The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak

Souta's journey to the Acropolis of Athens proved to be unexpectedly rewarding. Becoming a Hero candidate earlier than anticipated and addressing some of the cracks in his inner consciousness through the Chamber of Imaginary were significant achievements.

Upon returning to Astros, Souta learned that Amanda had also returned. Eager to catch up with her and discuss her recent endeavors, he promptly summoned her to his office. Amanda's arrival was swift, her demeanor unchanged but her aura notably strengthened, indicative of her advancement to the First Shackle Realm. Despite her growth, she appeared relatively unchanged, likely due to her focus on gathering intelligence in various locations.

"Sit down and tell me everything," Souta said.

Amanda sat down and began narrating her discoveries. Souta listened attentively, refraining from interrupting her.

As Amanda spoke, Souta's expression darkened. He had anticipated this, but hearing the situation firsthand from Amanda made it even more dire than he had imagined.

Amanda elaborated on the events unfolding in various small towns, cities, and countries unaffiliated with gods or any powerful figures in the Shackled Realm. Many of them were being ravaged, and Souta foresaw the situation escalating further. It was evident that he needed to devise a countermeasure for such scenarios. These small cults or terrorist groups were becoming increasingly unrestrained this time.

Souta sighed as he glanced at Amanda. "Good job," he said. "I will revise the plan later, so stay here for a while."

"I understand," Amanda nodded in acknowledgment.

"Have you heard about the invitation?" Souta asked.

"Invitation...?" Amanda looked puzzled.

It became apparent that no one had informed her about the Walpurgis Night yet, which was understandable given everyone's busy schedules.

"Well, the remnants of the Walpurgis Night have sent us an invitation, so we're planning on accepting it. You should stay here, as I'll be bringing you with me," Souta explained to her.

"Umm... Souta, can I ask what Walpurgis Night is?" Amanda inquired, sounding unsure.

"Oh, so you have no idea about it," Souta responded, a little surprised. He then proceeded to explain to Amanda what the Walpurgis Night was, starting from their glory days when they were protected by their god until their eventual downfall.

"I see. I've heard a few stories about them, but I didn't realize they were the Walpurgis Night," Amanda remarked. She glanced at him and asked, "So what should I do now?"

"You can find Franklin and the others. Join their training for a while," Souta suggested.

"I understand," Amanda replied before leaving the room.

Souta stared at the door for a moment before turning to look out the window. Amanda's report had fallen within his expectations. Now, he needed to formulate a plan to address the current situation.

Troublesome times lay ahead. He couldn't stop them; he could only confront them.

Days passed swiftly, almost imperceptibly.

Souta delved into the spell-casting book he had acquired from Athen's Champion. In addition, he undertook small missions to accumulate merits in the legion and gain skill points in the system. He avoided large missions, knowing that his current physical condition wouldn't fare well in extensive battles. It was wiser to tackle missions that could be completed with his physical abilities alone.

Word of his candidacy as a Hero of Goddess Athena began to spread, surprising many. However, upon reflection, it made sense given his involvement in several significant battles.

His recent exploits in Selnes Country further solidified his reputation. Even factions outside his own couldn't deny that the Blood Lightning Monster truly lived up to his name. His strength was undeniable, witnessed by all who encountered him.

The moniker "Blood Lightning Monster" became ubiquitous throughout the entire continent.

For the time being, Souta kept a low profile. Since the initial conflict in Selnes Country, he had refrained from participating in any major battles. Few were aware of the damage to his inner consciousness, with only a select few privy to this information.

While Alice and the others focused on enhancing their physical prowess, Souta delved deeper into his studies of spellcasting.

Alone in his office, Souta stared at the invitation in his hand. After a few moments, it emitted a white smoke, recognizable to him as Dream Power.

He allowed the Dream Power to flow freely, waiting for the information to materialize in his mind. Soon enough, the location of the Walpurgis Night was transferred to him, revealing that it would take place in the Obsidian Desert.

"Obsidian Desert..." Souta muttered to himself, slightly surprised by the revelation. This location meant there would be a passage from there to the HQ of the witches. According to the invitation, only four individuals could accompany him.

