A Journey That Changed The World.

The battles continued for another couple of hours. Lioran, Cian, and Alaric passed the round along with their girls, who only reached round fifteen. Soon, the fights had ended, and they were all dismissed until the next day when the one-on-one fights would commence.

Archer stood up just as Ella approached him with a smile, ''We're going out with Leonora, Nalika, and Cassie. Everyone wants to eat, so we made it a girl's day out,'' she explained. ''We will be back in a couple of hours.''

''Okay, enjoy yourself, El,'' Archer replied before kissing her, earning himself a lovely smile. After that, she left the room with the others after he gave them some gold to spend, and they all smiled and waved at him.

Lioran, Alaric, and Cian went to train. They offered him the opportunity to join them, but Archer already had plans and promised to join the three next time, which they promised to hold him to before leaving.

After the boys were gone, Archer turned to the remaining person, who sat on one of the sofas, smiling while looking at him. ''Not joining them, Luce?''

The Mosasaur woman shook her head, ''No,'' she stood up and approached him before wrapping her arms around his shoulder in a loving embrace. ''I wanted to spend more time with you.''

Archer smiled before pecking her cute nose as he revealed his plan. ''I'm going to see Mary at her inn,'' he said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face. ''Do you want to join me?''

Lucrezia nodded before he opened a Gate to Mountainholm Fortress, where Mary's inn was located, and stepped through it. When the couple stepped through the violet portal, they appeared in the alley.

As the two did that, loud explosions ripped through the area, catching their attention and causing them to take to the sky to see what was happening. Archer headed toward the wall and saw a swarm of Mutant humans, trolls, and multiple creepy-looking creatures charging at the fortress.

Archer grinned and decided to help by flying over the wall, followed by Lucrezia. When they were clear of the stronghold, he started casting hundreds of Eldritch Blasts, which he had sent soaring at the incoming Swarm.

When the spells connected with the monster's frontlines, explosions rang out all over the battlefield, causing the soldiers on the wall to cover their eyes as a violet light washed over the area.

After casting his spells, Archer swooped down while readying his claws before swiping at the unsuspecting creatures. They placed right through the enemy's bodies, causing blood to splatter the ones behind them.

Lucrezia joined him and started casting her death magic, which was terrific and excited Archer even more. He noticed an eerie aura emanating from her body, which swiftly dispatched many of the weaker Swarm.

Whatever she was doing seemed to touch them, transforming them into a bloody mess. The monsters were unable even to scream as they met instant death. Archer and Lucrezia went to work butchering the attacking Swarm and managed to push them back to wherever they came from.

When they had killed thousands of creatures, they stood in the middle of a blood river. Looking at the sky with her beautiful red eyes, Lucrezia asked, ''Why do they keep attacking?''

''I'm not sure, but I can only guess that they wanted the surface population for some nefarious scheme they've come up with to fight against the gods,'' Archer said. ''Well, that's what I get from Tiamat's warning.''

While standing there, the fortress gates opened, revealing hundreds of cavalry rushing out and passing them by. The soldiers bowed their heads toward Archer, causing Lucrezia to giggle at the scene.

''Everyone seems to know you, Arch,'' she said. ''It's good that my future husband is well-liked by the people,''

Archer smiled at the blonde woman before speaking, ''Let's head to the inn and check on Mary and see how she is.''

Lucrezia nodded as the duo walked toward the gate, which was opened, and the guards let them through. The couple walked through the city as people went about their day as if a horde of creatures weren't attacking the walls.

Perplexed, he brushed off the strange occurrence just before they arrived at the inn. Upon entering, they found it bustling with activity, nearly every table occupied. The couple walked to a quiet inn corner, nestled comfortably in plush chairs.

Archer watched as the staff hurried back and forth, serving drinks and meals to the customers. Amidst the flurry of activity, his gaze fell upon a familiar figure. With her short grey hair tied neatly into a ponytail, Mary moved gracefully among the tables, balancing multiple plates with practiced ease.

She was helping the serving girls deliver food, which made him smile. She was a kind soul who didn't let strength get to her head. The older woman didn't see them as they sat there watching her work.

Lucrezia giggled, ''She's so wrapped up in working. I find it strange how a Primordial being loves running an inn.''

