The Rise of the Black Plain

Two months later...

After leaving the submerged ruin that the group had entered on their first day on The Obsidian Shore, Minos' group traveled to an area further from the exit of this territory.

They had been through a series of challenges over the last few weeks, having had to deal with a storm that had almost caused their group to split up. After overcoming this challenge, they faced some Sovereigns native to the area, creatures who were uncomfortable with the presence of Sovereigns from outside this region.

Luckily, the enemies they faced during these days were low-level Sovereigns. After some effort on the part of the group, they managed to overcome these adversities.

They then reached an area of opportunity in the region, where there was a hot spring with great benefits for those who managed to enter it.

This area had several challenges capable of killing warriors like them, but once someone managed to get past its challenges and entered inside it, majestic cultivation opportunities would become available to them.

This was one of the best places for a high-level Grandmaster to enter in the whole of The Obsidian Shore. The downside of the place was that, after a week inside, the laws behind the area would throw anyone entering their eighth day there out of it.

That had happened to Minos' last companion, who was in the place, this afternoon!

...

After their last companion had finished his exploration of the hot spring he was in, the group of 16 was reunited again.

This time, they were stronger than ever!

Over the past two weeks, another level 99 Grandmaster has advanced to level 100, while Minos has advanced to level 98!

Ruth was at the peak of level 96 and should reach level 97 in the next few weeks at this place.

But depending on their luck, she might even return to Armhands at level 98 while Minos would have the chance to reach level 99!

With their improvements so far, the group now intended to set off from where they were to get closer to their mission targets in this place.

Both groups were relatively close to their targets despite the short time since they entered the area.

The Obsidian Shore had been stable for around 10 years. The area had been fit for Grandmasters to enter for about a year and a half, but even so, the group could reach their target in the next few weeks.

However, that didn't mean that all their problems were over and things would be easier from now on. The most difficult point of their mission was where they had to go!

As soon as the group had gathered and discussed their plans with the individual who had just left the hot spring, they set off with their goals!

...

The objectives of Minos' allies were not identical to those of his people. They were on The Obsidian Shore to complete something that old groups from their sect hadn't finished doing, but they weren't there for the same reason as those sent from Armhands.

That obviously didn't mean they couldn't turn against Minos' group at the end of this journey. However, the purpose of their mission was not the same as that of Emperor Stuart's group.

Between the point at which they would complete their objective and the location of Armhands' interest, the location of Minos' allies was closer. So, over the next few weeks, the group would travel to such a place where this allied group intended to complete their objectives before helping Minos' people.

They had agreed to help each other beyond the promises made by their leaders outside this territory. Minos didn't trust the word of men, but he did believe in the agreements he had made with the aliens traveling alongside him.

So, nearing the 1-year and 9-month anniversary since they entered The Obsidian Shore, they would arrive at the target of Armhands' allies on this journey!

...

When they arrived near a large crater obviously caused by a fight, the group stopped not far from the slope in that area, where they could see bare rocks and several skeletons in the surroundings.

Worms and parasites as big as human children were in the vicinity of these bodies, even though there was apparently nothing else to be degraded there.

Facing this place, Minos narrowed his eyes as he saw more than some of his companions could.

At the deepest point of that crater, a four-meter-high body of a humanoid creature, with two legs and two arms, a dragon's tail, and ox horns on its head, was lying lifeless there, where the worms and parasites were gathered.

This body was obviously dead. But apart from anything else, its appearance seemed somewhat preserved.

Considering that this place had been inaccessible for a long time and that this body appeared to be that of a high-level Sovereign, Minos quickly understood that the mission of his allies was related to this ancient body.

"What are you going to do in this place?" He asked without informing those individuals that he was seeing the body of that being.

"We have to collect some things in the area. Old members of the sect have passed through here and left items to be collected. Can you help us keep an eye on the surroundings?" the leader of the group allied to Minos' group asked.

"Hmm, all right." Minos nodded as he motioned for his companions to spread out and pay attention to their surroundings.

Meanwhile, the group allied to them descended that slope, going to the vicinity of that body, where the 11th-stage worms were.

They would fight these disgusting creatures for some time, using special items from their organization, which they had been given to deal exclusively with dangers around their target.

After fighting for a few minutes, they would manage to drive away or kill the parasites and worms trying to eat that grandiose body that only through their devices could they see it.

Minos observed these individuals discreetly, curious to know if this was an old member of these people's sect who had stayed in this place, what they were about to do and what they would do when they left The Obsidian Shore.

'I'll just watch. When I leave this place, I'll pass on everything they do here to the General. Maybe that will earn me some merit points.' Minos secretly thought.