Death... and me

Roan wasn't that surprised by that. This time, Malaka's breakthrough definitely caused a higher stir that could be felt for at least a few hundreds of meters. It was much further in range than Rean's detection ability could reach. Not to mention that most of the groups that were still alive were also making their way back to the Profound Abyss' entrance. Because of that, their group had already bumped into quite a few groups.

But it was then that they noticed, the ones who appeared just so happened to be Luina and her Protector, Wallad Marc. Still, they weren't the only ones. Their group had joined hands with the Umbral Sect this time around since Luina's side was afraid of letting her go with Wallad's protection alone. That being said, another two members of the Umbral Sect were also with her.

"Hey!"

Luina immediately felt happy to see him. She was just curious to see who would try a breakthrough in this place, not expecting that it was Rean's group.

Roan nodded at her.

"We meet again."

He looked at the side and asked.

"And who are these two?"

The person with the highest cultivation, Late Core Formation Realm, then stepped forward to introduce them.

"I'm Sulion Druma. This one beside me is Val Cronze. We are members of the Umbral Sect."

Roan narrowed his eyes after hearing that. The Umbral Sect was the same one that wanted Rean dead because of his Light Element. It could heal their Umbral Energy, which was terrible for their Umbral Sect.

Calina then got close to Roan before whispering in his ear.

"Is this alright? My appearance has been changed, but she knows my real one. She might notice something."

Roan shook his head.

"That shouldn't happen. Rean's ability is very thorough. Even the aura of your body changed slightly because of his Light Element. I doubt anyone in the Core Formation Realm or below can notice anything."

Calina sighed in relief before nodding.

However, Luina didn't like it when Calina got that close to Roan. She had never seen the girl before, not to mention that she knew Roan's personality. For him to let her get that close meant that she wasn't just anyone.

Luina then got even closer to Roan before asking.

"Roan, who is this person?"

Calina was a little taken aback by that. First, because she didn't understand why Luina seemed to be cold towards her. Second, because for some reason, she didn't like seeing Luina getting that close to Roan either. She then got in between the two before introducing herself with a cold voice.

"I'm 'Freta.' Roan's group helped me back in the Decaying Caves, so we are making our way back to the Profound Abyss entrance together. How about you?"

Of course, Calina knew who she was, but she had to keep her pretense too.

Wallad and the two guys of the Umbral Sect looked at that situation in dismay. What made the two girls look at each other with so much hostility?

As for Rean, he was trying to not laugh. He knew that Roan probably didn't notice anything and only thought that those two girls' behavior was annoying.

Invisible sparks flew in the air as the two girls seemed to be ready to fight at any moment.

Finally, Wallad approached them to say.

"Ahem... Luina, we need to leave the Profound Abyss as well. You should not intervene in Rean and Roan's business."

Only then did the guys from the Umbral Sect notice the problem. Immediately, they exchanged Spiritual Sense messages.

'Sulion, aren't those two the Rean and Roan that Sect Master told us to get rid of if we had a chance?'

Sulion nodded.

'The description matches the names. They are definitely the two. However, they seem to be friends with Luina and Wallad. If we really get in a fight, there is a huge chance that the Lagan Sect will intervene.'

Val shook his head in response.

'Look at Rean. Even after we arrived, he didn't leave that girl's side. From the ripples of Spiritual Energy, she is definitely in the middle of a breakthrough. As you know, Sect Master prioritized Rean's death over Roan. As long as we act fast, we can definitely take his life. If Wallad still intervenes after that, we can simply run away. He isn't strong enough to kill us anyway. Also, look at Roan and the rest; they are all Foundation Establishment kids and a Stage Two Demon Bird. There is nothing to worry about them.'

Sulion had to admit that the idea was good. Even if they fail, the chances of anything terrible happening to them were low anyway. Besides, fights inside the Profound Abyss are regular. They aren't doing anything wrong in here to start with.

