Chapter 139: The Protector

All the lords were brought back into settlement number 69, as several flying ships landed simultaneously.

The domains had already arrived. Neil’s domain was away from all the others, outside the makeshift settlement.

All the lords walked out of the ships which had landed outside the settlement and looked at the tall walls.

The settlement was like a city, safe and well developed.

The surrounding area was like a big field which might be used for training and more.

Neil climbed down the stairs and sighed upon seeing the settlement.

So much had happened after leaving the Earth.

The simple journey was anything but simple.

’The sky looks nice…’ he thought, looking up and finally seeing the sun after so long.

The surroundings were warm and nice, it felt good.

“Your domains could be moved to your place of choice later, first head inside for some basic questioning.” One of the officers spoke.

Even if it was proved that they were from the Carceral Citadel, they still needed to be interrogated.

“Also don’t worry about your domains, we won’t search them.” He added.

The large mechanical door slid open as the officers led over a thousand lords into the settlement.

Even for a settlement, this was a pretty big number and most of them were at the 2nd Origin.

This was a big win for the humans, these people had survived one of the most dangerous places, their battle sense would be top notch.

Neil walked among the crowd. After passing through the door, the large group arrived in a place fixed with all sorts of defences.

In case of an attack after the wall, these weapons would be the 2nd line of defence.

After passing through a long corridor, they saw domains which were aligned in a way that surrounded the settlement.

These were the domains of the people guarding the settlement.

And inside was the city.

It was bustling with a crowd, the population was higher than Neil would have expected.

“Please wait here, after some light questioning, you would be able to rest.” A female officer spoke.

First, they would tally the identities of them all.

Several officers instantly began to scan their faces, while more were called to quicken the task.

Arnold was busy managing everything and informing the higher ups, but he was in a good mood.

This year there weren’t many talented lords in this settlement, but now there were so many.

Quickly the officers scanned and found that the total number of lords was 1,339. A lot of them had died in that realm already.

Just as more officers had arrived and were about to start with the questioning, a violent lightning bolt thundered through the sky.

It startled everyone as the sky had been pretty sunny earlier, so suddenly dark clouds appearing in the sky and the entire settlement getting covered by darkness was anything but normal.

“W- What’s happening?” Henry, the poor guy shivered.

They had just escaped that hell and now this place was getting attacked? Were they born with a shit spoon or something?

RAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH

BOOOOOM!!

There was a loud roar, then a bone chilling explosion that shook all the domains and buildings in the settlement.

The lightning bolt that fell outside the settlement was as thick as twenty feet.

“WHERE ARE THOSE BRATS?!!” a loud voice reverberated from outside with a loud crackling sound.

Neil frowned, he had a feeling that this guy had actually come there for them.

’Nemo, you know anything?’ he asked, as loud crackling sounds continued to ring out from outside.

The defences of the settlement were automatically activated as hundreds of lords got ready to defend.

But as they saw the person outside, they paused in confusion, weren’t they on the same side?

Why was he attacking suddenly?

“Yes master, this is Xander and he is Arlo’s father.” Nemo replied, her virtual lips thinning into a long line.

“…Oh.” Neil was just exasperated, he hadn’t even taken a breather and there was already trouble?

“Haha so he is here for you? Good, get killed and I can take over!” a melodic but hateful voice sounded in his mind suddenly.

“Shut up!” Neil shouted. He felt so annoyed by her, whenever she spoke he felt a strong headache.

She was constantly trying to take over his mind.

“WHICH BRAT WAS THAT?!!” Xander was even more enraged. Someone had actually dared to be so disrespectful?

Neil realised he had spoken that too loudly.

He and the others beside him took a step back, leaving only Henry standing ahead, who was dazed.

“WAS IT YOU? HOW DARE YOU?!! ARE YOU THE ONE WHO BACKSTABBED MY DEAR SON TOO?”

Xander screamed, his body completely covered by yellowish lightning.

Though he couldn’t completely transform into lightning, like Neil could into a liquid state.

