Truth be told, it wasn't just the Snowbear Beast—Kael and his companions were equally shaken. The Sphinxes, those lion-bodied, human-faced monstrosities, had left them deeply unnerved. Despite their combined strength, none of their attacks had posed even the slightest threat to the legendary beasts.
"We nearly lost our lives for these treasures!" Kael chuckled wryly, though he felt no regret. The value of their haul was immeasurable—worth every bit of the risk.
Truly, danger and opportunity walked hand in hand.
Despite their conversation, the trio didn't dare linger. Sprinting shoulder-to-shoulder, they moved with astonishing speed, soon emerging from the underground palace into the open air.
"Those Sphinxes don't seem to be chasing us!" Ethan remarked, scanning the cavern entrance behind them as they finally caught their breath beneath the clear sky.
"Since they're treasure guardians, their original master likely placed magical restrictions on them—they probably can't leave the underground palace. We're safe for now." Kael panted heavily, his stamina the weakest of the three after their frantic escape.
Though the Millennium Ice Essence had enhanced his physique, he was still no match for pure warriors like Ethan and Amelia.
Still, Kael was fairly certain the Sphinxes wouldn't—or couldn't—pursue them further.
"Either way, let's put more distance between us and this place!" Ethan coughed, his suggestion earning vehement agreement from the Snowbear Beast:
"Yes! Yes! Run, mighty lords! If those Sphinxes break free, we'll be torn to shreds! Do you know how hard my life is already?!"
"Agreed. We should leave immediately," Kael nodded. "That earthquake earlier must have drawn attention. Anyone with half a brain is probably heading this way right now."
Thanks to the Snowbear's guidance, they'd seized the treasure first. But others weren't fools—the tremors had been too conspicuous to ignore. Whoever showed up next, encountering them now would only spell trouble.
"The wise man strikes his fortune in silence."
"Those Sphinxes were said to be allies of the elves. And those 'Sinbloom' seeds cultivated by the High Elves... This place is almost certainly an elven ruin," Kael analyzed silently.
If this truly was an elven ruin, then he'd struck gold. After all, the elves were legendary for their unparalleled mastery of magic—their innate talent, formidable spells, and mysterious language had been celebrated in bardic tales across the continent.
An elven ruin would undoubtedly hold countless treasures invaluable to Kael!
The current situation still favored him. A faint smile touched Kael's lips as he glanced at Amelia. The shared brush with death had left them both quietly relieved, and their exchanged gaze softened with unspoken understanding.
"Ethan, among the Sacred Order and the Holy Parliament's group, who should we consider the biggest threats?" Kael asked directly. While he'd obtained some intelligence from Tulip, most of it focused on the ancient ruins themselves—not the competitors. Ethan, having trained within the system, would know better.
Over time, Kael had come to see Ethan as a trustworthy ally. The rivalry from the finals had faded, replaced by mutual respect.
"The three of us are likely the strongest in the Holy Parliament's delegation. That said, the others aren't weak—each of the other three academies sent at least one seventh-tier expert,"Ethan replied thoughtfully.
Kael nodded. The Southern Oak Academy had fielded Soren, a seventh-tier mage—now permanently retired, thanks to Kael.
"We've already dealt with Southern Oak's trio. The remaining two academies shouldn't pose much threat; the three of us can handle them. My concern is… the Sanctuary," Ethan frowned, sighing heavily.
"The Sanctuary?"
Both Kael and Amelia looked puzzled. They were unfamiliar with the deeper dynamics at play.
"Exactly. The Sanctuary is what worries me," Ethan confirmed.
"Are their members more talented or powerful than the four academies' elites?" Kael asked, skeptical.
"Not exactly." Ethan shook his head. "The top talents from our academies are among the continent's finest. It's just that the Sanctuary's methods are… different."
Ethan sighed and said, "Just look at the Holy Parliament. Over the years, they've been aggressively recruiting talent. But have you ever seen the Sanctuary do the same?"
"Not really," Kael replied, beginning to grasp the implication.
"Exactly." Ethan nodded. "In that regard, the Sanctuary's people are far more foresighted. They scour the entire continent for talent, taking in infants and raising them within the Sanctuary, indoctrinating them from birth with their so-called 'divine will.' They mold them from childhood!"
"So that's how it is." Kael couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for the Sanctuary's leadership—specifically, the Sanctuary Pope. To invest decades in nurturing talent required tremendous vision. No wonder the Sanctuary's influence had surged in recent years, rivaling even the Holy Parliament's growth. They'd put in the work.
"In that case, the Sanctuary's people must be quite troublesome," Kael agreed.
"The group they sent this time is older than us, with most at least seventh-tier—and a few particularly troublesome individuals. I've dealt with them before; they're not easy to handle."Ethan's expression darkened. "What worries me more is that the Sanctuary has likely equipped them with hidden trump cards. That puts us at a disadvantage."
Kael's brow furrowed briefly before smoothing out. "Hearing you say that only makes me more interested in them." Though their primary mission was to deal with the Darkwing Mage Leif, in this treasure-laden ancient ruin, every other faction was a potential rival.
Better safe than sorry.
"You're right, Kael. The stronger the opponent, the more exciting it gets!" Ethan was momentarily taken aback by Kael's response, then broke into a grin, his eyes reflecting mutual respect.
Amelia smiled faintly beside them. When had she ever feared a challenge? She was a prodigy no less exceptional than Ethan. Though she'd narrowly lost to him, one mustn't forget—she was younger. At her age, Ethan hadn't been nearly as formidable.
"Among the Sanctuary's delegation, two stand out. The first is a man named Magnus. I've never fought him, but his reputation in the Sanctuary is formidable. He's the right hand of their Holy Son, Einar, and likely the strongest in their group this time." Ethan spoke gravely.
Kael listened intently. Confidence was one thing, but understanding the enemy was another. Underestimating foes led to disaster—and the Sanctuary was no minor threat.
"The other is named Stellan. His strength is at least seventh-tier. I once sparred with him and barely managed a draw—though neither of us went all out, so the outcome is debatable. Still, he's a formidable opponent within the Sanctuary, ranking among the top five of their younger generation. Both of them are mages," Ethan explained in detail.
"Magnus and Stellan..." Kael committed the names to memory and gave a firm nod.
"These humans are at it again—plotting to kill each other! How terrifying! How brutal! Surviving among these monsters is so hard! The human world is horrifying!" The Snowbear Beast shrank back, its large, watery eyes darting nervously. Still bound by Kael's restraints, it regarded the trio with undisguised fear.
"We should be completely safe now," Kael observed, scanning their surroundings. They had moved well beyond the underground palace's territory.
"There's still daylight left. We should seize this chance to cultivate using the gemstones and boost our strength!" Kael declared.
In this ancient ruin, danger lurked at every turn—power was paramount. And right now, Kael's strength was still insufficient. They had to grow stronger, fast.