Chapter 580: Gate (1/2)

It wasn't such a stretch to think that a faction that all seemed Centered around the 'Void' was related to his constitution. Someone called the Void Priestess living by the Void Star lording over a faction called the Void Monastery was a bit too on the nose for it all to be a complete coincidence.

Then again, there were no doubt quite a few heritages containing the word ‘Void’, just like there was an endless number of ones having the name Heavenly, Primordial, Divine, or Origin. These words conveyed a sense of profundity and vastness, a sense that was rarely justified. The only reason he had held back researching Leyara’s heritage until now was the shocking cost of buying intelligence on a powerful C-Grade faction.

But looking into it was worth the expense now, especially considering the [Ferric Worldeaters].

“I can certainly buy the missive…” the Sky Gnome said, though he looked a bit troubled. “But… Ah… Our operational funds are currently a bit…”

“How much?” Zac asked, understanding what the Sky Gnome was getting at.

“Two point five billion,” Calrin coughed, looking disgusted even if it wasn’t his own money.

“Just send the report to the Mystic Realm before it closes. I’m especially curious whether they have a Void-related bloodline,” Zac sighed as he transferred the funds. “Also, see if you can find out anything about abnormal bloodlines. Mutated, corrupted, and unique bloodlines.”

“Mutated..?” Calrin muttered before he quickly nodded. “I haven’t heard of anything like it, but I will make some discreet inquiries.”

“Great. Also, prepare for a flash sale of our stockpile of resources in case we need to flee in the future. I’m running a bit low on money,” Zac added after some thought.

“Not to make Young Master's day worse, but the box came at a certain premium as well,” the Sky Gnome said with a weak smile.

The box in question wasn't a treasure, but rather a treasure box that would hopefully house and isolate the Dimensional Seed when he managed to snag it.

It cost 775 million nexus coins even though it wasn’t even a Spirit Tool, and Zac felt almost physically ill when he had to fork out such an exorbitant sum for an empty box. The reason for the price was the same as with [Everlasting], the shield that had become a component of [Love’s Bond]. The locker was almost exclusively made from some sort of Treasure Jade that was one of the best materials around for storing treasures.

Part of the cost also came from the meticulous arrays that covered both its inner and outer surfaces, inscriptions meant to boost the effectiveness of the materials even further. It might be a bit overkill, but Zac wouldn’t take any chances with an item that was so valuable that both the Dominators and the cultists would stop at nothing to get it.

“Thank you,” Zac said as he put away the box in his Spatial Ring. “If you manage to get your hands on anything else, send it directly into the Mystic Realm. I doubt I will exit again before the Mystic Realm closes.”

“Certainly… And good luck,” Calrin said. “Remember, wealth is important, but surviving even more-so. My instincts are telling me that this treasure might cause more harm than good.”

“I actually feel the same way,” Zac grunted. “But someone is going to get it, and that someone might as well be me.”

Zac made his way to the teleporter, and he could breathe out in relief when he passed through the tunnel to the Mystic Realm. Everything pointed toward the pathway lasting a few more days, but it had still been in the back of Zac’s head the whole time he spent outside. He didn’t know what he’d do if he actually was closed out early by some freak accident.

Zac immediately made his way toward his temporary compound, as the exhaustion from using the [Rageroot Oak Seed] was only growing in severity. His surroundings were soon just a blur, and he simply fell down on the grass the moment he had entered his protective arrays, immediately entering a dreamless slumber. He had no idea how long he had slept when he finally roused himself, but the realization that he wasn't alone shocked him wide awake.

“I wish I had one of my cameras with me,” a leering voice reached Zac’s ears just as [Verun's Bite] appeared in his hands, causing him to sigh in exasperation and turn to Ogras who was sitting by a table not far away.

“Wasn’t it you who told me that entering others’ arrays was the height of rudeness?” Zac muttered as he took out a bottle of water from his spatial ring.

He still felt drained even after having slept, but he didn't really feel weakened any longer. It felt like he would be ready to go again as long as he got something to eat.

“Well, that rule's for strangers, not good comrades. So, care to tell me what you’ve been up to? You look like you’ve been swallowed and spat out by a Govidar Mawbeast,” Ogras asked as he took a swig of wine.

“Your home planet sounds like a real nightmare going by all these monsters you’ve described,” Zac snorted. “If you must know, I broke open the second floor of the Dao Repository, unlocking the skills within.”

“WHAT?” Ogras exclaimed, immediately jumping to his feet.

“How is that possible?! You shouldn’t be that powerful!” the demon said, his eyes a chaotic mix of confusion, glee, and jealousy.

“I have my ways,” Zac said with a smile as he took out a massive slab of meat.

Zac rarely felt hungry any longer, but he felt like his stomach was about to implode right now. He tore into the meat like a ravenous beast, and he only stopped when he had eaten over ten kilos of E-Grade beast meat. He didn't understand the physics of it, but he didn't question it either as every bite felt like quenching rain in the parched desert that was his body.

“So?” Ogras eventually asked, posture leaning forward.

“How about a pretty please?” Zac smiled.

“I’d rather get cut apart by those spatial storms,” Ogras spat.

“I’m kidding,” Zac snorted. “You can bring up to five of the evolved Demons. Oh, and bring Verana.”

”Why bother with her?” Ogras asked with confusion.

”The charges in the crystals are limited, but not to the point that we can't spare a couple of slots. It's all to improve our upcoming odds,” Zac shrugged.