Clyde showed a small smile at Samuel's answer. His voice means so much because he represents the rest of his member's voices. If he said he was going to go on this expedition, it was obvious that the others would too. Although accompanied by a little reluctance.
"Then we can do the practice together tomorrow. What do you think?" Clyde asked.
"Yes. I think it's a good idea. The sooner the better, right?" said Samuel.
Clyde withdrew from the hotel. Leaving the five of them to discuss this matter among themselves.
"Are you sure about this, Sam?" Kiara asked with obvious anxiety on her face.
"Yes. Isn't this expedition going to get us closer to the Celestials?" Samuel turned to them one by one. "You heard it yourself, he said that we will find the path to the Nexus of Creation."
Kiara gritted her teeth. If they really could find the Nexus of Creation, they'd basically found the only weakness of the Celestials since that's where they were created. If the place where they were created is destroyed, that will automatically make them considerably weaker, if not instantly kill them.
"But the danger..." Leyan's words trailed off. He glanced at Samuel as if telling the man to reconsider it. Even though in his heart Leyan also agreed with the idea of finding the Nexus of Creation, the danger they will face is immense.
Samuel's eyes turned to Clyde's back who getting further away. He said. "There is Clyde who is leading this expedition. You already know about his power is like. Maybe even now his power has increased again after the expedition he did last time."
They all looked at each other with a contemplative look. But after what Samuel said, they no longer said any complaints or disapproval.
After all, Clyde said that they didn't need to directly fight the threats they faced. He and the other five would be fighting live while they were providing support.
"We might as well get the secret of their power now," Samuel said suddenly.
"You still thinking about that, Sam?" Kei asked.
"Of course, Kei. We need power to fight Celestials." Samuel glanced at Kei. "You didn't forget about our goal from the start, did you?"
Kei saw a red flashesh in Samuel's eyes which immediately reminded her of their goal to both seek revenge against the Celestials.
"I still remember it," said Kei.
Samuel nodded as if satisfied with Kei's answer.
"We have to get the secret of that power," Samuel said. "Tomorrow everything will begin."
~~~
Clyde took a step back and looked down. What should he say to Samuel, Leyan, Kei, Haru, and Kiara about his remaining power of system?
If they knew about it, and knew that the Senior Council granted them a waiver for needing their strength to carry out several expedition missions a few days ago, they definitely wouldn't be able to take it well.
For a matter like this, he had to ask Maethion. So Clyde went straight to the lake and sat on the chair they usually used to meet.
Clyde was a bit dubious because he hadn't made an appointment to meet the bespectacled Elf. But part of him - somehow - believed that Mathion would notice he was here.
Clyde waited and waited. The view of the calm lake water like a dark mirror became the center of attention. He suddenly became curious as to what was inside that calm lake water.
He had never seen any fish, plants, or even the tiny ripples that indicated there is life existed in the lake. Yet all the beings that were spending time around the lake didn't seem concerned with the strange silence and stillness.
Clyde stood with his eyes still staring out at the lake. His curiosity created an impulse to walk there, it was as if he was pulled by an unseen force into that lake.
"Fascinating lake, huh?"
Maethion's voice pulled Clyde back to his senses. He turned his head and saw the bespectacled Elf already sitting on the chair.
Clyde immediately canceled his intention and sat back where he was.
"So you really came," said Clyde.
"I sensed your presence here so I thought you would like to see me," Maethion replied lightly.
'So it's true he could tell I was here.' Clyde nodded understandingly.
"What is it?" Maethion asked. "Is this about the expedition you're going on next?"
"Of course. There's nothing more important than that right now, right?" Clyde replied. "I invited another party to come with us. But there's some kind of problem."
Maethion nodded in understanding. "They don't know that your power of system is still there?"
"Yes." Clyde nodded. Maethion must have known about that from the start. "What should I do?"
"Well," Maethion shrugged, his face one of helplessness. "For now, it looks like we have to start breaking the rules one by one. For the greater good."
"What do you mean?" Clyde asked with a frown.
Maethion glanced at him. "I can restore their power of system."
"What? You can do that?!"
"Of course. We took it, and we can return it to them again. Though, that's not really a good thing to do."
"What about the other Senior Council?" Clyde asked.
"They agreed, raucously. Although this could be a bad thing for them, now we are pressed for time," Maethion replied. "You must be wondering why we, Senior Council, members don't do this dangerous task ourselves if we are strong enough, right?"
Clyde answered with a curt nod.
"The Senior Council who isn't here is spying on the Celestials' domain."
The answer was quite surprising. But not something that was entirely outside of Clyde's expectations.
About how they could get information quickly, the whereabouts of this Fortress which had been kept hidden all this time, and various other benefits enjoyed by the residents of this Fortress.
If the Senior Council were spies within the Celestials' inner circle, that was something that was very likely.
"This is a secret. You don't need me to remind you about that, right ?" Maethion said.
"Yeah." Clyde nodded. "So, I need them to get their power of system as soon as possible because I want to get them leveling up right away."
"Tomorrow. I'll call you where to meet."
After the two of them agreed, Clyde and Mathion parted ways.
Clyde walked into his room feeling relieved. 'This way, I don't have to worry about Samuel and his friends. Who would have thought that their power of system could be restored just like that? I thought their power of system would just disappear.'
Clyde smiled and closed his eyes. Tomorrow will be a long day. He just knows it.
~~~
Asqa took a deep breath after tiring practice. She had practiced for quite a long time, for an hour to be more precise, but the results she got were still not enough.
But that's not enough according to her own thinking while actually, Asqa's development is enough for someone who has just used the ability for the first time.
Someone in The All Territory gains a new skill after they train it. Unlike during the Selection Stage when one just needs to buy a Skill via a Skill Purchasing Machine.
The environment in The All Territory allowed their Mana and their bodies to develop much more rapidly. Coupled with the power of system that still exists, they can reach a high level of strength in a faster time than the residents in Sivagadh Fortress or any other place.
Joshua saw Asqa from a distance. He was still shirtless and let a thin layer of fire cover his body.
"I think it's time to rest," Joshua said.
"No. A little more," Asqa replied through panting breaths.
Joshua smiled. "You're so excited. Why?"
"Why, of course, because I want to be of use to the Archangel," said Asqa. She knew that she could get what she wanted in this place by using the Archangel's name. Especially with Joshua who looks so admiring and obedient to her. So Asqa intends to put it to good use.
The smile on Joshua's face grew even wider. "I like your spirit. But don't force your body for power it doesn't understand yet."
Asqa stared at him waiting to see what he would do next.
"That's enough for now. You can already feel the natural energy around you and put a bit of it into your body. That's quite a development for someone just starting."
"Is that so? But... when can I use this to fight?" Asqa asked.
"Ha ha!" Joshua laughed. "Not that fast, girl. You're just starting. There is still a long way to that."
Aska just nodded reluctantly. Maybe it's still too early for her.
Suddenly a loud trumpet sound echoed from the sky. Joshua's face hardened but Asqa only put on a confused face.
"What happened?" Asqa asked.
"That's our calling. Something bad seems to have happened and we have to prepare to fight," Joshua said.
"F-Fight?" Asqa was dumbfounded.
"We gotta go!"
~~~