A Sorcerer’s Journey

Under the control of the Bloodlust Puppet, the Starfall Reconnaissance Craft flew towards the direction of the Battle Command.

Grimm had decided not to waste any more time searching for potential entrance burrows on the ground. Instead, he chose to revise his fundamental knowledge about Frost Elemental Sorcery in the cabin of the Reconnaissance Craft.

On this day, the formation of three Voidships, hundreds of Bright Sorcerers and an army of thousands of Soul Slaves astonished Grimm and Myna who cruised by at high speed.

After a moment of contemplation, the Reconnaissance Craft flew closer to the formation.

The distance between Grimm’s current coordinates and the Void Fortress Battle Command was at most another month of traveling only.

‘Could it be possible that a war had broken out on the Surficial Tundra of this world?’

Further away, the squad leader of the group of Bright Sorcerers had naturally noticed the Reconnaissance Craft closing in on them. The moving formation of the three Voidships came to a halt with an issue of a command from him.

The Starfall Reconnaissance Craft, was generally used exclusively by none other than the Reconnaissance Sorcerers as a transport device.

Reconnaissance Sorcerers represented Demon-Hunter Sorcerers with Rank 3, Rank 2 Honor Badges, sometimes even up to Rank 1. Their authority far surpassed squad leaders like the one currently commanding the formation of Voidships and in some instances, could even make direct communication with the Stigmata Sorcerers.

Whoosh!

The black metallic spherical craft flew steadily to the front of the idle formation. In the face of the Bright Sorcerers, the three Voidships and thousands of other Soul Slaves of varying shapes and sizes, the upper-half metallic cover of the Reconnaissance Craft slowly opened up.

“A…a Rank 1 Demon Hunter Sorcerer?!”

Most of the Bright Sorcerers wore a look of disbelief on their faces. There were even some Soul Slaves that widened their eyes at the sight and looked at each other to reassure themselves what they saw was no mistake.

Only a Rank-1 Demon-Hunter Sorcerer that stood at the forefront of the formation was not as taken aback by the situation as the other Bright Sorcerers. After being briefly surprised by the Rank-1 Demon-Hunter Sorcerer that emerged from the craft, another thought popped into his mind.

That gray-white swirling mask, that Sabbatic Goat Staff, the pitch-black sorcerer’s robe and that big, voluptuous bird on his shoulder. Wasn’t this guy the Level-1 Demon Hunter Sorcerer that was called out personally by Black Isotta right before their expedition begun?

Upon deeper thought, this Dark Demon Hunter called out, “Grimm?”

Grimm looked at the only Demon-Hunter Sorcerer in this formation that called out to him. A question flashed in his mind. “A Level-2 Dark Demon Hunter?”

Grimm did not expect such a large formation to grind to a halt all due to his sudden appearance. Back when he was at the Shadow Enigmatic World, something similar had happened before too.

Even during that time, the group of Bright Sorcerers only dispatched a single Demon-Hunter Sorcerer to make contact.

However, Grimm still proceeded with the sorcerers’ formalities before announcing to this Dark Demon-Hunter, “I have already reached the World’s Edge and intend to head back to the Void Fortress to conclude my mission.”

Grimm peered at this massive formation anxiously and asked, “Did a war break out on this Surficial Tundra?”

After a short pause, the Level-2 Dark Demon Hunter replied, “No, it’s just that while on my mission, I discovered a unique area and the Battle Command has issued to me this new mission.”

So this was a Dark Demon Hunter carrying out another special mission?

And he had discovered a unique area?

As for further details about this special mission, Grimm felt it would be inappropriate to enquire further about it. After their short exchange, Grimm excused himself and apologized to the commander of this formation of Bright Sorcerers for his sudden interruption.

The commander of this formation of Bright Sorcerers was, to Grimm’s surprise, much more well-tempered than other commanders he had met.

This Level 2 sorcerer with a flowing, black beard donned a top hat on his head. Both his eyes were a light blue elemental color. The crystal ball he held in his hand had irregularly flowing waves and was unlike others Grimm had seen. He stood on the back of a giant bird that was at least a dozen meters tall while he commanded the formation.

In the skies above, the Voidships that spanned nearly three hundred meters long shaded this commanding Bright Sorcerer from the sun’s rays.

Seeing that the commanding Bright Sorcerer did not burst into a fit of anger for obstructing his formations journey, Grimm nodded apologetically before the metal covering of the Starfall Reconnaissance Craft clamped shut and they flew away into the horizon at high speed.

In the cabin of the Reconnaissance Craft, Grimm said happily, “It seems we aren’t the only ones who have discovered this ‘anomaly’.”

“Caw caw caw! Who cares about him. Our next mission would be to lead an army of these little sorcerers to seek and destroy those damn Ice Bats, caw caw caw…”

Myna announced excitedly, as if he was destined to command this upcoming mission.

Grimm shook his head. This bird still did not realize that at most, he would only be a guide for the rest of the sorcerers.

***

One month later.

Countless small black dots zipped through the skies above the Void Fortress. Grimm too, tucked away the Starfall Reconnaissance Craft before personally flying over to the Void Fortress.

Among these black dots, were teams of Demon-Hunter Sorcerers and Soul Slave soldiers that flowed continuously into The Burrow to carry out their conquest. Apart from them, there were also Mechanical Marionettes that were transporting injured personnel or supplies.

Some of these Mechanical Marionettes carried individual sealed metal cages in their arms. Some worked in teams and hauled larger metal cages. All of them contained Burrow World creatures who shook in fear as they faced the cold, cruel glare of these scary Demon-Hunter Sorcerers.

By now, Grimm had noticed that there were only two basic forms of creatures in this world.

