I teleported to the Sacred Zone, the air shimmering as I materialized in the central chamber.

The golden light of the place always felt like a stark contrast to the gritty reality outside.

As soon as my feet touched the marble floor, I heard a voice.

"What took you so long?" Sariel said, her tone was steady but still had a sharp inflection to it, her eyes narrowed as she approached me.

Her celestial aura was intimidating, even after all this time.

I could tell that she missed me though.

"You know you cost me a match. You called me at a very wrong time, I lost a fight due to that."

Her eyes went over me and I knew that she was inspecting my body for wounds.

She no doubt had a lot of questions for me but she had grown accustomed to letting me reveal some things in my own time as she knew from experience that I wasn’t much of a talker.

"Sorry about that. I was just checking up back then."

"Don’t worry, it’s fine. Anyway, I met an interesting character," I replied, brushing it off, her annoyance and all. "And I think I know how I’ll spend my time in this Scenario."

Sariel raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

"Later," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "How’s the management of my Angels going?"

She sighed, clearly not pleased with my nonchalance but she knew better than to push it.

"They’re developing nicely. I’ve been pushing them hard, but it’s necessary. We can’t afford to be lax."

I nodded, satisfied with her report. I had been spamming my Angel Summoning Skill within the Sacred Hall to build an army.

Sariel was in charge of managing, training, and properly orienting them.

It was a risky move, but in this world, risk was a constant companion.

"Good. We need to be prepared for anything," I said, pacing the room.

"I don’t know when or if I’ll need them, but at least the Skill won’t go to waste."

Sariel watched me, her expression softening slightly. "Jeremy, what exactly did you mean by ’an interesting character’? I know you don’t want to talk about it but I want to know."

I stopped and looked at her, a smirk playing on my lips. "A leader named Lyra. She’s smart, resourceful, and has the unique ability of seeing the future. We’ve formed a temporary alliance."

Sariel’s eyes widened in surprise. "You? An alliance? I never thought I’d see the day."

"Don’t get used to it," I replied, chuckling. "It’s purely for convenience. Once we get what we need, we’ll go our separate ways."

She nodded, understanding. "Just be careful. People with that ability can be unpredictable."

I walked over to a large map of the city that was spread out on a table.

I had prepared it before now for times like this.

"I am always careful," I replied, turning my attention to the map before me and running my index finger across different locations.

Markings and notes littered the surface, detailing the locations of various (G) Essence items and other valuable resources.

It was all predictions though as these things were fond of changing locations.

"I’ve got my eyes on the rest of the (G) Essence. Once I gather enough, I’ll meet up with her again."

"And then what?" Sariel asked, crossing her arms.

"Then we see what happens," I said, my tone cryptic. "This Scenario promises to be interesting, and I need all the stimulation I can get."

Sariel shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Just don’t lose sight of the bigger picture, Jeremy."

"I never do," I replied, turning to leave. "Keep up the good work, Sariel. I’ll check in later."

I intended that Sariel remain in the Sacred Hall while I had my fun.

"One more thing, would you kill her once you’re done with her?"

"Hmm, I’m not sure about that. I can’t say yet."

As I exited the Sacred Hall, my mind was already plotting the next steps.

Lyra was an enigma, and I was eager to see how our partnership would unfold.

In this world of chaos and uncertainty, having an edge was crucial.

The city was a patchwork of ruined buildings and makeshift shelters, a testament to the relentless turmoil we all lived in.

The air smelled of smoke and decay, a stark reminder of the world’s current state.

But amidst the chaos, there were pockets of resistance, factions vying for power, and individuals like Lyra who could tip the scales in unexpected ways.

As I navigated through the city, I kept a low profile, blending into the shadows.

My mind raced with strategies and contingencies. I needed to gather more (G) Essence, but I also had to keep an eye on Lyra.

Trust was a rare commodity, and while our alliance was convenient, it was also fragile since we hadn’t established a rapport for long.

There were too many variables, too many ways things could go wrong. But that was the nature of this world—nothing was certain, and survival depended on adaptability.

I had answered honestly when Sariel had asked if I would kill Lyra.

Lyra’s ability intrigued me, but it also made her unpredictable.

If she could see the future, she might already know my intentions—or at least suspect them.

I had to play my cards carefully, revealing just enough to keep her interested but not so much that she could anticipate my every move.

If I were to destroy her group, internal strife was one way to go about it.

There was a lot of tension within her ranks and some of her followers were no doubt questioning her decisions in their mind.

The implications were two pronged. It was either an opportunity or a trap.

If Lyra was facing challenges from within, it could make her more vulnerable or it could make her more dangerous.

Especially if she decided to take drastic measures to maintain control. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Either way, it was something to keep an eye on.

It was certainly a delicate balance but one I was used to maintaining.

I couldn’t say for sure but I intended to find out all I could about her.