1419 Truth

The report was certainly encouraging. Even though the avenues of Sage and Creator have fallen behind, the giant leap of Order-Chaos paths was a great consolation.

To be sure, Varian had mostly seen himself as a 'close distance fighter', a warrior who jumps at the enemy than a mage who fires from distance.

Yet, with his new path configuration, he realized he'd have to change his style of fighting to best use his strengths.

"Phew~"

Letting out a short breath, Varian calmed his nerves. It's just a last resort but most likely, he wouldn't need to fight.

It's Duke Kriad! Why should that one-eyed old guy fight him? There's no reason.

'And if he attacks, it's not going to be a fight but a slaughter. But oh well.'

Kacha!

The sound of glass shattering rang across the space and all formations holding the structure together got decimated.

The sea of bright red power vanished in a blink creating an absurd sight. It's like dangerous flames burning down an entire forest getting blown off by a gust of wind.

"V…arian?" Kriad's voice was uncertain.

"It's me." He didn't show any arrogance or say words that might piss off this old guy. He's not in the capital right now. The old guy might be wary of Isadora but he might also go crazy.

Varian wanted to prefer his own safety.

Kriad looked at the remnants of the formations floating around for a moment before his gaze returned to Varian with an enlightened expression. "You were kidnapped?"

"I was." Varian cracked his neck. "The idiots thought I was powerless. But would Isadora's brother-in-law be truly powerless? That bitch died an ugly death."

"Then why were you stuck there for so long?" Kriad questioned, suspicion growing in his eyes.

"I was waiting for the next fish. But you came and spoiled the show. Seriously…" Varian rolled his eyes as he lied in a lazy, irritated tone.

"Is it…?" Kriad wasn't fully convinced but Varian's mannerisms swayed his opinion.

And what even if Varian was lying?

'If I touch him, Isadora would come after me. There's no merit in being his enemy.'

Even though he thought so, a corner of the Duke's heart itched.

Finding this bastard in a remote place with no surveillance. Wasn't this a perfect chance? The only risk could be the trump cards Isadora could've provided him for safety.

Kriad pursed his lips and contemplated his course of action.

As Varian was about to speak up, a powerful being, one whose brilliance was immediately felt across the surrounding ten duchies appeared.

She too was a <Life Spirit> like the Archduke. But she wasn't a true person. She's an avatar.

Thanks to his advancing powers in the realm of soul, Varian was able to recognize that quickly.

"You!"

Miss Calamity's clone locked onto him.

'Fuck!' Even though he didn't yell it out, he felt like the whole world was flipping him a middle finger.

Her eyes shone with a bright light and her lips were curled up, showing an excited expression.

"I finally found you!"

Her aura locked onto him and in an instant, Varian's knees trembled. Like a normal man lifting with a heavy bike, his shoulders bent and his breath grew ragged.

"My real body is near Centaurus, looking for you. I'll be reaching here soon." She announced.

Varian sneakily activated his connection to Hortus. But as if a detector had went off, Miss Calamity narrowed her eyes. "Don't try to get away."

Stiffening like a statue, he stopped. There seemed to be no way out of this mess. But he couldn't give up now.

So, he turned to Duke Kriad, eyes clearly asking for help.

The Duke himself was confused by the appearance of this woman and the words she casually spewed.

'Should I support her or oppose her?'

Obviously, he knew her identity. Even though she's from the Empire, Miss Calamity's fame was very high in the kingdom. Being the honorary professor of the Kingdom's Academy was an icing on the cake.

If he supported her, he'd get into the good books of a genius who'd certainly become a divine ranker. Not only that, her background was that of divine rankers.

But that'd put him directly against Isadora. That mad woman…wouldn't be pleased.

There was an idiot who tried to tease Sonya when she still wasn't a century old by sending her love letters for weeks. She punished not only the idiot but also his friends, family. Heck, even the school's security for letting that happen.

So, if he went against Isadora, she would certainly come after him.

But going against Miss Calamity and siding with Isadora?

That's also risky.

Moreover, some cryptic words Martial Saint Kong during their meeting flashed in his mind.

'Martial Saint, should we really oppose Isadora? I want Prince Robert to win the ritual and fulfill your dream more than anything.

But going against a divine ranker is too big of a risk. Forget about me, even you might not survive if she gets furious.

If it's someone else, they would think of the consequences. Isadora simply doesn't care. She never did.'

'Oh, I'm perfectly aware of the risk we're taking. It might just not be that big of a risk you're making it out to be.

I can't say this for certain since I'll need some more time to confirm it. But let me say this, Isadora isn't a divine ranker.'

'What?'

'As simple as that. Isadora is not a divine ranker.'

'But the grain, the evidence, the aura of divinity…'

'It's a very, very clever technique. Even I found it difficult to doubt it. But I always verify everything. And in this case, I must verify because of what's at stake.

So, I can say with certainty. Isadora is not a divine ranker. She just used some special materials to make it appear like she is.'

'Then…what is she? What's her real strength?'

'Could be peak rank 9. Could be high rank 9. Could be anything. I'll need some more time. But the moment I can verify she's not a peak rank 9, that will be the moment this little game ends.'