Daneel could only stand there, like a statue, while he tried to comprehend what Drakos had just said.
'The secrets that lie behind the veil which hold the crucial knowledge regarding how one can ascend to become a Hero, and reach the levels beyond'?
Indeed, that veil had always existed between the Champion level and the Hero level, but Daneel could never have expected that he would stumble upon it in this way.
The shock from almost dying to those Heroes had still not faded away, and he had been subjected to another mind-numbing one.
Taking deep breaths, Daneel first tried to calm down and think.
Right. What all did he know about the Hero level?
Not much, actually. Only recently, he had found out from Rayen that no one could become a Hero without the Head's permission, and that, in doing so, one would be bound not to reveal any secrets regarding that realm to anyone.
Also, one would also be bound to Angaria.
That was all he had known, except for the fact that the difference between a Warrior and a Champion couldn't even be compared to that between a Champion and a Hero.
Now, according to what Drakos had said, the Hero level was related to…religion?
In what way could that be possible?
Could Heroes obtain their power if people prayed to them?
If so, the reason behind all the Heroes congregating to attack would be explained: they wouldn't want anyone to steal away prayers and decrease their prayer.
Yet…the problem was that very few people prayed to certain entities. The rest…just prayed arbitrarily, which didn't fit in with this explanation.
Then what else could it be?
As if knowing what Daneel was thinking about, Drakos spoke in a calm voice.
"Young King, I would really advise you not to think on this. Many have dabbled in this realm without the proper knowledge and lost their lives. I guarantee you that if you continue, you will be signing your own death warrant. Instead, I urge you to focus on becoming a Champion, and then a Peak Champion. If you unlock the last seal by that time, all of the information known to the Empire will be known to you. Even if you don't…you will find the answers you are looking for at that stage. Right now, if you keep thinking on it, it would just be a distraction."
Initially, Daneel wanted to disregard the Dragon's words, because secrets were, after all, things that would captivate anyone's mind. Moreover, these secrets were related to the highest power level on this continent, itself.
Yet, on further thought, and on remembering the lesson he had just learned through his repeated failures, Daneel realized that maybe it really would be a distraction.
Heavens knew that he had enough things on his plate. If he added this, too, it would definitely be a bit too much.
Yet, Daneel couldn't help but do one last thing.
"System, using this clue, have you obtained any clues from all the texts you have gathered? Clues regarding the Hero level, and how one gets there."
[Negative. Data insufficient. Although there are a few fragmented clues here and there, the rest of the data seems to have been purged from all sources. If host wishes to use this route, system suggests that host should collect even more data.]
Yeah, right. Where would he do that? In more Sects like the Sect of Hedon?
Wait…couldn't he do that?
There were 3 other organizations on the same level. So, if he managed to read through their texts, too, was there a possibility that the system might be able to figure out something? After all, when he hadn't even been a Warrior, the system had been able to combine clues to obtain the meaning behind the Champion level, giving him the ability to buy Mageroot-less spells.
At the same time as he realized this, he also grew a little dejected, as there were too many things Daneel had to handle in the Central Continent first.
Still, he resolved that if he did get the opportunity, he would definitely make use of it to find more clues.
However, for now, two things were clear:
1) Religion, or anything related to it: Big No-no.
2) The Hero level was somehow related to this
All he could do right now was keep these things in his mind, and move on, while on the lookout for anything to bring more clarity.
At this moment, Daneel did feel a little hopeful. Yes, he had been dumb and foolhardy, but somehow, he could tell that he had obtained something really valuable from it.
Before, everything about the Hero realm had been covered in a thick layer of mist. However, this crucial piece of information was like a beacon deep in that mist, giving him direction and…hope.
Taking another deep breath, Daneel decided to first put the Dragon at ease.
"I agree, Drakos. I'll stop thinking about it, and focus on my Champion path. And, come on. Hehe, maybe if I would have taken you along, you would have stopped me."
"Yes, Young King. It is a miracle that you survived. Didn't the Heroes of Angaria descend as soon as they heard even a little thing about it?"
"They did, but, like I said, I was lucky. Anyway, come on."
Daneel had glossed over a few details, as the Ancient Dragon couldn't know that he had a system that could cast spells at much higher levels even though it didn't understand them. In fact, normal, talented Mages could do this, too, but they wouldn't be as effective as the system, and they would be required to place a lot of attention. Basically, it would be like someone who had flown a simple single-jet airplane flying a commercial airliner by just using a booklet of instruction. They might manage Ok and not crash and die, but they would still be extremely stained and would have to put their full attention on the plane.
The time that had passed since Daneel had made his escape was barely 10 minutes. Yet, before that, he had waited 3 hours for safety, which meant that it was almost noon.
And noon…was the time at which Joselyn would go ahead with the massacre.
Daneel first made a trip back to Eldinor, where he found many staring at the long lists of confessions that were still present.
The army had arrived, and they were handling the tortured humans. Taking their details, they were moving them to camps where they would first be healed of the horrible wounds that had been inflicted to them.
