The Rise of the Black Plain

'Indeed! Look at this barrier that protects this big area! I've never seen something like that in this region before!'

'Hmm, that barrier couldn't have been easy or cheap to build...'

'But what are they hiding on the other side? Or rather, from who do they want to protect themselves?'

'I don't know, but it's normal for someone as talented as young Minos to have many enemies in his path. In this case, it's not so strange that he wanted to protect himself!'

Several of these serpents were talking to each other through their mental connection.

Meanwhile, the four weakest individuals in this group, who were between levels 38 and 39, were also having their own conversation but focused on another part of this place.

'Look at these humans... Some of them are afraid of us!' One of them commented in satisfaction while raising its head even higher and closing its eyes as if it was laughing.

However, one of these more ingenious youths then commented something contrary to the previous statement. 'But some of them don't seem afraid of us...' It remarked as it looked in the direction of some of the stronger soldiers of that group around them.

The determined and calm countenance on the faces of those individuals had not gone unnoticed by this young Feathered Serpent.

'Look at him. He is acting as if we are not pawns for the local forces. Those over there are certainly not afraid of us, even if the elders are with us.'

'Hmm, but the difference between the levels of our two elders and those humans is at least ten levels!'

At the same time, where these serpents were talking about different aspects of this place, each of those soldiers had their own thoughts regarding this situation.

But none of them were talking at the moment, standing there just guarding their surroundings, in silence. At the same time, they waited for the arrival of reinforcements coming from headquarters.

'What are these beasts? Why have they suddenly come to Dry City?' One of them wondered in doubt as sweat dripped down his back.

Gulp!

'What kind of fucking beast is this? Why do these snakes have wings? How could nature create such a terrible creature?'

'These snakes are huge! That one over there is the same size as my old house...' One of them thought as he looked curiously at the level 55 serpent.

'Why are they so quiet? Did they come here for tourism?' One of them wondered as he saw that several of these beasts seemed to have baggage around their upper bodies.

They looked very peaceful while enjoying a sunbath as if so many humans did not surround them...

It was truly unexpected for these ordinary people from this city to understand this peaceful behavior of wild beasts. After all, such beings would usually be quite instinctive and could do anything, at any time, as long as they had the desire to do so.

But some of these soldiers more or less understood the current situation. 'Those snakes above the 5th stage are just as intelligent as we are. So, it shouldn't be hard for them to keep control over the others...'

'But from where do they know the young master?' One of the stronger ones there pondered this as he remembered the moment of the arrival of these beings.

They had received a warning from a group on the area around the local dome at the moment that such beasts had entered the space under local surveillance. So, this group had immediately prepared to surround the Feathered Serpents just as it were about to arrive at the northern entrance gate of the local wall.

However, when such a thing happened, and they received the warnings that they were invading the territory of the Dry City, none of those beings had shown the displeasure that those soldiers expected. Not only that, these beasts had behaved peacefully, and one of them had told the leader of these Sergeants that they were here to visit young Stuart.

Because of this, that man in command of this place was in doubt as from where these beasts knew Minos. He didn't know about the accidental experience that their leader had had during the previous trip to the Kingdom of the Waves.

And this was not strange. After all, Minos wasn't too concerned about what was happening to a tribe in a forest region of that kingdom at the moment. He already had to handle many local problems in the Brown Kingdom!

Hence, he had not thought that the previous encounter could have any influence in the short term.

He knew that those serpents could sense certain things. Still, he didn't expect Virtus to take the previous promise seriously.

On the other hand, that young ruler did not consider that tribe as a variable in his business. That was because unrestricted beasts did not usually get involved in human affairs.

And since that was a tribe led by a powerful beast, this young man did not think he would have opportunities to create more meaningful relationships. At least not in the short term.

For all that, he hadn't bothered to pass on the information that maybe some of those beings would come to Dry City when he reached level 50...

He had even asked one of his soldiers to record the information that a group of Feathered Serpents was living in the Flooded Valley. But that had been all, so these soldiers did not know that they should expect a visit from such beasts!

...

Anyway, after almost 20 minutes of waiting at that spot, when the silence was beginning to get more and more frightening for the more inexperienced soldiers, the gate at that exit of the wall opened.

"Oh? They are members of that Feathered Serpents tribe!" Minos said as he looked in the direction of those large-sized beings.

"Ah, you guys scared me... I almost thought I would have to fight." Minos expressed while he walked in the direction of where his soldiers surrounded those serpents.

Upon hearing those words, all the people and beasts in that area turned to Minos as they let out sighs of relief.

Some of the humans were doing this because the tension was finally gone since they knew that not even those beasts could threaten Minos.

As for the beasts, they couldn't help but feel good about not having to wait any longer.

The strongest of that group then looked at Minos and said. "Young Minos, as promised by the tribe leader, we have come to congratulate you on reaching level 50!" 

"Oh? You guys are sincere, hehe..." Minos commented in satisfaction.

He then looked at those ten serpents. He saw his many soldiers guarding their respective weapons. He then said. "You can go back to your regular duty. The situation is under control. They will enter the dome with me."

"Yes, young master." Several of those soldiers shouted, as some already began to open the large gates of that entrance on the north side of the wall.

"Well, before we talk further, why don't we enter my city? It's not good for us to stay outside here. That might draw unnecessary attention..."

"Oh? Well, we don't like drawing attention either!" The group leader said. It then gave a signal for its fellow travelers to follow behind Minos, heading towards the inside of that sizeable defensive dome.

As they entered that place, Minos talked to the elder Lack. 

"You guys came here after noticing the sprites?" 

"Oh? Does young Minos know about that?" Lack asked incredulously, realizing that this young man was not only talented but also had in-depth knowledge about unusual subjects.

Sprites was the name of the category of light effect generated by significant releases of spiritual energy in the Spiritual World. Such things could usually occur within the range of a single spiritual root and were a form of attracting specific Natural Laws.

And since it was a highly complex effect, only unique or high-level beings could see them. On the other hand, due to these conditions, not many people knew about this kind of light effect, even in the strongest regions of this continent.

That was why Lack had been surprised to hear Minos' question.

"More or less..." He said vaguely while thinking about something else. 'Well, it seems that as I had thought, the Flooded Valley is definitely under the area of influence of the spiritual root of the Black Plain...'

'It seems that I will have to annex a good part of the Kingdom of the Waves into my territory...'

And right after they entered the inner area of the dome, Minos turned to those beasts and said. "Well, elder Lack, and all of you, welcome to Dry City...."