Above The Sky
Chapter 256 - 256 244 The Enthusiastic Hospitality of the Relic Creatures 33

256: Chapter 244: The Enthusiastic Hospitality of the Relic Creatures (3/3) 256: Chapter 244: The Enthusiastic Hospitality of the Relic Creatures (3/3) The white-haired youth turned his head to look at the other — Yisen Gard, having tasted something sweet, felt considerably better.

Although still worried about his teacher’s condition, he tried his best to uplift his own spirits, diligently feeding sugar water to Master Gossay.

This naïve young master, who was somewhat inexperienced in worldly affairs… Only his uncle, Patrick, who now wanted to kill him, had ever bought him candy.

Even if it was as he had previously speculated, that Patrick might have a ‘child’ with inheritance rights to the Ellen Family… Could Patrick, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart and who, despite his claims of looking down on Viscount Grant, had in fact been helping for decades, really exchange his own life for the life of this nephew, who indeed lacked competitive strength?

Especially this Yisen Gard, who would probably hold his uncle in the highest regard, even if he truly became the family head?

His own biological son might not even be treated so well!

Taking a deep look at Yisen Gard as he was now, Ian felt a twinge of unease, “What exactly is Protector Axel up to?”

“After the betrayal of my teacher and the Former Emperor… What is the state of the Empire’s Royal Family?”

The events that occurred within the Ellen Family and to Yisen Gard, which seemed to have no connection to him, were however deeply intertwined with the youth, forcing him to pay attention.

Protector Axel’s deliberate creation of an ‘heir’ like Yisen Gard definitely cannot be just for the simple purpose of swallowing and subjugating the Ellen Family.

Many conjectures sprang up in Ian’s mind, but most were groundless and needed evidence to become somewhat substantial.

The youth could not help but think about it.

After all, he was Hiliard’s disciple, the inheritor of Inaga’s Legacy.

The greatest secret treasure in the world was on him, and all the Empire’s conspiracies and far-reaching schemes essentially existed because of his teacher and the one his teacher served.

His enemies…

were the most powerful monarchs and rulers in the world.

In other words, at least all the deepest conspiracies and plans happening within the Setar Empire are very likely related to him.

“I’m still too weak.

I must accelerate the plans for the ‘Fourth Sublimation Organ’ and the ‘Second Energy Level,'” he mumbled to himself with a slight shake of his head, his expression somber, “But I can’t be hasty.

I must take things step by step and not bite off more than I can chew at once.”

The youth stretched out his hand and placed it on his chest and abdomen.

He closed his eyes, sensing the Ancient Dragon Heart Core within his body absorbing the Swamp Crocodile Dragon’s ‘Amber Crystal Core’ and healing itself, “It won’t be long…”

Thinking this, Ian felt a hint of weariness.

— Fighting against a Sea Monster, piloting an Armor Suit, a deadly battle with the Great Shaman, followed by two fights with parasitic lifeforms, and battling with the Fiery Flame Land squad…

From the sea to the ruins cluster, activating Foresight View for extended periods many times, and learning the major news of extraterrestrial lifeforms and Redwood Base…

Although Ian still had a significant reserve of Source Quality, even replenishing quite a bit through the Swamp Crocodile Dragon’s reserves, the fatigue of both mind and body was inevitable.

“Ian, you rest first.

I’m still very energetic,” Yisen Gard said seriously, secretly injecting himself with a stimulant, noticing Ian’s tiredness, “I know… my strength isn’t sufficient, and the upcoming battles will surely depend on you.”

“You rest first, so that our safety is secured in what follows.”

“Thank you,” Ian noticed the other’s small action, but didn’t refuse the offer, “You’ve worked hard, Yisen.”

Soon, with the application of the Breathing Guiding Technique, Ian lowered his head and fell asleep.

The blue Spirit Energy Radiance in the boy’s eyes dimmed, and the whole cavern was quiet, leaving only the steady, prolonged breathing of the white-haired boy and the low murmurs of Master Gossay.

Yisen Gard watched Ian’s defenseless, confident sleeping face and thought of many, many things…

but in the end, he just sighed.

Looking down at his hands, something seemed to churn in the clear, lake-green depths of his eyes.

“Power…”

At this moment, he too began to yearn…

yearn for power.

Not to dominate the lives of others, like those brothers, sisters, uncles, and parents of his.

Nor to achieve some clear goal or dream, acting without hesitation or confusion, like the peer by his side.

What the blond boy desired was merely the right to say ‘no’.

The right to refuse a certain ‘possibility’!

Ian slept soundly, or rather, whenever he needed to sleep, he could fall asleep, and it was always of the highest quality.

This was the result of the Silver Chip adjusting his neural perception and autonomic functions, and it could also awaken him during a crisis.

But this time, Ian felt the ‘crisis’ only after a full three hours of sleep.

The moment he woke up, an accident just happened to occur.

Therefore, when he awoke, Yisen Gard had just stood up, preparing to go to his peer’s side to wake him.

“It’s the special attack team from Fiery Flame Land—they’re following us, but they haven’t found us yet.”

In a tense, lowered voice, he informed Ian of the enemy’s identity.

Yisen Gard pointed to a concealed entrance on the other side of the cavern, where vague soldier silhouettes were visible, making the boy understand, “Hmm, thank you.”

They were in the depths of the Giant Golden Mushroom Area, shielded by various protruding mushrooms and metal rocks, making it extremely difficult to find them, and it was impossible for any surveillance equipment to locate them in a place pulsating with life signals everywhere.

Both had the power to control their own life signs and could even protect an additional Master Gossay with ease.

However, difficulty is never a reason to stop for an army.

Boom.

A blue-white fiery light lit up.

Ian raised his head to look in the direction where the firelight had sparked—a surge of hot wind was billowing, illuminating more than half of the cavern, and the rapid fluctuations of Source Quality seemed like a signal, causing all the Giant Gold Mushrooms in the vicinity to suddenly light up, filling the entire cavern with a pale red bioluminescence.

“They want to burn a path through with fire?

They clearly don’t know the daily required temperature for metal-based life forms, nor do they realize that these creatures are currently in a low-power dormant state due to the cold environment, do they?”

The boy revealed a mocking smile, quietly watching the distant Fiery Flame Land squad’s ‘correct’ choice to set fire to the mushroom forest to clear a path.

Then he stood up, hoisted the still-sleeping Master Gossay onto his back, nodded to Yisen Gard, and prepared to leave.

—Use fire against creatures that draw heat from beside molten lava?

Not to mention extraterrestrial biology, they clearly haven’t done well in Terra biology either, as even the Swamp Crocodile Dragons wouldn’t be scared of such a trivial attack.

Next, they wouldn’t even need his intervention; the moving giant mushrooms and their symbiotic beasts would naturally teach these ignorant outsiders a lesson.

Local relic lifeforms, how warmly hospitable they are!