"Killing you all outright might be the safer bet."
Thorne spoke directly to Lukas via soul transmission.
Lukas trembled at the voice in his soul.
"Sir, we may be as weak as ants before you, but above us are two Legendary Tier leaders. If they track us here via locator scrolls, a clash with you would be unfortunate."
"Are you threatening me?" Thorne's tone chilled.
"Not at all! The elves love making friends and truly don't wish to be enemies with a powerhouse like you."
Lukas lowered his stance, his face calm and composed.
Thorne hesitated, unsure. How could the elves' attitude shift so abruptly? Even if they feared his strength, Legendary Tier was merely high-tier for them—not enough to warrant such groveling.
Shelley, noticing Thorne's silence, seemed to catch on and chimed in, "Sir, the elves are known across races for cherishing peace. Why not talk it out? We might become friends."
Hearing this, Thorne decisively released the elves he'd trapped underwater.
Lukas's two comrades helped them up. Lukas bowed deeply, "Thank you for your mercy, Sir. I apologize for our earlier recklessness."
"Speak. What do you really want?"
Lukas hesitated, then smiled, "This matter is beyond my authority to discuss with you, Sir. Please allow me to summon Leader Blake, who's in charge, to negotiate with you."
Thorne considered it. Killing or sparing them, the two Legendary Tier elves would find him anyway. He and Shelley couldn't handle Legendary foes. Better to play along as a Legendary recluse and see what the elves were after.
"Fine. Send for him now."
Lukas pulled out a transmission scroll, reported the situation, and it burned away.
Thorne ignored Lukas and his team. Shelley, intrigued, chatted with them, probing for continental intel.
"No wonder it's the Divine Demon Continent—utter chaos."
Shelley learned the continent hosted myriad faiths forming diverse factions, with race less a factor than belief.
The Light Temple, worshiping the God of Light, dominated, but others—like the elves with the Nature God, the Witch Hall with the Death God, beastmen with the Beast God, and goblins with the Wine God—held significant, if dormant, sway.
As they talked, a green flash streaked across the sky, and a figure appeared on the shore.
Another elf—tall, elegant, strikingly handsome.
Thorne formed a water figure and emerged from the lake.
"You must be the hidden master Lukas mentioned. I'm Blake. Greetings."
Blake bowed gracefully, then flashed a charming smile at Shelley.
Thorne returned the gesture, "I'm Thorne. Forgive my inconvenience—I can only meet you like this."
Blake waved it off with a smile, thinking, Inconvenience? This lifelike water figure, with every expression and movement perfect, is a blatant flex.
"My king has always welcomed friendly ties with desert beings. Many Transcendent beasts here owe him favors, yet we never knew of a powerhouse like you."
"I've long heard of the elves' fame. This is my first real encounter—truly as beautiful as the legends say."
Thorne mused, Those two dead elves don't count.
After mutual flattery, Blake revealed his purpose.
"Soon, this continent may face chaos engulfing all. The elves, lovers of peace, don't want the eastern lands embroiled too. We seek a pact with powerhouses like you to preserve this hard-won peace."
"What pact? How could I help?"
"Simple: regular communication with us, aiding when needed. We won't ask for free favors—rewards will match the task's difficulty."
Thorne feigned contemplation.
Blake's words indeed merited thought.
Clashing with the elves now wasn't wise—he lacked the strength to challenge a whole race.
But having killed Grandi and Elysis, the elves would eventually notice. Conflict was inevitable.
Survive this first, Thorne decided, planning to feign cooperation, grow stronger, and face them as a true Legendary later, unafraid.
After hashing out details with Blake, Thorne agreed. Blake left a transmission scroll and tasked Lukas with liaising—covertly monitoring—Thorne.
Thorne expected scrutiny ahead but wasn't worried. A transmigrator, he'd never left this land since arriving. No investigation could uncover his origins.
Once Blake and Lukas departed, Thorne asked Shelley, "Did you realize something earlier?"
Shelley nodded respectfully, "Sir, you may not know: on the Divine Demon Continent, every millennium brings a Faith War, lasting about a century. The victor claims the next thousand years' preaching rights, confining other faiths to designated zones."
"I suspect the millennium's nearing. The Nature God will join the fray, so the elves are purging the desert—removing rival pawns and recruiting strong allies like you."
"Faith War? Aren't they afraid I'm another faction's agent? Or that I worship a different god, not Nature?"
Thorne was puzzled.