After careful consideration, Souta decided to bring Alice, Eilish, and Amanda along. The remaining members would stay behind to guard the Astros and continue their training while he was away.

Souta called the three girls into his office, observing their strengthened auras. It had been a month and a half since he received the invitation, and he couldn't help but notice their remarkable progress. Meanwhile, he hadn't improved much himself, hindered by his badly damaged inner consciousness.

Alice's growth was particularly notable. He could see that her ice elemental seed had reached the Integration Stage, with her dark elemental seed close behind. Souta speculated that she was now far stronger than any normal Four Shackles expert, capable of utilizing demon techniques reserved for SSS-rank individuals.

Eilish, on the other hand, had been diligently assisting him in studying spellcasting. Though still a Three Shackles expert, she had significantly surpassed the norm. With just a little more progress, she would soon reach the pinnacle of her level.

As for Amanda, she remained the weakest with her level still at One Shackle Realm. While her improvement had been swift, it paled in comparison to the monstrous progress of Isabella. Souta recognized Isabella as an exception, aware of her potential future as long as no one interfered. However, for Amanda and the others, their futures remained uncertain. Souta couldn't even guarantee if they could reach god level.

Nevertheless, he was determined to provide them with every opportunity to increase their chances of ascension.

"The four of us will attend the Walpurgis," Souta explained to them. "That's the limit of the invitation, so we cannot bring more people with us."

Souta also informed Athen's Champion of his invitation to the Walpurgis Night. As a Hero candidate, it was imperative to keep them apprised of his whereabouts to avoid any unexpected disappearances.

Recognizing the significance of Souta's candidacy, Athen's Champion expressed their concern and offered increased support. They even considered sending someone with Souta, but the limitation of the invitation prevented it.

As a Hero candidate, Souta now received significantly greater support from Athen's Champion. Monthly resources provided to him were several times larger than before, reflecting his elevated status. While he retained his title as Grain Leader, the addition of "Hero candidate" alongside his name further emphasized his importance.

A day earlier...

Souta found himself in the office of Vandal, the Chief Captain of the Third Set.

"Are you certain about this decision?" Vandal inquired.

"Yes, there are witches among my people, so I can't avoid attending. Additionally, I'm interested in understanding the stance of the witches of Walpurgis Night amidst this chaos," Souta replied.

"Very well, I'll grant my approval. We cannot compel you to stay, so exercise caution. If you fail to return within two weeks, I'll ask some of the Division Commanders to venture into the Dream Realm to retrieve you," Vandal stated. He placed his trust in Souta, especially considering Souta had a Nine-Headed Hydra within his ranks.

"Thank you," Souta expressed his gratitude politely.

"Then, consider it your mission. Your objective is to ascertain the stance of the Walpurgis Night. If you believe you can manage them, take whatever action is necessary. If not, retreat and report back to us," Vandal instructed before handing Souta a piece of red paper adorned with various symbols. "Take this. Tear it apart when you wish to retreat. It will reveal your location even in the Dream Realm."

Back in the present...

Souta was fully prepared. He had made all necessary preparations in the past few days, including focusing on repairing his inner consciousness after using the Chamber of Imaginary. While the cracks remained, they were less severe than before. He could now freely utilize his best feram, although employing the douion still posed a challenge. Nonetheless, he was ready to engage in combat if necessary.

In addition to his other preparations, Souta had also maxed out two of his skills: [Void Shrouding] and [Void Entanglement]. He recognized that [Void Shrouding] would serve as the foundation for his future forbidden spells. These skills had both reached level 10, thanks to the ample skill points he had earned from his quests in the Selnes Country.

Turning his attention to Alice, Eilish, and Amanda, Souta asked, "Are you ready? We're departing soon."

The three nodded in response, indicating their readiness.

"Alright, then let's not waste any more time," Souta declared before rising from his seat.

Curiosity about why the remnants of the Walpurgis Night had disappeared in the game lingered in his mind. He intended to uncover the answer during this expedition.