Is that a Wisp?

"Noooo!" Hazak screamed at the top of its lungs, expressing its grief as it blazed through the sky. It swerved around, making numerous twists and turns, eventually arriving at a discrete location beyond what the Demon Gods could find through their searching methods.

Landing on the ground, it began to bawl its eyes out as it lamented, "If only I was stronger. I should have been the one to sacrifice myself!"

Lamenting at its weakness, Hazak cried nonstop, mourning as it seemed to have lost its mind. Around half a day later, it suddenly jerked around in shock, noticing a Monster Gecko touch its shoulder.

It hadn't sensed the other party's approach, only noticing its existence after it had touched its shoulder. Hazak was about to smack it in reflex when the Monster Gecko waved its hands, displaying that it hadn't come to fight.

It then pointed in a certain direction, motioning for Hazak to follow it. Even though it was grief-ridden, Hazak could feel something from the Monster Gecko. After all, it was an entirely new species. There were only three species on Layer 2. So, the one before it was the fourth one.

Moreover, it was a Monster Gecko. Hazak's master, Krune, also wore a type of armor resembling a Monster Gecko. So, Hazak recognized it immediately, being a reason it hadn't attacked the Monster Gecko.

The Monster Gecko broke into a sprint, running in a certain direction. Hazak followed it closely, easily keeping up the pace.

Five hours later, the Monster Gecko was gasping for breath, exhausted to the extent that it seemed like it would die. But, it suddenly raised its hand into the air, catching a fruit that landed in its palms, eating it readily as it felt alive once again.

Only now did Hazak manage to see the figure of Feifei standing before him, her face smudged due to the tears she had shed. As the wind carried the dust, they fell on her face, making apparent lines. Currently, her expression exuded intense killing intent.

Upon seeing her, Hazak felt like all hope wasn't lost, kneeling on the ground, screaming as its voice cracked up, "Lady Feifei, I failed to protect Lord Krune."

"He's alive," Feifei replied, barely managing to articulate her words as she seemed hindered by her turbulent emotions. "We'll be saving him shortly."

"He's…alive?" Hazak gasped before shedding tears in gratitude. "Thank you….my Lord's alive. Thank goodness."

Feifei had witnessed how Hazak fought alongside Krune, noticing how Krune confidently showed his back to it. This meant that he trusted Hazak to such an extent that he treated it as his closest companion.

So, she decided to trust it as well. "Get up. We need to talk. Once we exchange enough information, we'll be able to come up with a suitable plan."

"Yes, Lady Feifei. Please instruct me," Hazak replied, getting up as he followed Feifei, heading underground where she had created a temporary cavern. Soon, it noticed numerous bone trees growing in the area, increasing in height until they anchored the cavern, absorbing the miasma before producing fruits.

Numerous Monster Geckos roamed to and fro, consuming the fruits and making things that Feifei had ordered them to do so. Surprisingly, the density of the miasma continued to increase the deeper into the cavern one went.

When Hazak reached the end of the cavern, it noticed a pool of miasma had formed on the ground. Suddenly, a Monster Gecko exited it, flexing its body a little before leaving the pool, consuming a bone tree fruit as it began to converse with the other Monster Geckos.

Feifei caused a bone tree to grow out of the ground, taking up the shape of a table and two chairs. Feifei seated herself on one, motioning for Hazak to be seated on the other as she told it, "I've been making some preparations for the past two years since I've arrived here."

"Now, tell me everything Krune has experienced here. We'll start from there," Feifei told Hazak, curious of Krune's adventures.

Nodding in response, Hazak began to speak, recounting everything it had witnessed first hand or heard from Krune. It was a considerably long story, spanning a couple of hours.

Having listened to everything, Feifei nodded. "So, in the end, Krune used the Healing Extract to solidify the first layer of ice around him. This way, he could depend on it to survive while remaining unconscious. The ice would keep his body in a state of forced hibernation. Even though the layer of ice surrounding him is tremendously tough, if the Demon Gods try to damage it, the energy from the Healing Extract would automatically heal the damage."

"So, we indeed have some time on our side." Feifei nodded, asking Hazak soon after, "What happened to the 10,000 Blood Essence Crystals Krune had brought with him?"

"Other than the ones he kept within his stomach, all the other Blood Essence Crystals have been mixed into the Healing Extract when the Black Demons attacked us. It was something Lord Krune had done in place upon predicting the course of events," Hazak replied, turning sullen when remembering Krune's state.

"Even if I calculate based on the energy in the Healing Extract, I cannot determine what the Black Demons might try on the ice surrounding him. I should keep an eye on them." Feifei nodded in response, having sent scouts long ago.

A constant stream of messages returned to her at regular intervals, allowing her to determine Krune's state in real-time.

'Hopefully, I have enough time to prepare,' Feifei thought, clenching her hand into a fist as she said, "Hazak, continue to absorb the miasma and reach the peak of Tier 6 first. After that, help me hunt some Red Demons. That'll make my growth faster."

"What about me?" Hazak asked in response, patting its chest. "If you were to absorb my Demon Core, you'll turn into a Black Demon straight away. That way, you'll be able to save Lord Krune."

"Don't be an emotional idiot," Feifei retorted. "Once you reach the peak of Tier 6, coupled with your passive abilities and the ability to use Spiritual Energy, you'll be stronger than all the Black Demons."

Feifei stared at Hazak, saying in all seriousness as she continued, "You are of prime importance when it comes to saving Krune."