The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak

Souta found himself in a strange and inhospitable land. The sky above was veiled by thick gas, and the temperature was unbearably high. This environment was clearly not suitable for ordinary individuals to survive in.

"Yet, I can sense living creatures within those clouds..." Souta observed, narrowing his eyes in response.

He conducted a quick assessment of his own condition and determined that he was still capable of combat. Battling Nine Yin had compelled him to utilize some of his trump cards, so he needed to be cautious in case he encountered another expert of similar caliber.

For the time being, Souta decided to refrain from using [Dream Power]. It needed some time to cool down, as excessive usage could potentially damage his elemental seeds. He still had some energy reserves, having employed [Insta-Regen] to recover a portion of his strength.

"So, until I locate the Tears of Divine Might, I'll refrain from employing my other trump cards," Souta affirmed inwardly, casting a glance at the [Yin Yang Bracelet] on his wrist. The equipment skill of the bracelet was being saved for a major battle. After witnessing Nine Yin's abilities, he was confident that Nine Yin was weaker than some of the other experts he might encounter. Of course, Nine Yin was superior to Man-Eating Tamer, but Man-Eating Tamer's power lay in the monstrous creatures under his command. Confronting that individual was akin to battling an entire army alone.

Nevertheless, Souta was well-prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

"For now..."

Souta's eyes gleamed with determination as he directed his attention toward the living beings concealed within the clouds. He swung the sword in his hand, releasing a colossal energy blade that soared into the sky.

Swoosh!!

The energy blade cleaved through the gaseous clouds, parting them to reveal the figures of the inhabitants. These beings were tall and humanoid, with brownish skin and a horn positioned at the center of their foreheads. What distinguished them most was that they possessed two pairs of arms.

"Oh, what kind of demihumans are they? I've never seen their race before..." Souta mused, his curiosity piqued as he observed them. He speculated that they might be related to the Four-Armed Tribe, but the horn on their foreheads was a distinctive feature he hadn't seen in the Four-Armed Tribe he was familiar with.

The four-armed individuals regarded him with evident fear in their eyes. The energy blade he had just unleashed had the potential to eliminate them with ease.

Souta stroked his chin thoughtfully as he approached the four-armed beings. Although the language they used was distinct from the common tongue spoken in Imperium, they seemed to comprehend what he was saying. The monsters' language was unlike any other language in the world, as it conveyed thoughts directly through words.

He inquired if there was a collapsed space within this land, and to his surprise, they pointed him in a specific direction.

Expressing his gratitude, Souta didn't press them further and instead followed the indicated path.

Swoosh!!

He moved at high speed, covering thousands of kilometers before arriving at an intriguing location.

"This is quite an interesting sight..."

Above, the swirling clouds converged to create a massive storm. At its center, a profound darkness loomed, and purple lightning flashed at regular intervals. Just beneath it, a floating land was covered in colossal trees, while on the ground, a volcano spewed magma, drenching the land in a fiery red hue.

In the sky, fierce battles raged on, with individuals unleashing their energies and skills that intermittently lit up the scene, generating shockwaves that reverberated through the surroundings.

Souta observed the situation for a brief moment, stroking his chin as he considered his options. His eyes canvassed the entire area and he discerned that three factions were embroiled in combat. The first comprised the members of the Deadly Sins, the second consisted of the warriors from the alliance army, and the last group was composed of the indigenous beings of this world. Among the combatants, there were also monsters from the river he had encountered earlier, near the walls of the Selnes Country.

"The atmosphere here is incredibly chaotic..." Souta muttered to himself, a wry smile forming as he tightened his grip on his sword. Slowly, he channeled his energy into the blade, a glint of anticipation in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the experts from the Deadly Sins.

"It wouldn't hurt me to collect blood before the big battle."

With a resounding boom, he propelled himself into the fray. After all, it wouldn't hurt to gather some blood before the impending major battle.

Swoosh!!

At the residence of the Darkna Clan...

Red Mist descended to the ground without attempting to conceal her presence.

"I've arrived!" she declared, her voice resounding throughout the vicinity. Her mana radiated outward, enveloping the entire clan estate.

Boom!!

The ground quaked forcefully in response.

In the basement, three individuals abruptly halted their activities, turning their heads in response to the intense energy fluctuation in the air. Among them, one was a man, while the other two were women.

"This...?!" The man squinted his eyes as he perceived the distinct energy signature in the vicinity.

"This energy signature differs from that of the Clan Leader of the Darkna Clan, so..." one of the women, with shoulder-length brown hair and a pair of bunny ears, commented.

