Chapter 9
Crossing the Sorrow Kingdom had been easier than expected.
Lucas and Austin moved like ghosts, covering their tracks with meticulous care, avoiding main roads, and resting only when absolutely necessary.
The real challenge, however, would come on their way back—if anyone discovered the bodies they left behind.
By then, the borders would be heavily guarded, making their return a deadly puzzle.
But that was a problem for future them. Right now, their focus was delivering Maya safely.
Since they could carry Maya, their journey was swifter.
Lucas found it amusing how Austin hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of rice, moving at a steady pace without complaint.
Occasionally, they let her walk to keep the blood flowing in her legs, but overall, their trip was smooth—too smooth. Lucas had read enough books to know what that meant.
The calm before the storm.
When they finally crossed the border into the Zenith Empire, the hardest part of their mission seemed behind them.
All that remained was escorting Maya to a village near the Hidden City of Lightning.
Easier said than done.
After another week, they reached their destination.
Maya and Lucas had talked a lot during the trip—about the Cloning Project, the Artificial Mana Beast Creation, bloodline fusion, and even his mysterious Blue Fluid.
The knowledge exchange was priceless, each conversation filling gaps in Lucas's understanding of the world's hidden sciences.
Almost a month of traveling had given him something invaluable: clarity.
He knew exactly what he wanted to pursue now.
A grand plan was forming in his mind, one that would shake the foundations of science.
He had no intention of stopping, no desire to be shackled by the limitations of past failures.
And then, as if the universe wanted to reward him for his ambition, Maya gifted him the Soul Split Spell.
That's when Lucas's brain screeched to a halt.
A spell of that caliber wasn't something you handed over as a 'thank you.'
It was one of her most precious possessions, an arcane technique that even Elijah had once tried to replicate—only to fail and create something similar but fundamentally different.
The implications were staggering.
Lucas narrowed his eyes as he studied Maya, her green gaze unreadable. "Why?"
She shrugged. "Consider it a gift for the knowledge you shared with me."
Right.
As if that explained anything.
He had given her valuable insights, but in no universe was that worth a spell of this magnitude.
Suspicion wormed its way into his mind, but he kept his expression neutral.
This spell was a game-changer, but the question remained: why did she give it to him?
Lucas knew her death was inevitable—at least, it had been in the original timeline.
She would die trying to protect another protagonist from Elijah. But now that Lucas had intervened, he was seriously reconsidering letting fate play out as it was supposed to.
Not that he could do much about it right now.
He still had a mountain to climb before he could stand against Elijah.
Right now, he was a mere ant compared to his master.
But the path ahead was clearer than ever, and Maya's gift would accelerate his progress.
He just needed more knowledge, more power, and most importantly—Elijah's attention.
And that, he realized with a smirk, was exactly what Maya would help him get.
The Journey Back
Lucas and Austin were on edge.
Crossing into the Zenith Empire had been one thing, but leaving was another matter entirely.
This wasn't some weak kingdom—they were now in an empire as strong as their own.
And yet, Austin, the lovable idiot, insisted on keeping his metal plate displayed openly.
Lucas shot him a glare. "You do realize that advertising we're from the Hidden Sky is like painting a target on our backs, right?"
Austin, ever the loyal, tapped the plate proudly. "If we're attacked, they'll at least know we belong to the same Hidden City."
Lucas sighed so hard his soul nearly left his body. "Yes, and that guarantees they'll attack us. You think these people care about diplomatic niceties?"
Austin shrugged, completely unfazed. Lucas massaged his temples. This guy is a genius but an absolute idiot when it comes to his loyalty.
The worst part?
The very city Austin was loyal to was going to kill him.
They feared his potential, and Lucas was beginning to wonder if he could shift Austin's loyalty from the Hidden Sky to himself.
It was a dangerous idea, but an appealing one.
That's when they stopped.
Standing before them was a squad of warriors from the Hidden City of Lightning.
Their metal plates bore the symbol of a cloud and lightning, strapped to their foreheads, hands, or legs.
But the real problem wasn't the warriors.
It was their leader.
Lucas felt his stomach drop.
If they were unlucky, they'd run into an 8-star warrior.
Well, the world apparently hated them, because this wasn't just an 8-star warrior.
This was Tisha.
Blond hair, hourglass figure, two daggers strapped to her back, and enough mana to suffocate the entire area.
She was a Holder, meaning she had successfully bonded with a Mana Beast.
Judging by the overwhelming pressure she exuded, hers was a Tier 3 Mana Beast—an existence that made Lucas feel like an insect.
And that wasn't even the worst part. The five warriors behind her? All 8-star.
Tisha's lips curled into a smirk. "Well, well. What do we have here? Two low-ranks from the Hidden Sky?"
Austin, stepped forward. "We mean no harm. We were on an escort mission and are simply returning home. Would you be so kind as to let us pass?"
One of the person a woman with short black hair—scoffed. "Austin Motomato, right? The war legend? Your reputation precedes you. You slaughtered quite a few of our people."
Another person, a man with a scar across his nose, stepped forward. "Miss Tisha, we can't just let them leave without getting some information first."
Tisha's smile turned cruel, her sharp eyes locking onto them like a predator eyeing prey. "No, we can't."
Lucas's mind was already racing. He wasn't thinking about how to fight back—he was thinking about how to make Austin the primary target while he slipped away.
Austin, on the other hand, was gripping his sword, eyes filled with steely determination.
Tisha let out a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately, we can't do anything right now. If we so much as touch you, Saint-Class Ronan from the Hidden Sky will intervene."
Lucas blinked. What?
Ronan? Here?
That was unexpected.
Ronan was a Saint-Class powerhouse, someone who shouldn't have been anywhere near this region unless he was on an important mission. Meaning he is looking for Elijah?
Tisha gave them one last lingering look before turning on her heel. "Let's go."