After spending the next two hours talking about the details of the plans and the losses suffered from the sudden attack, the tribe chief dispersed the large crowd of Generals. Arthur was under Kieran, who was under a General. Kieran's superior was also an old pigolo who was chosen by the tribe chief to go with him to the headquarters of the Desert Gargoyles. Obviously, all his strong subordinates will follow him too.

All in all, eleven generals, fifty-five commanders, five hundred and fifty colonels will go with the tribe chief. The lowest rank that was allowed to go were Colonels, so Arthur was a bit lucky. He had a strong interest in joining them as his goal in coming here was still finding a Spatial Master. Moreover, he was not concerned with not being picked, with the level of power of colonels, it wouldn't be hard to kill and possess another one.

The only threat to him in this place are the three Gods, he had confidence dealing with them separately but if they combined forces, it will get tricky as every God had unique attacks and powerful trump cards, he can't be careless and waste time, due to some pointless fights against them.

For now, or probably until he goes back to Earth, Arthur decided to never show his appearance, he would always be possessing something, if not Hakim then a plant, if not a plant then a beast, whatever it was, he would possess it and secure himself a second life.

This was not Astria, which is exactly why he can't be careless, he can't go around provoking anyone who annoys him. He spared Vyncent partially due to that. It's true that he killed that white-clothed youth but that was because he was sure that he wouldn't be as obedient as Vyncent.

No matter if he was affected by the soul-devouring or not, if his personality changed or not, he had one simple rule that he and Lucy would always follow and that is to eliminate any potential danger, never let any enemy live, no matter how insignificant he or she is.

Gutcha and Vyncent already followed his fireball, no matter where they are, if he willed it, he can instantly kill them and no one, not even a God or someone in a Higher-Realm could take it out.

The second the detonator senses an opposition from the host, it would explode and all that will be left would be meat remains and a ground littered with the blood of whoever was foolish to resist.

.....

After having finished the meeting, Arthur spoke a few words with the excited Abel then returned to Hakim's residence. It's been a short time since he broke through and albeit his high Wisdom stats and amazing recovering power, he already stabilized his cultivation and even increased his Mental Power, he still wanted to meditate a bit more.

The change he experienced was just too big, especially of new skills he obtained. In fact, they were not completely new, just evolved versions of old ones, ones that he didn't use or didn't find a lot useful. What's a pity about most of these skills is that most of them cannot be used on Humanoid bodies, like those passive skills, to activate them, he needs a different kind of body.

As he meditated and revolved the Dark-Anguish Technique to revolve the Nether Energy and stimulate his Meridians to absorb this energy, his cultivation was steadily increasing.

Actually, when Arthur had gotten this cultivation technique, he felt a bit hesitant. Although Zodiak insisted that he should practice this one, he didn't find it particularly miraculous, at least it could be considered quite lacking compared to Lucy's.

If Arthur's cultivation speed could be considered like a genius's, then Lucy was similar to a monster's. Previously, when they were in secluded training, she was alarmingly fast at absorbing Nether Energy and increasing her Grade. It was just too fast, whilst people take months, or weeks for geniuses to advance a Grade, she would take days or perhaps even a day, it was just too mind-numbing.

Her talent was unparalleled even compared to Arthur, who should be unmatchable, so this made him think of her origins, adding her special physique, it just made things a bit more mysterious. For her to just originate from Astria, that was a bit hard to believe but then again, what was she doing on Astria if she wasn't from there?

Opening his eyes and gently caressing the ring on his finger, Arthur's eyes turned absent-minded as Lucy's figure flashed before him.

"Time passes but we'll forever be bonded... isn't that what you said, Lucy?"

Unknowingly, Arthur spent one full hour in this state, reminiscing about his memories with Lucy. Even though merging with Curtis's soul did help him, it still couldn't completely extinguish his ever-lasting longing for his wife and daughter.

.....

The plans ordered by Ti Eru were scheduled to begin three days from now, and with him being a Colonel, Arthur didn't need to do anything. Besides Abel who would come once a day to chat with him and talk about his excitement to kill gargoyles, there were no uninvited guests.

Even Gutcha seemed to have disappeared, he was not dead but he didn't come to visit Arthur. There was no way he was dead or else Arthur would have felt his detonator vanish, he was not brave enough to dare to run away.

The poor captain was actually spending all his resources and connections to locate a Spatial Master, no matter how unimportant the information was, he would try to get it.

In the tribe's hall, where all the high-officials gathered, Ti Eru and the two elders were discussing something. Facing them was a Pigolo with a horrifying scar on his face and a missing arm. Surprisingly, he excluded an aura similar to the three so he was a God with no doubts. No one besides those three knew the existence of this one.

Actually, those three were brothers and this scarred Pigolo was their fourth brother. He remained hidden since his birth and was nurtured by their father to be a well-trained assassin which took care of all the shady stuff related to their tribe. His loyalty to the tribe was never questioned and amongst the four, he was slightly stronger than Ti Eru, being a peak 4th Grade God Realm.

