A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1650: What Brings You Here?

(Hemera, Hecate, Leira, Mary, and Aeris)

Hemera was watching Hecate and Leira go through the samples theyʼve collected from the blue Goblins and other things they found. It caught her interest, prompting the Sun Elf to ask the cat woman. ʼʼWhatʼs different about these creatures compared to the ones back on Draconia?ʼʼ

The purple-haired woman glanced up, green eyes full of curiosity as she answered. ʼʼNot much apart from their wild, not like the ones weʼve met. Theyʼre stronger than the regular ones, but thatʼs it.ʼʼ

ʼʼStrange,ʼʼ she mumbled and asked another question. ʼʼWhat makes them different?ʼʼ

ʼʼNothing really,ʼʼ Hecate replied this time, scanning through a bunch of flowers, turning to them. ʼʼTheyʼre a bit bigger and tougher than your regular Goblin, but thatʼs it.ʼʼ

While the three women chatted about the monster, Mary appeared from the main tent, her green eyes scanning their surroundings as she took in the underwater land they found themselves in. She sensed hundreds of powerful beasts wandering around outside the tunnel that the sub had entered to get here.

ʼThis place feels ancient,ʼ she thought, watching the Legionnaires rushing around the new fortress.

Moments later, a deep groan rumbled came from the water, causing Maryʼs eyes narrow at the sound. ʼWhatʼs going on now?ʼ she thought.

Without hesitation, the grey-haired woman plunged in, shifting into her Nameless-Thing form, she surged toward the cave entrance. Within seconds, she found a massive storm bearing down on their first stop of the expedition. Seconds later, the underwater world thrashed in chaos, and the seafloor quaked beneath her.

She hovered near the cave entrance, the water around her pulsing with energy. The storm above churned like a living beast, its fury bleeding into the sea below. Dark clouds rolled across the surface, blotting out the faint light that reached the depths. A wall of pressure swept through the water, and she felt it vibrate through her bones.

Lightning forked overhead, and each flash cast fleeting silver veins through the deep. The current turned violent, whipping her hair and dragging at her limbs as if the ocean itself wanted to tear her apart. The ground beneath her groaned again, long, drawn-out, and terrible.

Chunks of coral split from the reef and tumbled into the abyss. She steadied herself, green eyes glowing faintly in the dark. ʼDamn Long Winter is causing problems everywhere we go,ʼ she mused.

Following that, Mary headed back to the others and transformed when leaping out of the water, landing with a thud. When the women spotted her, they rushed toward her as Hemera questioned. ʼʼWhat was that shaking?ʼʼ

ʼʼA Mana Storm has hit,ʼʼ she revealed. ʼʼLooks like weʼll be here for a while.ʼʼ

The group agreed just as Aeris the Dark Wraith appeared from the shadows, shifting into her human form. A worried expression crossed her face as she finally spoke. ʼʼThis place goes on for days, itʼs a massive jungle with mountains, rivers, and all kinds of landscapes.ʼʼ

ʼʼAny ruins?ʼʼ Leira asked.

The dark-haired woman nodded. ʼʼYes, over a dozen scattered all over the place. Looks like they came from the people who lived on Thrylos thousands of years ago.ʼʼ

When the group heard this, their eyes widened in surprise as Hecate finally questioned. ʼʼAnd how do you know this?ʼʼ

ʼʼWell, the place looks strange, like a mix of Archerʼs buildings and something else,ʼʼ Aeries shrugged. ʼʼI thought Iʼd tell you guys as powerful monsters were tracking me through one of the cities.ʼʼ

Leiraʼs, Hemeraʼs, and Hecateʼs eyes widened in shock as Mary giggled. ʼʼSeems like weʼll be here for some time. Lucky the war has paused for now, it gives us enough time to discover things the world hasnʼt seen.ʼʼ

Following that, the Sun and Moon Eves rushed off to sort out cages for the unique monsters they wanted to capture to put in a zoo within the Domain. Leira watched their excitement skyrocket as she spoke. ʼʼIʼll study more of the plants, theyʼre fascinating compared to the surface world.ʼʼ

ʼʼEnjoy yourself,ʼʼ Mary said, smiling.

Once the catwoman was gone, she turned to Aeris and asked for a favor. ʼʼDo you mind keeping watch on the perimeter in case any monsters try to sneak in?ʼʼ

The Dark Wraith nodded. ʼʼOf course, Iʼm not like the others and get fascinated by a beetle,ʼʼ she giggled.

