Chapter 201 — Not Enough Time

Chapter 201: Chapter 201 — Not Enough Time

Chapter 201 — Not Enough Time

Victor walked toward the apartment with a lot on his mind.

What Elder Benton had said continued to bother him.

Something was happening.

Victor had already suspected it after learning that the Evil God Organization was actively recruiting new worshippers. But now he was even more certain.

Something was building in the background.

Some kind of plan.

And Victor wasn’t ready for it.

He needed power.

The fight with Snake Mask had made that painfully clear.

Without Space Witch appearing when she did, Victor would’ve been forced to activate the Black Phoenix Form. Even then, he wasn’t confident he could’ve beaten Snake Mask.

At best, they probably would’ve fought evenly.

And Snake Mask definitely wasn’t the strongest person in the organization.

There had to be people above him.

Much stronger people.

Victor clenched his fist.

I’m too weak.

Recently, he’d had so many things to deal with that cultivation had stopped being his main priority.

Hiding his real strength.

Alchemy.

Benton.

The disappearances.

The Evil God Organization.

There was always something else demanding his attention.

Victor hadn’t stopped caring about getting stronger, but he hadn’t been pushing himself as hard as before.

That needed to change.

He could already feel that he was close to Rank Two Spirit Gathering.

Tonight, he would attempt the breakthrough.

From now on, he needed to focus on his strength while continuing the investigation at the same time. He couldn’t afford to put one aside for the other.

Because the next time someone like Snake Mask appeared, there might not be anyone there to save him.

Victor eventually reached the apartment and opened the door.

He barely got one step inside.

"Victor!"

Something slammed into him.

His back hit the wall, and before he could even process what was happening, Lyra tackled him to the floor.

Nala flew into him a second later, wings flapping wildly as she chirped.

Victor blinked.

Lyra was on top of him.

And she was crying.

"Victor..."

Her voice shook.

"I was so worried. I didn’t know what was going to happen."

She hit him in the chest.

"Why did you make me leave?"

Victor stared at her for a moment.

He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction.

"Lyra I didn’t have a choice."

She hit his chest again.

"Snake Mask was too strong. If you’d stayed there, he would’ve killed you. Without a doubt."

"I don’t care."

"Well, I do."

Lyra froze.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Victor looked directly at her.

"Just as much as you were worried about me staying in that fight, I was worried about you staying there too."

He pushed himself up slightly.

"At least between the two of us, I could hold my ground for a while. That fight was way above your weight class."

Lyra’s expression tightened.

She clearly didn’t like hearing it.

But she didn’t argue.

Victor had already thought about what would’ve happened if Snake Mask had decided to go after her instead.

He didn’t want to think about it again.

"We’re going to have to change things a little."

Lyra looked at him.

"You can still help me investigate. You can help track people down and look into the disappearances."

Victor paused.

"But I don’t want you involved in the fighting anymore. Nala either."

Nala immediately chirped angrily.

Victor glanced at her.

Then he looked back at Lyra.

"You guys aren’t strong enough yet for the enemies we’re dealing with. And they’re only going to get stronger."

Lyra went quiet.

For several seconds, she didn’t respond.

Then she slowly nodded and climbed off him.

Victor started to get up.

Nala immediately flew in front of his face, chirping over and over.

Victor gently grabbed her and pulled her against his chest.

"I know, Nala."

She chirped again.

"But you too. You’re still young. You need time to get stronger."

Nala clearly didn’t agree.

Victor turned toward Lyra.

"You’re already close to getting rid of the curse. Once it’s gone and you break through into the Beast Soldier Realm, even I might have trouble fighting you."

Lyra’s ears twitched.

"But until then, you can’t get involved in these fights with me."

She hesitated.

"I understand."

Victor studied her for a moment before finally standing.

With Lyra calmer, Victor could finally think about everything he still needed to do.

And there was a lot.

His Elite Alchemy Class was tomorrow.

Victor stopped.

The potion.

He still hadn’t made the Body Armor Potion.

Benton expected him to bring in a high-quality potion, and Victor had spent the last few days doing almost everything except working on it.

So he needed to finish that tonight.

He also needed to cultivate.

If everything went well, he wanted to break through to Rank Two Spirit Gathering before morning.

Victor was mentally trying to figure out how he was going to fit everything in when Lyra spoke.

"The curse is close."

Victor turned toward her.

Lyra was smiling.

It wasn’t one of her usual small smiles either.

She looked genuinely excited.

"Really close," she continued. "I think there’s only about ten percent left."

Victor’s eyebrows rose.

"Ten percent?"

Lyra nodded.

"It’s disappearing faster every day. I thought it would take another month or two, but I don’t know what’s happening."

Her tail swayed excitedly behind her.

"I think it might only take another week and a half. Maybe two weeks."

Victor smiled.

"That’s good, Lyra. I’m happy for you."

After everything she’d gone through because of that curse, she was finally getting close.

For years, it had decided how strong she was allowed to become.

Soon, it wouldn’t decide anything.

Lyra’s smile grew.

Victor let her enjoy it for a moment before adding, "But that still doesn’t change what I said. Until you’re strong enough, you can’t join me in any fights."

Her smile disappeared immediately.

She pouted.

Victor laughed.

"It won’t be long."

And if the curse really disappeared within two weeks, it wouldn’t be.

That reminded Victor of something else he’d been thinking about.

Lyra needed techniques.

Once she broke through, her natural strength would increase tremendously, but Victor could help her become even stronger.

He could teach her Monkey Fist.

And Flash Step.

Both techniques were extremely useful in the Spirit Gathering Realm. If Lyra could learn them before or shortly after her breakthrough, her fighting ability would increase tremendously.

More importantly, she wouldn’t have to remain behind forever.

Victor paused.

Then sighed.

I have way too much to do.

He needed to cultivate.

He needed to make the Body Armor Potion.

He needed to keep investigating the disappearances.

He needed to train Lyra.

Nala needed to get stronger too.

And on top of all that, he had to prepare for whatever the Evil God Organization was planning.

Victor shook his head.

There just wasn’t enough time.

Whatever they were preparing could happen tomorrow.

He had no idea.

Victor looked at Lyra.

Then Nala.

Finally, he looked down at his hands.

He needed to get stronger.

They all did.

Because whatever the Evil God Organization was planning, Victor could feel something coming.

And when it finally arrived, he wanted all three of them to be ready.