Galthor had a lot to think about on his way home, and his subordinates did not hastily disturb him.

In five days, they would head into the Abyssal land and try to kill a fiendish monster. He would need to take his masters into what could potentially be their death.

It wasn't an appealing thought.

And even by the time he reached their village, he still could not think of a decision to make.

Galthor walked up to the dining room and called a meeting of all the masters.

He let Karathra and Brakthar fill them in. Their faces turned paler and paler the more they spoke until only a heavy silence was left in the room.

After a long time, Karathra asked, "What are we going to do, Chief?"

Such a simple question. What are we going to do?

Galthor analyzed the information he had at hand. He needed the legacy in the depths of the Abyssal land; otherwise, he would have immediately withdrawn earlier during the meeting.

But even if he did that, what about getting stronger?

He sat up. "Brakthar, call Lady Pelica here. Tell her it's a matter of urgency."

Brakthar gave him a complicated look but then hurried away with a slight nod of his head. "Of course."

They waited in tense silence for Brakthar to return, and before long the lady herself appeared. Tall and composed, with the rings on her fingers, she looked around the meeting area in curiosity. "Chief Galthor, you summoned me?"

Galthor nodded and gestured for her to sit. "Thank you for coming, Lady Pelica. As a partner of the Stronghide, I feel compelled to tell you this. A meeting of the banners was called today and....."

She listened carefully until he was done before she added anything.

The only thing he did not tell her about the meeting was the words he had with Lord Doveling.

"This.... so the Root is moving again. It is troublesome indeed," she said after a time. "My advice is simple, do not go, and if you must, have overwhelming power of your own. If you don't, then you will be crushed. Only you can survive this, Chief Galthor... and you, Brakthar, right? You have a strong relic with you."

Galthor's eyes shifted with impatience. He already knew what would happen if he went. What he wanted was a solution to that problem.

"Then, Lady Pelica, do you want to help in another way?"

She looked at him with patience. "What other way can I help with?"

Galthor asked her bluntly, "Do you have a legacy to gift me?"

It was absolutely certain that it wasn't what she was expecting at all, as she watched him with widened eyes. "What? I should... give you a legacy?"

Galthor answered in a deadpan way. "Yes. I want a legacy. It's going to increase my chances to a new height."

She didn't react for a short time as she seemed to be gathering herself to say something. "A legacy.... Lord Galthor, do you know how important and rare a legacy is? A legacy is the source of power that lifts and changes lives.

"It's the entire cornerstone for most races. And you want me to gift you one?"

Galthor did not look away from her intense gaze. "That's right. I want you to gift one to me. And as we know, legacies are also ranked. I don't mind getting my hands on the lowest."

She looked just as stunned as she did earlier, and she shook her head as if to clear the ridiculousness she had just heard. "It's not about the rank. It's about the fact that a legacy in and of itself is a rare thing. Why do you think all the four races sent part of their forces here? And, I do not have a legacy."

Galthor's heart fell. He had really believed she might have one, and even though he didn't know what the Divine Interface would do once he awakened it, he still wanted to awaken it to find out.

But now he had turned a whole circle to find himself where he was before. "I see. Then there's nothing more to say."

"How are you going to defeat the monsters in the Abyssal land then? You have your masters, but how far can they hold?" she asked with a curious look.

Galthor's face darkened, but he didn't give a reply, and after a while of waiting in tense silence, she finally said something again. "I can help you. But since this is a partnership, you'll have to help me in return once you're in the Root properly."

Galthor froze. "What kind of help?"

That was the first question he asked instead of trying to know how she could help them.

She caught on and smiled. "Don't worry, it's not a dangerous job at all. It's similar to this Abyssal land, but the ruin has already been cleared, yet we can't find a way in. I hope, with your intervention, that will change."

"Did you sacrifice barbarians to this ruin?" Galthor asked.

"Yes, we did," she answered immediately.

Galthor and the masters stiffened, but they didn't do anything. What could they do? The powerful take from the weak. Even their lives are for that grasping.

Isn't that why they were in the Revolutionary base—to grow strong?

"Then how do you plan to help us, Lady Pelica?"

She smiled. "I have my ways."

As she said that, she also gestured with her hand. The rings on her fingers sparked to life, and a metal coffin box appeared on the table in front of them.

"This is....." Galthor began.

The metal box was covered in different arrays of enchantment runes that glowed softly.

With another gesture from her, she opened the coffin, and inside, set in red lush cloth, were relics.

All the relics were weapons and made of dull grey metal.

"How about this? They are all Exalted ranks. I can lend them to you until the end of the exploration of the Abyssal land. What do you think, Chief Galthor?" Lady Pelica inclined her head and smiled.

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