Archer shrugged, ''Each to their own,'' he said. ''Everyone has something they love doing even if they are powerful like Mary.''

Half an hour passed until Mary finally noticed them sitting in the booth and quickly walked over to join the couple. She sat beside Archer before kissing him on the cheek as a greeting, ''What are you two doing here?''

''I've come to see you, and Luce joined me as the others went out with their friends,'' Archer explained.

''Do you want something to eat?'' Mary offered with a loving smile. ''The new cook we hired is brilliant.''

Archer nodded with an excited Lucrezia, causing the older woman to jump up and rush to the kitchen. When she was gone, the Mosasaur woman questioned, ''Why does she love you, Arch?''

''She's been watching me and wants to live a future she saw in one of her visions,'' Archer replied. ''And I must admit that future looks amazing.''

''Am I included?'' Lucrezia asked with barely restrained nervousness.

Archer smiled before reaching over and grabbing her hand before he reassured her that she was included in any future, which pleased Lucrezia to no end as a shining smile appeared on her beautiful face.

Afterward, the two continued to talk until Lucrezia went to use the bathroom, allowing him to check his status.

[Experience: 1500000/4000000]

[Experience Gained: 500000]

[Mana: 753000>753500]

[Strength: 42100>42600]

[Constitution: 41100>41300]

[Stamina: 41000>41300]

[Charisma: 30800>30850]

[Intelligence: 36300>36600]

'Oh nice, nearly halfway to leveling again,' Archer mused. 'I will start spending more time in Elysium to hunt.'

With that decided, Mary returned, holding a tray with three bowls. She placed them on the table while telling him their names. ''The soup is called the Mountainhold Special, which consists of Oxhorn meat and whatever vegetables we could find.''

Archer thanked her before he tried the food, which he found delicious. Mary told him she would be busy most of the day as people were still staying in the city due to the Frostwinter Festival.

When she heard that he was about to speak, Lucrezia spoke up from behind them as she arrived: ''I can help if you need Mary while Archer can go level up until we're done.''

The woman with silver hair affirmed silently as the duo bid farewell, leaving Archer to himself. Contentedly savoring his soup, Archer departed the inn and slipped into an alley before teleporting to Elysium.

Archer appeared in the jungle and instantly transformed into his Shadow Prince form as something lunged from the underbrush. The monster flew through him, but he slashed its head off.

The corpse crashed to the ground with a thud, allowing Archet to see what it was. The creature was a hairless jaguar that looked creepy. Archet wondered what it was but couldn't figure it out, so he stopped bothering.

He embarked on a relentless hunt, lurking in the shadows and targeting any monster that crossed his path. His Shadow Prince form surged with each kill, granting Archer newfound mastery over the shadows.

Realizing this, Archer skillfully wielded his newfound abilities, dispatching multiple creatures simultaneously. He fashioned deadly shadow spikes, capable of materializing wherever darkness lurked, skewering his prey with precision.

This went on for hours and hours until Archer found himself sitting on the tallest mountain around while catching his breath. As he admired the scenery, Zarion appeared in his Thunderbird form as he flew toward him.

The beat of his wings caused the trees below to sway as he passed over. Archer watched as the massive bird got closer with a loud thud before landing, but the older man quickly glowed before turning into his humanoid form.

Archer watched Zarion next to him, ''Hello, Archer,'' he said. ''How are you finding Elysium?''

''It's good for my leveling up, but won't you run out of monsters at this rate?''

The older man touched his shoulder before answering, ''No. The monsters return, every monster trapped in a cycle of life and death because of the Ancient Magic that created this place.''

''Ancients?''

Zarion nodded, ''Beings that came just after the Nameless Things burrowed underground to create the Underrealm.''

'Interesting,' he internally mused. 'I wonder if any are still out there.'

''No there's not,'' Zarion answered his unasked question. ''They were wiped out during the Battle Of The Gods.''

''Damn,'' Archer spoke. ''It's a shame because Mary is beautiful in her real form and your daughter's Thunderbird form is gorgeous.''

Zarion chuckled, "So you've encountered Thundera? She's quite the headstrong nestling, determined to carve her own path instead of heeding her parents advice."

''Children tend to do that, old man,'' Archer commented with a smirk.