"Did you discover anything, Ti An."

Ti Eru and the other two faced the scarred Pigolo with an uneasy expression. Although Ti Eru declared that he was not afraid of the Desert Gargoyles, in all truthfulness, they were only slightly stronger and can't eliminate them without suffering any losses. Furthermore, to completely eradicate all the enemy's roots, the price would be extremely heavy and in by no means would it be beneficial to them.

He said that in a fit of anger but he would still not give up on his plans. Maybe eradicating the gargoyles is not entirely possible, however, causing them some losses is a doable thing. The top experts of the Desert Gargoyles must have to know that they'll visit in three days and all their forces would be stationed in their headquarters, so the other two groups lead by Ti Buo and Ti Fuer have a strong possibility to complete their tasks.

If they could destroy the holes, which are the main source of income of the Gargoyles, then Ti Eru would be satisfied. Those 'holes' were actually wells. Being a Race proficient in Earth techniques and a terrain surrounded by rocky mountains, the Desert Gargoyles were able to establish such a big force due to these wells, which link up to a deep underground mine. A mine which provided a large amount of Red Spirit Stone and Green Spirit Stones, there was even a modest amount of Earth Essence Stones.

Those Earth Essence Stones are condensed from the accumulation of thick Earth Energy Attribute. They can be used to forge strong artifacts or create the 'Earth Bead' which can be sold at a high price to outside forces.

"The situation isn't very clear, however, from I have gathered, they found an old Earth Spirit and were able to make a deal with it."

Although his tone was calm, there was a hint of anxiousness in his voice.

Followed by what he said, three gasps and astonished cries came out of their mouths. Their eyes were full of surprise from what they heard.

"E-Earth Spirit? Ti An, are you sure about this information?"

Nodding his head seriously, Ti An replied

"Absolutely sure, my source is reliable. The Desert Gargoyles managed to form a contract with an ancient Earth Spirit, however, it doesn't appear to have its full potential. The information about its status is very limited."

Although its potential was not fully awakened, it still brought fear and worry to them as a spirit, no matter of which attribute, is not something they could find. Heck! Even in High-Realms, spirits are very rare and strong existences, just like dragons. The shock was too strong and no one talked for some time before Ti Eru forcefully calmed his mind and said

"What is the reaction of the Naga Valley?"

"Nothing, besides fortifying their security, they are just watching from the side. Since they saw the Desert Gargoyles attack us suddenly, they must think they are next, but their unusual is worrying."

Ti An was never the talkative kind yet he said so much which proves how anxious he was. Their position was very fragile as an Earth Spirit is not something they can face.

"Brother, how about we ask the Naga Valley for a cooperation to take down the Desert Gargoyles." proposed Ti Buo.

With the addition of the spirit, the power balance between the three factions is now broken, so if the Pigolo Tribe and the Naga Valley unite, there is a strong chance to eliminate the Gargoyles.

Ti Eru just snorted and said with an annoyed tone

"Hmmpf, those crafty snakes are very careful, they would not fight against an Earth Spirit, even if we cooperated. We should carry on the plans and cause them big losses. Hmpf! Even at the cost of my people, I won't back down after what they did!"

The other three nodded in affirmation with their eyes burning with rage. Having launched a full-scale attack on them from out of nowhere was a huge blow to them, Ti Eru was not someone who would back down.

"Ti An, you stay in the ancestral Hall this time and guard it."

The scarred Pigolo nodded his head and swiftly left the hall, his figure transformed into a black shadow which soon vanished from the huge hall.

Ti Eru discussed a few more matters with the two before each busied himself with preparations, leaving only the chief tribe, sitting around the big table all alone.

"The calm is finally broken but.... an Earth Spirit? This is too fishy, such a thing cannot pass unnoticed by those from outside yet they did not react either... this is too strange."

...

All that occurred was unknown to Arthur, who remained in the colonel's residence, unwilling to go outside to waste time ordering orders that weren't his, to begin with.

Within the blink of an eye, three days passed and the scheduled plans were going to be executed on this very day. Possessing Hakim's body and wearing a spirit Ranked armor that Hakim had in his storage ring, Arthur stood beside Abel and eight other Colonels behind Kieran.

There was a large group of officials standing in front of Ti Eru with eleven generals at the front, wearing mighty armors and emanating an overwhelming pressure.

"I only have one thing to state, don't cause trouble or talk unless talked to! We're going there to demand an explanation and mainly to probe the situation, not to experience a life and death battle."

After having warned them, and sternly gazing at the prideful Generals, Ti Eru turned around and waved his hand, retrieving a gigantic boat.

The boat was similar to the ones Vikings used back in the day on Earth, it was four hundred meters long and fifty meters wide. A large emblem was engraved at its bottom along with a fluttering red flag erected from the center of the big Spirit Boat.