Chapter 259 The dark shadow  

The sky was clear with many twinkling stars shining like fireflies.

A magnificent flying ship, adorned with sparkling gems of various colors descended into a deserted area. The ship's exterior was crafted from polished wood and intricate carvings. A small stature man with a large beard floated out from the ship.

He squinted his eyes and took in the sight of a massive crowd of thousands of people gathered in front of an old huge vertical metallic gate.

The gate crackled with an eerie energy, pulsating in the darkness. The man noticed the thick chains that sealed the gate for the past hundreds of years were undone.

His eyes stopped at the fifteen figures clad in messy outfits floating around the gate.

"Huh, the Central Continent did a lot this time because seeing so many Array masters in one place is a big deal. Still, one thing for sure just like us no one looked willing."

He scoffed and looked back. However, his face softened when he saw the bunch of kids standing on the ship with resolute expressions.

"kids. I know it's nerve-wracking because you are going to enter an unknown and dangerous place but do your best. I don't want the dwarf Kingdom to lose so many talented individuals."

The young people shouted with all their might. With a satisfied expression, the floating dwarf took them all to stand with the huge crowd.

As time passed more and more flying ships appeared above the deserted place. The air was heavy, and whispers of anticipation echoed in the space.

At a distance, far away from the excited and nervous crowd. A middle-aged man with long navy-colored hair was overlooking the situation with a blank expression. Adorned in an expensive suit, he had an aura of authority around his body.

He was sitting on a floating chair with many guards standing firmly behind his back. A surprised expression appeared on his face when he sensed the movement of a familiar presence behind him. "What's brought you here? I thought you wanted to conserve your energy?"

No one replied for a second but then an ominous dark shadow appeared beside his chair. The man's guards seemed used to the shadow's appearance because no one stopped it from approaching the navy-haired man.

Under the night sky, a hoarse voice sounded beside the man.

"Indeed Your Majesty I want to conserve my energy but I was too excited to sit so here I am. I wonder if your majesty has prepared everything."

The navy-haired man chuckled at the shadow but his calm and composed expression cracked when he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head.

'This bastard! I swear once I am free I am going to hack this unsightly shadow into pieces!'

He cursed in his mind. He was a King. Also, the strongest in the Central Continent but a single mistake led him to his current miserable position.

A far contrast to the other Continents where Kingdoms operated separately with different leaders, the Kingdoms in the Central Continent would fight for dominance every twenty years and the one who emerged victorious had the power to make the other Kingdoms obey his commands.

It was a friendly fight and no one had any qualms about it because instead of the general public the fight would commence between the Kings of these Kingdoms. Moreover, it was very rare for the winning King to impose his rules on the other Kingdoms. The winner would just let them do whatever they want as usual. Only when he wants something precious or something desirable will he use his authority.

The man with navy hair gritted his teeth and bore the pain inflicted on him by the shadow with a blank expression. His name was Istalian Visonzo, the current leader of the Central Continent. The one who singlehandedly defeated all the others and grasped the authority with his strength.

Istalian smoothed his expression amidst the sharp pain as he waved at the shadow.

"There is no need to worry about the preparation because everything is ready. The kids from my Soltecia Kingdom are equipped with all the knowledge you provided me. They are trained meticulously just to find the thing you want from the Secret Realm."

The shadow hummed with a pleased voice. He chuckled when he saw how Istalian, the mighty King was trying to get free from his restraint.

"Don't force it even though I have weakened but there is no way you can get free from me child."

Istalian froze and ceased his mana movement. He was sure he was close and soon he would get free from this bastard. He was just waiting for the right time. The shadow already knew what he was trying to do but he ignored it because currently he can do nothing. His mighty strength had reduced to a spec of dust. He wasn't sure how long he slept after he lost to James one of the powerful ancestors of blue planet. But he was glad Istalian accidentally broke the old relic and awakened the sealed pieces of his consciousness.

He looked at the far distance. The gate to the otherworldly realm that was created by the powerful ancestors to train the young generation in the old era was still here but he remembered before he succumbed to darkness they closed the realm to imprison a part of the evil race associated with chaos and darkness.

The dark shadow shuddered when he remembered the terrifying existence outside the boundary of this small planet. Relief flooded his chest when he looked up in the sky.

'Even though I hate those bastards they indeed did everything to protect their home planet. Tsk, just how many resources did they use to cover the whole planet with such a big protective shield?'

Istalian saw the tremor in the shadow and sensed his fear. He raised his brow and secretly sneered.

'So he is also scared of someone probably the ones who destroyed his body and turned him into a lump of dark energy.'

The shadow glided down his chair and started disinterested in the air.

"It's good everything is ready. Istalian you did a good job this time. I am not an ungrateful person. I will share that otherworldly treasure with you as well. After all, I can sense a stronger existence hiding inside this seemingly peaceful planet. In the future when I leave you will need a lot of power to protect your fragile people."

Istalian listen to his fading words. Even after hearing from the shadows countless times, he was still astonished at the fact that he a person with (SSS+)-Rank power was nothing but an ant.

He sucked in a deep breath as he looked at the place where the shadow was present a few seconds ago.

'No matter who you are you have opened a new path for me. If a treasure that can give me a chance to become an immortal exist. Do you really think I will give it to you so easily?'

He looked back at one of the guards.

"What about the Sea Continent? Are they willing to send their people or do they want me to make their life miserable?"

The guard lowered his head to show his respect.

"Your majesty. The mermaid Queen accepted your offer. For some reason, they are even sending their dear princess to help our people."

Istalian narrowed his eyes.

"What are they planning? I am aware of the unique ability they possess but to send the future Queen to such a dangerous place. Don't tell me the princess saw another vision about the future?"

He hummed with a cold expression.

"Leave them alone for now. They are aware of what I want and I don't think those cowards who prefer to stay hidden underwater are strong enough to steal under my nose."