The sensation of the cold, high-altitude air slowly roused Sylphine. Her eyes fluttered open and immediately widened at the sight around her—white clouds stretched out below, an endless blue sky above. "I'm... flying?"
"You're awake?"
That voice. The voice so familiar, the one she had longed for in every prayer. Her heart pounding, Sylphine turned her head. There, sitting with the warm expression she had always known, was Zephyr—her long-lost brother.
Unable to restrain herself, Sylphine immediately hugged her brother tightly, tears of happiness streaming down her face unbidden. "Brother...!"
Zephyr, slightly surprised, soon returned the embrace, his hand patting her back gently. "Welcome back, Sylphine," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Sylphine could only nod, continuing to cry, releasing all the longing and relief she had held inside. Everyone witnessing the touching scene was also moved, including Veylin, who discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
A few minutes later, Leon finally opened his eyes. His face was no longer as pale as before. "Nix," he called, "I've recovered enough. I can open a teleport to headquarters now."
"Thank goodness," Nix replied. "Do it now, Leon."
Leon raised his right hand, and with full concentration, a large spatial rift opened in front of them. Nix flew into it without hesitation.
---
At the organization's headquarters, Arthur, sitting in his room, suddenly looked up, sensing a familiar aura approaching. He hurried outside, just in time as a spatial rift appeared in the sky. From within, Nix in his Phoenix form emerged, carrying all the members on his back.
"Welcome back!" Arthur greeted with a broad smile.
The fox-woman, Xuánhú, recognizing Arthur, immediately jumped down and approached him. "I never thought I'd see you again, Arthur Eint."
"Likewise. It's good to see you again, Xuánhú," Arthur replied with an equally warm smile.
After Nix landed and returned to his human form, Arthur noticed the new faces among them. "It seems we have acquired some extraordinary new members."
However, before he could continue, Nix interrupted with a serious expression. "There is an important matter we all need to discuss, Arthur."
Seeing Nix's expression, Arthur immediately understood the urgency. "Alright, let's go inside and talk."
---
Inside the meeting room, after everyone was seated, Arthur began. "Before discussing the important matter from Nix, let me introduce our new members." He pointed to Xuánhú. "This is Xuánhú. She is the ancestor of all fox races in the world."
Xuánhú stood and bowed slightly. "Pleased to meet you all."
The introductions continued in turn. Nix introduced himself as the last Phoenix. Leon, Zephyr, and Sylphine introduced themselves as demons from the Belphegor Kingdom, with Zephyr as its king and Sylphine as the princess.
It was Veylin's turn. "I am Veylin, a former member of the Hrafnagildr assassin squad serving the giant race of the Gigantora Kingdom."
SPLUT! Xuánhú, who was drinking, suddenly spat out her drink. "What? You're one of those assassins?!"
Veylin simply nodded calmly.
Xuánhú held her forehead. "Incredible... it seems this organization is filled with monsters. And led by someone even more monstrous, isn't that right, Arthur? You must be the leader."
Arthur chuckled. "I am not the leader of this organization."
"Then who is?" asked Xuánhú, confused.
Arthur smiled and pointed towards Leon. Xuánhú looked on in disbelief. "Impossible! I know he's strong, but he's not as strong as you, Arthur!"
Arthur nodded. "The one who leads the organization is not Leon, but someone whose soul resides within Leon's body, sealed, and has become a system that allows Leon to grow strong without limits."
Xuánhú was astonished. "Impossible... Then, who is that someone?"
"Have you heard of one of the Seven Ancestors of the demon race, and their leader in the past?"
Xuánhú swallowed hard. "Don't tell me... that person is Satan? The former leader of the Seven Demon Kingdoms? The one who led the opposition against the gods and the Four Sacred Races in the Peak War a million years ago? Wasn't he killed by the gods?"
"Yes, that's him. I don't know exactly how he survived, but he ended up becoming part of a system and sought a worthy person," Arthur explained.
Xuánhú sighed, still in shock. "Alright... let's move on to that important matter, Arthur."
