Just as Theron was about to make his decision, the heads of the twins both snapped in a certain direction at the same time. Frowning, they instantly made the decision to fly into the skies, soaring until they were just points of light in a single instant. Then, they soared over the valley.

Theron watched them for a moment but then chose to relax in the end.

It seems I was wrong before. Maybe they came across here on purpose.

All Cloud Realm experts could fly, but it was very dependent on the environment and the various degrees of Mana concentration.

In a region like this one, where Mana was so volatile, high-level, and difficult to control, most lower-level Cloud Realm experts could only choose to walk on the ground.

However, if you had wings as strong as the twins, that was a different matter entirely. Their wings weren't just a normal level of strong, either. Whatever their Echoes were, or whatever beast they came from…

It was a strong one.

A very strong one.

There was another crunch in the distance, and a familiar rat-nosed youth appeared.

"Hm?" Little Third looked around and then up into the skies with a sneer. "So those little vixens really were here."

Little Third had been quite a distance away. But the battle here had been so devastating that he had felt it even without activating his Third Eye.

He couldn't help but be curious. He knew how powerful the twins were—what could possibly make them go all out when they were together in the inner ring? If it was the core ring, he probably would have ignored it since he was avoiding them for the most part anyway, but this had gotten his curiosity.

Unfortunately, they had sensed him and flown away, leaving…

This one.

Little Third looked at Theron curiously, but his eyes sharpened when he saw the Dark Water Mana flowing around him. It was a Mana he didn't recognize at all, and he had neither the Dark nor Water Mana affinity to sense that it was actually a fusion of the two. So, he didn't make the connection immediately.

Just what is that Mana?

He instantly became wary.

There were some extraordinarily rare and almost never-seen Manas out there, many of which were just as powerful as they were rare.

Lava Mancers, for example, were little more than legend to Little Third, but given their destructive capabilities, he would certainly high-tail it out of any battlefield with them present.

This Dark Water Mana was giving him the same feeling.

Little Third was even more scheming than his First Elder grandfather. He had already sensed that Theron was a Silver Mancer, but he didn't act on it, nor did he show any contempt.

"You must be the Third Elder's disciple?" he asked with a smile. "Theron Galethunder, right? I've seen your name on the rankings. You were really giving Orin a run for his money before the twins slowed you up."

Theron had surpassed Orin several times now, and the two were basically exchanging first and second place again and again. But this battle had distracted him for long enough. And Orin had also already reached the core ring, where the targets provided far more points.

It wasn't a surprise that he had fallen behind.

"You are?" Theron asked.

Little Third smiled. "You can call me Little Third."

Little Third? There was no one on the list by that name. It should be a nickname, then. But… the one that had been ranked seventh all this time did have the numeral III by his name. This should be one of the stronger disciples.

In fact, Theron was pretty sure he was only beneath the twins because he didn't have any partners while the twins already worked together seamlessly.

"I see. It's nice to meet you, then, Little Third."

The First Elder's grandson beamed.

"I would be careful if I were you. The twins don't have the best reputation."

"Oh?" Theron asked with a raised brow.

"Indeed. Your master may not have told you because it's a sore spot, but they should have been your senior sisters. They backstabbed the Third Elder for a higher station in life—and not long after the Third Elder risked her life to get them a Dual Headed Snow Lizard Echo at that. They're ungrateful, and it's possible that they'll target you for that."

Theron's eyes narrowed.

It was no wonder those two made the decision to deal with him so quickly. They had their own vendettas to hand out.

However, why would Little Third be telling him this? That didn't quite add up, now did it?

"No need to be so wary of me." Little Third smiled. "My master is actually the one they betrayed your master for. I'm just not a fan of it all."

If Theron had been more in the know, he would realize that Little Third's "master" was actually his grandfather. Technically, Little Third wasn't lying, but his word choice left things ambiguous on purpose.

"If they collapsed and fell, I would be all for it. If you ever need my help in doing so, I don't mind giving a hand. No them would mean more resources for me."

Theron looked at him for a moment and then nodded.

"I see. I will keep this in mind, then."

The two stared at one another for a bit longer, and Little Third seemed to get the hint.

"Alright, I'll be off, then."

With a smile, he turned and left, vanishing toward the direction he had been going in the first place.

Theron watched him leave for a long while before he turned his attention back to the valley. He walked to the edge of it, looking down into the raging quagmire.

He had been thinking for a bit now about whether to go down or not when he realized that this was actually the perfect opportunity.

The valley was probably the one location, other than the core region itself, that the screens wouldn't be able to cleanly decipher what was happening.

He couldn't miss that opportunity, now could he?

Theron took a step off the cliff.

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