Chapter 679: Days Passed

Maethion planned to meet Clyde again at their usual spot beside the lake. The bench stood beneath the shadow of an old tree, overlooking a body of water that reflected the perpetual darkness above. The lake resembled a vast black mirror stretching into the distance.

Maethion sat alone on the bench, his hands resting on his knees as he stared across the water. His expression was more serious than usual.

It had been quite some time since he last met Clyde. There was no reason to arrange a meeting during the period, especially while Clyde remained occupied with the missions assigned by the Council.

However, the recent reports gave Maethion plenty to think about.

Clyde’s strength had grown considerably since his arrival at Sivagadh Fortress. His performance in the Ruins, combined with his contributions to Samuel’s team, suggested that he was far more capable than before.

What interested him more was what Clyde intended to do with that strength now. There was always the impression that he was working toward something. Maethion wanted to know what that something was.

Footsteps approached from behind.

He turned his head just as Clyde walked toward the bench. The young man wore his usual relaxed expression with the other boy’s face he took.

He sat beside Maethion and leaned back, gazing at the dark lake as though he had come here simply to enjoy the scenery.

"How have you been?" Maethion asked.

"Fine." Clyde glanced at him. "And thanks for continuing to give me those missions. They’ve been useful."

"I’m glad to hear that." Maethion nodded. "The Council has been quite satisfied with your recent performance. Samuel and his team have done excellent work, and your contribution hasn’t gone unnoticed."

"That’s good." Clyde’s response was casual, almost indifferent.

Maethion studied him briefly before deciding to move on to the question that had occupied his thoughts. "So, what are your plans now?"

"For now? I’ll continue taking missions and training." Clyde shrugged.

It was a reasonable answer, but Maethion suspected it wasn’t the whole truth.

Clyde had no intention of revealing his actual plans. He still needed to find a way to contact Asmodeus and learn more about the situation in the Higher Realm. Clyde wasn’t ready to discuss that with Maethion.

He didn’t know how much he could trust the man, nor did he know whether Maethion’s position within the Council would complicate matters.

If the other Council members learned that Clyde was attempting to contact a Demon King, they might be giving him trouble. For now keeping his intentions to himself was the safest choice.

Maethion didn’t press him. Instead, he turned his attention toward the lake.

"The Council is quite pleased with what you and Samuel’s team accomplished over the last few missions. Collecting all those artifacts was no easy task, and their recovery has allowed us to move forward with several long-standing plans."

Clyde glanced at him. "What are you going to do with all those Demon artifacts actually?"

"We intend to use them to create a weapon capable of killing a Demon King."

Clyde’s expression changed slightly. A faint frown forming between his brows. "A weapon that can kill a Demon King? Are you planning to attack the Hell Realm?"

"Nothing has been decided yet," Maethion replied. "The Council still needs to determine how best to use them. But it’s certainly one of the possibilities."

Clyde remained silent for a moment. A weapon capable of killing a Demon King was undoubtedly valuable. If the Council succeeded, it could change the balance of power.

But he had his own plans for Asmodeus. But if the Council decided to launch an attack on the Hell Realm, their plans could interfere with his own.

Would it be better to inform Asmodeus about the Council’s intentions when they finally met?

The information might give the Demon King a reason to cooperate with him, especially if Asmodeus saw an opportunity to turn the situation to his advantage.

"Well, I hope your research goes smoothly," Clyde said at last.

"So do I. We’ve spent a considerable amount of time gathering those artifacts. It would be unfortunate if all that effort came to nothing. In any case, there probably won’t be any particularly important missions for a while. The Council can finally focus on its research, so you and Samuel’s team should have some time to rest," Maethion said, and stood up.

"I don’t think I have time to rest."

Maethion nodded. "I’ll let you know if anything important comes up. Until then, do whatever you need to do."

"All right."

Maethion turning away from the lake.

Clyde remained seated for a little longer, watching the ripples spread across the dark water.

—

The following days passed quietly. Clyde continued training with Mina, helping her refine her movements and improve her combat instincts. Their practice sessions became more intense as Mina grew accustomed to the pace he demanded from her.

Her improvement was noticeable. Mina had started out as a relatively inexperienced fighter, but repeated training and real combat had gradually strengthened her confidence.

She still couldn’t match Clyde’s strength, but she was no longer the same person.

Occasionally, they joined Samuel and the others for group training. Those sessions gave Mina the opportunity to practice against different fighting styles while allowing Clyde to sharpen his coordination with the team as well.

After training, they often stayed together to rest and talk.

Their conversations didn’t involve anything particularly important.

For Mina, those moments gradually became something she looked forward to. She began to feel more comfortable around them. She was happy with how things were progressing.

But Clyde continued to keep one part of himself hidden. He never revealed the abilities he had received from Seff.

—

Several more days passed. During that time, beside training, Clyde devoted himself to meditation. He focused on circulating the energy within his soul, gradually familiarizing himself with the different powers he possessed. He also continued practicing Seff’s power, refining his control while allowing the goddess time to recover.

Seff’s progress was still slow. Her existence was still fragile. Although she could communicate with him and guide his training, she couldn’t yet provide the full extent of her former power or memories.

Then, one day, something changed.

While Clyde sat cross-legged in his quarters, circulating his energy through his soul, Seff suddenly spoke inside his mind.

"Clyde, I think I’ve remembered something."

His eyes opened immediately. "What is it?"

"I remember a place. Or perhaps a world. It’s difficult to tell."

Clyde straightened his back and focused. "What kind of place?"

"A dark world filled with strange magical energy. I remember its atmosphere, but the energy there was unlike anything I had encountered before."

"Unlike anything? What do you mean?"

"It didn’t belong to any of the Higher Beings I knew. It wasn’t the power of a God, an Angel, or a Demon. It was something different."

Clyde considered her words. "Can you tell me where this world is?"

"No. I don’t remember its location clearly." Seff paused, seemingly searching through the fragments of her memories. "But I remember that it was hidden within a separate dimension. It wasn’t a place you could discover through ordinary means."

"How do you enter it, then?"

"I don’t know yet. My memories are still incomplete. I can only recall fragments of the place and the strange energy that surrounded it." Her voice carried a hint of frustration. "I’ll tell you more if I manage to remember anything else. For this, I will be focusing all my existence on it."

Clyde leaned back slightly, his thoughts already racing ahead. A dark world hidden within a separate dimension. A form of magical energy that didn’t belong to any known Higher Being.

The description immediately brought The Ancient One to his mind.

"Try to remember as much as you can," Clyde said. "Anything about that place could be important."

"I’ll do my best."

Clyde closed his eyes again, though his thoughts no longer rested entirely on meditation.

—