ʼʼWeʼre all different,ʼʼ the older woman replied. ʼʼItʼs why you and I are here, to protect the other three alongside the Oathkeepers and Legionnaires.ʼʼ

ʼʼI understand, plus we can head to the Domain if it gets too dangerous,ʼʼ Aeris answered.

Afterward, she transformed into her Wraith form and began flying above the camp, hiding in shadows to try to catch any creatures sneaking around. The soldiers patrolled the ramparts, keeping watch on the surrounding jungle.

***

(Demetra, Embera, Inara, and Athena)

The four women were sitting in camp as Embera suddenly stood up, announcing. ʼʼIʼm going to collect some plants and monsters for the others. Hemera and Leira asked us before we left.ʼʼ

ʼʼDo it,ʼʼ Demetra answered. ʼʼI can collect some sea creatures. There are strange-looking ones around the island.ʼʼ

ʼʼWhy are we doing such a thing?ʼʼ the green-haired Athena chirped.

ʼʼArcher has a goal to advance Draconia further than any empire has gone before,ʼʼ Mary revealed. ʼʼPlus, he wants the girls to enjoy themselves, and a few of us would like to create a sanctuary on the island and in the Domain for these monsters to thrive.ʼʼ

ʼʼHow will he protect them inside that death pit? He isnʼt there?ʼʼ Inara questioned as she stepped out of her room.

ʼʼThereʼs miles of land put aside for this purpose,ʼʼ Mary revealed. ʼʼI was there when Archer created an island to the far west with a mountain surrounding it to protect it from the weather.ʼʼ

Athena nodded in understanding as Leira, Hemera, and Hecate went to work collecting stuff all around the camp. Oathkeepers trailed behind them, protecting them from the monsters lurking in the darkness. As the days stretched on, hundreds had been killed, but even more were captured.

The older woman approached the warehouse where they were being stored. Afterward, Mary materialized in the warehouse as the Legionnaires swung open the massive metal doors for her after saluting. Inside, she noticed that one entire side of the cavernous space was devoted to housing the bizarre creatures the girls had been gathering.

Drawing closer, she scanned the nearest cage, where a fluffy beast sat placidly, munching on a piece of fruit. Beyond that, the next cage held a serpentine creature with scales that shimmered like oil on water, its multiple eyes blinking asynchronously as it coiled around a glowing orb, perhaps a toy or a lure provided by the girls.

Further along, a hulking brute with fur matted in thorny vines lumbered in circles, its tusks scraping against the reinforced bars. Mary had read tales of forest guardians in ancient lore, but this one defied description, its breath fogging the air with a scent of damp earth and wild berries.

In the opposite pen, a flock of small winged imps darted about, colorful feathers trailing sparks that fizzled against the glass. They chittered while pecking at floating orbs of light that bobbed just out of reach. She paused at a tank filled with dark water, where a jelly-like entity pulsed, extending tendrils that reshaped themselves.

Never in her travels had she encountered such beasts: a spider weaving webs, a shadowy wisp that whispered forgotten secrets, and even a lizard no larger than a cat, exhaling puffs of harmless smoke rings. Mary turned away from the beast, its smoke rings dissipating like fleeting thoughts.

She ventured toward the far end of the warehouse where the cages were bigger and more fortified. The dim overhead lights cast shadows, amplifying the surreal atmosphere, as if the building itself breathed. A low rumble echoed from a massive pen, home to a colossal, boulder-like entity that shifted, its rocky hide cracking with veins of molten lava.

It regarded her as if assessing whether she posed a threat or a snack. Beside it, in a vault, prowled a predator resembling a wolf. Its fur was as dark as night and looked threatening even if it was trapped, it let out a howl. Mary was intrested in all this creatures only for Leira to appear from a back room, looking baffled only to smile when seeing her.

She shook her head and spoke. ʼʼOh hello, Mary. What brings you here?ʼʼ

ʼʼJust wanted to see what youʼve been doing in here,ʼʼ she answered the younger woman. ʼʼI love the look of some of these creatures.ʼʼ

ʼʼYes theyʼre rare and unique,ʼʼ the cat woman answered, her smile growing wide. ʼʼThe others of their kind are being loaded onto the sub. It will be better there until I can take them to the Domain when things calm down.ʼʼ

ʼʼCalm down?ʼʼ Mary questioned, a concerned expression appearing. ʼʼHas something happened?ʼʼ

Leira shook her head. ʼʼNo, just Hemera, Hecate and Aeris have been capturing hundreds of monsters,ʼʼ she explained.