Chapter 615: Group
Zach opened his eyes and looked at his body. After just half an hour, he was tired and sweaty. It was something that he had to train for several hours to reach. He didn't improve his movements or sharpen his martial arts, but it was an effective way to strengthen his body.
It also didn't seem to be as strenuous as Surge since his body, while tired, was not tired of the world essence energy. If anything, it was the world essence energy that was tired. He would have to wait for it to recover before he continued.
He looked at his familiars and grinned.
It was a success.
Naturally, there was still room for improvement, but nothing was perfect from the start.
Vidri looked at the celebrating Zach with a strange gaze in her eyes.
It was only possible because he had acquired world essence energy somehow. First of all, she wanted to know how that happened. She wondered if it had anything to do with the mystery hiding in the very depths of Zach's essence.
But she found it interesting. In a way, Zach was the complete opposite of her. Her body had decayed, so she replaced it with fabricated parts that wouldn't decay.
Zach, on the other hand, used strange methods to ensure that his body would never decay. With the miraculous power of world essence energy and his strange way of using it, Zach might eventually create a body as indestructible as a world.
But then again, it was the first time she saw a human use world essence energy like it was any other energy. Any method was strange, and there were no predetermined rules.
"What do you think?" Zach eventually turned to Vidri, who had been staring at him silently.
"I think you should lower the intensity and increase the frequency of the tremors, Master." Vidri offered her sincere advice.
Zach nodded. He would have to try that, and not just that. He was going to try lowering both and increasing both. He had a feeling he already knew what was going to happen, but it was good practice to master his control over the world essence energy.
But it would have to wait until he had rested, and after he was done with his business.
It was finally time to start the intercontinental exchange.
Bartuk and a large portion of his fellow believers in Mistra, as well as a significant group from the order of Vatar, would be going to Gjula to spread the words and beliefs of their goddesses. They would be trying their best to get as many people as possible to pray to them.
Frida and her paladin would be escorting Violina to the Order of Vatar's headquarters before joining up with the missionaries on Gjula.
But Violina wasn't the only one going to the southern continent of Kuros. Anerias was going. He couldn't accompany her to the Order of Vatar, but he could go to Kuros and find ways to become strong enough not to give the Order of Vatar a choice when he wanted to say hello to Violina.
Naturally, Zach, Nessa, and Dukiel were also going. They could probably find something to do in the Empire, especially now that they didn't need to help protect the Underworld. Zoe and the Empire could handle that.
But a whole new continent?
Of course, they had to explore it. There were so many things they could find and discover. They might find ways to strengthen and evolve their familiars.
They hadn't fully explored their home continent. They had the Steppes, the West, and whatever lay beyond the northern mountains left. But there was probably nothing beyond the northern mountains. The Steppes were barren and monster-ridden flatlands with an ocean on the other side.
The West was an insect-plagued jungle. They could come back for it another time.
The southern continent was just too alluring.
Zach also had something else planned. The Hydra wanted his help when killing a god, presumably Isuls. Getting some information and practice ahead of time would probably be good. And he could feel it.
The way up was in the south.
The only answers to growing stronger in the Empire were time or the Labyrinth of Jira.
If he had lived during the chaotic era of the Empire's youth, things would have been different. But if he ever wanted to reach the principal's heights, or at least his toes, the current peaceful era wouldn't be enough. It would take a lot of time to grow stronger when he could only look for monsters to fight or train.
As for the Labyrinth…
Zach wasn't ready to return there.
However, a continent with different gods and factions constantly on edge, ready to take each other's followers?
Perfect.
But the young summoners weren't the only ones going to Kuros. They weren't the only ones who didn't want to miss out on what the new continent had to offer. The Imperial Family also had to send someone.
In this case, they decided to send two someones. Rienne ju Kiantier and Yan ju Kiantier.
Rienne could take care of herself, but Yan was accompanied by Lahso, the only one who wasn't excited for Kuros. It sounded like there would be a lot to do once they arrived. He only went because the possibility of being treated as important guests from afar, which meant luxury and relaxation, sounded a lot better than forced manual labor every day for the rest of his life.
Usually, imperial children should have entire entourages to accompany them, but this wasn't a visit sanctioned by someone who could represent the entirety of Kuros.
Unlike Gjula, Kuros wasn't mostly united. It was far from it. It was split up into a multitude of factions and alliances between the many gods and their followers.
There was a risk that some gods would be less than open to the idea of foreign visitors.
An entourage of dozens of servants and guards would only turn them into easy targets.
A smaller group of elites that could move around with ease was better.
And when that group was fully assembled and prepared, it was time to leave.