Ery's decision to extend his stay caught the group off guard. They had already encountered nurous dangers and adversities in the expedition, and Jinkan, in particular, was concerned about the potential risks he might face by lingering in such a perilous environnt.
"What?! No! Do not ss around, it's too risky," Jinkan replied, concerned about the dangers they might face.
Ery, on the other hand, remained resolute in his decision. With 14 hours left until the next gate opened, he had no intention of wasting such an opportunity. He saw the opportunity to accumulate more valuable resources, such as crystals and additional gold dals, as too significant to pass up. He believed that with a few more hours, they could substantially bolster their supplies and enhance their overall position within the ruins.
Seeing that Jinkan couldn't convince Ery otherwise, Eeshoo, the Nephilim genius, offered to help him. Jinkan initially disagreed with this plan, leading to a brief debate between the two. Ultimately, Jinkan compromised by agreeing to Ery's plan but decided to send her three guards as replacents for Eeshoo. These guards were originally slated to return to the surface, as they hadn't acquired any dals yet. This arrangent allowed Ery to have so support during his extended expedition.
Surprisingly, Ignatius, the Proxima spirit magus, stepped forward and volunteered to join Ery on his extended expedition. He offered to take two of the Proxima knights with him, showing a comndable willingness to assist and provide support.
In response to this developnt, Uria, who had been observing the situation closely, instructed Elowen, one of the Albatross spirit magus, to join them. Elowen, although initially irritated by the request, recognized that she couldn't defy the authority of the Albatross faction's spirit master. Reluctantly, she agreed to join Ignatius and the others, understanding the importance of their mission.
"Stay safe, and contact if you are in danger,"
Jinkan, showing genuine concern for their safety. With these parting words of caution, Jinkan led the remaining mbers of their group toward the crossover.
Ery faced the nine magus who had volunteered to accompany him on his extended expedition into the ruins. Among them were three Nephilim bodyguards, all highly skilled full moon magus, with Siyan being one of them. Elowen and Ignatius were also full moons, and the remaining four were half-moon magus. Their collective strength made them a formidable team, and their presence provided Ery with a sense of confidence, knowing that with them, he could handle bigger challenges.
However, before they began, Ery wanted to make their position clear. He addressed the group, making it clear that they were under no obligation to follow him, and he wouldn't report their actions to their superiors. He wanted to ensure that they were all willing participants in this expedition, knowing that the dangers they faced could be significant.
To Ery's words, none of them responded or made a move, except for Elowen, who wore an annoyed expression as she briefly stated, "Huh! Just tell us what to do!" Her straightforward response demonstrated her willingness to follow Ery's lead.
Noticing this, Ignatius approached Ery and politely assured him, "Please don't mind my friend here. We will follow your orders."
"Alright, then."
Ery's request caught his team by surprise. He tasked them with clearing the wandering celestials within the vaults, creatures that would only drop tiny shards and, on rare occasions, a gold dal. He then withdrew items from his spatial storage and began creating a stone formation in the central area of the vaults. His instructions to the group were clear:
"When I give the signal, make sure you all stand by here."
The plan was straightforward. Ery would act as bait to lure the enemy, while his team would prepare to engage in battle once the signal was given.
Ery created multiple clones to navigate the labyrinthine vaults. It didn't take long before the dark elves spotted one of his clones, and they began to pursue him.
His true form, anwhile, sought out a group that was manageable to fight, ideally with fewer than 30 mbers. Additionally, he needed to ensure that no spatial distortion items were available before confronting them. The success of their mission depended on the careful execution of this plan.
Ery faced off confidently against a group of 20 dark elves, his voice calm and composed. The leader of the dark elves, brimming with arrogance, threatened Ery, vowing to defeat him and take him back as a trophy.
Ery, unfazed by the threats, responded with practicality, "I don't want to waste ti. Do any of you have any shards with you?"
"This human is so arrogant. I will cut you into pieces and bring you ho as a trophy!"
The dark elves, blinded by anger and aggression, ignored Ery's question and lunged at him with the intent to kill. Ery reacted swiftly, casting a [Spatial Gate] that led directly to where his team was waiting. All nine magus erged from the gate to support Ery.
Ery's command was clear and decisive: "Do not let any of them escape!!" The battle had begun, and they were determined not to let any of the dark elves get away.
The 9 Magus sprang into action as they engaged the group of 20 dark elves. Elowen used her musical instrunts to cloud the minds of their foes, making it harder for them to focus on the battle. Ignatius summoned a spirit sword formation, and the other mbers of the team employed their weapons and spells effectively.
Ery, on the other hand, targets all the dark elf who attempt to escape. Utilizing his spatial magic and the [Spirit Devour] ability, Ery ensured that none of the dark elves could slip away from his grasp. Within minutes, all 20 dark elves lay defeated on the ground, their surviving spirit souls captured by Ery, adding to his collection.
As he sensed another group of magus approaching, Ery didn't take the ti to discern whether they were friends or foes. He swiftly opened a spatial gate, transporting himself and his team back to the vaults where his stone formation awaited them.
The operation had been executed swiftly and efficiently, with no casualties among the nine magus. None of them harbored any qualms about eliminating the dark elves, as they were considered enemies of humankind.
After their successful battle, Ery's team acquired two golden dals and three shards. Ery, in his usual generous spirit, offered to share these rewards with both factions. He wore a wicked smile as he asked, "What do you think? Do you want so more?"
Elowin, who had previously been annoyed, seed to have found her enthusiasm and was eager for another battle. "Yes! Give more. I will show my arrogant cousin my worth!"
Ery was more than willing to oblige. Once again, they repeated the process, actively seeking out dark elves and engaging them in battle, ultimately securing more dals and shards in the process.
Ery's goals extended beyond acquiring shards and dals. He was determined to locate Kieran, Cole, and their special Void Stalker group while simultaneously reducing the number of dark elves in the ruins. By thinning out their ranks, he aid to make his journey to the deeper layers safer.
To accomplish this mission, Ery went to great lengths, even resorting to spirit walking in search of clues regarding the dark elves' movents and the whereabouts of the special teams.
Six hours had elapsed, and during that ti, the group had managed to eliminate 145 dark elves, accumulating two dozen shards and the necessary gold dals for the whole group. They fought relentlessly, their teamwork growing stronger with each encounter, but despite their victories, there was still no sign of Kieran or Cole.
However, sothing else was stirring within Ery. As he devoured the souls of dozens of dark elves, he could feel a change deep within him. It was as if his broken primal core was responding to the influx of dark energy. A growing urge, a bloodlust, began to flow through him, making him crave more encounters with the dark elves. The hunger for their souls beca insatiable, and it both alard and intrigued him.
Ery knew he had to keep his newfound urges in check, so he decided to stop the activity and head toward the crossover to calm his urge and absorb more shards.
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