After the fight had ended, both Noah and Luis went back to the Wrift Caverns through the shadows because of Sera's blessings.
Upon arrival, Luis noticed that everyone looked to be in a hurry, moving supplies and gathering in groups.
"Luis, while you were fighting, I was told that the plans would move a few hours ahead we are gonna be leaving the place in five minutes."
Luis replied in shock, "Five minutes!"
"Yep, we're gonna be teleporting to where the Xoliti Clan headquarters is in five minutes."
"Teleporting?" Luis asked in surprise.
"Yep, we are teleporting there. Follow me; I'll explain while we head to where the others are," Noah said as he started walking toward their family.
"The Xoliti Clan can set up portals between places, and depending on the distance the more aura is required. That's why we have been waiting the past few days here because the Xoliti clan members here had to keep the barrier up and try to establish a connection with the Xoliti clan portal at their headquarters."
"Wait, so how far is the place we are teleporting to?" Luis asked
"We are going to the Savarenrh continent. It's northwest of the Varlud continent."
Luis didn't think there was anything to surprise him anymore, but hearing that, he almost slipped, hitting a rock on the rough terrain of the caverns, and then asked. "What, how, I thought it was only habituated by creatures that were strong mostly high and unclassified tiers and isn't it very, very, very far away?"
Noah nodded with a smile forming on his face, seeing how surprised Luis was. "That's true. There are strong creatures there, and I don't know if you have studied about the Xoliti Clan in school, but they aren't that well known. Everyone only believes that they are a clan blessed by high-tier creatures called Lunacorns. A clan that operates in the Vostram continent as merchants who sell goods and provide some services."
Luis has a dumb founded expression on his face. Luis wasn't told much about the Xoliti clan, but by what he heard, he had assumed they would be powerful but not that no one knew it was a clan blessed by an Unclasssified tier creature and not a high-tier creature.
Bringing Luis out of his thoughts was his mother, who was with his siblings. Luis hadn't noticed how fast they had walked to where their family was.
Luis's mom greeted Luis and Noah with a stern expression. "Where have you two been? How long does it take to practice? You should have gotten here faster." She said with her arms crossed on her chest.
Before Luis could reply, he heard a voice in his head through *flameborn connection* ["Don't tell your mom we went outside of the caverns. Tell her we just practiced in here if she asks."]
Noah brought a smile to his face and replied before Luis could, while placing a hand on Luis's shoulder with a proud dad smile on his face. "Well, we were late because Luis had an epiphany he finally achieved what was needed to reach the next tier."
For a few seconds, Noah's words hung in the air until a bright smile appeared on Luis's mother's face. Her stern expression disappeared as her eyes filled with warmth and pride.
"You did it?" She asked in an excited voice.
Luis's siblings also chimed in, asking, "You reached the advanced stage?"
Luis nodded. "I haven't reached the next tier, but I know I can now."
His mother pulled him into a hug saying, "I'm proud of you Luis". The hug brought warmth to Luis, which helped with the tiredness from the fight.
A brief moment later, she pulled away from Luis. "Okay, listen up, Luis, Kael, Lira. You three are staying with me. We are gonna go through the portal together."
Just as Luis's mom said that a low hum could be heard throughout the cavern. The caverns vibrated beneath Luis's feet, and a bright blue light appeared in the distance.
Near the light, there were three Xoliti clan members standing in a triangle formation with their eyes closed and hands facing straight ahead with their palms open.
Their faces were tensed up until the blue light started to take shape in the middle of their triangle. The light dimmed and started gathering towards the center in a circle. The light started moving like a whirlpool in a circle. Growing in size until it was big enough for three people to enter at the same time.
When this happened, the three Xoliti clan members making the triangle all finally relaxed, not using their aura to make the portal anymore.
With the portal now stabilised in groups of two, four people stepped through the portal.
The first two were an old man and a woman clad in silver armor with glowing markings on it. The woman had no weapon on her.
The old man wore a long robe, and he had grayish skin that showed his age. Behind his robe, a few golden rings floated, pulsing with light.
The third person to come out the portal was a man who looked like he was in his thirties. He was also smaller in size, but he was no less imposing than the previous two. He had a long silver robe with red signals and silver eyes that seemed like they could see through anyone.
The fourth was a man wearing a blue coat adorned with gems. He had the most relaxed posture out of all of them, but he also released the most pressure.
The four of them were legendary-tier aura users sent by the Xoliti clan.
The elderly man spoke first. "The portal is stable, but it won't stay open for long. Move quickly."
With no hesitation, everyone started moving.
Bane also commanded, "Everyone move, now!"
The Clan rushed in organised waves through the portal. Elena held Luis, Kale, and Lira's hand as she moved forward. They stepped through the shimmering gateway.
As Luis got close to the portal, a strong force pulled at him, and a sudden dizziness overtook him, and in an instant, he had disappeared from the cavern.
Back at the villages. Lanterns hanging on the wall cast a dim glow over a large room. There, a man lay on a large bed, his gigantic figure hidden by silk sheets. The room was filled with the smell of incense, and a few women laid beside the man, but he paid them no attention.
He had been fast asleep, but he woke up when he could feel it, a ripple in the air. A huge amount of aura was moving unnaturally, and he could tell when it was happening.
A slow, creepy smile appeared on his face. He had found something to end his boredom.
The man was none other than General Drazan, one of the twelve mystic tier aura users of the allied empires.
He stood up slowly, taking his time putting on his armor.
Activating his blessing, he clutched the air in front of him. His hands are positioned like he was gonna open sliding doors.
He honed in on the aura he sensed from far away. Until he pinpointed the exact location.
Around forty meters away from the portal in the cavern, a small dot appeared jn the air. The dot grew in size until a gigantic man stepped out.
As the second half of the Phoenix clan members were stepping through the portal. Intense pressure started filling in the caverns.
The sound of glass shattering was heard from where the pressure came from. Then a small rift opened, and through the rift stepped through Drazan.
His giant form cast shadows throughout the cavern. His eyes shone, scanning the people in the crowd like a predator.
He took in a deep breath, causing mist to form in the cold air as he breathed out.
A smirk formed on his face as he spoke. "You know," he said as his voice spread throughout the cavern.
"That portal is letting out a lot of aura."