Vale remained silent even long after Kaela's father and his aides vanished in pursuit of the fleeing Demon God.

He definitely felt the Arcane Immortal's gaze on him just now.

Thankfully, he only seemed curious.

He then turned to the battlefield around them. There were still some fading traces of corrupted blue flame as the weakened Shadow Immortals slowly regrouped.

He considered returning to his realm immediately.

He really wanted to leave the place after the Demon Invasion was confirmed. He wanted safety, familiarity, and distance from this war.

However, it wouldn't be easy.

Unlike when he arrived here, leaving a higher realm to descend into a lower one was not as simple as stepping through a gate.

It was a disruption of cosmic balance itself, one that could not go unnoticed.

Such an act would definitely draw attention, perhaps even more than his presence here already had.

Still, he couldn't stay in this place forever.

Sooner or later, he would be caught in battles too great to slip away from.

He had to escape.

***

The group eventually traveled to the nearest place of safety. It was a heavily protected city, and according to Kaela, it was also untouched by demonic corruption.

No demon had dared to invade this place at all.

The moment Vale passed through its gates, he felt the difference.

This city was filled with life, and he felt its stability.

It was guarded by no less than an Arcane Immortal. It was a presence that deterred even Demon Gods from approaching recklessly.

It was no wonder that there were no sightings of demons that had ever been recorded near its walls. Perhaps the invaders sensed the pointlessness of wasting their strength here.

Still, peace wouldn't stay here for very long.

Most of the wounded Immortals who survived the frontlines were carried into this city to be treated.

Even if there was no direct attack in the city yet, the city was filled with the scent of blood and herbs.

There were even plenty of courtyards that had been transformed into healing grounds.

Everywhere Vale looked, Lesser and Earth Immortals lay on stone beds.

The Arcanists were also in bad condition.

Their bodies were trembling as healers worked tirelessly to patch their shredded skin or even some divinity back together.

And the citizens… they knew.

They knew about the Demon Saints. The Demon Gods. The endless war that was consuming their world.

But they could do nothing except contribute however they could.

From what Kaela had mentioned, women and men processed food and herbs day and night, while traders scoured distant forests and caves for materials demanded by the Immortals.

Everyone was working together in order to survive this trial brought by the Demons.

Vale felt a strange heaviness on him…

This wasn't his realm. This wasn't his fight. Yet here he was, treading their battlefields, surviving on the edge of gods and demons.

***

As soon as Vale and the others secured lodgings within one of the city's inner compounds, he finally got to rest as he reviewed the items he had obtained from the Demon God.

They were definitely valuable.

[ Item: Fragment of Demon God's Horn (Corrupted Relic)

Grade: Immortal Artifact

Description: A broken piece of a Demon God's horn, tainted by corrupted divinity and infernal essence. Though incomplete, it retains traces of its former might. Can be refined into powerful artifacts or used as a catalyst for forbidden rituals. ]

'Hmmm… Another alchemical item…' Vale mused as he turned to the next item.

[ Item: Netherflame Crystal (Divine-Grade Material)

Grade: Divine Material

Description: A crystallized core of corrupted divine flame, condensed from a Demon God's immortal fire. Its power is capable of fueling rituals, forging divine artifacts, or strengthening one's divine body. However, its instability makes it extremely dangerous to absorb directly. ]

'Another one… I guess I didn't have the time to extract him properly.' Vale muttered to himself.

Finally, he turned to the trait he had actually obtained from the Demon God.

[ Trait Absorbed: Resilient Divinity (Minor)

Description: Your soul has gained a minor resistance to divine interference. Increases resistance against divine suppression, reduces damage from divine-based attacks by 5%, and grants slight regeneration when exposed to divine energy. ]

'Urgh… It's not as amazing as I thought.' Vale mused as he turned to his companions.

The Sky Immortals were resting. They were all weary after multiple Deity Possessions.

The Lesser Immortals and others were also slumped in exhaustion as they let the potions or medicines they consumed help them recover.

Vale, however, had something else gnawing at him.

When Kaela finally recovered and excused herself from the others, Vale followed. They stopped at a quiet balcony overlooking the streets of the city..

"Kaela, I need to leave this realm." Vale said truthfully.

As expected, her gaze turned sharp, but not surprised.

"I thought as much. You've never belonged here."

Vale nodded.

"I'm just curious about your realm, Vale…" Her tone softened, though she remained serious.

"The way you use power… It doesn't follow the laws of our Divinity…"

Vale didn't deny it. After all, he had used multiple Arcane Paths and Celestial Arts.

"Then I'll be direct. I need your help. You're the only one here I can trust." Vale said.

For a long moment, Kaela was silent…

Finally, she exhaled. "I'll help you. But… on one condition."

Vale frowned. "What is it?"

"We wait for my father's return. He is a City Lord, an Arcane Immortal. Without his approval, I won't risk it. Not just for you… for everyone in this city."

Vale hesitated. "Approval? Why?"

"Because the realm is unstable," she explained slowly. "The Demon Realm has torn holes in our borders. Dimensional walls are unbalanced. To create a passage to your original Realm right now… it isn't just difficult, Vale. It's dangerous."

Vale paused as he heard this.

He had thought escaping would simply require enough Divinity, a gate carved in the right place, a push through space. It would attract a lot of attention, but definitely not too dangerous.

But Kaela's words shattered that illusion.

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