Chapter 131 - Preparation (1/2)
While Shirohana was heading alone towards the plane where Hinari and Hodazuka lived, a great commotion between two high level Inanimates occurred within the entrance hall of the Tempest Branch Alliance.
”The Verdant Nut Alliance is no longer existing,” Herellia looked at Aurus, who had just got into the entrance, and said.
”What?” Of course, Aurus did not really imprint the words Herellia said into his mind, hence he asked, ”Could you repeat that one more time?”
”I said,” Herellia replied, not minding Aurus' request. ”The Verdant Nut Alliance is no longer existing!”
”...” At that, Aurus became at a loss for words. Eventually, what Herellia told him imprinted in his mind as he shouted in shock, ”Eh?!”
Only to follow up with a, ”What's the Verdant Nut Alliance?”
”Huh?!” As Herellia heard these words come out of Aurus' non-existent mouth, she could not help but become infuriated...only for her to ponder a bit and reply in understanding, ”Now that I think about it, I haven't really gone in-depth about the situation of Tempest Cliff.”
”I told you before that Tempest Cliff is governed by three alliances and a single powerful being, right?” Herellia asked, wanting to make sure if Aurus remembered.
”Mhm, you told me before.” Surprisingly, Aurus agreed with what she said, remembering very well that that was what she said before he entered the alliance.
”And I also told you that our aim is to destroy that single powerful being, right?” With Aurus agreeing to her first question, she then followed up with another one.
”Uh...” Aurus tried to rummage through his memories for a bit before agreeing. ”Yeah, I kinda remember you saying that back then. You told me that that was the reason you accepted me even though I was A-grade back then.”
”Okay, good.” Seeing that Aurus remembered up to that point, she let out a sigh of relief internally before starting to explain the entities that governed over Tempest Cliff.
”So, as I've said before, there are three alliances within the Tempest Cliff. Namely, these three alliances are the Verdant Nut Alliance, Blossom Breeze Alliance, and our Tempest Branch Alliance.”
”The Verdant Nut Alliance specializes in spells and magic-based stuff, the Blossom Breeze Alliance specializes in illusions and souls, while our alliance doesn't really specialize in everything, but we're not bad at everything as well.”
”Anyways, that single powerful being who I've surely mentioned before is Chonk, an Inanimate turned Animate wolf turned hater of alliances.” After saying this, Herellia looked at Aurus, wanting to see if there were any changes. But even with her [Eyes of Undeceiving Kin], there was no change in Aurus' emotions.
Without hesitation, she continued, ”Since Chonk is a hater of alliances, it would make sense if he started destroying the alliances, right?”
With that question, Aurus agreed. ”Yes, that's correct. What are you getting to though?”
”I'm saying that, the Verdant Nut Alliance is not the only alliance to be destroyed. Even the Blossom Breeze Alliance could be destroyed. Or even our own alliance at that,” Herellia replied with a serious aura emanating out of her body.
”Ah...” And at that, Aurus understood...only to scream out in shock. ”Then doesn't that mean...we can die?”
”Of course, we can,” Herellia brushed death off like it was nothing. ”War never changes at all. Although I'm not scared, we should still prepare.”
”Eh? Why aren't you scared?” Aurus could not help but ask after hearing Herellia mention it.
”Goddess.” And that was Herellia's only reply. After that, she turned around and started to fly into the main portion of the alliance as she said, ”You better prepare Aurus. We don't know when we might fight against Chonk.”
Whoosh!
And with that, Herellia left the hall, leaving Aurus alone to himself.
”Eh...goddess?” Aurus pondered over this word for a bit and eventually got down to what she was trying to imply. He could not help but agree to that as he muttered to himself, ”She ain't wrong. Kurohana would definitely protect me.”
”Oh wait...I forgot to ask her about soul sealing skills!” Just as he finished thinking about Kurohana, his previous train of thought related to his soul and the clone went back to the track, making him scream in annoyance, an annoyance at himself.
He continued to scream for a bit more before returning to his previous self, composing himself as he tried to formulate a plan regarding to what he wanted to do and what Herellia wanted him to do.
”Okay, so...I have to prepare for a future attack,” Aurus said to himself as he decided to fly out of the hall, heading towards a place that held importance to him as it pretty much changed his path for the better.
”But before that, I'll go to the Tempest Cliff Inheritance first. I might just find a soul sealing skill and then I could rest easy afterwards, putting my full focus on grinding the shit out of my skills.”
”And then finally evolving to X-grade.”