System's POV

Chapter 1422: The City of Aurumvale

With Thirteen leading the expedition, the journey was smooth and less dangerous than before.

Sahard’s presence repelled all the monsters. Even the Rank 8 and Rank 9 Sovereigns in the mountain range hid from fear of being spotted.

The last thing they wished was to become lunch for the Majin Prince passing through their territory.

Remi leaned closer to her brother, her arms wrapped around him as they rode Sahard’s back.

She had never felt much safer in Solterra than now. Although she did feel safe with Mikhail and Shasha accompanying her on her journey, being with Zion gave her a sense of security that was hard to describe.

In fact, she wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Mikhail and Shasha thought so too. They had grown up training under Zion, so despite their ranks surpassing him in the past, in their eyes, their younger brother was still the strongest among them.

The current Zion might still be a Rookie rank-wise, but everyone his strength was far beyond that.

In reality, he wouldn’t lose out to a Throne, which put him in the top 0.01% of Pangea’s powerhouses.

"I’m really glad you’re here with us, Brother," Remi said happily.

"I’m also glad you’re growing stronger by the day, Remi," Thirteen replied. "Do you want me to help you kill that Rank 7 Golem over there? It might turn into an Avatar if you get the last hit."

Thirteen pointed at the Golem that seemed to be taking a nap on top of the mountain without a care in the world.

The other Wanderers couldn’t help but feel jealous after hearing Zion’s words. Getting a Rank 7 Avatar was pure luck. And even if Remi didn’t get an Avatar, she was bound to get a good item given the big gap of rank between her and the monster.

"Um, let’s leave the poor golem alone," Remi replied. "It’s just trying to live its life, brother."

The Rank 7 Golem resting on top of the mountain had no idea that it had almost been killed on a whim by a doting brother who wished to give his sister a gift.

Thirteen chuckled softly, ruffling Remi’s hair. "You’ve grown wise, little sister. But don’t worry. Plenty of opportunities like this will come your way."

The group continued flying. Sahard’s massive wings sliced through the crisp mountain air with ease.

Below them, the mountains gradually gave way to rolling plains dotted with forests and winding rivers.

Signs of civilization began to appear. Small villages, farmland, and eventually, the glimmering spires of Aurumvale in the distance.

They could also see the sea from their vantage point, which made Thirteen smirk. He was certain that Forneus was somewhere out there, waiting for him to arrive like they agreed upon.

Mikhail squinted, scanning the horizon. "It looks peaceful from here... almost too peaceful."

Shasha nodded, a hand resting on her weapon. "Cities like this always have hidden dangers. Just because monsters stay away doesn’t mean trouble won’t find us."

Remi pressed closer to Thirteen, her small hands gripping his arm. "Do you think we’ll be safe there?"

"Safe doesn’t really exist," Thirteen replied, his eyes scanning the approaching city. "But as long as we stick together, we’ll be fine. And besides... I’m here, aren’t I?"

Remi smiled and nodded her head like a hen pecking rice.

Even Mikhail and Shasha exchanged glances, silently acknowledging that no matter what threats awaited them, having Zion at the forefront made the impossible seem manageable.

"Let’s land two miles away from the city," Thirteen ordered. "The guards might attack us if we fly above their airspace."

With him taking the lead, Sahard slowly descended toward the ground.

Truth be told, Sahard felt anxious about meeting another Fiend on their home turf.

He even asked his Master if he could return to the Domain of the Apocalypse until he called for him once more.

Thirteen accepted his request. Sahard had already done and must have suffered a lot for him. He was also satisfied with his new subordinate, who didn’t even complain about the hardships of coming along with him.

When everyone had safely landed, Thirteen told them that they would walk all the way to the city.

Although they could ride their land Avatars to speed up their travel time, the teenage boy didn’t want to cause any commotion with their arrival.

Going on foot might take them longer, but it would also prevent them from getting unwanted attention.

The group of Wanderers only numbered around fifty.

It might not be a small group, but it wasn’t big enough to warrant unwanted attention.

Besides, Aurumvale had very strict laws, and no one dared to commit crimes in the city ruled by the Fiend of Greed.

Those who did had already been turned into golden statues, displayed in the streets. This was a reminder to the other criminals that Aurumvale was not a place where they could act with impunity.

"Remember this, once we enter the city, do not cause trouble for anyone," Thirteen stated. "I will give you all enough money to stay in Aurumvale for four months. As long as you don’t do anything out of place, it will be the safest city you can inhabit in Solterra."

The Wanderers nodded, their faces a mix of anticipation and caution.

Even seasoned fighters like Mikhail and Shasha knew that Aurumvale was no ordinary city. Its reputation for wealth and power was matched only by the ruthlessness of its ruler.

Thirteen still need to meet with Forneus to execute their plan. But before starting the chaos, he planned to make sure that the Wanderers would have safe lodging in the city.

The trek to their destination took less than an hour. Walking two miles was nothing to Wanderers, but they still took their time as Thirteen instructed them to.

When they arrived, the Guards only gave them a brief glance before gesturing for them to enter.

A bunch of teenagers traveling together was a very common sight in Solterra.

An hour later, all the Wanderers had managed to book their accommodations and could finally rest after a long journey.

Thirteen gathered his family members inside the room he had rented and told them everything about his plan.

When they heard what their brother was planning to do, Shasha’s and Remi’s faces turned pale.

Mikhail grimaced, but since his brother looked confident, he didn’t say anything to dissuade him.

"Remember, do not leave this place," Thirteen said in a serious tone. "Stella, stay with them for a bit. I don’t want you catching unwanted attention for now."

Stella nodded. "Understood."

After bidding his family goodbye, Thirteen walked the streets of the city and headed to its port.

All he needed to do was blow his sea conch, and the Immortal Fiend would execute their plan.

This unexpected guest would soon spread terror throughout the city, as well as give Mammon a headache. After all, the Fiend was the only one who could deal with this uninvited guest.

Both Thirteen and Forneus didn’t care about Mammon’s worries. They were more worried that their appearance wouldn’t spread far and wide to the other cities, which would help Dantanian in finding them sooner.