"Alright, so we can take the long troublesome way or the short probably safer route"
Azreal didn't immediately respond instead he looked at the unfolded map in front of him.
The map pretty much looked like a pirate treasure map, with a big red 'x' marking their destination, at different parts of the map you had small and large regions in different colors representing different territories, the brighter the color the more dangerous they are.
Now the only two routes that the map has to get to Kakar both pass through one of those brightly colored regions.
"They both pass through the same regions so how is there a difference in the danger?" Azreal asked still observing the map.
"The length of time we'll be there, same danger but different lengths of time"
Azreal ignored Xavious' condescending tone and spoke.
"Yea but we're traveling with a little kid right now, so isn't there some other route we can take to skip past the danger?"
Even though he said that aloud deep down inside he wanted to go there.
"You're thinking about it wrong, it's not like warbeast robbing and killing type danger, it's just that over there the warbeast that stay there they all want to get stronger and since we cultivate our bodies there's just constant fighting, it's not like Sow or any of these other cities that don't allow fighting in and around them, here they put their life on the line to push each other to reach greater heights—a training ground that's the best way to describe it"
Hearing that a few things made sense, for a race that fought to get stronger everywhere he's been so far didn't reflect that, turns out he's been to the more civilized areas and now he was gonna see somewhere that was more barbaric.
"You and Nala can decide which way you want to take"
This was an opportunity for him, no matter which way they choose to go he was going to start collecting his helpers.
"Okay" Xavious smiled as he said that because she'd definitely choose the shorter one.
"What about the warbeast here?"
The question really confused Azreal and he didn't hide it.
"What about them?"
"....She just killed dozens of them! They were people's friends, family, so of course they aren't just going to sit around and say he was weak so he died"
Again ignoring the condescending tone Azreal thought about it, a part of him genuinely hoped that they'd come that way he could start his collection but his core still wasn't full, maybe it was because of the mistakes he made when writing it the last time but it took quite a bit of energy plus why use the dime a dozen bunch when he can go after the cream of the crop.
Well since he didn't want to kill any of them this was a chance to test of what Darius said about the title, would weaker beast really bow to him?
Once he thought of that he was surprised that Xavious didn't mention it.
"What'll happen if I release my Beast King Aura around weaker beast?"
When Xavious heard that he didn't immediately answer, clenching his fist and gritting his gum.
"They'd kneel"
Azreal didn't say anything instead he waited for him to continue, it didn't seem like that was all there was to it.
"It's nothing but a form of humiliation!"
"Do you have any energy crystals?"
Azreal thought about asking him what that reaction was about but think about it Xavious was only a semi-useful tool and if those should ever be removed from his chest he'd disappear like he never existed.
"Nope" Xavious didn't focus on him changing the topic instead just quickly refusing.
"Don't worry about tomorrow at worst we'll let Nala handle it"
After saying that he walked off heading back to the hotel, tonight was only about meditation and for the entire night that's all he did.
In the morning Xavious came to get him, since he wasn't paying attention to time itself.
Stepping out he was surprised that he didn't see the mob he expected, in fact, the pace was fairly quiet, so some crap was definitely brewing.
The little fox today was dressed in a nice dress, compared to yesterday she didn't look much different but the clean clothes added a certain air to her.
"Xavious show you the map already?" He asked with a smile while looking at Nala, what happened last night didn't affect him in the least.
"We decided on the shorter one" in her usual aloof tone while looking at the little fox.
"Alright lead the way" nodding Azreal spoke to Xavious.
He didn't need to be told twice, moving through the main they saw people going about their usual business, most taking subtly glances at them.
The moment they were about to step out of the two, hundreds of warbeast started pouring out from the houses and allies, completely surrounding them.
It's was hard to make out what they were saying individually since every one of them were shouting but the general idea could be understood, they were all angry.
Once they showed up Xavious pulled back from the front of the group stepping behind Nala, patting her as he spoke.
"Don't be shy now, you made the mess start cleaning"
Before Nala could do anything Azreal patted her shoulder and stepped forward, completely ignoring the crowd as he released his aura with restraint.
Boom!
Without exception every single one of the warbeast that had surrounded them a moment ago was kneeling now, some tried to resist by standing while others couldn't move.
Observing them it wasn't hard to tell the strong ones from the weak just by how much they could resist.
As Azreal watched kneeling a broad smile blossomed on his face.
Xavious didn't want to see so he gritted walked past them, Nala didn't show much of a reaction as she followed behind Xavious.
The little fox stared at Azreal with deep curiosity as Nala walked away with her.
...
It took them a week to get to the outskirts of the region, because they were traveling with the little fox and Nala so they took a more scenic route, to which Azreal had no objections, every stop they made he took the opportunity to medicate and now his core was full.
Over the week they've been traveling Azreal already found an opportunity to take her bag and make it seem like Xavious was the one with the space ring, he knew the lie wouldn't last forever but it only needs to last 3 weeks.
The region itself was similar to the Grand Canyon, nothing but rocks, built on top of the rocks was a small city.
Standing on the outskirts they could already hear shouts and screams, despite this Nala didn't look disturbed, on the journey, Xavious explained that there weren't that many places like this since it was seen as barbaric.
The only good thing about this city so far is that the warbeast here didn't attack women and children so unless Nala was looking for a fight she could just walk right through.
Azreal and Xavious on the other hand even if they didn't want to fight they had to.
So both of them sat around on the outskirts and allowed Nala to go ahead, they had already on where they would meet up since Azreal intended to take his time.
