Village Head's Debauchery

Stronghold Leader Seth nodded in agreement.

Orion then shifted his gaze toward the immense crater, his curiosity piqued. He walked toward it, eager to get a proper view, as this was the first time he had witnessed massive destruction, apart from the battles he had seen in the memories of Aegis of the Arctic Deity.

Stronghold Leader Seth walked beside him, equally interested in examining the immense crater.

Orion extended his right hand and conjured a lightning bolt, aiming it into the immense crater. He wanted to gauge its depth and see if any potential dangers were lurking within.

As the lightning bolt descended deep into the crater, the walls began to shimmer and glow. Rather than stopping, the bolt continued its descent until it vanished from their sight.

"So deep," Stronghold Leader Seth muttered.

"Let's go check it out," Orion proposed, his curiosity piqued.

Stronghold Leader Seth nodded, equally interested in discovering what lay within the immense crater.

"We'll be back in a few minutes," Orion informed Seig and the others,

They nodded in agreement.

Orion exchanged another nod with Stronghold Leader Seth before leaping into the immense crater. Stronghold Leader Seth followed closely behind.

As they descended, arcs of electricity crackled around Orion, illuminating their surroundings. The journey lasted about five minutes, giving them a clear sense of the crater's depth until they finally reached the ground below.

BOOMM!!

The land cracked, forming a miniature crater as they stabilized themselves.

"It seems someone had already come here before us," Orion remarked, eyeing the two craters beside theirs and the deep cracks in the wall. The marks looked like they were made by a powerful force, perhaps a punch or a blade slicing through.

"This might be the reason gods' chosens likely set up camp nearby," he speculated, leaning down to inspect the several innumerable, shimmering, inky black rocks of varying sizes that surfaced during their descent.

Stronghold Leader Seth nodded, crouching to examine another rock.

"This…" Orion's eyes widened in shock as he felt the Vylkr energy within the rock responding to his touch, almost like an extension of himself.

Stronghold Leader Seth shared his surprise, his expression mirroring Orion's as they both sensed the connection with the various strands of Vylkr energy within it.

"What are these stones?" Stronghold Leader Seth asked, his voice filled with curiosity. He had never encountered something like this before in his life.

"I don't know either," Orion responded, shaking his head before briefly looking upwards. "It seems we'll have to wait until they wake up so they can tell us what they know about these stones."

He pocketed the stone, intending for Seraphina to examine it when he returned to the floating island. Perhaps she would have some clues after running some tests on it. This way, they would eventually uncover the truth even if they were misled.

Seth nodded and took one for himself, tucking it safely into his leather pocket.

"Let's return," Orion said, stretching out his hand. Once Seth held his hand, he immediately transformed into countless streaks of lightning, shooting upwards along with Seth out of the immense crater like a lightning bolt.

Up above, Seig and the others were waiting for Azarok and any of the gods' chosens from the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City to wake up when they heard a slightly audible bolt of lightning, indicating that Orion and Seth had returned to the surface.

Orion pulled the stone from his pocket to examine it more closely and question Seig and the others if they knew anything about it since they were also gods' chosens. However, he swiftly halted his actions, noticing their dumbfounded and shocked expressions as they fixed their eyes on the precious stone filled with Vylkr energy.

"Do any of you know what this is?" Orion's voice was filled with suspicion as he narrowed his eyes at them, demanding an immediate answer.

"Yes, we do," Leif replied, immediately taking the lead. "That's a Vylkr alloy…" he then began explaining the uses of Vylkr alloys and their usefulness within the Runaway Cities, particularly among gods' chosens.

After Leif finished his explanation, Orion and Seth stared at him in surprise.

"That means this was the precious metal used for forging your Devourer's bracelet and Gearweavers," Orion asked, seeking clarification.

Leif nodded solemnly, "Yes. It was the same metal used to make my equipment and that of any gods' chosens. It helps us fight against the Vylkr vines and protect ourselves in this dead world," he responded.

The rest of the gods' chosens agreed with Leif's words.

Stronghold Leader Seth looked at the precious stone in his hand with excitement. He thought he would have to take the devourer's bracelet from the unfortunate gods' chosen. But fate seemed to favour him as he obtained enough Vylkr alloy to forge a Vylkr Fusion Armlet and enough to enable Seraphina and the others to forge a Gearweaver weapon for him.

"Hahahaha!!" Stronghold Leader Seth burst out in laughter, filled with joy and anticipation. He couldn't help but wonder about the immense power he could wield as a five-star warrior.

The others ignored his strange laughter.

"Did you find the Vylkr alloy in the crater?" Leif asked curiously, noticing that Orion and Seth had emerged from the crater with the Vylkr alloy.

Orion nodded, "Yes. It might also be the reason they were camping here," he responded, glancing at the unconscious gods' chosens they had captured.

Upon hearing Orion's words, Leif, Seig, and the others were excited, their expressions barely containing their anticipation.

A Vylkr alloy mine! They never expected such an encounter but were thrilled about their decision to stick with this territory. This discovery would further boost their impressive strength, ensuring their security and future encounters with other Runaway Cities. It also meant they would have Gearweavers forged purely from Vylkr alloys.

Orion seized the moment to send a message to Fifi, "Head back to the floating island and brief Stronghold Leader Zogar and the others on everything that's happened. When you return, bring Seraphina with you. Let her know we've found a precious stone to help her craft as many Vylkr Fusion Bracelets as she needs." He then elaborated on the impending arrival of the two Runaway Cities before ending the communication.