Some time ago, in the Shadow Realm…

The skies above Note City, where Vale and many other Shadow Immortals had turned red…

It seemed like it was due to some kind of curse spell that the Demon Gods had released to the region.

There were traces or perhaps residual demonic energy in the air. For Immortals, this was faint and not harmful at all. However, for ordinary citizens, it could cause some harm, so the city ensures that its barriers are active at all times to protect everyone.

The city itself, once a thriving trade hub, had become really silent… Almost every hour, many Arcanists and Immortals were being sent back here to get treated after fighting on the front lines.

"It's done…"

Vale just finished extracting Spells from various corpses and also fusing a few more of his Spells into a stronger one.

Since he couldn't just leave the city, he decided to just use his Divine Extraction System to get even stronger.

After a few moments, Vale took a deep breath…

He closed his eyes as he used his Clairvoyance Spell to see the situation from afar… He wanted to check whether there were Demon Lords, Demon Saints, or even some Demon Gods trying to come after this city…

He could still feel the aftershock of the Demon God's presence, and he knew that as an Earth Immortal, he was no match against it.

At the very least, not until he was able to advance one more time and extract someone at the level of an Arcane Immortal or Demon God…

However, that would not be easy…

Whoosh~

Suddenly, he felt someone appear near him through a Shadow Step…

It was Kaela who approached quietly, Shadowlord Kilo's daughter.

Her footsteps were light despite the weight of her armor. Two of her Sky Immortal bodyguards followed at a respectful distance…

Vale opened his eyes as Kaela stopped beside him. Her face was pale as she seemed to have received awful news just now.

"He's still not back," she said, glancing toward the horizon. "Father chased that thing halfway across the Black Mountain… Still, we haven't heard anything since."

"He'll return," Vale replied. His voice was calm, but there was a tension beneath it…

Kaela nodded, though her eyes remained troubled. "I know. But we can't stay here much longer."

Vale turned to look at her fully. "You're thinking of retreating?"

"I'm thinking of surviving," she said. "Note City is within Father's domain, but the other Arcane Immortals have made it clear… They won't intervene unless the Demon Gods cross into their territories. They've drawn their lines and we're on the wrong side of them."

There were plenty of Arcane Immortals that could match the Demon Gods. However, they were not inclined to fight against the Demon Gods since their death or injury could collapse their clan and be swallowed by other Shadowlords. At the very least, they didn't want to be bothered until they were also targeted.

Right now, aside from Kilo, there were only seven other Arcane Immortals who were fighting against the Demon Gods… Considering their influence, the total number of Immortals that they could muster was only more than a thousand… It wasn't just enough since the whole Demon Realm was involved in this…

Vale didn't respond immediately. He looked out over the city, watching as a group of Lesser Immortals and Grand Arcanists were carried to be treated from the frontlines…

Many of them had fought in the last battle and some of them may not survive the night.

Kaela continued, her voice lower now. "We've lost three cities in the last week. I heard that almost ten percent of the continent is already under their control. And the Demon Gods aren't even trying to conquer everything. They're just… spreading. Like a sickness. And no one wants to be the first to bleed for someone else's land."

Vale's gaze darkened. "Cowards."

"They're pragmatic," Kaela said bitterly. "They think the Demon Gods will stop once they've carved out their share. That they'll be satisfied."

"They won't be."

"I know." She looked at him then, her expression started softening. "But we're outnumbered. Even Father can't hold them off forever. If we stay here, we'll be swallowed."

Vale stood slowly, brushing dust from his cloak. "Then leave."

Kaela blinked. "What?"

"Take your people. Go south... Find a stronghold that hasn't been touched yet. Fortify it and wait for the other Arcane Immortals to get involved…"

"And you?"

"I'm going back."

Kaela's eyes widened. "Back? To the Human Realm?"

Vale nodded. "I believed that the Chaos Immortals or even Void Immortals in my realm were already causing trouble…. I've been here for a long time. If I wait any longer, there won't be a realm left to return to."

Kaela hesitated, then stepped closer. "You're not fully recovered… You nearly burned yourself out."

"I'll manage."

She looked at him for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Then let me send someone with you."

"No," Vale said. "This is something I have to do alone."

Suddenly, the sky above Note City trembled…

A wave of dark energy swept across the city, and of course, every Immortal in the city felt it…

Shadowlord Kilo, the Arcane Immortal and the City Lord, had returned.

Within minutes, the inner sanctum of the Kilo Clan's stronghold was sealed and fortified.

Then, the most trusted were summoned to the Gathering Hall of the Clan's Stronghold.

"It's father… Let's go…"

Without a moment's hesitation, Kaela followed her father's location. She arrived first, still in her armor, flanked by her two Sky Immortal guards. Vale followed behind her, since he was basically part of her team at this point…

One by one, the others arrived… They were the commanders, strategists, elite spellcasters, and clan elders. Some still had fresh wounds, while others looked nervous since they felt that the City Lord was actually injured!

Indeed, by the time the last had entered, forty-two had gathered and soon, at the far end of the chamber, Shadowlord Kilo appeared, and sat on a high chair reserved for the city lord...

His left arm was missing…

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