Chapter 180 - Before the finale

Walking up to the majestic stone entrance, the scroll was burnt as the seal gradually broke apart and after some time passed, all that was left behind was a key blue in colour the size of his palm. Without any hesitation, he slotted the key into the centre orb between the two gates and turned it in a clockwise direction, the gates shook violently as the ground trembled with the vibrations.

The gates diverge away from each other, sliding across the unforgiving hard ground as the gates come to an abrupt stop, the wall lamps installed on the bumpy walls lighting up simultaneously as the path before them shows up.

The ground was surprisingly clean without a speck of dust, maybe because the bandits have arranged for a team of hard labour to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of all the facilities and environment of the cave.

Walking down the path, Nightin left behind instructions for all of the soldiers to stay behind, only permitting Ash to follow him as Lancelot remained behind with Smith to be in control of the remaining soldiers in the army.

Walking down the cave, Nightin and Ash realised that the cave was actually divided into three tunnels before travelling further down, taking into consideration that it was the first and third leader of the bandits that contacted them, they decided to branch out and venture deeper into the first and third tunnel respectively.

As Nightin travelled deeper into the first tunnel which he had chosen, he realised that the place was left unguarded. Besides for the light sources that were illuminated to light up the area to grant easier vision and provide warmth. Even after walking for quite some distance deeper into the cave, Nightin realised that there weren't any guards or patrol or any servants cleaning up the cave.

Curious, he speeds and dashes through the obstacles in his way swiftly, soon arriving at a junction which requires him to choose between the left, right and centre. Pondering for a short while, he decides to head towards the middle without thinking twice, since the two bandit leaders have yet to take a stand themselves, then all he can do right now was believe in himself and take the first path that comes to mind.

This might be risky and if he takes the wrong path, he knows that he might not even be able to make it back out alive. But now, what he sees before him is another tunnel that will require him to bend down and if his inference isn't wrong, then it's a slide that he has found which will lead him to the next destination which he truly belongs to.

Sliding down, he realises that the bank of the river was decorated with crystals that glow with a lively blue, the pure water clean enough for one to see its depth and some pebbles could be seen laying on the ground in intricately carved out patterns.

Treading carefully along the river bank closer to him, he realised that there was a pathway made of stones that leads to the other side. Making use of the stones, he carefully makes his way to the opposite side of the river, his movements precise and full of elegance as he makes it to the other side without causing a single ripple in the water. Even if one were to observe the stones closely, they would realise that they would find no trace of footsteps or markings on it.

After getting onto the other side, he realised that there was a sign which pointed towards the east direction, further down the flow of the river which should finally lead him to the first leader. Following the direction of the arrow, he realised that there further he was from the arrow, the thicker the concentration of spirit energy in the atmosphere.

Soon, he arrived before a masked man who was sitting on this throne in a laid back manner, one leg crossed over the other with a nonchalant attitude as he bites into the juicy apple he was holding with his right hand. To the left side of his majestic throne ornamented with precious jewels, was a table made of topaz and placed on it was a scepter.

"So, what exactly is your identity and why have you been looking for me?" Nightin cuts straight to the chase upon his first meeting with the first leader of the Trinity predators, someone whose head he should be claiming right now.

"I'm just someone who has been forced towards the edge of the cliff by fate, someone who goes by the tribal name Kinuthia and the only survivor from all the tens of tribes around the area, it was only after I pushed through the tough setbacks of life did I see hope for the first time. Yet, life actually decides to take a turn on us."

"You think that you're the only person who has been fooled around by fate? I can tell you right now, I've experienced much more than you. So much that I can't even put in into words, so much that there's no way you can ever imagine how I walk through the dark passage without any lighting all by myself, with my own two legs that takes a heavy step with every heartbeat, every breathing."

"The thing is, I'm weak, Jade and Kamau are too weak as well even if we were to join forces together."

From there, Kinuthia told Nightin about everything that happened. About their determination to break this taboo and continue living life as the trio that they have always been and the existence which threatened to kill them if the bond was ever broken.

"Do you have any idea on how strong your opponent this time is?" Nightin gets to the crux of the problem immediately, but the solemn atmosphere in the air was only thickening with each and every single passing second.

"I have no idea at all, but that existence that we're plotting ourselves against is definitely at least of the demigod realm, but I have absolutely no clue as to how strong he is in that realm too far from me." Since there was no point in lying, Kinuthia speaks the truth as his eyes closed from the fatigue accumulated over the past few days.

"Give me a moment, I'll need you to compare the amount of spirit energy that the existence that you mentioned compared to the servant of my strategist whom I'm going to show you next." Nightin says while sending a message to Smith who was waiting for him outside.

"Smith, I need you to send the dark knight to where I am via teleportation, just tell him what he's required to do and he should be able to accomplish it as a demigod realm servant." Nightin sent his instructions through the communication card which he issued to all of the commanders and Smith in order to contact them when needed.

"Yes general, I'll make sure that he makes it there within the shortest time possible." Smith relays his message back while instructing the dark knight on what to do when he vanished suddenly.

In just the matter of a few breaths, the dark knight appears beside Nightin in the form of a black vortex that spirals up from the ground, his body appearing from toe to head as it got down on one knee and said "Servant dark knight pays respect to the general! May I ask why I'm transported here?"

"Dark knight, I want you to release your cultivation aura to the fullest extent you can without damaging anything within here. Is that possible?"

Hearing Nightin's simple request, the dark knight was surprised for a moment, but still accepted the order given and got up on his knees.

Closing his eyes behind the helmet covering his full face, he focuses all his demi energy at once as his demi energy spreads out to the surroundings in a rampage, the energy was immense, thick and concentrated without a single trace of impurity as shock appears on Kinuthia's face.

"No way! The amount of spirit energy he possesses is much above that existence that we're up against." Kinuthia slammed his fist onto the arm rest on his throne and stood up, walked up to Nightin and got down on both of his knees, but a platform made of wind blocked his knees from reaching the ground before pushing him right back into an upright position.

"Don't worry, I've figured out the existence that all of you are up against. It's most likely a cultivator at the Demigod realm who's recuperating from his injuries and requiring Jade who you have mentioned to return to where you guys found him so he can absorb her spirit energy for herself, gaining enough demi energy to breakthrough to the next transformation and strengthen his foundation."

Seeing the confusion on Kinuthia's face, Nightin took some time to explain to him about the difference between spirit energy and demi energy before they headed out of this cave, towards the next area where Jade the second leader lays and where the third leader Kamau is going to meet them. It was time to wrap this conquest up and return to the Voyager kingdom for their rewards after this one month of effort before he leaves to find a location more suitable for his cultivation.