888 Plan B
As the attacks of the hunting team reached Varian and were about to strike him, a barrier of light appeared in front of Varian. The spears capable of leveling cities couldn’t even push the thin white barrier.
“What?!”
The team turned their gazes towards Sarah and were about to attack her when their bodies grew heavy and their knees crashed onto the ground.
The natives struggled violently. Even for Sia’s gravity power, it was a bit too much. Thankfully, her psychic powers were also in use and they decreased the struggle of the natives.
So, even though they hated the ‘invaders’, the hunting team could nothing when they were imprisoned and forced to kneel.
But such a situation didn’t evoke even the slightest bit of their fear. Instead, they glared at Varian and the girls with bloodshot eyes.
“You’ll die!”
“You’re so weak! Not even a Sovereign!”
“We’re just novices who signed up for hunting you scums! The real hunting teams are yet to arrive!”
“And when they do, you’ll die an ugly death!”
Saying so, the hunting team moved their tongues, pressed against a certain metallic item at the top of their mouth, and channeled aura into it.
Varian’s eyebrows jumped and he felt an ominous premonition. Without hesitation, he took Sarah and Sia and teleported away.
A moment later, a huge explosion took place in the location they were previously at. A giant cloud of dust rose in the sky and a vast crater, spanning dozens of miles was formed at the site of the explosion.
If Varian and the girls remained, even though they wouldn’t be fatally injured, several major injuries would’ve been unavoidable.
The trio returned to the location after a blink and with a snap, the dust settled.
Looking at the deep crater at where the hunting group previously knelt, Varian took a deep breath and muttered. “Madness. This is madness.”
The other party was willing to die just to make them suffer. This hatred wasn’t normal.
The only reason natives didn’t attack the previous teams like rabid dogs was that they were afraid of retaliation from the invader Sovereigns. They wanted to avenge their ancestors, but they didn’t want to risk their civilization for it.
Even then, under the slight nudging of the Matriarch, several powerful members formed teams and tried to kill the invaders, only to get counter-killed.
To some extent, those people knew they were likely going to die. But they still went. This hatred was engraved in their bones. They just couldn’t vent it.
Under such circumstances, Varian’s team was the perfect outlet. Even if they killed this invader, they wouldn’t have to fear any Sovereign attacking them.
The deep-seated hatred would find its way toward Varian, one way or another.
Even though Varian didn’t know the situation of the natives, he trusted his observation. The natives wouldn’t compromise. The hatred he saw in their eyes was just too much.
“Talks aren’t possible.” Varian sighed.
“Then what do we do?” Sarah raised her head and squinted her eyes at the distant mountain on the horizon. “We need to keep finding more vitality treasures for you. And we also need to get back. Both of these need assistance from natives.”
Even though they lived outside the ‘forest’, the natives must have excellent knowledge about the forest and its treasures.
If they could help, Varian might find precious life treasures and…perhaps save his life.
If there were no such treasures here, Sarah also had the idea of going to the Ruins. Such a miraculous place should definitely have a solution. What’s more, Varian is the Scion. He might be helped by the Ruins.
But they didn’t know the way back. So, even for that, they needed the help of the natives.
The current situation where they’re unwilling to talk and want to hunt them down at any cost was the worst possible outcome for Varian.
Sarah didn’t know how to solve this issue. But she did know their time would be better spent on trying the next best vitality tree.
So, she said. “Forget about these natives. Let’s check for trees, flowers, and plants with strong vitality. “
“No,” Before Varian could reply, Sia expressed her objection and looked down at the pit where the natives previously knelt. “Our search for treasures is too inefficient. If we can get the info from natives, then it’ll save us so much time and effort. Besides, they could have a solution to Varian’s problem.”
“But they don’t want to talk.” Sarah bit her lip.
Sia shook her head and smiled. “If they don’t talk, let’s not talk. We can try infiltrating into their kingdom and steal the information we want.”
Sarah opened her mouth in surprise. “This…”
It’s something she didn’t really consider. Sarah’s thinking was traditionally militaristic, contrary to Sia’s experience with Shadow Guardians that acted as a shadow force.
Sarah was open-minded and had no problem accepting Sia’s plan. She even praised her best friend for it without holding back.
She then turned to Varian and asked with a nervous expression. “You did disguise as an Abyssal Prince and infiltrated the Abyssals before. Can you do the same now?”
Varian scanned the natives a few times and nodded. “I can.”
Sarah’s eyes lit up. “Then what are you waiting for? Disguise yourself and go—”
“I can’t.” Varian shook his head before she even finished.
“And why is that?” Sia glared at him.
“My mask only works one. And we don’t have Boo now. So, if I go now, I have to leave you two here. I can’t do that while the natives are hunting us. It’s too dangerous.” Varian said.
“Are you crazy?” Sia took a step forward and looked into Varian’s eyes. “You’re dying and there is a good chance you can help yourself by infiltration. You don’t want to go because you’re worried? Then what about us? If you go, we might die. If you don’t go, you’ll definitely die.”
Varian was hit by her words and fell silent.
“Our powers support stealth. We can hide well.” Sarah tried to soothe his worries.
“Your stealth is good, I know. But they have Sovereigns. What will you do if you encounter a Sovereign? You know, we just encountered one and almost died.” Varian said with a heavy expression.
“That…” Sia couldn’t refute Varian’s words.
Enigma’s stealth after using her darkness powers was indeed one of its kind, but even she had no chance of staying undetected under a Sovereign’s radar. If she encountered a Sovereign, no, even a peak level 9, then it’s game over.
Sia realized she had been ignoring that they passed by death during their Sovereign encounter. If Varian was even a second late, they’d have died.
In such a dangerous environment, it’s justified that Varian wouldn’t feel safe leaving them alone.
Still, Sia wanted to persuade Varian. But when she noticed his resolute gaze, she sighed like a deflated balloon. “Forget it. I’m feeling tired anyways.”
A familiar violet light enveloped Sia’s body. Her brown hair turned silvery-white, her golden eyes turned violet and her body grew slightly, becoming more mature.
“Huh?” Enigma blinked at Sarah and Varian in surprise.
She was the most exhausted during the chaotic space saga. After fainting, she was ‘sleeping’ and only woke up a few minutes ago. Then, Sia shared her recent memories and suddenly went dormant.
‘Why am I suddenly in charge?’ Enigma wanted to ask, but she suddenly turned north and her expression changed.
She sucked in a breath of cold air and said to Varian and Sarah with a serious tone.
“Run!”