, Hector, Amanda, and Maya seemed to have understood that they didn't have much freedom from that moment onward. It was fight or die. There wasn't a third option. While Hector, Amanda, and Maya were surprised by the notifications, they received. Leon touched the crystal.

"Well, well..." Undine laughed. "You don't need to feel embarrassed by acting so nicely, Leon."

"Unless they prove themselves to be worthy of my power, I don't intend to give them," Celsius said. "Even if you order me."

Leon sighed, that kind of comments were best ignored. Regardless, Leon could have given them the power of five spirits, so just one couldn't be considered that he was going too far. Leon wanted to do that, eventually. But he decided that he would only do so once they show themselves that they deserve that.

"I already helped Yuki once, and I also warned her. So, I don't think she will do anything in case Hector and the others return to Earth."

Leon returned to Ilyana's world, and much to his surprise, she wasn't anywhere to be seen. She wasn't inside her castles, nor was she anyplace around it. Her elementals were near the crystals, but they weren't moving.

"Now that is shocking..." Leon said.

"What is shocking?" Ilyana's asked.

Leon felt that his heart almost stopped when he heard Ilyana's voice coming from behind. It has been a long while since he had been scared by the sudden arrival of something. Fortunately, Leon didn't fall pathetically on the floor. He just turned around and copied Bruce Lee's combat stance.

"That certainly is a weird combat stance..." Ilyana frowned. "Anyway, sorry for startling you. I was doing some espionage work, so I couldn't drop my guard down until now."