Child of Destiny

…

While everyone in the Lesser Kingdom of Juron was shaken by the faction war between the members of the Demonic Churches and the united forces headed by the Titan Guild, Diablo and Alucard were currently traversing the forest, which was in the opposite direction from the ongoing war.

“Are you sure they’re doing that strategy? Creating a smoke in the east while attacking the west?” asked Alucard while they were traversing through the forest under their respective stealth techniques.

“There is nothing sure about this, but we still at least try. After all, we both have the feeling that there is something wrong with the ongoing battle over there,” said Diablo while squinting his eyes.

“Those two forces bumping into each other is a bit too suspicious, especially when they were supposed to be moving discreetly, given that they have the so-called information that they have brought somewhere.”

“Given that the midget (Mister Jiang) has also found the channel where that information is being sold, it is safe to say that someone has purposely spread it for everyone to see. This alone is more than enough reason to make that information too suspicious.”

“However, given that the information comes from an extremely reliable information broker, it is also quite hard to ignore the other possibilities as well, especially when the information itself has been sold at such a high price.”

“There is also the system contract, which further increases the value of the information and makes it even more reliable.”

“Given all of these, there is a high chance that there is also a portal in that place. It is just unconfirmed whether it is the one that everyone is looking for.”

“This is why those guys from the Demonic Churches and the Titan Guild have taken the bait,” he added before smirking. “I must say, those two have played everyone quite well. They have thrown everyone in such a good guessing game while also throwing everyone off their tail.”

Alucard was still somewhat unconvinced about something. “But it still does not answer the question. How are you sure that they are heading in this direction?”

Diablo thought for a moment before answering. “The midget is already keeping an eye on the ongoing war on the other side, so there is no need for us to worry about that. We will get the latest update as soon as possible, especially when there is a sudden development that surpasses our imagination.”

“The southern direction of Oath City borders the Wilderness Jungle, which is the direction where the Titan Guild has their absolute control – we can just forget about that one as well, since those guys are more familiar with that region than anyone else.”

“Even if this side is beyond their influence, they should have already stationed quite a few people over there. If they have found Felix and Felicia moving in their direction, there must be sudden changes in the battlefield where their forces were fighting against those Demonic Players, which will give us some idea of what is happening.”

“There is no point in putting too much attention on that direction. Just a few eyes should be enough.”

“The northern side is in a similar chase since there is nothing over there aside from a barren land. It may also be quite hard to monitor due to the multiple monoliths covering the place. However, it is much easier than a giant forest, so putting a few people to watch over that place will not be too hard either.”

“On the other hand, this forest before us is much harder to monitor due to the massive trees and dense vegetation around.”

He then paused for a moment, looking around, before continuing. “It might be hard to monitor the entirety of this place with just the two of us alone, but it should not be that much of a problem if we just follow the flow of mana.”

Taking out a mana compass, he stared at it for quite a while, reading through the mana fluctuations within the air.

“If there is a portal somewhere, then there should be a massive shift in the flow of the mana, which will lead us to our targets,” he added before turning toward another direction, leading Alucard to another direction.

“As expected of the former Head Commander of the Sweepers of the Pandemonium Descendants, you are quite clear about such situations,” commented Alucard after hearing Diablo’s assessment.

He then paused for a moment before continuing. “However, since you can figure it out, don’t you think that the other top forces will be able to as well? After all, they should be quite familiar with such methods as well and even have quite a few skilled strategists in their ranks.”

Diablo nodded his head when he heard this before answering. “That is highly possible as well, but that is something that we can’t stop. All we can do is be faster than anyone else, before they get ahead of us.”

“Moreover, our main objective is just to observe and not to engage against them,” he added before taking another look at the mana compass and changing their direction once again.

“If we can get a chance to deal a blow against those Demonic Players and help the twin, then we will go and grab it. Fortunately, the Pandemonium Descendants are not around this time. They should be too busy transporting most of their assets and forces to the Hell Realm and stabilizing their base there,” he added.

After a few more moments, Diablo suddenly sensed something, which made him immediately stop and enter extreme stealth.

Seeing these actions, Alucard could not help but do the same while also slowly controlling the flow of blood within his body, which in turn made the temperature of his body drop sharply.

It also made him meld with the surroundings much easier through his camouflage techniques.

Following the gaze of his partner, he saw that there was a confrontation between the two parties.

“Oh!? It seems like we have already found our targets,” he mumbled before quickly adding. “With plus two bigshots as well.”

Squinting his eyes a little, he immediately realized that the two standing across Felix and Felicia were figures standing at the top of the Titan Guild. “That’s Poseidon, one of the Vice Faction Masters of the Olympus Faction within the Titan Guild, and Njord, the Marine Admiral of the Asgard Faction. These guys were quite a hotshot within the circle.”

“Given that these two are sent here, then the information about this so-called portal being related to an oceanic world must be high,” he added while pursing his lips.

Diablo, who was standing in stealth not far from him, also added. “It is not only those two. Look at those trees ahead. Someone is stalking them from the dark.”

“Just like us?” said Alucard while squinting his eyes further and activating his Sanguine Eyes.

Not long after, everything seemed to have disappeared from his eye, particularly any kind of obstacles that blocked his sight.

What was left before his eyes was a bunch of humanoid figures with thin crimson lines running throughout their bodies.

“One, two-… four-…” he then counted them down one after another before clicking his tongue. “Tsk! Tsk! There are quite a bunch of them. Three groups, probably.”

“Two from the factions of the Titan Guild, which are brought by those two, while the others were Demonic Players,” he added before casting his gaze toward the lone figure standing on a branch at the far end of this group. “That guy’s blood is quite troubling. That dark purple blood must be a sign that he is a noble demon, right?”

Diablo, who was also quite familiar with this topic, slightly nodded his head. “Purple blood is a sign that they have turned into a True Demon. The deeper the color and the closer it is to becoming black, the more ‘noble’ they are in the Demon Bloodline.”

“Tsk! Does it mean that this guy is one of the higher-ups within the Demonic Churches, then?” asked Alucard, understanding that this Demonic Player must be among the strongest bunch within the Evil Faction.

“He must be the same as Haowin that Vice Commander Sickarius has dealt with previously,” he added after recalling their previous events related to Demonic Players.

That battle was one of the iconic battles between a Demonic Player and a member of the Righteous Churches.

Moreover, it was also among the first few battles between the hidden mechanic, or most commonly known now as combat states, within the game.

“Maybe, or maybe even stronger,” said Diablo while squinting his eyes.

Given his familiarity with these demonic players, he naturally knew more than anyone else within the Empyrean Talons.

After all, he was a higher-up within the Pandemonium Descendants and even one of the Pandemonium Troupe, which was the strongest force within the organization.

Alucard slightly nodded his head before turning his head toward the pair of Felix and Felicia, who could only rely on themselves when facing these guys. “Let’s see if these two are truly worthy of your praise earlier.”

……