The aftermath of a great battle.
Stray clouds glided across the sky, pieces of rubble and debris dotted the land and the beautiful orange sunset filtered through it all, giving off a sort of melancholic scene.
The body of Diligence floated among the clouds, kept hovering by some unknown power.
His body had shrunk down completely to the size of a typical wolf beastman with an intimidating build and his previous five tails had disappeared back to one.
BUZZ! BLITZ!
Arcs of lightning flashed and buzzed across his body occasionally and his upturned eyes showed his lack of consciousness.
Suddenly, the arcs converged together like some living entity and gathered above his motionless body.
The lightning moved about excitedly as they formed a baleful looking head with fierce sharp golden eyes and pointy ears.
The head was a bit blurry at first but with time, it started accumulating more power looking more tangible by the second.
The amount of lightning in the air increased with frightening speed until the very sky seemed to be lacerated by the lightning.
The figure stared down hatefully at Diligence before diving viciously towards his body wielding the full power of the accumulated lightning.
WOOSH! BLITZ!!
Just as the mass of lightning was about to pierce through the wolf-man's body, a powerful spear tore through the mass of lighting quick as a flash dispersing it like leaves in the wind.
BANG!
The spear went past for a few more meters before exploding, raining down metal scraps from the sky.
The head reappeared from the dispersed lightning, turning its golden eyes in the direction the spear came from.
The figure of an elf appeared through the clouds staring back with a cold gaze.
With a body covered in what seemed to be numerous writings and diagrams, the black toned color of the elf's body gave him away as a dark elf.
Every visible part of his skin except for his face was covered by these diagrams.
The elf could be considered handsome.
He was wearing casual clothes, a white open collared shirt he had tucked in and a pair of grey baggy trousers.
His short black hair had small bangs that framed his face and his similarly colored eyes stared back at the figure with no fear.
The only thing that was different about this dark elf from a typical dark elf was the presence of the large bat like wings on his back.
The wide, skin covered limbs were also covered in diagrams and were flapping casually behind him, keeping him afloat while giving him a mysterious air.
The figure in the lightning glared at the dark elf for a bit longer, it's golden eyes blazing with unrestrained fury before resignedly closing its eyes.
The lightning dissipated with it and Diligence's body plummeted to the floor.
Tucking his wings behind him, the dark elf gracefully dove down and grabbed Diligence from the air with one arm like he was catching a pebble.
Looking at Diligence's unconcscious form, he suddenly frowned as he looked towards the ground.
"That was a good spear."
He muttered with regret.
His voice was surprisingly small and child-like. But it still contained some hints of dominance and awe, like the voice of someone used to being respected.
Opening up a pouch attached to his waist belt, he took out a potion with unidentified contents and poured it unceremoniously into Diligence's open mouth.
He tossed the empty container away afterwards and without any care at all, started shaking his patient whom he held by the scruff of his neck vigorously!
SLUPRGH! ARGH! ARGHHHH!!!
Painful howls echoed out as Diligence leapt into wakefulness with unbearable pain.
Seeing this reaction, the dark elf finally stopped shaking and spoke apathetically.
"It took you so long to recover. If I hadn't decided to take pity and come check up on you, you would be a corpse right now."
"Huff... Huff"
Diligence was in too much pain to respond.
"With the amount of damage you took you would be useless for quite a long time. Once those high up hear about this, they would be very displeased with you."
The dark elf kept on speaking like Diligence's contribution to the conversation wasn't necessary at all.
"This…... was.... the... deal…... from the start. What would they be.... yapping about now?"
Diligence was slowly recovering his strength.
"The mission was for both of us to attack together you fool."
The dark elf frowned a little.
"Don't know how to follow simple instructions. With the power of that thing sealed inside you and me by your side this mission would have been painfully simple. But instead, you decided to be stupid and go at it alone."
He chastised him with a superior tone.
"Jhi he he! If it wasn't by my own hands it would never have been satisfying!"
Diligence laughed in satisfaction.
"Being prideful is not your job. Next time, adhere to commands so you won't fail a simple mission."
The dark elf's next words poured a cold bucket of water on his happiness.
"Failed? What do you mean failed?"
Diligence asked in agitation.
"You look over there and find out yourself."
The dark elf turned him over.
Diligence looked at the direction he was turned to and couldn't help giving out a gasp filled with unwillingness.
In the distance surrounded by numerous shattered mountain tops and floating clouds, a lone undamaged mountain peak showed itself.
Like the old sect master had said, the mountain which housed the cloud monk sect was entirely undamaged.
The countless diagrams that covered the mountain still glowed with a faint light.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
Sitting on the top of the mountain, pointing straight up was a very inconspicuous stick.
It looked plain and was made from black wood but apart from that, no other feature stood out.
"The Kata Kanon!"
His face twisted into something ugly.
"And well inside the barrier."
The dark elf added.
"After your battle ended I came forward to see the aftermath after the remnant power dispersed significantly. There was only you and the body of the old goat was nowhere to be found."
This was another shock to Diligence, where was the old man then?
The dark elf continued emotionlessly.
"I noticed the stick flying on its own after searching a bit but when I tried to grab it, it flew towards the mountain and went right through the barrier like it wasn't there. Stuck itself to the peak and just sat quietly."
"But…. this…... how!?"
Diligence was nearly yelling now.
Slowly flapping his wings, the dark elf shrugged.
"It is said that some of the Kata Kanon have awakened spirits in them and possess the ability to make their own decisions, this one is probably one of them."
"Isn't there anyway to get it? Anyway at all?"
Diligence asked a bit anxiously.
The allure of a Kata Kanon was simply too much.
This was a weapon that could make or break any kingdom or empire! And it was just sitting there, with no way to get it!
Hearing his question, the dark elf tilted his head down to look at him like he was looking at an idiot.
"Are you blind or you are really stupid? Those things covering the mountain aren't your typical inscriptions you can casually see anywhere. Those are runes!"
The elf's tone was raised a bit in his temper.
"Runes?"
Although Diligence was shocked, looking at the mountain again in a new light. He still bothered to ask.
"There is really no way? Even for you?"
He asked cautiously.
"Do you think I didn't try? But those runes are really abnormal, even I couldn't decipher most of them. Even if an immortal came here and released his full power against it, it likely wouldn't break. The only way to open up this mountain is to bring back one of those old monsters from their caves to decipher it."
The dark elf's face twisted in a frown as he didn't like his capabilities been doubted but this time, he really had nothing he could do.
Diligence was also deeply unwilling but as he had heard the dark elf's words, he had nothing else to say again.
"Leave the matter of the Kata Kanon to the higher ups. For now, you need to head to Aysver."
Hearing this, Diligence perked up.
"How is the matter going on there."
He asked seriously.
"I don't have much information but it seems to have entered a stalemate, the two others have already arrived, they are just waiting for you now."
The dark elf waved his hand to show his lack of concern over the matter.
"What!? That bastard, Piety has already arrived? Well why aren't you hurrying up there? Quickly move!"
The dark elf glanced down at him and muttered.
"I have half the mind to toss you down to your death now."
But even though he said that, he still grabbed Diligence in a more comfortable position and started flying towards the distance.
'But no matter, the fact that he wasted himself while trying to satisfy a personal request and failed to succeed in a mission would see him adequately punished.'
Thinking this, a creepy smile appeared on the dark elf's face but it was no business of Diligence.
He was too busy urging his companion to fly faster to their destination, the kingdom of Aysver.