Rearing Demons-Chapter 31: Meeting the Strongest

The sound of squelching whispered through the barren region. A group of people walked casually, seemingly indifferent to the disgusting sights around them.

After a while, they arrived in front of a large fortress—its stones gray, the "glue" between them a yellow pus that dripped through the crevices.

A breach was visible at the base of the soaring fortress.

"Someone's been here already?" The group stopped at the tower, observing the damaged condition and odd fragments scattered around.

The most notable feature was the sealed entrance—what had been an orifice leading inside was now a yellow wall made of pus.

Leading the group was Celis. He hefted a large sword on his shoulder, staring at the tower with some confusion.

Fyr stood beside him, equally puzzled. "No one should've come out this far, right?" He scratched the back of his head.

"Who could it be?" they wondered. "Most folks should be at the center of the Eyes of Dripping Blood."

"I'm not sure," Fyr said, shaking his head. "It took us a full day from the border to reach this place. Hard to believe someone else would be here."

While the group tried to figure it out, Celis stepped forward, directly facing the wall of pus. "We don't know who it is, but we can go inside and find out, can't we?" He lifted his sword and, with a swift swing, sliced through the gooey barrier. A gateway—an entrance—opened for them. "All right, it's open now."

Despite his apparent recklessness, his companions couldn't help but smirk; Celis always charged ahead, seeking what he wanted without restraint.

They all grew curious about whoever might have ventured so deep.

Between the Land of the Mother and the Eyes of Dripping Blood lay a relatively safer zone, compared to the more dangerous heart of the Eyes of Dripping Blood.

For them, they ventured out this far because other areas might be disturbed by their presence, and they wanted to rack up more points while training. They also decided to explore new regions and gather waypoints.

The Land of the Mother was considered a "safe zone"—one of the largest since it connected to numerous other regions.

The Gravesong Wastes were too tough for most of them. Although they could kill a few Kyrraths without Celis, the risk was too high for the small rewards.

Stepping into the tower, they noted the wreckage and the corpse of an Antic.

Footmarks and deep imprints lined the walls, floor, even the ceiling. Rubble and blood spread everywhere.

"Looks like the fight was intense," Fyr commented, surveying the battered hall.

"I doubt this was someone from our Guardian Sect," Celis said suddenly, his gaze roving over the aftermath with keen interest.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

"Why's that?" Fyr asked. "Maybe some from our side came this way to reach the Land of the Mother."

"That wouldn't make sense," Celis reasoned. "There are safer, faster routes than passing through the Eyes of Dripping Blood." Approaching the center, he knelt by the Antic's body, now completely burned. The sere lines across its remains drew his attention. He traced them with a fingertip, rubbing the ash. "This ash is... odd."

"You think it's from another Guardian Sect?" Tourn asked, baffled.

"Unlikely." Fyr shook his head. "Their regions are really far. They'd spend months—maybe years—just traveling here."

Zulmasharr was far larger than Afloria, so the distance was massive. And while Afloria had teleportation circles for quick transit, such luxuries didn't exist for humans in Zulmasharr.

"Well, no point guessing. Let's go higher and see if we meet these strangers." Celis stood, turning to his companions with a grin. "We might find an interesting rogue cultivator...or something even better."

Fyr, who knew Celis best, recognized that predatory gleam in his eyes—like a beast excited for a hunt.

The group began climbing the tower steps.

[Host should be advised! A strong human is approaching!]

Yur, resting on the ground, flinched at Zul's sudden alert.

"Zul? What do you mean?" He promptly shifted back to his human form, startling Ris, who was also in her demon form. They had been practicing hand-to-hand combat for hours, both in the air and on the ground.

[A presence stronger than Ris! Be prepared!]

"Ris, someone's coming," he warned, getting to his feet as blood dripped from small wounds. Ris, likewise, reverted to her human shape, a flicker of worry crossing her usually calm face.

She tried sensing the aura, only to pale as it drew near.

What is this? The aura felt vaguely familiar yet totally unrecognizable, its mere presence suffocating—though it didn't seem targeted at them.

She inhaled sharply. "Celis is here."

Yur remembered the name from her earlier remarks, always mixed with an air of fear and respect.

From her expression, this Celis was indeed formidable: the top human cultivator at Luminous Heart, she'd once said.

They stood, staring at the stairs, while the aura thickened. Fortunately for Yur, it wasn't aimed at him specifically, so it only slightly pressured him.

"Oh, look who's here?" a voice rang out as the new arrivals emerged. Leading them was a dashing man exuding an overwhelming aura, though he wore a knightly demeanor. "What's Miss Ris doing all the way out here?"

"I might ask you the same, Celis," Ris replied with a minor scowl. "Shouldn't you and your people be somewhere more challenging? Why are you at the border between the Eyes of Dripping Blood and the Land of the Mother?"

"I asked you first," he quipped with a pleasant smile, locking eyes with her. "So, what is someone like you doing so far out?" Then he glanced at Yur. "And who's that man?"

Ris was known for her power and aloofness, even within the sect, and Celis had interacted with her only rarely. But seeing her here, with a lone figure at such a low rank, made no sense to him.

"And who are you?" he asked Yur directly. "An Essence Orb cultivator? Ris, why is someone this weak tagging along with you?"

"I'm training him," she said bluntly.

Celis raised a brow. "You're training him? You?"

"And what if I am?" Ris folded her arms. Now that Celis had pulled back his aura, she felt more at ease. She knew he was dangerous but not malicious without cause.

"It's just curious. You see something special in him? Are you trying to bring him into the sect?"

All the while, Yur quietly observed them talking about him as though he wasn't there—an unsettling throwback to when he was viewed as an object by slave traders.

"I'll decide later," she finally said.

"Then I'll ask him instead." Celis turned to Yur with a polite grin. "So, who are you, exactly?"

Yur needed only a glance at Zul's suggested dialogue. He was growing more comfortable speaking without it.

"What do you want to know?"

"For starters, your name."

"Yur."

"And who are you?"

"I'm a rogue cultivator."

"Why's Ris training you?"

"She wants me to teach her an ability." At these words, Ris shot him a fierce glare. Clearly, he had revealed more than she liked.

Celis's eyes narrowed in interest. "Ah, so the flames from the dead Antics below?" He glanced behind Yur, noticing more charred Antics.

"Yes."

"Wait, you killed them?" Fyr cut in, astonished.

"That's right," Yur said calmly.

Fyr's group murmured among themselves. "An Essence Orb cultivator slaying three Zoraths...?"

Though Ris had acted as though it was no big deal, it was indeed rare to surpass ranks that drastically. Aside from Celis's own feats, they'd seen few who could do so. Celis was an anomaly within the sect.

"Interesting," Celis muttered, his curiosity spiking. A harsh aura suddenly emanated from him, pressing down on Yur.

Damn them, Yur thought bitterly.

He felt his knees crackle under the force, but he remained upright.

"Show me how strong you really are," Celis said with a casual smile, yet his intent was unmistakable.