After a few days of rushing, Han Shuo and Wasir finally reached a mountain range a few dozen kilometres away from Pandemonium. Han Shuo looked in the direction of Pandemonium and grimaced when he learned that something had happened there. Having helped to create the formations there, he knew their functions and effects well. He could easily sense the abnormal energy flow from afar.
There were strong waves of Yuan energy around both the Sky Annihilation Formation and the Secret Control Chamber. The activation of the former was a sign that a terrifying enemy had entered Pandemonium, while the latter was a sign that the members of the House of Han had retreated into the secret chamber due to some extraordinary danger. There was no other good reason for the demonic barrier of the secret chamber to activate. He immediately accelerated even more towards Pandemonium.
"Bryan, is there a problem?" Wasir could easily tell that something was wrong with him.
His question caused Han Shuo to slow down slightly. After taking another look at the energies near Pandemonium, he took a deep breath to regulate himself and calm his panicking mind. With his mind and soul now still and calm, a few thoughts flashed through his mind.
"Something has definitely happened at Pandemonium, but the powerful defence formations I've set up at the secret chamber are still working. This means that the last line of defence has not yet been breached," he explained calmly, no longer in a hurry to return. "I'm sure Dhaka and the others have entered Pandemonium. But there's no way they could have broken through all the defences there in such a short time. There must be some other force forcing my people to flee to the central control chamber, so something is wrong.
He of all people knew the power of the defences best. Not to mention that he had tested the power of Dhaka and the others during the battle at the Misty Sea, and he didn't think that they would be able to break through all the defences in such a short time. It was because he was at least that confident about the defences that he dared to go to Glacial Peak to rescue Wasir.
"Maybe another enemy has infiltrated the place," Wasir said, believing what Han Shuo said about Pandemonium's defences.
"That shouldn't be possible! No one can enter Pandemonium that easily unless they're one of us!"
"I guess we'll see the truth when we get there."
Han Shuo nodded and was about to do as Wasir said. Suddenly, he felt a faint pulse coming from the distance. Immediately, he sent out a faint strand of his consciousness, sending out soul waves from his body.
"Who are you trying to contact?" Wasir asked. The waves emanating from Han Shuo's body were truly subtle. He wouldn't have noticed them if he had leaned directly against Han Shuo. As a powerful Overgod, Wasir knew that it had to be some sort of communication technique that relied on two people agreeing on which wavelengths or other features of the waves to focus on in order to send information across great distances.
"You will see in a moment," Han Shuo said as he motioned for Wasir to come to a corner of the nearby mountains.
Wasir wondered why Han Shuo seemed completely unhurried despite all the activity in Pandemonium and tried to guess who he was trying to contact. Had he planted another pawn between Dhaka, Dagmar and Asser? Why would he have anything to do with them?
Just as he was letting his imagination run wild, a faint lightning shot out of the dark clouds before landing in front of Han Shuo. It looked like the figure of a human.
"Salas!"
"Wasir!"
The two shouted at each other as if they were facing their nemesis. Ice and lightning energy filled the area, as if they were about to collide.
"We are all allies!" Han Shuo said, stopping them from acting rashly by charging between them. "Stay calm, we're allies!"
Both Salas and Wasir hadn't realised that they would be working together and had almost come to blows.
"Of all the people I could have guessed, you weren't even on the list!" Wasir said, his cold expression melting into a simple smile. "Bryan, you even dragged Salas down with you. I'm amazed! You are truly terrifying!"
Han Shuo had defeated Salas and taken his place in the fringe, ruining his prospects there. By all accounts, their grudge should have been irreconcilable. But they had actually been working together in secret. If Wasir hadn't seen it himself, he wouldn't have believed it, even if others had brought him proof.
"I'm quite surprised myself. You're someone who wouldn't even submit to Tyre, yet why would you leave Glacial Peak to come here?" Salas looked at Wasir strangely before turning to Han Shuo. "It's no wonder you were able to consolidate your power in the Fringe. It's only after today that I'm truly convinced of your abilities."
Now the two sovereigns of the Fringe expressed their admiration for Han Shuo at the same time.
"Let's not dwell on it," Han Shuo said, not letting it get to him. They had to deal with Pandemonium first. "Salas, you've been watching Dhaka the whole time, right? What happened?"
As he spoke, Han Shuo sent some demon generals into Pandemonium. However, what they saw wasn't enough to tell him what really happened there, so he still needed Salas' input.
"First, Dhaka, Dagmar and Asser went into Pandemonium. The three of them moved as I had predicted and were trapped as you had said. However, you may not have noticed, but after Dhaka, Dagmar and Asser arrived, Miller, Isaiah and Regis came into Pandemonium."
"What's going on?" Han Shuo was beyond shocked.
"I didn't see it with my own eyes, but I can be sure that Isaiah and the others entered the underground palace in Pandemonium by a direct route. I bet you can't guess who led them into the underground palace.
"It's definitely Ossora!" Han Shuo snapped, "Regis, Isaiah and Miller were targeting Ossora from the start, so Ossora definitely had a part in their appearance here. Given Pandemonium's defences, they wouldn't be able to get in without Ossora leading the way.
When he said that, Salas' expression turned grim. "You managed to find out after all. I suppose you have been on guard against Ossora for a long time."
"Dagmar, Dhaka, Asser, Isaiah, Miller, Regis and Ossora... There are seven overgods in there!" Han Suo's expression grew serious. "We should think of something together. This battle will not be easy. Luckily, Pandemonium is my territory, otherwise we wouldn't stand a chance.
"Dhaka, Dagmar and Asser are still trapped because Isaiah and the others haven't freed them. The only ones we have to take on are Ossora, Isaiah, Miller and Regis," said Salas.
"Then it will be much easier for us to act." Han Shuo relaxed and thought. "You two shouldn't show up yet. Let me take a look. I think Ossora still doesn't know that I already know what's going on and will try to betray me later. I'll let him do what he wants..."
After their discussion, it was decided that Wasir and Salas would remain in hiding while Han Shuo entered Pandemonium alone.
...
"He's here!" Ossora shouted.
"He's finally returned!" Isaiah and the others were overjoyed. They had waited so long for the master of the place to show up and give them the secrets of everything in Pandemonium. Now they could finally take it over for good.
"He definitely doesn't suspect me yet," Ossora said, "we should make a convincing show of it. As long as I can catch him off guard, I'll be able to maim him. After that, the three of you will swoop in and we'll dominate him completely. Later, by blackmailing him through his women and friends, we'll be able to get him to spill all his secrets.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Isaiah said.
Ossora left immediately, slightly injuring himself as he tried to look like he was running from something. Meanwhile, Isaiah, Miller and Regis came along and acted as if they were about to knock Ossora out.
A pretty convincing show, I'll give them that. Han Shuo chuckled in his mind and willed a large formation into action in Pandemonium. The formation immediately moved to where Isaiah was and enveloped Ossora.
"Hey, Ossora!" The Hegemon of Darkness, Asser, called out. He had been trapped inside for a whole day and noticed someone else appearing beside him, though he didn't expect it to be one of the Five Sovereigns.
"Huh?" Ossora's face was one of doubt. "Why are you here?"
""I was going to ask you the same thing!" Asser grinned before turning to attack him. As far as he knew, Ossora was there to help Han Shuo, so he had to strike first to gain the advantage.