Arthur looked at Nix. "Alright, Nix. What important matter did you want to convey?"
Nix began speaking in a firm voice. "It seems there is someone or a group forming an organization containing dangerous individuals with extraordinary power. We encountered two of them in Nocturne's End City."
"Who are they?" asked Arthur.
"They are Kaze and Morvana."
Arthur frowned. "If someone can gather people like them... they must possess immense power and influence." His face turned serious. "It seems we must accelerate our plan to fully resurrect Satan before they start moving."
Leon asked, "What items do we need?"
"Five important items, and one crucial item as the key to using them all," Arthur explained.
"The five items are the Core of the World's Will,The Forbidden Tome of Laws, the Soulforge Crucible, The Seed of the World Tree, and the Soulforged Severance. And the one key item is... Satan's original body."
"Haven't we already obtained one of them?" Leon asked.
Arthur nodded and drew a sword emitting a tremendous aura. "Yes. The Soulforged Severance."
Xuánhú nodded thoughtfully. "I suspected as much. That legendary sword must be one of the five."
"Then, where are the locations of the other four items, and Satan's body?" Leon asked again.
"The Core of the World's Will is the most difficult," Arthur explained. "That object only appears once every two million years. Many factions will compete for it."
Veylin was surprised. "Once every two million years? When will it appear again?"
"According to my calculations, approximately two years from now," Arthur answered.
He continued, "The Forbidden Tome of Laws is a tome formerly guarded by the Phoenix race, but is now in the hands of the Dragon race."
Nix, hearing this, immediately clenched his fist, his face showing an annoyed expression.
"The Soulforge Crucible is a forge currently held by the Giant race. And The Seed of the World Tree, which is shaped like a seed, is also in their possession."
Veylin, hearing the description of the seed, remembered something. "Is that seed bright blue, shaped like a four-leaf clover?"
Arthur looked at her. "How do you know?"
"I saw it once at the top of the city tower. They said it was a gift from the gods to protect the city. Many worship it, but... strangely, everyone who enters that place always comes out with a pale face."
Arthur sighed. "It seems you've all been deceived. The reason their faces are pale is because their souls are being siphoned bit by bit by that seed. Its purpose is to make the seed grow into a tree. The fruit of that tree can instantly make someone powerful."
SLAM! Veylin hit the table in anger. "How dare they! All this time we've been lied to and used as sacrifices!"
Sylphine immediately held Veylin's hand. "Calm down, Veylin. We will all help free them, right, Brother Arthur?"
Arthur smiled. "Absolutely right, Sylphine." Then he looked at Sylphine and Veylin.
"There's one more thing. Starting now, I will train both of you personally."
Zephyr and Leon were shocked. "What do you mean?" they asked almost simultaneously.
"It's a shame to see someone with Veylin's Tactigaze eye ability, and someone with 10% angel race blood like Sylphine, being wasted."
"What?!" Zephyr and Leon exclaimed.
"Sylphine has angel race blood? I thought only Sylvaine had it?"
Arthur nodded. "Sylphine and Sylvaine were born twins. This caused an imperfect division. Sylvaine possesses 90% angel blood, while Sylphine only has 10%. Because of this, Sylvaine cannot use the angels' strongest ability, Sacra, unless..." Arthur looked at Sylphine sadly. "...unless Sylphine sacrifices herself for Sylvaine. Only then will the angel blood become 100% perfect."
He looked at Sylphine. "Starting now, Sylphine, you must become strong to protect yourself. Before the Angel race realizes this and tries to capture you."
Zephyr immediately stood up, his face full of determination. "That will not happen! They'll have to go through my dead body first!"
"Me too!" Leon exclaimed, followed enthusiastically by the others.
Sylphine cried tears of emotion. "Thank you, everyone... I will strive to become stronger!"
Arthur clapped his hands, refocusing everyone. "Alright! Now, let's decide. Who will go to retrieve The Forbidden Tome of Laws from the city of the Dragons?"
=== CHAPTER 48 END ===