One form was covered entirely in fur for insulation from the cold while the other type was covered in a full suit of ice armor. One peculiar thing was that in the revolving laws of this freezing world, there were no Frost Elemental lifeforms to be seen.

Roar!

Beside Grimm, four Mechanical Marionettes each five meters tall hauled a seven square meter metal cage. Stuffed within it was a six-foot-tall large creature that had its entire body covered in ice armor.

This large creature was struggling out of fear, desperately squirming about, roaring. Perhaps it wanted to get away from the large blood-red metallic object that hung ominously in the sky.

It seemed that this native creature still refused to submit to the sorcerers like the other captured creatures in their cages.

Zap!

Sparks flew out from the four Mechanical Marionettes’ hands as the large creature started convulsing uncontrollably in its cage before collapsing from the electric shock it received.

“Great Sorcerer.”

The Mechanical Marionettes greeted Grimm with their robotic voices. Though, this kind of interaction was just a basic programmed function and was not an act of sentient intelligence.

Grimm nodded his head and replied with a “hmph”.

Without even a strand of emotion, these Mechanical Marionettes raised the cage and continued flying towards the blood-red colored Void Fortress. These robots were just a small, insignificant piece of the entire logistics team of Mechanical Marionettes.

With a thud, Grimm’s feet made contact with the metal floor of the Void Fortress square. Stacks of metal cages, big and small piled high on the fortress square. The unintelligent native creatures stuffed inside these cages howled continuously on after the other.

In the skies high above them, powerful Soul Slaves patrolled on duty.

“Hm? They’re permanently setting the Void Fortress’ coordinates already?”

The coordinate setting of the Void Fortress for the World Transmission Array typically took up to ten years’ time. Generally speaking, they wouldn’t start the process until the Demon-Hunting Expedition had entered into a stable period.”

It seemed that Black Isotta really wasn’t going to follow the standard operating procedures after all.

As he made his way through the fortress square, many other Mechanical Marionettes and Soul Slaves would courteously give way to Grimm. It wasn’t until this great sorcerer had left the place before they continued with their respective tasks.

Into the short sorcerer’s tower located at the heart of the Void Fortress he went.

As compared to the mid-to-late phases of a Demon-Hunting Expedition, the inside of the Void Fortress, after passing through the initial phase of preparations, had now entered into a relatively relaxed state. There was even a sorcerer stationed in the second-level barrier that had started humming tunes while enjoying an aromatic cup of coffee.

“Young Master, Young Master, dear god, look!”

Myna yelled out excitedly as he stood on Grimm’s shoulder, pointing at a sorceress that was in the process of handing over her mission.

Grimm looked over and was surprised that there was another Myna?

However, in comparison with Little Myna, this Myna that stood on the sorceress’ shoulder was slightly smaller in size, a little leaner and more slender. Its feathers were yellow and green, while Little Myna’s was red and green.

“Uhh, no, it’s a parrot,” Grimm said.

“Caw caw! Nice to meet you, I am the Great Steel Emblem…”

Myna was in a pretty good mood when he flew over to greet them by himself.

Just as Myna was halfway through the sentence, the parrot on the sorceress’ shoulder glimpsed at him and said condescendingly, “Lowly Myna, don’t you even dare approach me. A filthy bird like you will never reach my standing as a superior Redbud Parrot no matter how hard you try.”

Grimm’s jaw dropped under the Mask of Truth as the parrot rejected Myna brutally.

“Thi…this?!”

Myna was dumbfounded by the parrot’s reaction to his greeting. A short moment later, he started shrieking hysterically, starting an ear-bursting commotion in the second-level barrier. Some sorcerers who were originally hunched over the barrier, sound asleep had now been woken up by Myna’s outburst. (Lunaelle: Myna could totally replace that inhaling seagull meme)

Grimm quickly grabbed Myna back and nodded apologetically towards the sorceress before leaving the place. They then flew towards the pavilion on the second floor.

If Grimm did not intervene and a fight broke out between the two birds, it would most definitely turn into a comedy show for these bored out sorcerers.

“What the heck is up with that thing, acting all high and mighty in front of Lord Myna. Son of a gun, that really…”

A slew of insults flowed from Myna’s beak. This little guy has always been mooching off other people and so rarely did he get the chance to meet “his-own-kind”. And yet, when he greeted his newly-discovered counterpart in a good mood, he was met with the toxicity far worse than his own.

Myna at this moment, was downright pissed off.

Grimm shook his head and reminded Myna, “That’s enough, you too have said something along the lines of lowly parrot, filthy parrot in the past. Why are you acting so surprised now?” (Lunaelle: That’s right Grimm, tell him -_-)

“I was simply stating the truth back then. But that bastard, he’s insulting me, humiliating me!”

Myna rebutted angrily.

There was nothing else Grimm could say to ease the situation and so, he proceeded to walk over to the young male sorcerer with short, black hair.

This sorcerer very obviously found the squabble between Myna and the parrot to be amusing. He greeted Myna with a smile and yet, Myna angrily waved his wing about as if ignoring the sorcerer.

Grimm nodded towards this sorcerer and handed over his crystal ball as well as the Isotta imprint.

After a short while.

The male sorcerer asked in shock, “You are Grimm? Here’s a short message for you that was personally made by the Black Isotta.”

“Hmm?”

Grimm looked at the crystal ball.

“Ke ke ke ke, my boy, go look for that crab. It will heed every order you make in this world. Take good care of your own life. Before this world mission ends, I will entrust you a special mission. Interesting, too interesting, ke ke ke ke…”

The heavily distorted silhouette of Black Isotta started laughing uncontrollably.

And with a poof, the recording ended.