On the lists, the top part about the 'Light' had been burned off by the Head right before he left.
This gesture by the Head could be construed to mean that he cared that the crimes of these elves, but Daneel wasn't prepared to make any judgments regarding this man, yet.
The communication eye was still shooting everything that was going on at the scene. Seeing this, Daneel contacted Eloise.
"Eloise, did you broadcast the happenings in Eldinor? Were there any problems?"
Eloise's voice was heard after a few moments.
"Yes, Daneel. But after a while, some strange men appeared in the air and formed a barrier, I think, which blocked out all vision. After it disappeared, all that was left was ash in the place of those elves. What happened?"
Daneel sighed as he heard this. He had been hoping that the barrier had been transparent, but he realized that that was a long shot. The Heroes probably wouldn't want common folk looking in on them while they went about their work.
"Keep playing it. I'll explain later. In fact, enlist a Mage and form a 'news bulletin' at the bottom of the screen which will constantly repeat the information about everything that happened here. Make sure that the bulletin focuses on the fact that all these elves weirdly marched out to confess. Got it?"
"Yes."
Dependable as always, Eloise could tell that Daneel was in a hurry, which led her to agree and do what he asked.
Daneel then contacted the Queen, and told her not to worry about what had happened. He had already told her about this plan, but he hadn't said how he would make them confess. Hell, he wouldn't breathe a word about that little detail to anyone from now.
After this, Daneel finally touched the trinket which connected the leaders of the Bandit Alliance and sent a message.
"Now do you trust me?"
…
Meanwhile, Joselyn was sitting alone in a small cave that could only fit one person.
Used to loneliness, she always preferred spots like these where she would only have to keep an eye on the entrance to ensure her safety.
In her hands was a Network Trinket, which she had stolen from some random house in Eldinor.
As she viewed the repeated images of hundreds of elves marching to the square with thousands of humans and confessing their crimes in the form of that list, she didn't know what to think.
That morning, itself, she had been pretty surprised when she received the message that she should obtain a Network Trinket and watch.
She had done so, and when she had seen that sight, she hadn't been able to believe her eyes.
These were black-hearted beings that wouldn't hesitate to even sell out their own family if it meant that they could get what they wanted! In that case…why were they blatantly admitting to their crimes?
She knew that the Kingdom would definitely punish them, even if it might mean that turmoil would occur, as if it didn't, it would completely lose the trust of the common people.
What kind of magic had that man worked to make this possible?
At that moment, she remembered the image through the display trinket when she had spoken to the King who had been in the form of Vincent.
His voice and face had been fake, but his tone and confidence couldn't be faked.
A chink had appeared in her own confidence that no salvation was possible and that this was the only way when she had seen that, but she had been unwilling to believe anyone at that point.
When he had made that promise, she had scoffed, sure that he would face failure.
Yet, now…she saw that she was the one who had been wrong.
What should she so? She hadn't promised the man that she would do anything. Yet, it had been implied, and although Joselyn had been broken beyond repair, she still retained a smidgen of human courtesy.
Also, she had always had doubts about this, too, as it would mean that she might be massacring innocent elves. Still, she had been ready to go ahead as there was no way.
But was that true, anymore?
At the same moment, as she was about to make a decision regarding this, she received a message through the trinket.
"Joselyn, I did what I said I would. I sincerely hope that you stop that plan. Something tells me that even you know its wrong. I know that you are doing everything for your family- so that no families would have to suffer their same fate. Accomplish that by joining me. It's not just elves who torture humans. There are many other vile ones in the shadows who revel in such activities, too. Join me, and become my hand in the shadows. I know that you might not be capable of this, yet, but I ask you to trust me. If you do so, I promise that it will never be broken. Joselyn, I hope you choose well."
This statement from the King made Joselyn sink into deep thought, while she realized that this...had begun to change her.
But, after a moment, she made her decision.
There was one other thing she still retained from whom she had been…and that, was that she would never settle for being someone who wasn't valued.
…
As Daneel received the reply, he excitedly listened to it.
"King Daneel. Yes, you have kept your end of the bargain, even though none was made per se. I will keep my end. The massacre will not happen. But as for joining you…I refuse. Instead, you must join me. Don't be puzzled. I meant you, as Vincent. If I join you now, I will be someone who was awed by a single feat by you. Who knows, I might be disregarded later on, as it often happens that anyone always regards those who were with them from the beginning more. As such, if I do join you, I wish to be indispensable. Give me command of the rest of the bandit groups. I will lead them out of this area, and head to the others. I won't make promises, but my goal will be to take command of them, too, just like I have done here. The bandits of Angaria have been without any leadership for too long, and I wouldn't be able to call myself a businesswoman if I didn't notice this 'hole'. When I am satisfied with what I have with me, I will consider this offer of joining you, again. Until then, goodbye."
As Daneel heard this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This woman…was certainly one of a kind.