"It suggests that it's someone from the Deadly Sins!" the other woman exclaimed. She possessed long, verdant hair and a pair of eyes that matched her hair color.

The man directed his companions and declared, "Jaymi, Lou Yi, buy me some time. I'll finish our mission as swiftly as possible."

The two women, Jaymi and Lou Yi, nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute. They spun around and hastily exited the room to confront the expert from the Deadly Sins.

Upon exiting the building, Jaymi and Lou Yi were greeted by the sight of a striking woman with radiant red hair. Her subtle smile concealed a dangerous aura that sent shivers down their spines.

"Formidable..." Lou Yi, the woman with green hair, whispered as she gazed at Red Mist. Although Red Mist hadn't fully unleashed her energy, Lou Yi's heightened instincts warned her that this woman was a formidable threat.

"Are you certain? Has she already reached the Hero rank?" Jaymi, the woman with bunny ears, inquired in a hushed tone, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on Red Mist. She was poised to react the instant Red Mist made a move.

Lou Yi shook her head and replied, "She's still at the Sixth Rank, but her energy feels incredibly potent..."

"As long as she's not a Hero-rank, we can still hold our own," Jaymi asserted, clenching her fists and gathering her energy.

"Sixth Rank? Oh, that term... You must be from the Heavenly Court region. But it appears that you don't belong to that Priestess of the Fist's faction," Red Mist mused as she observed the two women, attempting to deduce their affiliations.

Lou Yi and Jaymi maintained their vigilant stances, ready to defend themselves should Red Mist make any sudden moves. Their primary objective was to stall and avoid divulging information to the Deadly Sins.

"Sigh... I'd rather not engage in combat, but it's my duty, so I have no choice but to complete it," Red Mist lamented, her shoulders drooping. She scratched the back of her head and continued, "I managed to avoid a confrontation with the Blood Lightning Monster, but the circumstances have changed... Sigh, it looks like I have no alternative but to fight."

Suddenly, the temperature surged dramatically, and Red Mist emitted a formidable aura, causing flames to flicker and dance around her.

Boom!!

"Well, I'm going to capture the two of you and extract the information I need," Red Mist declared, her smile broadening. With a wave of her hand, she unleashed a deluge of flames toward the duo.

Jaymi and Lou Yi widened their eyes as they raised both their hands, releasing their energy to create a protective barrier that intercepted the oncoming sea of flames. However, when the fiery tempest dissipated, they found Red Mist already standing before them.

Swoosh!!

"This marks my debut in this war! I am Red Mist, and I am here to fight the two of you! It would be most convenient if you would kindly allow me to capture you!" Red Mist declared, sweeping her hand toward Lou Yi. However, before she could make contact, Jaymi swiftly intercepted her and unleashed a potent punch.

Bang!!

A mighty gust of wind displaced the flames surrounding Red Mist, causing them to disperse.

Red Mist came to an abrupt halt, her eyes widening as she felt a numbing sensation in her hand. She gingerly raised her gaze to focus on Jaymi. "Huh? That wasn't a combat technique. It was a basic punch, yet it inflicted damage. You two aren't ordinary experts. Who is guiding you?"

Rather than responding, Jaymi launched herself toward Red Mist. She channeled her energy, amassing a powerful whirlwind in her clenched fist. The entire vicinity vibrated as she directed her punch.

[Tidal Giant Punch]!!

The shockwave rippled outward, and the nearby structures crumbled under the sheer force of Jaymi's attack.

After landing on the ground, Jaymi took a deep breath, her expression concerned.

"Did you manage to hit her?" Lou Yi inquired.

"I did land a hit, but..." Jaymi inspected her fist, noticing the scorched marks, and offered a wry smile. She turned her attention to the smoky aftermath. "I had a feeling... this mission wouldn't be a walk in the park. Blood Lightning Monster should've confronted her seriously to avoid putting us in this situation."

Boom!!

The smoke dissipated, giving way to expanding flames that swiftly enshrouded the entire clan's premises. The temperature continued to soar, surpassing a million degrees Celsius and rising.

"I have a question for you. Were you, by any chance, affiliated with the organization that acquired the Spatial Gem held by the Red Matter Association?" a voice sounded.

A woman with fiery hair emerged from the smoke, her countenance adorned with a broad smile. Portions of her body bore red scales that emitted an unusual white light. Beside her stood a diminutive humanoid creature boasting a pair of dragon wings. The creature was no larger than an ordinary human's palm.

"Fiamma, it's time to put an end to this," Red Mist declared.

"Hmph, just this once," the diminutive creature, Fiamma, responded with a snort, folding her arms in reluctance.