"Alright, so we can take the long troublesome way or the short probably safer route"
Azreal didn't immediately respond instead he looked at the unfolded map in front of him.
The map pretty much looked like a pirate treasure map, with a big red 'x' marking their destination, at different parts of the map you had small and large regions in different colors representing different territories, the brighter the color the more dangerous they are.
Now the only two routes that the map has to get to Kakar both pass through one of those brightly colored regions.
"They both pass through the same regions so how is there a difference in the danger?" Azreal asked still observing the map.
"The length of time we'll be there, same danger but different lengths of time"
Azreal ignored Xavious' condescending tone and spoke.
"Yea but we're traveling with a little kid right now, so isn't there some other route we can take to skip past the danger?"
Even though he said that aloud deep down inside he wanted to go there.
"You're thinking about it wrong, it's not like warbeast robbing and killing type danger, it's just that over there the warbeast that stay there they all want to get stronger and since we cultivate our bodies there's just constant fighting, it's not like Sow or any of these other cities that don't allow fighting in and around them, here they put their life on the line to push each other to reach greater heights—a training ground that's the best way to describe it"
Hearing that a few things made sense, for a race that fought to get stronger everywhere he's been so far didn't reflect that, turns out he's been to the more civilized areas and now he was gonna see somewhere that was more barbaric.
"You and Nala can decide which way you want to take"
This was an opportunity for him, no matter which way they choose to go he was going to start collecting his helpers.
"Okay" Xavious smiled as he said that because she'd definitely choose the shorter one.
"What about the warbeast here?"
The question really confused Azreal and he didn't hide it.
"What about them?"
"....She just killed dozens of them! They were people's friends, family, so of course they aren't just going to sit around and say he was weak so he died"
Again ignoring the condescending tone Azreal thought about it, a part of him genuinely hoped that they'd come that way he could start his collection but his core still wasn't full, maybe it was because of the mistakes he made when writing it the last time but it took quite a bit of energy plus why use the dime a dozen bunch when he can go after the cream of the crop.
Well since he didn't want to kill any of them this was a chance to test of what Darius said about the title, would weaker beast really bow to him?
Once he thought of that he was surprised that Xavious didn't mention it.
"What'll happen if I release my Beast King Aura around weaker beast?"
When Xavious heard that he didn't immediately answer, clenching his fist and gritting his gum.
"They'd kneel"
Azreal didn't say anything instead he waited for him to continue, it didn't seem like that was all there was to it.
"It's nothing but a form of humiliation!"
"Do you have any energy crystals?"
Azreal thought about asking him what that reaction was about but think about it Xavious was only a semi-useful tool and if those should ever be removed from his chest he'd disappear like he never existed.
"Nope" Xavious didn't focus on him changing the topic instead just quickly refusing.
"Don't worry about tomorrow at worst we'll let Nala handle it"
After saying that he walked off heading back to the hotel, tonight was only about meditation and for the entire night that's all he did.
In the morning Xavious came to get him, since he wasn't paying attention to time itself.
Stepping out he was surprised that he didn't see the mob he expected, in fact, the pace was fairly quiet, so some crap was definitely brewing.
The little fox today was dressed in a nice dress, compared to yesterday she didn't look much different but the clean clothes added a certain air to her.
"Xavious show you the map already?" He asked with a smile while looking at Nala, what happened last night didn't affect him in the least.
"We decided on the shorter one" in her usual aloof tone while looking at the little fox.
"Alright lead the way" nodding Azreal spoke to Xavious.
He didn't need to be told twice, moving through the main they saw people going about their usual business, most taking subtly glances at them.
The moment they were about to step out of the two, hundreds of warbeast started pouring out from the houses and allies, completely surrounding them.
It's was hard to make out what they were saying individually since every one of them were shouting but the general idea could be understood, they were all angry.
Once they showed up Xavious pulled back from the front of the group stepping behind Nala, patting her as he spoke.
"Don't be shy now, you made the mess start cleaning"
Before Nala could do anything Azreal patted her shoulder and stepped forward, completely ignoring the crowd as he released his aura with restraint.
Boom!
Without exception every single one of the warbeast that had surrounded them a moment ago was kneeling now, some tried to resist by standing while others couldn't move.
Observing them it wasn't hard to tell the strong ones from the weak just by how much they could resist.
As Azreal watched kneeling a broad smile blossomed on his face.
Xavious didn't want to see so he gritted walked past them, Nala didn't show much of a reaction as she followed behind Xavious.
The little fox stared at Azreal with deep curiosity as Nala walked away with her.
...
It took them a week to get to the outskirts of the region, because they were traveling with the little fox and Nala so they took a more scenic route, to which Azreal had no objections, every stop they made he took the opportunity to medicate and now his core was full.
Over the week they've been traveling Azreal already found an opportunity to take her bag and make it seem like Xavious was the one with the space ring, he knew the lie wouldn't last forever but it only needs to last 3 weeks.
The region itself was similar to the Grand Canyon, nothing but rocks, built on top of the rocks was a small city.
Standing on the outskirts they could already hear shouts and screams, despite this Nala didn't look disturbed, on the journey, Xavious explained that there weren't that many places like this since it was seen as barbaric.
The only good thing about this city so far is that the warbeast here didn't attack women and children so unless Nala was looking for a fight she could just walk right through.
Azreal and Xavious on the other hand even if they didn't want to fight they had to.
So both of them sat around on the outskirts and allowed Nala to go ahead, they had already on where they would meet up since Azreal intended to take his time.
