Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Three: Crisis

Beneath the ancient castle, a thunderous roar shattered the silence.

In the sky above, a colossal aura of magic swirled around the area, enveloping several miles in all directions. Its terrifying majesty compelled all who beheld it to kneel in submission.

“His Majesty Aura is enraged!”

Countless demons knelt upon the earth, their heads bowed low, bodies trembling in fear.

“King Aura, what has provoked your wrath?”

Within the dimly lit castle, a figure stepped forward, disregarding the oppressive aura before him, and respectfully bowed.

“My offspring... has fallen beyond the borders!” King Aura bellowed.

He bore six powerful arms, yet unlike other six-armed demons, his body was etched with dense, intricate bloodline patterns, manifesting visibly upon his flesh.

This was a testament to the overwhelming potency of his bloodline power—a symbol of immense strength.

Lifting his head, his cold gaze fixed on the attendant below. “Ozorius, go forth and bring back the culprit who dared harm the royal bloodline.”

“I will imprison his body, draining his blood for centuries!” he commanded.

A ray of light descended, illuminating the young Ozorius, who revealed a cold smile beneath its glow. “As you wish.”

···

Elsewhere, beyond the wastelands, Adis paused mid-step, sensing a shift in the surrounding atmosphere.

Under his perception, the threads of fate entwining the area suddenly swelled, faint strands of destiny weaving closer, hinting at an impending change.

A sinister premonition, heavy with profound malevolence, pressed relentlessly against him.

Adis twitched the corner of his mouth. “Looks like we’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

“This level of danger—only those demon lords in this world can instill such a sense of threat.”

“I didn’t expect to confront them so soon.”

Yet he paid it little heed. “According to the guidance fate has granted, the real crisis has yet to arrive. There’s still time for me to handle things gradually.”

“But that means I must accelerate my progress.”

He turned to look back at the natives he had rescued from the demons.

The group moved slowly across the desert, hampered by their numbers and the shortage of guards.

Some sought to escape, but Adis remained indifferent.

The world was merciless; beyond his protection, these people faced inevitable death amid barren lands and ferocious beasts.

Clearly, they understood this truth. After Adis’s stern warning, very few dared attempt escape; most followed obediently.

“Chieftain, the elders have arrived with reinforcements!” A burly man ran up from afar, reporting respectfully.

Adis nodded, then looked behind him. “As planned, have several squad leaders organize the formation.”

“We must quicken our pace—aim to return to the tribe by nightfall.”

His orders were met with swift compliance, as seasoned warriors pushed the group onward.

“With so many new mouths to feed, our rations will dwindle faster. But we seized a large stockpile when we broke the demon camp earlier. We’ll escort it back to sustain ourselves.”

Demons were cannibals, subsisting mainly on monstrous beasts, but they also consumed ordinary grain. Moreover, humans were captured to be bred as a steady source of flesh and blood; they would not be allowed to starve. Hence, large stores of provisions were kept in their camps.

Adis pondered this, realizing that despite provoking a demon lord, this venture had been a great success—not only freeing many slaves and gaining laborers and followers but also weakening the enemy.

“A few more raids like this won’t hurt. Since I’ve already angered a demon lord once, I’m not afraid to do so again.”

He lowered his gaze, resolute.

In the distance, the tribe’s settlement drew nearer.

“What kind of tree is that?” came a chorus of astonished voices.

The freed slaves looked up, dumbfounded, at a vast, towering natural tree.

It was no longer the modest sapling they had known; nurtured by the tribe’s faith, it had grown rapidly, now a magnificent tree standing dozens of meters tall—a rarity in this harsh world.

As a sapling born from the very essence of the Nature Deity, the ancient tree possessed an extraordinary presence.

Its massive canopy shimmered with a vibrant glow, suffused with the essence of nature itself, instilling all who gazed upon it with a refreshing lightness.

“An oasis!”

“Such fertile land!”

The people marveled at the stark contrast between this lush terrain and the surrounding desert, where abundant crops thrived. Their astonishment gave way to relief.

The inhabitants of this world were simple folk, hardened by adversity. As long as they could survive and remain safe, they were content, never demanding more.

Thus, upon beholding this haven, the newcomers were captivated, with no desire to leave.

Ahead, Elder Eda watched their expressions with a mixture of headache and pride.

As the elder responsible for the region’s development, he felt a quiet satisfaction.

“Elder Eda, arrange for these people to settle without causing too much disruption,” Adis’s voice called out from afar.

He approached the ancient tree and closed his eyes, his aura gradually merging with it as he absorbed its power.

Busy preparations continued until nightfall, when a gentle warmth finally enveloped him, prompting him to open his eyes.

Cassi shyly approached, holding a bowl of hot soup. “Master Adis, the ritual is about to begin.”

“Mm,” Adis nodded, surveying the surroundings.

This was a rule he had established: every night, all gathered beneath the ancient tree to pray for the Nature Deity’s blessings upon the harvest.

This not only strengthened the newcomers’ sense of belonging but also facilitated the collection of faith energy.

As the congregation began to pray, a mighty chorus rose, and pure white streams of faith drifted upward, drawn toward the ancient tree.

Among them, the new converts contributed less faith energy, but their numbers made their collective offering substantial.

“The sacred tree is glowing!” a voice exclaimed.

Endless waves of faith poured into the ancient tree, which radiated a verdant light, illuminating the surroundings.

Beneath its glow, everyone felt a lightness in their bodies, deepening their devotion.

This was the tree digesting the faith, transforming raw belief into divine power.

After a while, warmth blossomed in Adis’s body—a familiar divine energy flowing steadily through him, which he converted into strength.

Within him, the bloodline seed responded to the influx of divine power, its spectral form growing clearer and stronger.

“At this rate, within three years at most, I can reach the peak of the third tier, possibly even break into the fourth.”

“This pace is exceptionally fast by normal standards. Without being inherently a sixth-tier, and without the aid of the ancient Nature Tree, it would be impossible.”

“But now, I no longer have the luxury to wait.”

Adis frowned.

Originally, he had planned to rely on the Nature Tree to bide his time here for several years, rebuilding his strength before reemerging to reshape the chaotic world.

But fate had other plans. A single excursion had led him to slay the direct offspring of a demon lord. Now marked by the demon king himself, stealth was no longer an option—it would be suicide.

His expression calm, his mind churned with thoughts.

“No mortal has ever stood against demons before. The demon lord likely will not intervene personally but will send powerful subordinates to hunt me down.”

“Still, I cannot rule out the possibility of the demon lord’s direct involvement. Time is tight—no more than six months before confrontation.”

He gazed outward. “It’s clear—I must venture beyond.”

The following day, Adis separated the newly allied tribal leaders and elders, questioning them about nearby tribe distributions and other demon camps.

They spoke freely, and within days, Adis had a clear picture of the surrounding situation.

The region was vast and scattered with numerous small oases, creating a chaotic patchwork.

News traveled slowly; some tribes might not yet know of the demon invasion.

This also slowed the demons’ capture efforts. Despite their formidable power, rounding up people one by one was inefficient.

After study, Adis concluded that the best targets remained the demons’ established camps.

These were the fruits of the demons’ labor, often housing members from several tribes whose homes had been destroyed.

Rescuing them would yield loyal followers with no other support, making the task easier.

Thus, days later, Adis once more set out with a group.

···

“Master Adis, we’re close now,” an aged guide reported, eyes fixed ahead. “My tribe once lived nearby. Before the demons captured us, there was a demon camp here.”

Adis nodded.

With his perceptive abilities, he hardly needed a guide at this point.

He strode forward, followed closely by his people, heading toward the distant camp.