“H- Huh? I… what?” Henry jumped up in fright as he noticed that dangerous gaze, he looked around and plunged back, hiding behind others.

“IT DOESN’T MATTER, ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO DIE ANYWAY!”

Xander raised his arms as powerful lightning began to burst out of his hands, which he directed straight at them.

He was at the 4th Origin Gold Class, so none of the guards would be a match for him.

But right at the last moment…

BOOOM

A person appeared in front of them, saving the lords who had just escaped from the Carceral Citadel.

It was none other than Arnold.

“What is the meaning of this?” his face was twisted and full of anger.

“You think you can just come and start killing people in my settlement? You think laws are jokes?”

“I don’t care about any of that, someone among them killed my son Arlo!!

And I am going to kill them all, no matter what!!” Xander shouted as he suddenly jumped forward.

His speed was very fast even for Neil, but even if things became bad, he was at least sure of his survival.

Just his normal strength was already in the 4th Origin, if he went all out, Neil wasn’t sure how high that would be.

But he was yet to learn the changes that happen in the 4th Origin, he could not be overconfident.

At least there was the analyzer.

He was just thinking of all the possibilities when Arnold suddenly let out a roar so powerful it hurt everyone’s ears.

His body suddenly started to grow.

’They are both similar to the apotheosis state but also very much different.’ Neil observed the two.

In Xander’s case, lightning was surging from within his body and merging with his body.

He almost looked as if he was made of electricity but was still greatly different.

On the other hand, Arnold turned into a big muscle monster, he looked quite menacing.

But similarly, his changes weren’t absolute like apotheosis, there was some difference that Neil couldn’t grasp.

While he was busy with his observations, the two wardens collided in a violent manner.

BOOOOOOM

The lightning landed on the muscles of the thirty feet tall muscle monster, but instead of attacking,

Arnold caught Xander within his palms and jumped towards the sky.

For a moment, Neil’s eyes turned pitch black, allowing him to see things to a frightening level.

After a few moments, he finally understood.

’Oh, they need a constant supply of Essence to maintain that state.’

He began to think quickly.

Using the Essence Transformation method brings changes in essence and also the cores and body.

But it is more of a preparation for the next Origins, more like a buildup.

What Neil was seeing might just be one of the applications of this.

This was not apotheosis, that needed high proficiency in one’s very nature and skills, while this could be obtained by almost everyone.

This sort of transformation was just a weak imitation of the apotheosis state and was easy to achieve.

Neil was using the Entropic Essence transformation manual, he wondered what changes it would bring for him.

But right now, he was more interested in the battle itself.

Though the two guys just disappeared into the distance, probably planning to take this fight elsewhere.

Neil wondered if he should go out to watch it but just then Nemo spoke.

“Master, it would be useless even if you do. Normally people of such high strength aren’t allowed to fight openly.

One accidental attack could wipe out thousands of people. So they fight within their Fields.”

’Fields…?’ Neil was just about to ask but just then he saw a yellowish sphere appear in the sky, the two men were inside it.

“That is the field.” Nemo added.

Neil could sense a deadly battle was ongoing inside that sphere which was made by pure energy.

All the people around felt a strange form of suppression from it, while the guards all had looks of reverence.

’There is still a lot I need to learn.’ Neil thought, suddenly reminded of his teacher.

Maybe shifting out of this place would be the best option.

Sooner or later, that Xander guy would find out that Neil was the one who fought him and was possibly the killer.

But all of a sudden, the field was broken as a person wearing a red robe appeared there out of nowhere.

The speed was like teleportation and he exuded no presence at all.

But Neil could sense this guy was far more terrifying than both the wardens combined.

“Master, that’s a protector from the ECO, the strength of all protectors is at the 5th Origin.” Nemo answered before Neil could ask.

ECO was a governmental organization and the most powerful human organization, it held the power to wipe out humanity all alone.

This was exactly how ECO maintained absolute authority and rules, their strength was truly terrifying.

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Thanks for reading… adios

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