Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord
Chapter 381: Beloved and Hollow Grave
Vale was tired of being tossed around and although he could feel Tong behind quickly closing the distance, he decided he won’t just wait passively anymore.
He couldn’t move his body but his soul was now free of Herdmaster’s suppression, he could use his powers again! And he didn’t bother to retrain anything.
Hellfire bloomed on his body, covering everything inch of his body and bursting out in a small explosion.
The explosion generously covered Herdmaster and the man cried out, coming to a suddenly stop and dropped Vale. He twisted wildly in midair trying to shake the fire loose from his body but It was no use.
As Vale fell, he mentally directed his power to shoot upward like a wave from the sea, covering Herdmaster once again with a force that slapped him out of the air, his body burning.
The attack caught the man so unexpectedly, all his energy was focused on escaping and he didn’t think to shield himself, as such, Vale’s unrestrained attack not only was a terrible surprise, it caused devastating effects.
Herdmaster stopped directing essence to his artifact to better focus on killing the fire burning him as he fell. But it was near impossible, the fire was burning his body, his soul and his essence! Causing him unbearable pains as he howled out.
And on the other hand, Vale hit the desert floor like a falling star, melting the sands surrounded him. The force of the fall broke his concentration with the power and left him mildly unconscious but even then, he was still feeling deeply satisfied!
Just then a strong buzzing sound reached both their ears and a strong current of wind blew the sands. Tong has arrived!
The Enchanter Demon paused briefly above Vale before he turned away and dived down like a shooting arrow on the burning Herdmaster.
He was like a spear that has been freed from the heavens.
Bam!
He collided with Herdmaster in pure physical capacity. Bones crunched and snapped, flesh tore and muscles rend! Just like that Herdmaster was reduced to a rough pound paste!
Herdmaster isn’t a physically strong Master Knight and he prefer to fight long range and with his soul creatures. Earlier, he was also seriously wounded by Tong, using all his soul creatures’ soul and halve his own.
Now, burned by Hellfire. It was only natural that Tong killed him so easily.
Tong instantly returned to Vale’s side. He bowed to his broken body. "My Lord!"
Tong folded his wings and then he returned the illusion that kept his true form hidden. He only revealed that much because he desperately had to chase after Herdmaster and now that he’s done, he returned to his unassisted self.
He rushed to Vale and knelt by him, his face filled with slight worry. "How can I deal with this....I don’t have any healing enchantments on me and even if I have...."
Healing something like that isn’t what he would be rushing to do. How many bones are broken? There are even some pieces broken out of the flesh. How should he deal with that? It’s better to find a real healer who know what they’re doing.
He picked him up and began to ran back to the city. Tong’s face was expressionless. "Time to finish this."
☆☆▪︎☆☆
A tower stood gleaming like a sword piercing the ground and sky. It was made of white and brown materials and etched with enchantments that’s glowing visibly to the naked eye.
The space around the tower was strange. It’s as if space was bent both inward and outward around it, concealing it from view so much that even most Master Knights might struggle to see it, appearing invisible to their senses.
This was the Beloved branch.
The tower stood like a lone mountain, looking quite dissolute but inside was bustling. Different floors had people going and coming, training, eating and doing their biggest work—arranging and sorting information.
At the tallest room in the tower, a short bulky man with long white beard was sitting comfortably in his chair, sipping from his tea cup while he read from a paper.
An attendant stood patiently by the side.
Finally the short man sighed. "The Hollow Grave are really keeping themselves low. They’ve not made any moves since and that’s too suspicious. Something is definable up."
The attendant nodded. "Lord Jara, we have allocated more attention to them. We have also increased our attention in the Hinterlands proper."
When these organizations talk about Hinterlands, they usually focused on the surface level, not bothering with what’s happening deeper. Infact it’s generally known that sending them to Hinterlands region is a sign of subtle banishment and lack of proper power and influence. Instead, these organizations spread their root in the High Clans, even going as far as to challenge those posted in High Clans territories.
But recently, their leaders have been asking them more and more about what’s happening in the Hinterlands.
Lord Jara sigh. "It seems a battle is getting planned and Hinterlands have been chosen as a playground. What I still don’t know is the amount of the organizations that’s interested in it. We and Hollow Grave but who else? Everyone kept themselves hidden except us!"
Any organizations that’s worth attention always have branches in every part of the world, but they’re usually well hidden. But Hollow Grave and Beloved are not hiding their branches in the Hinterlands region at all!
"I just wish the Hollow Grave will make a big move so we can know what they’re after." Lord Jara grumbled again.
Why did the Beloved have a big branch in Hinterlands? It was because of Hollow Grave have one!
Hollow Grave and Beloved are enemies. To put it technically, their absolute leaders, Old One and Beloved Of The World are enemies. Total enemies and their organizations have been shaped to reflect this. They’ll go to any lengths to deny the other of their interests.
When Hollow Grave created a branch here, the Beloved responded by doing as well. And for a longest time they’ve maintained an equilibrium. They let their lowest members to clash while those at the top only maintain tension.
But things changed a while ago. An order came that the Hollow Grave has briefly lost the favor of their patron, Old Man! The Beloved have been ordered to remain on standby for action since them.
The attendant spoke again. "Lord Jara, since the Hollow Grave are keeping a low profile, why don’t we take this initiative and attack them instead?"
Lord Jara instantly shook his head and dismissed that. He warned. "Don’t be in a rush. They might not currently have the favor of Old One but they’re still formidable. And, the fact that they lost favor is only useful if our Beloved himself is going to take action. We are at the edge of Hinterlands....do you think Beloved is coming here to fight?"
The answer was obvious. The attendant nodded and kept quiet.
Lord Jara sipped his tea again, his eyes still on the paper. "It appears that the Hinterlands will be unified soon and the Athrimir is not included in this future, the last one is bound to be used and discarded."
"Lord Jara, are we not going follow the fight?"
"Why should we when we know the final results? Although this Vale Athrimir’s mysterious new powers are suspicious, he might be a member of Hollow Grave....."
Suddenly Lord Jare stopped speaking. His face was filled with shock and surprise. "Eh?"
"My Lord? My Lord?"
Lord Jara ignored his subordinates as he stood and turned back to look through the window behind him. Outside was the same normal sunny afternoon but he still shivered. "Show yourself!"
"Hehe? Jara, you are still as resolute as the stones themselves!" A voice suddenly cut through the air. The space around the tower shook and trembled, twisting wildly as if they would break and then they did break, shattering into invisible splinters..
The tower roared to life, each an every enchantments words on it coming to life and now glowing brightly. A dull yellow translucent shield instantly covered it like a tight glove.
A man floated in midair outside. He put on a mask and his black robe was layered and flowing. He appeared like an elegant noble. It was the leader of the Hollow Grave for Hinterlands region.
Jara’s face darkened. "It’s you.. Galenight!"
He turned to his subordinate, his face grim. "For him to come her means it’s an all out war. But we have the home advantage. Summon everyone, send out orders to all our away agents to immediately converge on Hollow Grave organization and kill them! Tell everyone that Hollow Grave is now marked for destruction. Destroy them!"
Jara disappeared and appeared above the tower, floating above it as well. His stern and eyes steely. His beards bristling, he appeared disappointed. " Galenight. What madness possessed you to come here and do this?"