The Rise of the Black Plain

'Otis, act quickly and cut off Zaltran's head.' Minos sent this mental message to the robot at the same time as the level of one of his level 107 allies suddenly decreased and the metallic creature's level increased.

In a single instant, the robot's cultivation reached the peak of level 108 as he understood what it had to do.

Otis formed a huge metal sword and sliced through the rock below him, revealing the inside of a cave, from which a creature as large as the robot emerged, leaving that place and appearing in the sky above Otis.

Minos motioned for his companions to move away as huge chains left Otis' body and quickly reached Zaltran's heels.

"That..." The monkey-headed being looked down and opened his mouth in shock, not expecting an enemy capable of altering his cultivation so strangely.

"Since you won't surrender, I'm afraid I'll have to take your corpse back to the guild!" Otis shouted as he moved, pulling his chains back on himself while preparing a deadly dangerous attack with his giant sword glowing in a bluish hue.

Zaltran could barely react as he was pulled toward Otis, only managing to raise his four arms in defensive positions in front of his face.

"Aaaaagh!"

Even so, after Otis had absorbed a powerful component while still in Ganaway Refuge, he was no longer the same robot as before.

Even though he was temporarily one level behind Zaltran, Otis cut off two of the four arms of the creature he had to hunt in that area.

Sensing his master was in a hurry, he used his last weapons, forming a giant cannon after cutting off two of the enemy's arms and wounding a part of the other two remaining arms.

As the enemy fell to the ground in pain, feeling his blood leave his body and weaker than ever, Otis fired his weapon, causing an eerie glow to emerge from his weapon's tunnel.

Zaltran's eyes widened as he watched, regretting that he had betrayed the guild for a resource that only increased his cultivation by two levels.

But he never expected that the one hunting him would be a group of five monsters whose main skill was the ability to level up their members.

Armhands usually sent hunters of the same level as the traitors to begin with, so it was very unfortunate that this difficult mission for others had fallen into the hands of Minos' group!

BOOM!

The weapon fired, instantly piercing the alien's body and destroying his entire torso, leaving only lifeless remains!

Otis watched the smoke from his weapon dissipate as he stared at his enemy's corpse, glad to have Minos by his side. If his master hadn't been there, it would have been extremely difficult for him to hunt down this alien who had forcibly advanced his cultivation!

Minos saw the corpse of the enemy and said. "Let's get ready. Theo's target is nearby."

Otis collected Zaltran's corpse before turning to Minos, imagining this wasn't all.

Once they had moved on, Minos revealed. "Be careful as we climb to the top of the Eternal Pyre. I'll summon some of our companions from the guild."

They frowned as they understood who Minos was talking about, without question, as they prepared themselves, having already climbed the peak.

They were not far from the highest point in the area. In less than five minutes of flying time, they would reach the critical point of Eternal Pyre, one of the highest and most active volcanoes in the region, spewing lava and ash incessantly, creating a terrifying spectacle for those unprepared for the area's characteristics.

Upon arrival, they discovered the Eternal Fire Flower, a unique plant that only grows on Eternal Pyre. It has a dazzling appearance, with petals that appear to be made of crystalline fire, glowing in shades of red, orange, and gold.

Theo recognized his challenge when he felt that with Minos' help, his cultivation had reached level 108.

Minos said. "Conquer this flower without worrying about us or the area. Just do what's necessary to pass its test."

High-level resources like the Eternal Fire Flower could not be collected casually. One would have to go through spiritual and physical challenges to get permission to collect the resource itself.

This flower was valuable even to mid-level Sovereigns, so for someone like Theo, it wasn't as simple as just moving around. At the very least, he would have to go through some kind of ordeal that even he would find difficult to overcome in a few moments.

He moved towards his challenge and soon felt several fire elemental forms that only he could see appear near the flower's location.

Meanwhile, Minos turned his attention in the opposite direction and said. "They are coming. Get ready."

With his words, six Fire Manticores appeared from the north, each with their eyes turned towards them, their level 110 and 111 cultivation displayed, pushing the weaker ones in their path.

Seeing these creatures that he already knew were there to attack them, Minos didn't hesitate to activate the Divine Seal, making a series of movements with his hands as four seals and coffins appeared from the void near them.

'Why are you dealing with them like this?' Ruth asked her husband curiously.

'Jembei is watching us. He probably set these creatures against us. But he doesn't know what I know. So let's lead them to a counter-weapon.' Minos said only to his wife, so that she narrowed her eyes and understood the situation.

While she and the others were preparing to follow Minos' orders to stay out of the developing situation, Jembei and his five companions were hundreds of kilometers away from this place.

However, having set up devices near the points where Minos' group had to pass, he and his companions could monitor the enemy group's position in real time.

"Those coffins... What's that?" one of Minos' enemies asked.

"Let's see what they are. It looks like Minos has some new fighting methods at his disposal." Jembei muttered as he narrowed his eyes, keeping an eye on the monitor in front of him.

'Show me your weaknesses, Minos!'