"It, whom I call Achlys, gains strength by killing, it's the path he's chosen. From what I understand, he selected our world because he found his perfect target here. A person with immense greed for power, a person who will do anything to get stronger. Remember when I said that we have many restrictions travelling to other worlds? He uses such people and makes them his incarnation, strengthens them and uses them to spread destruction. Part of the reason he chose this world is also because I am his only match here."
***
Silence. Grave silence filled the room. Gibor was sweating hard while the dukes stood there dumbstruck. Not only did Adir know about the gem, he let them keep it while acting as if he didn't know anything about it. Seeing the look on the duke's faces, Adir said, "That gem would have only allowed you to have power similar to mine, neither would have helped you ascend nor would you have been able to use my power against me. Who would have thought Achlys would be able to get his hands on it. He can use it to corrupt it with his aura and help that kid ascend faster."
Pan Cai and Barrett understood why Adir did not take any action against them. 'Tsk, so all that planning was for nothing. We've been made fools of!' thought Pan Cai angrily but also with despair, as not only did he lose all hope to become the grand ruler of Fellonia, an enemy on the level of Adir threatened the livelihood of it.
"So what are we to do? Just stand here and wait till another entity like him but with no restriction rises to end the world. Can't you do something Adir? And do you not know who it is that Achlys has selected? We could kill it before the calamity." Said Gibor with determination, he won't let any harm come to his homeland, not when he can do something.
"Do you really think I wouldn't do everything in my power to stop it? The incarnation he has chosen has been taken by it to its realm, where the only people who exist are its slaves. I would go and kill his incarnation there, but I have restrictions, same as him." said Adir. As he saw the gloomy looks on the faces of everyone, he continued, "The two people who originally were destined to try and stop him are currently training under me, I will make sure they are strong enough to stop him this time."
The atmosphere in the room became a tad bit lighter after this revelation, but Pan Cai was a bit confused by it, he asked Adir," Your Majesty, you said the two people who would stop this catastrophe are being trained by you, but doesn't it mean that, you would not try to stop it....?" as soon as he said that everyone realized that was the case indeed, and looked at Adir for an answer.
"I would not be there to stop it..." said Adir as he received looks of disbelief and worry, before someone misunderstood he continued, "I had come into contact with, what you can call an organization, which recruits talents from different worlds and trains them and I have been selected. I have to leave this world after 100 years."
!!!!
News after news, with each one being more stupefying than the previous one, was received by the people present. What any one of them was thinking was not yet known, but it would be later brought to light by their actions. As his job here was done, Adir said, "That is all I can tell you, as a consequence of trying to change the future of Fellonia and sharing my findings, I have already brought the end closer by 37 years. Do not share what you learned here, or time and fate will find their way to get back at you." as he got ready to leave.
"Wait! Is there nothing we can do to help save Fellonia?! Are we to just sit down and watch as the days pass and the end inches closer?" asked Gibor with tension visible in his eyes. Being helpless was one of his worst nightmares, he would rather fight and give it his all until the end. Seeing his old war buddy like that, Adir sighed to himself.
"The only thing you can try is achieving a breakthrough in power. The creature we are facing uses energy which can only be countered by people with power like mine. No matter how many people below its realm try to harm it, they would only end up being its food." said Adir as he left.
'Achieving a breakthrough, huh? As if I hadn't tried it. But he isn't wrong either, the only thing I can do to help is growing stronger.' thought Gibor to himself, he felt like Adir was mocking him but realized that it was only the truth. He gestured Fergus to leave as he left with him himself.
"So you're just leaving? Are you not going to finish what you started? Adir isn't here now nor do I have any means to counterattack!" said Pan Cai already half driven to despair by the news he received. Every one of his plans had been shattered. He thought he would ascend, beat Adir, become the king and rule Fellonia for the time to come. Little did he know that there might not be a Fellonia in 200 years.
Seeing the state of Pan Cai, and the petrified Barrett beside him, Gibor only felt pity. He told Fergus to continue leaving while he replied to Pan Cai, "How pathetic are you? I had hoped you would realize that power and authority you are so blindly chasing is all for naught if there is no Fellonia. Stop this commoner and noble discrimination you have. Start hosting tournaments in which commoners can participate too, we need as many talents as we can."
Pan Cai realized that Gibor was suggesting the best course of action moving forward. He gritted his teeth as he unwillingly accepted the fact. "Fine, the Elite Tamen Championship this time will be open to all, and I would notify all academies to facilitate the commoners." said Pan Cai as he received a grin from Gibor.
'Hopefully the two people Adir was talking about would display their prowess during this championship. I want to see the people who would be our last hope.' thought Gibor as, outside the castle, he commanded his force to return to base along with him.