after all this mind shattering news Steve looked at the man in confusion ''I know your also an anomaly but how did someone looks like a farmer and is known to avoid others like the plaque gain so much information?''
clay glared out the window in frustration while watching his children play outside before calming down. "if you must know I am a dream rune user and a high priest of zilch which allows me to go through all the memories of sleepers around the world to gather this info.''
Steve and Flos stared in pure awe while brain who was listening from inside Steves soul felt distrusted by what he thought was a pervy and weak power.
Brian forced himself out so he can speak "What is this great darkness in you it fells so similar to the abyssal claws.'' Brians glowing seemingly pierced through as looked at the weird, tainted dankness flowing throw his veins seemingly pumping out endless energy.
clay looked disgusted at the mention of the nearly endless power lying dormant in his body "look here you Damm half soul I didn't choose to be born like this, just like you didn't choose to be an ugly elf stuck sharing a body!"
Flos looked at the obviously furious Clay and the stubborn Brian who wouldn't back down before imminently getting between them.
"Ok let's calm down and speak before doing anything rash we will hear you out first since it seems you want to help can we all agree on that.''
the two slowly backed off while clay calmed himself before speaking "If you must know my mother was a high priestess of the abyssal cult so I was born into a life of darkness and destruction, But after some time of a life of straight killing and controlling people I me a man who rebelled against everything I stood for and soon became my friends and the reason I left before settling down away from every one with my family.''
Flos recognized the look in clays eyes not remorse for their past just a heaviness of knowing your children will have to deal with your past sins.
"What's This abyssal cult?" Brian asked while Flos and clay looked at him like he was an idiot.
''Flos quickly explained ''I forgot you're a wandering hermit. Basically, it is this new cult that worships the titian and want to release it to destroy the world and for a chance to gain it power to slay the gods.''
"Why would anyone want to destroy this paradise we elves forge with decades of effort? didn't we lose so many in the first great war?"
clay gestured for them to sit so he could elaborate "Yes many died then but quite a few were corrupted by the titan and even more saw its power and were enamored by it especially those that hate the divine.''
Brian and Steve were flabbergasted despite thinking they were hated by the gods they wouldn't kill them since that will affect every single living creature.
while Steve and Brian were lying in stupor Flos continued for clay "And it's true the world was once a paradise but it's now anything but... since the great war most groups and clans started looking out only for themselves or their own people dividing everyone while those alone and suffering were forced to band together becoming bandits to survive since not every is able to live as a hermit or is as powerful as us.''
Brian thought about it for a bit and came to the realization if he was weak, he would've grouped up with others to survive better no matter what he had to do.
but this brought up a bunch of thoughts to his mind that made him feel uneasy.
as the three continued talking about important plans a weird magic circle appeared behind them as suddenly, they were dragged through them.
A few moment earlier lily was staring at the evening sky as she laid atop of grey who was now the size of a bear while everyone else was riding crystal who was still a in an odd vehicle form carrying everyone else.
''The sun is going down we should camp up for the night" grey nodded while relaying her voice to the others that also started slowing down to search for a resting spot.
grey stared at the night sky in an empty manner while the three ladies setup camp.
grey was theorizing potential ways to use his powers better without injuring himself. unfortunately he already knows it would be more effective to act as a support with all his abilities but every time he entered a fight his instincts took over he jumped in head first.
"Tch, my abilities aren't the problem, it's me I keep jumping headfirst into danger without a care.
Grey thought about what the elder told him earlier how the odder animals awakened powers and how each rune represented a part of someone.
'sound was free and chaotic while having a soothing effect yet being the most destructive at time. The whole thing was both complimentary and contradicting like himself.''
'While the poison gas he has was an open but dangerous power almost sinister and vengeful. its powerful but like his anger and self-hate at times it affects everyone around him.'
soon his thoughts went back to the kingdom ARS how his powers were useless in the game, everything he had didn't even phase the queen as she beat him down, and how his attacks didn't affect the clones made of primal elements were the only method of holding them down was to eat them alive repeatedly.
grey slowly turned to lily who was now pacing and muttering to herself nervously.
After a few moments of empty panic, she seemed to steel her resolve and opened a summoning circle.
Soon a crying Flos jumped of the portal to hug his daughter when he saw her new looks and stopped in his tracks completely stunned.
lily just smiled weakly "heeyyyy dad how you been?" she awkwardly asked knowing she changed a lot physically and mentally.
"My baby what happen to you!" Flos quickly pulled his daughter into a deep hug as he cried as he saw the pain in her weary eyes.
Steve slowly walked away and started talking to terra and sky to get an understanding of what has transpired.
seeing lily who has been serous since her evolution finally act her age again around her father made something ache inside grey's chest.
Flos Stood up abruptly shouting he was going to cook something to heal everyone's souls, leaving behind a smiling lily.
grey slowly approached her with a tired face.
"what's wrong grey?"
"It's nothing it's just... after seeing you reuniting with your dad I kind of miss my family do you think you can send me back for a bit?"
"Of course!"
grey left behind one of his clones with decent abilities before he was unsummoned and arrived at his home.
he quickly scanned the area, and most folks were asleep or getting busy, but that's when he turned to the distance, he heard jade muttering something to herself.