The Rise of the Black Plain

"Regarding your sword?" Gloria said while again looking in the direction of one of the pieces of that sword near where Minos was standing.

'It looks like he broke that medium-level grade-2 sword while trying to defend himself from my arrow...'

'Hmm, that's what probably saved his life.' She thought about it as she considered the strength she was using when training with her spiritual beast earlier.

Her spiritual beast was only at level 59, but it was of a race as good as Emlyn's, which made her far more substantial than the peak Spiritual Kings of this region.

Because of this, this Spiritual Emperor had used a power greater than Minos could handle during her training with that level 59 beast, creating the previous situation.

Otherwise, if she had been using all her power, then even if Minos had 10 of those weapons or even several armors of the same rank on him, he would have been seriously injured!

Maybe even died on the spot!

At least that was Gloria's opinion, who at the moment was grateful that this sudden encounter had not developed in the worst possible way.

"Sigh..."

"If you want, I can give you a sword in exchange."

"But unfortunately, the only weapon of the type I have with me is a high-level grade-2 one..."

"However, I don't believe you will be able to use it. So, if you accept, I can get one just like yours while we travel together." She said sincerely.

"Oh?" Minos said this in surprise, almost losing his angry expression.

But he soon managed not to smile in satisfaction at such a suggestion. "Well, even if it is difficult to use a high-level grade-2 weapon at my level, I will accept your first offer..." He said remorsefully, almost as if he was doing Gloria a favor.

"At least I won't be unarmed..."

After hearing this, Gloria's eyes sparkled as she realized a bit of the personality of the person she had become involved with.

'So, you are one of those, huh?' She thought as a slight smile formed on her lips.

She then asked him. "I thought I heard earlier that such a sword was one of your favorite weapons. Aren't there any others?"

"Others?" He repeated before answering her. "I have others, but not here..."

"Really? What cultivator doesn't take his weapons with him when traveling the continent?" She insisted, understanding that Minos was valuing his situation.

'This Albert... He lies with no difficulty!' She found that amusing.

"Well, for my level and considering our area, I would never need more than one weapon... After all, my possible regional opponents don't have that capability." So, Minos insisted on his lie.

'True.'

'Level 52 Spiritual Kings are not capable of damaging such weapons...' Gloria agreed with him.

"And I can't take all my organization's high-level weapons..."

"Anyway, I should be fine with just one, if not for by a certain someone." He looked at her once again.

"Sigh..."

'Alright... But will you be able to use it?' Gloria asked herself right after giving up on making young Stuart contradict himself.

High-level grade-2 weapons were much heavier than those of a rating below. And so, usually, the minimum power required to manipulate one of these items with some ease was level 56.

Of course, there could be exceptions, as in the case of people with innate abilities or techniques focused on improving the user's physical characteristics.

But in general, even those individuals with such advantages would not be able to use weapons of that quality with significant differences in cultivation for that level. Therefore, Gloria did not think a mere level 52 cultivator could achieve that.

In her opinion, even if Minos had something like that, he would probably still have to advance to at least level 54. But hell, this was the northern region of the Central Continent, and as far as she could tell, her victim was probably from the area.

Consequently, even if he was almost at level 53, using such a weapon could take a few years!

And with that in mind, she could only find Minos' opportunism in wanting to take this promised sword amusing.

'Well, that's okay. I made a mistake and hurt him. But, on the other hand, that weapon means nothing to me...' She thought about it, not regretting offering such a thing to Minos.

"Well, I will give you that sword before we leave here." She said this, finishing removing some of the mercury that had entered Minos' body. "You look exhausted, so you'd better cultivate before we leave."

"After that, we will continue north for the place you are going."

When Gloria's voice finally ceased, Minos slowly got up from where he had been lying this whole time, taking the time to watch this woman from head to toe.

Sensing this, she did the same to him, only feeling slightly embarrassed at how he was doing that right in front of her.

But Minos was not shy at all. He just looked her in the eye before his lips formed a slight arch, and he turned to find a good place to cultivate.

'What a bold boy!' She thought about it as she looked at Minos' muscular back.

'I know I hurt him and should at least give him some space. But he truly has a lot of nerve to behave that way with someone so much stronger than him!'

She then smiled, still watching Minos. 'Looks like my trip will be less monotonous than I thought it would be...'

...

After some time, Minos eventually finished cultivating.

So, it was not long before the two began walking toward their beasts, preparing to leave that area.

However, as Gloria approached her great level 59 mount, Minos changed his path and walked over to her with a funny expression on his face.

Realizing that Minos was not heading in the direction of that black tiger, Gloria turned to him, not fast enough to see his previous expression.

"What do you want? Is something wrong?" She asked without understanding the situation.

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to travel alone on my mount while it flies a few thousand meters high..."

"Unlike you, I can't fly."

"You mean..."

"Gloria, I think I'd better travel with you. That way, you can help me in case I have any sudden symptoms..." He said this with a worried expression.

But young Stuart was not worried at all about his bodily situation. He could solve the problem of Gloria's mercury technique himself once he was in the Spatial Kingdom.

However, Minos was not the type to throw away opportunities without at least trying...

That woman had already shown that she had nothing against him and gave him a beautiful high-level grade-2 sword. So, he was not interested in distancing himself from her for the moment.

"Is that so?" Gloria's eyes sparkled once again. "Albert, I didn't think that such a regionally strong person would be so insecure..."

"You truly are perceptive!" He said casually while already nodding in the direction of this beautiful woman's beast. "Shall we?"

"Tsk!"

And with that, it was not long before they climbed onto the back of that marvelous bird, with Minos behind Gloria, pleased with how the situation was developing.

"Maida, follow us!" Minos shouted as his two hands ran toward Gloria's slender waist.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" The woman turned to him already with a disgruntled expression.

"Where else can I hold on?"

"You..."

"Como one, Gloria. Let's go. Otherwise, we'll both be late for our business."

So, a man with a smile on his face and a woman with a not-so-satisfying expression left that place, heading north.

...

In the blink of an eye, a week passed as Minos and Gloria traveled together through the Kingdom of the Waves.

And on this seventh day together, amid the sunset in the vicinity of a small village in the central part of that state, their two spiritual beasts slowly began to descend through the skies toward their next stop.

"Are we going to spend the night here?" Minos asked Gloria while hugging the waist of this beautiful woman.

"Hmm, since you seem to have a phobia of big cities, let's rest here..."