'Alright, give me-'

*Swish!*

*Crack!*

Suddenly, a white and black sword slash cleaved the ground in front of Sulion and Val, extending several meters ahead. Sulion and Val noticed the attack, so they immediately jumped back just as it passed in front. Still, they sucked in cold air. That was too fast! If they weren't vigilant, they might have been cleaved in half just now.

When they looked from where the attack came from, they saw Roan with his hair in a mix of white and dark colors. Not only them, but Sulion and Val also noticed Kentucky and Rean looking at them with cold eyes. Sure enough, the moment Sulion and Val decided to attack, their Killing Intent began to come out of their body. How could Rean, Roan, and Kentucky not notice it?

Luina and Calian were surprised by that sudden movement.

"Ro-Roan... what happened?"

Sulion and Val also asked the same thing.

"Why did you do that? Were you trying to kill us?!"

Roan then smiled before saying.

"Oh, sorry, sorry. That was my mistake. I could swear I heard something in that direction. I thought that it could have been a Decaying Demon Beast, so I attacked. Don't worry. If I wanted you two dead, I would have aimed correctly. But I didn't, right? I only aimed that attack in front of you, so there is no need to be so angry."

No way in hell anyone there believed Roan's words. Still, it was confirmed that the attack was not aimed at Sulion and Val but in front of them. Luina, Calina, and Wallad understood. That was a warning, but a warning for what? Sulion and Val didn't move a single muscle until that moment. Still, Calina and Luina, the two girls who knew Roan, knew better to never doubt him.

Seeing how Luina and Wallad also looked at the two of them, Sulion and Val immediately dropped any ideas of trying a sneak attack. They would only be giving excuses to get themselves as targets with little to no chance of success in their killing attempt.

"Hmph! Then make sure to be more careful next time."

In fact, Roan really wanted to attack them. However, with Malaka in the middle of a breakthrough, he didn't want to take unnecessary risks. 

Sulion then looked at Luina and Wallad before asking.

"Anyway, we want to go back. How long do you intend to stay here?"

Luina narrowed her eyes and was just about to refuse. However, Wallad sent her a Spiritual Sense message.

'Young Miss, the elders already agreed with this temporary Profound Abyss alliance. Until we are out, both sects have to work together. If they come out just to tell our elders that we allied with someone else, it will put Elder Erval in a tight spot.'

Luina sighed but nodded. In the end, she was still the Lagan Sect Master's Daughter. There was more attached to her existence than just her own wishes.

"Alright, we are moving back."

Just at this moment, a burst of Spiritual Energy and Water Element came out of Malaka's body. Soon, her cultivation began to rise together with her Spiritual Energy. A few moments later, her cultivation finally stopped at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment.

"Phew... I'm finally done."

Rean then patted her head with a smile, much to her delight.

"Very good. I could feel the Spiritual Energy in your body during the breakthrough. It was very smooth without any bottlenecks, congratulations."

"Hehehe~! Of course, I trained very hard."

Roan snorted in response.

"You mean you were forced to train very hard, no?"

Malaka protested Roan's words by sticking her tongue out.

Only then she looked at Luina and the others.

"Oh! Good to see you again, Senior Luina."

Luina smiled at Malaka.

"Good to see you too."

After that, she looked back at Sulion and Val.

"Alright, let's go."

Wallad, Sulion, and Val had nodded, and they immediately left in the direction of the Profound Abyss entrance. Finally, Calina asked Roan just what happened.

"Well, you will stay with us for some time, after all. Simply put, their Umbral Sect uses a thing called Umbral Energy. It just so happens that Rean's Light Element can heal it. Because of that, they would rather have him dead. That attack was just a warning so that they wouldn't try anything idiotic while Malaka was in the middle of her breakthrough."

Calina then looked at Rean.

"Is there something your Light Element can't do?"

Rean nodded.

"Of course! I can't change the ice block's deadpan face, for example. That's really regrettable."

Roan glared at him.

"You would not live to see it anyway, so why bother?"

Rean then asked something else.

"Between showing a happy expression and the Universe Destruction, which one would you chose?"

Roan snorted in response as he replied.

"The Universe can go boom!"