Despite how kind and generously awesome Renoir was being, Zarkul just stared at him with a deep frown.

It was clear that Zarkul already knew about Renoir. Not to mention, their relationship was likely not that good.

But right as Rael was about to chime in and defuse the tension, Zarkul spoke up.

“You’re not welcome here.”

Renoir raised a brow.

“Well, yeah. I’m not really here to be welcomed. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello and whatnot. Alune and I have already made up, and as for you, I already know that our relationship is irreparable.”

He let out a chuckle.

“After all, whatever resistance your parents bestowed upon you is enough to keep me out of your head.”

Hearing that, Rael let out a sigh from the side. He had a feeling that Renoir had tried to enter Zarkul’s mind and mess with it, much like he did to Alune.

However, it didn’t work. Instead, he put a target on his back. But if that was really the case, then why did Zarkul first spare Rael? If Zarkul knew that Rael and Renoir were connected, then…

Just what was going on here?

“I’ll get out of your hair now, as I have other matters to attend to. On another note, do you mind if I bring Alune along? I believe we’re starting to bond quite nicely,” Renoir asked.

Zarkul narrowed his eyes.

“She’s recovering. Do not dare go anywhere near her, or I will kill you where you stand.”

Although it seemed like a far-fetched threat, Rael remembered that Zarkul was one of the strongest beings in the universe. Rather, he was in the top 10 or so.

All that while only being a Grade 9. It was impressive.

But then again, if he had Renoir’s bloodline running through his veins, it was obvious why he was so special.

Anyhow, Rael didn’t chime in, nor did Gaia or Alune. If anything, although Alune wanted to come along, she knew that going around before recovering to full strength would just make her an easy target for enemies.

And so, with that in mind, the conversation stopped there. Zarkul placed his hand on Alune’s shoulder and then nodded.

The moment she nodded back at him, their figures blurred, and they soon vanished. Rael felt a little sad that she was gone, but he knew that with due time, she would be back on her feet, and he could take her along with him wherever he and she wanted.

Letting out a chuckle to himself, Rael turned back to Gaia and Renoir.

Renoir looked a little salty, and although he tried to make it seem like he didn’t care, clearly, he had a certain degree of sadness in his heart from this interaction. After all, Zarkul was technically family to him.

Still…

“You sure know how to leave a lasting impression, don’t you? Well… anything else you want to do before we leave?” Rael asked.

Renoir shook his head.

“I’m all good. We can leave right away.”

“Gaia?”

“I’m also ready,” Gaia replied. “I was thinking of maybe inviting Chronos along, but after doing a quick check, I realized he was still morphing his new territory. It’s best not to interrupt him until he’s finished.”

Right… he was a relatively new Supreme Beast who appeared after the death of some other Supreme Beast. Rather, Zarkul defeated him and caught him. That was what everyone believed, but in truth, Chronos had let himself be captured.

After all, he was much stronger than the others, and he would likely be able to give even Zarkul a run for his money.

Nonetheless, Rael didn’t linger on that topic for long as he simply nodded at Gaia and snapped his fingers, causing a portal to appear that took him directly back to Celestara.

Even though he didn’t enter the Depths from the Platinum Boutique’s bathroom, it seemed like the teleportation point was already automatically set there.

And so, when Rael returned to Celestara alongside Gaia and Renoir, he took a deep breath, taking in the air that was considerably better and less intense than the air of the Far Lands, or even the Depths.

Not only that, Rael felt like his body had gotten much stronger, probably because of the gravity in the Far Lands. Despite that, Rael stepped outside the Platinum Boutique, and after glancing around, he decided to do a quick little check.

Hey, Nyx? Can you hear me?

After only a second, her voice resounded inside his mind.

[You were gone for quite a bit. Yes, I can hear you. Also, I’ve finished the work you’ve assigned me, so since you’re already here, you should come by and check it out. Also… is that the Supreme Beast beside you?]

At her words, Rael let out a sigh.

Yep. He’s severely weakened, but even then, I’m sure he’s much stronger than anyone here, except for Gaia. Even you might be able to beat him, if I’m being honest.

[Hmm… that’s interesting. But since he’s here, and it seems like Anastasia noticed him as well, you should be prepared,] Nyx said.

Before Rael could even process what she had just told him, a fierce amount of mana descended from the sky. Along with it, Anastasia slammed into the ground and then narrowed her eyes at Renoir, her gaze sharp and filled with hatred.

Even though she had never met Renoir before, she instinctively knew that he was an enemy and the same person who had killed all her friends.

Rael knew that this would spiral out of control if he didn’t do anything, but then again, who was he to interrupt her revenge? Rather… could she even get her revenge when she wasn’t even that strong to begin with?

Rael paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. That was when Renoir tilted his head slightly and then let out a chuckle.

“It’s you? Hahaha… I remember you. You sure have grown up.”

That didn’t make it any better.

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