Chapter 96 Again



The elder kindly warned Kalina about the strength of his organisation.

"Why are you so proud of joining a group of killers?" Kalina asked in response.

"Killers? Is that the extent of your imagination? Do you think we act without reason? I am disappointed in you, Kalina. When you declared your intention to dismantle the 'evil organisation,' I held you in high regard. It appears I have overestimated your intelligence. Have you never heard the proverb, don't judge a book by its cover?

"So, what made you assume we are evil? We are actually the saviours of the world. In due time, you will come to understand the true meaning behind my words."

"Hm... A nameless organisation from nowhere dares to proclaim itself as the saviour of the world," Kalina scoffed, confronted by the elder's unreasonable words. She couldn't comprehend why someone like him would refer to the evil organisation as the saviour of the world.

"Ha ha ha... Nameless organisation? The very fact that you couldn't even discover our name demonstrates your incompetence. How, then, can you fathom the significance of our actions and objectives?" The elder criticised Kalina for her lack of knowledge.

"Can killing the innocent, fueled by your ambition, justify your goal?" Kalina challenged.

"It may become justified when all of this comes to an end. Sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of one's goals. The difference lies in the fact that our choices benefit the entire world, whereas your actions are motivated by your welfare. In our case, it is right to say that the ends justify the means." the elder responded.

—--

'Well, they are having a productive conversation while trying to kill each other. I think I should sit back and watch for now.' Alex thought as he saw the elder and Kalina converse. He took out some snacks from his inventory and chair. Placing it near the beach, he began to munch on them.

Although their conversation might seem simple, Alex didn't want them to stop. Their conversation was providing valuable information to him. He wanted the elder to speak more. The more he spoke the better it was for him. 

However, Alex was well aware that both Kalina and the elder were merely stalling for time. Neither of them was prepared to jeopardise their lives in a full-blown battle. Or else, they would have used the spirit guardian possession state. 

The exchanges of blows were primarily defensive, with Kalina focused on preventing the elder from escaping the scene, while the elder used his attacks to create distractions and buy himself some time.

Alex used this time to recover his mana peacefully. 

—----

Within a matter of minutes, leaving behind distinctive trails in the clouds, large dots began to materialise in the sky. A squadron of massive flying beasts, the trusted mounts of Tier 4 warriors from Thira, began to converge. Nearly twenty of these majestic creatures, each carrying a skilled Tier 4 warrior, formed a circling formation above the battlefield.

Among them were warriors hailing from renowned tribes such as the Void Fish Tribe, the Thousand-Headed Serpent Tribe, and the Ice Phoenix Tribe. Additionally, there were some unidentified warriors representing scattered tribes. All of them observed the unfolding events below with keen eyes, meticulously analysing the situation before deciding which side to help.

Despite receiving prior information about the nature of the conflict, they felt compelled to personally witness the ongoing battle, ensuring their judgments were well-founded before pledging their allegiance.

Soon, they realised what was happening.

Clearly, the elder of the thousand-headed serpent tribe was in the wrong. So, they decided to support Kalina.

For a fleeting moment, the members of the Thousand-Headed Serpent Tribe stood in stunned disbelief, fully comprehending the immense gravity of the situation. However, their shock swiftly transformed into resolute determination as they made their decisions and aligned themselves with the Ice Phoenix Tribe. They understood that their elder had veered down the wrong path, and they refused to allow themselves to become enemies of the entire central continent due to his misguided actions.

Having suffered the brutal loss of their patriarch and hundreds of warriors at the hands of the evil organisation, witnessing their elder don the robe of this evil group filled them with shame and anger. To cleanse themselves of this shame, they vowed to purge it by shedding the blood of their elder.

The other warriors allowed the tier 4 warriors from the thousand-headed serpent tribe to go first. It was their mistake that caused the evil organisation to spread like a parasite inside the city. So, they should be the first to take down their elder. If they are unable to do so, they were willing to rid the world of evil by their own hands.

"See, your tribe is here to eliminate you. The shame caused by a traitor like you is unbearable for them. Let's see if your wish to live long will be fulfilled after this." After leaving behind the words, Kalina pulled back.

Now, four warriors from the Thousand-Headed Serpent Tribe encircled the elder, their eyes fixed upon him. As the elder gazed upon this sight, a wave of excitement coursed through his body. It had been far too long since he last engaged in a battle of such magnitude. Rather than being filled with fear, he exuded unwavering confidence upon witnessing his tribe members surrounding him. It was as if he possessed an unshakeable certainty that he would emerge victorious, standing tall and resolute, not budging an inch.

"Our tribe has already suffered enough losses. Do you wish to sacrifice your lives in an attempt to kill me?" the elder challenged the four Tier 4 warriors who surrounded him.

"It is better to face death than to live with the shame that the acting patriarch of one of the Nine Great Tribes is a traitor," proclaimed one warrior, his words echoed by the nodding agreement of the others.

"Then so be it," the elder declared, drawing a sword from his spatial storage with a newfound seriousness that contrasted with his previous battle against Kalina. He channelled his energy into the blade, causing it to emanate a vivid purple glow.

A powerful surge of energy radiated from the elder, generating a shockwave that displaced the air around him.

With a resounding "Boom!" he shot forward like a bullet, aimed directly at the warrior positioned at the forefront.

"Crack... Pierce... Pierce, Pierce, Pierce!" Before the warrior could even comprehend the situation, the elder thrust his sword forward, penetrating the energy barrier enveloping the warrior's body. In an instant, the blade pierced into the warrior's chest, inflicting a grave wound. Miraculously, the warrior managed to cling to life.

However, the most shocking revelation came when the three warriors behind him, instead of attacking the elder, drove their swords into his vulnerable back. The simultaneous piercing sound pushed him to the precipice of death.

"You!" he exclaimed, blood gushing from his mouth. Within seconds, the warrior succumbed to his injuries. The remaining three warriors stood beside the elder, firmly displaying their allegiance. They were also members of the evil organisation.

Some people in the crowd were shocked to see it. Even Kalina stood still unable to grasp the turn of events. However, Alex was not surprised by any of it. But his mouth that was chewing on the potato chips stopped when he gazed at the elder. His eyes glowed in a blue hue revealing the fact that they were filled with mana. 

Alex was using mana sight to view the battle that was taking place far from him. And by chance, he noticed something peculiar about the scene before him. 

The elder suddenly had a sudden spike in mana concentration inside his body. The three people around him were doing something similar. Their bodies were mysteriously generating more mana with each second.

This forced Alex to remember what happened to the first elder of the ice phoenix tribe.

'Ahhh fuck!' He thought remembering the ordeal when he battled against the first elder. 

'The shit was about to hit the fan. The first elder turned into a monster after showing similar symptoms.' Alex could see a worm-like thing squirming inside the bodies of the three warriors behind the elder of the thousand-headed serpent tribe. It was releasing vast amounts of mana into their bloodstream to increase their power.

'The elder suddenly increased the mana concentration inside his body. But he seems to be different from his three minions. In his body, there is no worm. But I am sure that he is exhibiting more mana than he should.' Alex concluded.

'Three rampaging monsters with the strength similar to peak tier 4 to a tier 5 warrior. An old man with an unknown ability to suddenly increase his energy level. Hidden allies of the evil organisation in the crowd. Possible reinforcement might arrive soon to help them. Is it even possible to win this battle? I think I poked the hornet's nest when I attacked the Noble Trader Association. Anyway, it is better to pull them out into the light rather than letting their scheme in the dark.' Alex thought as he calmed himself. 

Thankfully, they were quite far from the city. Or else Thira might have been destroyed a second time in the upcoming battle.