Chris stood frozen, his face pale with shock.
He had always believed himself to be strong, but in the presence of an Elysium-level warrior, he felt no different from an insignificant ant. The sheer power emanating from the battle made the two Solstice-level warriors who had been pursuing him hesitate.
Though they were formidable in their own right, compared to an Elysium-level master, they were nothing. After exchanging a frustrated glance, they turned and retreated.
No treasure-not even the Black Dragon Heartstone or the Black Dragon Egg-was worth their lives. Staying there any longer risked being caught in the crossfire of the Elysium-level battle.
Chris let out a long breath of relief as he watched the two Solstice-level warriors leave. Glancing briefly at the fierce clash between the middle-aged man and the elder in the distance, he inhaled deeply, then led Stripes down another path to slip away unnoticed.
—
Meanwhile, in a nearby city, a middle-aged man was sitting in a tea house, sipping tea.
This man was none other than Lord Valerian, who had entered Aethelgard alongside Chris.
Upon entering Aethelgard, the two had initially worked together to mine Essence Stones. However, their discovery of an ancient underground tomb had attracted the attention of powerful factions across Verdantia.
Chris had ordered Tiger to lead the Death Guards into hiding, while Valerian had decided to venture out alone. His goal in Aethelgard was the same as Chris’s: to grow stronger.
“It’s been months since we split up. I wonder how Chris is doing now?” Valerian muttered to himself as he sipped his tea.
Over the past few months, Valerian’s strength had improved significantly. Though he had only reached the early stages of the Pinnacle realm, it was progress nonetheless, even if he still couldn’t rival Chris.
At that moment, snippets of conversation from a nearby table caught his attention.
“Have you heard? A Black Dragon laid an egg in the Celestial Peaks!”
“Yeah! And someone snatched both the Black Dragon Egg and the Heartstone-apparently wielding a blade with a dragon head on the hilt!”
“That person must have a death wish, stealing from two Solstice-level warriors!”
Valerian’s hand froze mid-sip. His expression turned serious.
A blade with a dragon head on the hilt… That could only be Chris’s Dragon Slayer, whose handle was fashioned into a golden dragon.
Without hesitation, Valerian stood up and strode over to the group. He grabbed one of the men by the collar, his face cold and intimidating.
“Tell me. Where did this person go?”
The man, visibly shaken by Valerian’s imposing presence, stammered, “H-he entered the depths of the Celestial Peaks…”
Before he could finish, Valerian flung him aside and stormed out of the tea house.
—
At the edge of the Celestial Peaks, a growing crowd of Aetherbinding cultivators had gathered. Their goal was clear: to seize the Black Dragon Heartstone and Egg from Chris.
However, no one dared to venture into the depths of the Celestial Peaks. The two Solstice-level warriors who had pursued Chris had already entered and retreated, their failure discouraging the rest.
As the crowd murmured among themselves, a figure in a black robe approached.
It was Lord Valerian.
From what he had gathered, the person who had taken the Black Dragon Egg was indeed Chris. Valerian couldn’t help but marvel at Chris’s audacity.
Wherever Chris went, chaos followed. Even back on Earth, he had been a magnet for trouble. Now, in Aethelgard, it was no different.
Scanning the crowd of at least a thousand Aetherbinding cultivators, Valerian let out a wry chuckle. All these people, gathered here for one man.
Taking a deep breath, Valerian stepped into the depths of the Celestial Peaks without hesitation.
“Look! Someone’s going in!”
“Who is it? He’s just Pinnacle-level. Does he have a death wish?”
“He won’t last long in there. The Celestial Peaks are far too dangerous!”
Ignoring the chatter behind him, Valerian pressed on. He had come to Aethelgard to grow stronger, and the depths of the Celestial Peaks were the perfect training ground.
Before long, he disappeared into the shadows of the mountain range.
—
Several days later, a man and a beast emerged from the depths of the Celestial Peaks.
It was Chris and Stripes.
After days of relentless travel through the treacherous terrain, they had finally made it out. Chris exhaled in relief, his body worn and battered.
The Celestial Peaks had been perilous, filled with powerful beasts that had nearly claimed his life on multiple occasions. Had he not been quick on his feet, he wouldn’t have survived.
The battle between the elder and the middle-aged man had left an indelible impression on him. He now understood just how overwhelming Elysium-level warriors could be.
Looking ahead, Chris realized he was close to Pinkshire, the capital of Amerosia. Without delay, he quickened his pace.
—
Pinkshire loomed large on the horizon, a sprawling city surrounded by towering walls at least several hundred meters high.
At one of the city gates, lines of people waited to enter, each subjected to strict inspections by the guards. As the capital, security in Pinkshire was notoriously tight.
When Chris reached the gate, two guards stepped forward to block his path. One of them frowned and pointed at Stripes.
“What is that?” the guard demanded.
Chris replied calmly, “It’s my spirit beast.”
The guard’s expression hardened. “No beasts, spirit or otherwise, are allowed in Pinkshire.”
Chris didn’t argue. Instead, he retrieved a few Essence Stones and discreetly handed them over. “I hope you’ll make an exception.”
The guard’s stern demeanor softened as he accepted the bribe. He smiled faintly and waved them through. “Go ahead.”
With that, Chris and Stripes entered Pinkshire.
The city was as magnificent as its reputation suggested. Bustling streets overflowed with activity, and the grandeur of the capital left even Stripes visibly excited.
Chris found an inn and booked a room to rest.
—
The next day, Chris didn’t wake until noon. Exhausted from his harrowing journey through the Celestial Peaks, he had slept deeply, finally regaining some strength.