System's POV

Chapter 1377: Dead Man’s Isle

"Let me give you a little advice, okay?" Eros said in a serious tone. "Both love and lust are part of human nature. The moment you use that key to unlock his heart, you must be ready to be eaten like an oyster.

"Guys who don’t know what lust is can be very dangerous once they awaken that feeling."

The Goddess of Lust might like teasing other people, but since she was considered Stella’s Aunt, she decided to give her niece some real advice about the things that could happen between men and women.

"Understood, Aunt," Stella replied. "I’ll be careful. But I don’t think there will come a time when I need to use this key on Zion."

"Never say never, My Dear," Eros lightly patted the young lady’s shoulder. "Impossibles have been proven possible many times before. Do not underestimate a man’s libido or a woman’s intuition. Sometimes, they are truer than most prophecies in the world."

The Goddess then kissed Stella’s cheek and bid her goodbye.

A few moments later, Stella opened her eyes and found herself back inside the bedroom where she was staying.

She felt well-rested and filled with strength.

Clearly, her trip to the Celestial Realm had allowed her body and soul to soak some of its celestial energy, which brought her to this peak state.

She then sat up from the bed and tried to re-evaluate the words of her Aunt.

Although she still believed that there would be no instance that would leave her no choice but to unlock the lust sleeping on Zion’s body with the key in her hands, she had to admit that she was now a little curious on what it would do to the always-composed Zion, who seemed to have everything under his control.

Stella then looked at the key in her hand before heaving a sigh.

She had momentarily set aside her talk with her Aunt from the Celestial Realm and focused on her current situation.

Zion had already told her about his general plan—stop the Celestial Army from completing all the seven Divine Keys that opened Pandora’s Treasury by keeping one.

The Key of Lust was an insurance they couldn’t afford to lose. As long as the key was in their hands, it wouldn’t matter what their enemy did. They would still fail to open the treasury even if they cried.

Of course, Thirteen had no plans to stop with one key.

One would’ve been enough, but he’d been planning to take up to two if it was possible. For now, he’d monitor the Beastkins, who were in the process of building their city in the Valbarra Archipelago.

Once he was certain that the local leaders of each race would cooperate with them to the fullest, he would leave the Valbarra Archipelago and go to his next destination.

And where was that destination?

A place called Dead Man’s Isle.

"But he also said there are no keys located in that place," Stella muttered. "He simply plans to go there to meet someone."

While the teenage boy didn’t mention whom he planned to meet, she believed he always had a reason behind whatever he did.

It could be inferred that whoever he would meet would help them in their cause against the Celestial Army.

Two days later...

"Cranky, look after them for me," Thirteen said as he patted the Honey Badger’s paw. "Also, do your best to recover. I will need your help in the final battle."

Cranky nodded in understanding, his gaze sharpening a bit as he regretted his inability to help Zion back in the great battle in Artem against the Infernals.

He had been seriously injured, so he couldn’t unleash his full powers during that war.

The Honey Badger also learned that he still needed to better understand his strength and that he must never underestimate his enemies.

"Thank you for your help, Zion," Euphemia said. "We will never forget your help."

"Be safe, Zion," Yogi stated.

"May the road rise up to meet you," Poh patted the teenage boy’s shoulder. "And may the wind be always at your back. Till we meet again."

Thirteen nodded. "All of you be safe."

Camazotz also bid his goodbye to his new friends, whom he had bonded with during the past two days.

After learning that he was Cranky’s "sworn brother," the denizens of the Valbarra Archipelago became very friendly with the Death Bat, raising his ego.

Of course, he was only Cranky’s self-proclaimed sworn brother. However, the Honey Badger didn’t refute or affirm anything, granting him the benefit of the doubt.

Everyone took the Honey Badger’s silence as a yes. After all, if Cranky didn’t really like Camazotz, he would have already smacked him to oblivion.

Just like always, the Death Bat carried Thirteen and flew toward their destination.

Their journey wouldn’t be as long as their travel time to the Fortunate Isles.

Even with six to eight hour breaks during flight, they would still reach their destination within three days.

Camazotz had tried to pry some information out of Zion, curious about what they were going to the Dead Man’s Isles for. However, the teenage boy deflected every time, only saying that it would be a surprise.

The Death Bat knew that if Thirteen wanted him to know something, he would tell him without batting an eye.

Since the young man was insistent on keeping it a secret, Camazotz decided to just see what waited for them at their destination.

Thirteen knew that if Camazotz were to hear about what he planned to do, there was a chance that the Majin Prince would turn around, fly them both back, and refuse to accompany him.

This was why secrecy was of the utmost importance. Losing his "free ride" would make things difficult for him.

Three days later, they finally arrived at their destination.

"Are you sure we got the right place?" Camazotz asked as he hovered above an island that seemed to only be a few hundred square meters in size. "There’s... nothing here."

It was a rocky island with a few patches of grass but not a single tree in sight.

"Yep, this is the place," Thirteen said. "Let’s go down."

Camazotz was still in doubt, but since Thirteen said they had really arrived at their destination, he just decided to wait and see what would happen next.