After eating the always good food prepared by Mr. Wright, I left the City Lord Mansion.

Upon walking out, two members of the Ash Guard immediately fell in step behind me. I supposed the rest of them went to rest then.

I was fully expecting all of them to go eat and rest, but this is fine too.

By now, the sun had set and night had descended on the City.

There wasn't too much activity going on, but as I walked past the market district, I could hear some noise from what I assumed to be the bars.

I'm glad the City had recovered enough for bars to be open once again.

Of course, it wasn't like this City faced a lot of death and destruction, but there was no doubt the event was a traumatic one for many, and getting over that could take time.

A meeting with Richard was needed pretty soon, but I won't go bother him for now. Instead, I made my way outside the West Gate, towards the camp of Infernals.

Sounds of fighting immediately reached my ears.

The sky was dark, but various fires lit the area around the Infernal Camp, and in the distance, I could see a rank formed by people where two others were sparring with spears.

It took a few moments, but I managed to spot both Frian and Lirian among the crowd, watching intently as the spar went on.

There wasn't an immediate need to interrupt the fun, and I knew that's exactly what my presence would cause, so I hung back.

Of course, I was partly sure most if not all of them had already sensed my approach but were smart enough to realize I was hanging back for a reason and didn't make a big deal of it.

I paid attention to the spar for a few moments before taking a much wider look around the group.

This is still a lot of Infernals.

Honestly, I think I forgot that only 25 of the 50 Nascent Soul Cultivators were part of the Matriarch's Clan. There were just over 10,000 others that weren't, and it wasn't like they were wiped out or anything, so quite a bit of them are still very much here.

Hm.

What to do… what to do…

A few more spars ensued as I pondered to myself about what exactly I wanted to do regarding them, and I think I reached a decision.

I began walking towards the group, and one of the remaining Nascent Soul Infernals took this as their cue to get the rest of the camp in order.

"Attention! Bow before the Eternal Flame!"

The thousands of men and women who made up the camp immediately got into a formation and bowed their heads a respectful degree.

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Not a single spear was in sight.

Well, except for the two held by Lirian and Frian, who both made their way over to my sides just a half step behind me, but in front of the two Ash Guard members.

The Nascent Soul Realm Infernal stepped forward in place of Scalera, who was no longer here.

"We greet the Eternal Flame."

He was likely around six feet in height, with a fair skin color and a remarkably bald head. A scar ran down the right side of his face, and his build was nothing short of that of a warrior.

I nodded at him.

"Are you in charge of this group now?"

"Not in any official capacity, Patriarch, but I was elected by Scalera to handle the reins after she left."

"I see. What are your remaining numbers?"

"As of right now, Patriarch, this camp is home to 6,574 Qi Refinement Cultivators, 710 Core Formation Cultivators, and 10 Nascent Soul Cultivators. For a total of 7,294 Infernals, Patriarch."

That's still quite a bit of Infernals here, but a lot of them died.

"And the dead? Were they accounted for?"

"Yes, Patriarch. Scalera took their names down for their families."

"What about the rest of you? Do you not have families to return to?"

"I do, Patriarch, and my wife would be proud of the fact I now stand in your presence. This is an honor, Patriarch!"

"Do you speak for all the Infernals behind you? Actually, don't answer that."

I stepped past him and eyed the thousands of Infernals lined up in an orderly fashion.

"Does he speak for all of you? Are you all proud to stand before me? To fight my wars? To die for my cause? To live as my blade and bring ruin to all those who I deem require it?!"

Of course, I partially planned for this, but I kind of got into it at the end there.

The Infernals matched me.

"YES, PATRIARCH!!"

They roared in unison so loud that my clothes fluttered wildly from the force they generated with just their voices alone.

I hoped that didn't wake anyone in the City up.

"Good."

I turned my head back to the Infernal at the front who kept his face pointed directly forward.

"You."

He turned sharply, yet somehow respectfully at the same time.

"Yes, Patriarch."

"What is your name?"

"Lidaz, Patriarch."

"Lidaz, my name is Raizen. Should you all wish it, I officially welcome you and this entire camp into my young Clan. Lirian and Frian there are the only core members of my Clan—treat them accordingly.

"Whether you officially accept my offer or not, you are officially in charge of this camp and all of its inhabitants by my word."

I paused and turned my head back to the rest of the group.

"I truly mean what I say in the fact that the offer to join my Clan is just that—an offer. I do not plan on traveling to Planet Infernal, and if you decide to accept my offer, then here is where you will stay for the foreseeable future.

"Consider the offer deeply, as I do not plan on allowing anyone to join and quit as they please."

I allowed a few moments for my words to sink in.

"Lidaz."

"Yes, Patriarch!"

Hm, he seems a bit more determined now.

"Get this camp organized, and I want a report in the morning regarding the decision of every single soul inside this camp."

"Understood, Patriarch!"

And with that, I left and headed back into the City.

A few moments later, I was seated in my office and the boys were standing before me.

They were tense for some reason.

"Both of you have been sparring in the camp for a while now. Why?"

They glanced at each other before Frian decided to speak up.

"We failed to be of use, Patriarch."

I stared at them as I considered his words for a moment.

I could offer some words of support, or maybe I could ask them to explain and treat this like a therapy session of some sort, but I did neither.

The feeling they were dealing with now was one I understood—that feeling of uselessness. And if I understood them at all, then I knew they didn't want pity or to be coddled.

They might be teenage boys in years, but not in heart.

Warriors are what stood before me.

I will treat them as such.

"Then let's do something about it. Both of you, sit down and turn your backs towards me."

There was no hesitation in their movements, and they moved exactly as I ordered.

At this point, I was speaking and acting according to what I felt, and I got up and took a seat on the floor behind them as well.

I then stretched my hands out and placed a palm on both of their backs.

It was time to bestow the Eternal Flame.

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