Three days later, in Neo Terra City.
Deep within the palace training complex, Ery stood alone in a vast chamber of polished stone. The air around him pulsed with faint currents of energy as he moved through a sequence of strikes, each motion precise, controlled, and heavy with intent.
His fist shot forward like lightning.
The punch cracked through the air with explosive speed before his body shifted fluidly into a turning kick, smooth and continuous as flowing water. A mont later, his stance sank low, and both palms drove outward with crushing force, carrying the immovable weight of a mountain.
Each movent followed the principles of the Dao of Heaven and Earth, blending opposing forces into one seamless rhythm. Sweat rolled down his skin, yet his breathing remained steady, his mind focused entirely on the path of improvent.
Then another presence entered the chamber.
Typhon, who had been leaning against a pillar while watching in silence, stepped forward with a grin.
"Ha… you've finally refined that technique into sothing sohow useful."
Before his last word finished, the qilin hybrid moved.
Ery reacted instantly.
Their arms collided with a sharp crack, and the room erupted into a storm of exchanges. Fists, elbows, knees, and palms struck in rapid succession, each blow carrying enough force to shatter steel. Typhon's movents were elusive and fluid, vanishing between strikes like drifting smoke, while Ery countered with direct precision and explosive bursts of power.
Dozens of strikes were exchanged in re breaths.
Shockwaves rolled across the chamber.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, Typhon withdrew with a laugh.
"Better," he said, shaking his wrist. "Still stiff in so places."
Ery exhaled and gave no reply. He simply walked to the center of the room, lowered himself into a lotus position, and closed his eyes.
This had beco his habit after every battle.
Reflection.
Rather than celebrating victory, he replayed every mont of combat in his mind, examining choices, mistakes, strengths, and weaknesses with ruthless honesty.
During the last three years, he had steadily developed two paths of battle. One was close-range martial combat, the other was his flying sword arts, where control, precision, and battlefield pressure dominated from range. Against the Chira Sovereign, both paths had advanced through real combat.
Even so, the battle had also revealed uncomfortable truths.
The Chira Sovereign's monstrous form had possessed strength and durability comparable to Ery's own Primal Transformation. It was a reminder that brute force alone could not guarantee victory.
That realization strengthened the idea already forming in his mind.
He needed greater versatility.
More techniques.
More trump cards.
His thoughts turned first to [Spectral Gaze]. Once one of his deadliest hidden attacks, it had now beco limited by both range and target level. Against weaker opponents, it could still crush the mind instantly. Against experts above the Two Cosmos realm, however, it often produced only a brief interruption.
Useful—
But no longer decisive.
Next ca his temporal spells. Though still rare and powerful, they had not improved nearly as much as his other abilities. In battle, ti magic could decide life and death in a single mont, yet he had allowed that path to stagnate for too long.
Finally, he reviewed [Star Rending Cleaves], the killing move he had used against the Chira Sovereign. Its destructive force was extraordinary, but the cost was equally severe. Even one full execution consud too much spirit power, making repeated use dangerous in prolonged battle.
That technique needed refinent.
Efficiency.
And certainly a weapon crafted specifically to bear its burden.
As one thought followed another, Ery's breathing gradually steadied. When he finally opened his eyes, several new ideas had already taken shape.
He rose, left the chamber, and cleaned himself thoroughly before changing into fresh robes of dark silver and green. Once prepared, he made his way toward the palace hall, where others had already assembled.
The grand eting chamber reflected the new status of Neo Terra City. Pillars of polished stone lined the walls, banners of the Earth Faction hung overhead, and a long central arrangent of seats had been prepared for the city's growing leadership.
Ery entered calmly and took the main seat at the front. Though he had never sought such a title, he was gradually becoming accustod to the role of faction leader.
Standing beside him was Klea, the vice leader, elegant and composed as always.
Seated along both sides of the chamber were the key figures now helping shape the future of their power.
Kayelin, head of the Apothecary research and workshop.
Oeno, master of the Immortal Gladiator School.
Nyx, head of the Red Lotus.
Beowulf, commander of the Twilight Units, now responsible for city security.
Tessa, who oversaw finance, trade, and supply networks.
Camila, the third sister of Terra, who managed construction and developnt across Neo Terra.
At the rear stood Soltz and Typhon, observing quietly. Neither needed formal seats to make their importance known.
This was one of the regular Earth Faction council etings established after expansion, intended to keep every division inford and coordinated as their territory continued to grow.
Before beginning, Ery noticed two missing faces.
Morgana.
And Fjolnir.
Kayelin, who had personally overseen the treatnt of everyone injured after the battle, stepped forward first and gave a respectful nod.
"Grand Magus Fjolnir rely overextended himself... The backlash from drawing upon ancestral power was significant, but not permanent. With proper rest and treatnt, he should recover fully within two weeks." she explained.
"As for Grand Magus Morgana, After devouring the spirit beast, Three-Flad Bird, she obtained an unexpected fortune and returned to seclusion."
Hearing that, Ery was both surprised and pleased. Morgana's strength had already risen quickly in recent years, and another breakthrough would only make her more formidable.
"Alright," he said, settling into his seat. "Let's begin the eting."
With a flick of his hand, Ery took out a storage ring and sent it floating toward Kayelin.
"There are more than a dozen newly acquired herbs inside," he said. "I hope they will be useful."
These materials had been gathered from the Bog Tyrant Toad and additional specins collected on the M-Class savage planet. Their rarity alone made them valuable, but in the right hands, they could beco sothing far greater.
As Kayelin accepted the ring and inspected its contents with her senses, her expression changed subtly. It was only a slight shift, but it did not escape notice. Klea and Nyx exchanged brief looks as well, bearing the sa quiet concern.
All three of them knew why Ery had spent the last three years relentlessly searching for herbs, and rare poisonous ingredients.
This was never about wealth.
There was only one reason.
Ery's expression remained calm, but his voice lowered slightly as he inquired the question openly.
"How is she?"
The hall grew quieter.
Kayelin lowered her eyes before answering.
"We have done everything we can," she uttered softly. "We can only prepare our best these next three months."
No one needed to ask who she ant
The person they spoke of was Gwenneth, and the final stage of her condition had arrived. Whatever could be prepared had already been prepared.
Now there was little left to do except wait for the final attempt.
Man can prepare.
Destiny decides.
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