Chapter 854 - Danger In The Abyss
"This… is it true? What if it's the demon's ploy to lure us in?" another tribal chief doubted, but it was clear that he was having second thoughts after listening.
"Can anyone sense the demons' strength?" a Peak-rank Battle Master sought the others for answers, "What's the strongest demon among them? If they don't have any Arch Demons, we might stand a chance."
"Idiot. It's completely dark down there. What makes you think we can gauge the demons' strength if we can't even see them?" a Half-step Battle King ridiculed the Peak-rank Battle Master.
However, it was true that the main force of the demon's territory, the Nine Great Clans, had been severely weakened on their trip to the secret realm.
At that moment, they did not have a single Arch Demon or Half-step Arch Demon among them; only a few Peak-rank Greater Demons survived the Dark Wyrm Clan's onslaught.
…
"Young Master, what should we do?" a Half-step Battle King from the Battle God Palace awaited his young lord's decision.
Zion furrowed his brows and pondered.
"The demon's territory is a place we know little to nothing about; the same goes for its inhabitants' strengths," Zion slowly mentioned.
"If we want to conquer the demon's territory, it won't be easy as others assume."
"Even if it is true that the demons suffered disastrous losses in the secret realm, Young Master?" an Extremity-rank Battle Master servant asked.
However, Zion replied to his servant with another question, "If we got wiped out in the secret realm, do you think it would affect the Battle God Palace's strength much?"
"Erm… No, Young Master," the servant answered.
The Battle God Palace has many active Battle Kings within their ranks.
Whether they lose a small group of Battle Masters or not would not even diminish their overall power.
"Nevertheless, our human side has also suffered significant losses in the secret realm," Zion mentioned while glancing at the remaining warriors on their side.
They entered the secret realm with roughly 2000 warriors, yet barely two-thirds of them have returned.
When Zion failed to locate some people among the various tribes, he knitted brows but did not dwell on it for the time being.
"We'll see what the other tribes say and make our decision accordingly," Zion stated.
"Yes, Young Master!" the Battle God Palace servants answered.
…
"Has anyone seen Young Master Leonhardt?" the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman inquired through the crowd with Chief Baskara and the Crimsonfog Tribesmen.
However, they receive negative responses.
While searching through the crowd, they eventually bumped into the Darkmoon Tribe's people.
"Ah, Chief Valencia! I haven't seen you and your tribe members throughout the trip in the secret realm. Glad to see you are doing," the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman greeted before asking, "Have you seen Young Master Leonhardt?"
"I haven't; neither inside the secret realm nor outside it seems," Chief Valencia shook her before she had a sudden thought, "Perhaps, Young Master Leonhardt has…"
"That's not possible!" the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman was quick to reject the idea that Young Master Leonhardt died in the secret realm.
"There's no way someone like Young Master Leonhardt could have fallen inside the secret realm. This Old Man had been with him and seen what he could do; trust me when I say that it did not seem like there was nothing he could not accomplish."
"But it remains true that Young Master Leonhardt is absent…" Chief Valencia mentioned with a worried frown.
Young Master Leonhardt's very existence carried too much importance for the Seven Tribes Alliance's future.
She couldn't imagine how they could compete with the other tribes without Young Master Leonhardt's means, especially since her Darkmoon Tribe barely made any fruitful gains in the secret realm.
"We'll have to start making plans without Young Master Leonhardt," Chief Valencia stated while rubbing her forehead with distress. "I believe we should head back to our tribes right away."
"Although I believe Young Master Leonhardt is alive, I'll have to agree with you, Chief Valencia," the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman nodded in agreement.
Given Young Master Leonhardt's capability, the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman trusted Young Master Leonhardt would have no problem leaving the demon's territory on his own later.
Young Master Leonhardt must have found a secret method to prolong his stay inside the secret realm—that was what the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman believed.
"We've been away from our tribes for many days," the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman shortly said.
"There's no telling how far the four King-rank tribes have escalated the situation during our absence. Perhaps, they have already started the battle for hegemony."
"We'll gather our people and leave right away, Senior One-Eye," Chief Valencia stated.
There is no point joining the other tribes in conquering the demon's territory when there's a chance that their tribes are getting caught in the Infertile Plains' battle for hegemony.
As several tribes decided to leave the demon's territory, those who wanted to conquer the land clicked their tongues with disappointment.
"Tch, what a waste of an opportunity," a tribal chief from the western region uttered.
"Looks like we'll be leaving as well," Zion said to his servants.
"So it seems, Young Master," Uncle Jizo replied to his young lord before adding, "Not a bad choice in this humble servant's opinion."
"The demon's territory extends far beyond our reach. It's best not to stir the hornet's nest when the Infertile Plains still has its problems to sort out."
"Right," Zion nodded.
…
…
…
After the humans departed from the edge of the abyss, demon cries rang from within the depths of the abyss.
"O-oh, no! W-we've fallen into the abyss…!" the demons exclaimed with horrified expressions.
"W-we've trespassed on sacred grounds…! Please spare us, my Lord! This was an accident! We did not bring any offerings this time!"
"You know my rule…! Since you didn't bring any offerings on your visit, you shall become the offerings instead…!"
A deep and powerful voice resounded from underneath the land.
Shortly after, numerous fleshly tentacles quickly shot out from the rubbles and grabbed hold of the demons before dragging them into the depth of the abyss.
"Nooo—! I don't want to die!"