Chapter 129 One Year Later...

One year passed by like it was nothing...

Ashton remained stationed at the Chaotic Warzone, hidden behind the invisible walls of the Grand Library, always watching the events happening like a hawk observing his prey...

Two years...it has been two years since he was taken out of civilization and was forced to survive the harsh environment of the Forgotten Ancestral Lands.

Ashton had come a long way and had transformed into a completely different person. He was no longer a kid, he was a battle-hardened man that had seen and knows way too much.

Despite how much he'd prefer not to be tangled in these matters, he had become a key player which will determine the future of this world. It wasn't his choice, it was forced upon him...

Thankfully, he had all sorts of means to even out the odds. This allowed him to survive and even thrive in this foul environment.

Currently, Ashton's cultivation has reached the peak of 9 Refinements of Lv.1 Warlock Rank. His Virtue of Mana had been refined a total of 9 times, reaching its perfected state. Now, he's just waiting for an opportunity to break through and condense his 2nd Virtue.

Aside from his cultivation rank, Ashton also received several boons on other aspects of his arsenal.

Take the Bone Scythe for example...

During the past year, he had gone out on a killing heist more than once. Each time he appeared, rivers of blood followed his wake. When he leaves, utter destruction remains as well as a sea of pure white flames.

The Bone Scythe had drank so much blood. The Blood-Drinking Seal reveled and thrummed in happiness each time he fed it. As a result, the Bone Scythe had been refined again and again. At this point, it has upgraded into a pseudo-Sub-Artifact, just a step away from becoming a genuine Sub-Artifact much like the Mortal Reminder.

Also, his Scythe Arts entered the 1-Star Phenomenon Rank...

Whenever Ashton swings his scythe, he reaps lives like wheat and cabbages. He could sever heads from a mile away, he could split rivers and uproot hills if he desires to.

On top of this, his Firearm Proficiency reached the 4-Star Phenomenon Rank as well. Making him a deadly being to cross in this lands.

And this isn't even stating the list of spells he can dish out as well as his unknown means of coming and going unobstructed in this Chaotic Warzone,

Sufficed to say, if Ashton went all out in his current state, he could probably destroy a country or two before getting tired...

The Celestials and Hypogeans that were stationed in this place had suffered greatly because of Ashton.

The way he just appears out of nowhere to start slaughtering their kind...nobody even notices when he appears nor when he makes a move. The killing just happens without them knowing how or when, they'd only notice it when it's done.

It was terrifying, especially considering that they never even had a chance of capturing him. Hell, even getting close to him was impossible.

So far, they've only seen a single glimpse of his visage...

It was when he stayed a second too long before disappearing. A demon and an angel saw his white cloak with the hood on, they saw his face hidden by a plain mask and that wicked-looking scythe held in his hand, dripping with blood.

That image was harrowing for those who saw it. To them, Ashton was a ruthless ghost. They wanted to capture him and make him pay for what they did to them but they couldn't do so.

Due to his mysteriousness and his means, they came up with an appropriate title to refer to him.

'The White-Cloaked Reaper.'

'...so let's summarize.' Ashton sat at his desk and gathered the intel has gathered so far.

'As it turns out, there is indeed a reason why this place is like this.' He stated to himself, 'I initially thought that these two camps just can't stand each other that much, and while there's some truth behind that, there is a deeper secret beneath this place.'

'The Celestials and Hypogeans were suppressing something here. Whatever it is, I have no idea. But that's the reason why they're stationed in this place and forces themselves to fight again and again despite their obvious dislike for it.'

'Escalating the fight into a full-scaled scuffle because of the simple reason was just an act from both sides. In a way, they're cooperating to achieve a goal. As for what that is...I don't know. And that bothers me so.'

Ashton pursed his lips in irritation. He truly underestimated the secrecy of these invaders. He couldn't believe that he almost got fooled by them.

Now, he's even more determined to know their secret. His instincts scream at him that he has to know this or else he'll regret it.

'It must be tied to the Blue Planet.' Ashton mused, 'Which in turn, also ties to Humanity as well.'

'They're suppressing something here to prevent Humans from discovering it.'

'The fact that they stationed a good chunk of their forces here personally to that...'

'And the fact that, even after an entire year of suffering from jy indiscriminate slaughter, they still send new blood to be spilled here despite knowing that I will always come, tells me that whatever it is that they're suppressing here, was extremely important.'

'How can I prevent myself from being curious with those clues in mind?' Ashton grumbled as he bit into the steak his girlfriend made for him.

As the future Boss Man of Humanity against the Invaders, how can he ignore this?

Even though it was irritating him to no end that he still hasn't figured this out yet, there's really no way he could just leave here without knowing this. In fact, he's even more determined to know now more than ever.

'I think it's time for me to switch tactics.' Ashton decided. 'I've exhausted all available tools in my torture tool kit, yet I didn't get much from it. Some of my captives would rather die than tell me anything.'

'It's somewhat admirable and annoying at the same time.' Ashton snorted. 'I guess it's time for me to take the risk and invade their camps.'

Yes, this was Ashton's next move...

,m He scanned the outside surroundings and saw that there was a scuffle ongoing right now. Ashton didn't join since he won't get much anymore from doing so.

Now, he has to choose which side to infiltrate first...

After some deep thought, he chose to go to the camp of the Celestials.

The reason being is that Celestials are creatures of Order. They have a strict hierarchy and are serious about their duty to their god. They follow the orders of their superiors down to the dot and never ask questions.

Seeing this, Ashton believes that his chances of getting more solid intel about their mission here would be higher compared to his chances with the Hypogeans

'The annoying part of this place is that I have to fly in order to enter their camp since it's being carried by the clouds.'

Yes, this is indeed the case. The camp of the angels was floating above the clouds.

While Ashton can drive the Grand Library like a vehicle, he doesn't know if he could fly with it just yet as he had never tried it before.

Ashton could use the Spell: Flight, to go there, but there are risks in doing that, mainly traps...

He doesn't know whether the camp had traps that prevent those who weren't of the Celestial Race from coming close to the camp. Ashton wouldn't be surprised if there was, to be honest, but that would make things difficult for him.

'Hmm...I guess I'll wait until their scuffle is over. Then I'll try if I could fly while inside the Grand Library.'

Ashton pursed his lips and kept observing the fight happening outside.

Judging from the wary faces of the invaders, he can easily tell their hesitation and unease. They were surely on the lookout for the White-Cloaked Reaper. They were on the lookout for him.

He can't blame them, really. He does come unannounced and leaves similarly, none of them could tell when he's there or not.

Even the Noble Demons and the 1St Sphere Angels were watching instead of fighting since they want to get rid of him.

It's kind of flattering to know that they're afraid of him. But what they're doing right now doesn't really help them. Not at all.

'If you guys can't even sense me here, how can you ever hope to find me?'

Ashton shook his head and no longer paid attention to this. He withdrew his senses since he was disinterested in how this was going to go. He knows that already anyway.

Ashton decided to relax on his couch, waiting for Aria to arrive when all of a sudden, he felt a buzz at the very depths of his consciousness. His eyes flashed and he immediately stood up.

He marched towards the training room and locked himself in. He lay down flat on the floor and took a deep breath...

'It's here! My breakthrough opportunity is here!!'