CHAPTER 560: WE WERE TOO WEAK...

The conversation between the Bonefiend Maiden and the Bone Sovereign was anything but subtle—Ethan and his crew heard every word loud and clear. From the sound of it, these two weren’t just passing through. They were planning to capture them and hand them over as a gift to someone called the Holy Fox Sovereign.

At the mention of that name, Ataneya’s expression shifted instantly. Her breathing quickened, and a visible shiver ran through her body. It was like every time she heard "Holy Fox Sovereign," something deep inside her recoiled.

Ethan exhaled slowly, steadying himself, then floated forward to confront them.

"Who the hell are you two, and what do you think you’re doing barging into our territory?" he demanded.

The Bonefiend Maiden and the Bone Sovereign shot him a cold, dismissive glance, their eyes full of contempt.

Then—whoosh!—the Bonefiend Maiden vanished in a flicker and reappeared behind Ethan, scanning his team with a predator’s gaze. Her eyes locked onto Ataneya.

"Well, well, look what we’ve got here," she sneered. "A Shadow Fox—same race as Lord Holy Fox. That’s rare. Hey, why don’t you come with us? I could get you a spot by Lord Holy Fox’s side. Sounds a hell of a lot better than rotting in this dump, doesn’t it? You should be thanking me!"

Ethan’s face darkened instantly. His fury flared—this bitch was way too full of herself, acting like he wasn’t even there.

"Shut your damn mouth!" Ataneya snapped, her voice like ice. "You think you can just waltz in here and talk like that? We’re enemies, not friends. If you want a fight, then bring it!"

As she spoke, her power surged outward like a tidal wave, crashing toward the Bonefiend Maiden.

"Tch. Ungrateful little thing," the Bonefiend Maiden scoffed, her eyes narrowing.

She hadn’t expected Ataneya to strike first. With a sharp motion, she raised the skull she carried, and a wave of deathly energy burst forth to meet Ataneya’s attack. The air cracked and snapped as their powers collided, the space around them warping under the pressure.

To be fair, the girl was strong—stronger than she looked. Just a flick of that skull had unleashed a terrifying force. But Ataneya held her ground. She wasn’t backing down.

Meanwhile, the Bone Sovereign lumbered forward, his massive frame dragging behind him. No one knew exactly what he was planning, but if that hulking body made it into the Emerald Castle district, the destruction would be catastrophic.

Elira didn’t wait to find out. She shot out from the crowd, fist cocked back, and slammed it forward with all her might. The Bone Sovereign’s eyes widened in surprise, and he barely managed to raise his hand in time.

BAM!

The clash of their fists sent shockwaves through the air. Her small fist against his massive one—it looked ridiculous, but the power behind it was no joke. The Bone Sovereign staggered back, clearly shaken. Elira had the upper hand.

"Bonefiend Maiden, let’s go," the Bone Sovereign said suddenly, as if none of the chaos around them mattered. "They’re stronger than we thought. No need to force it. We’ll wait for the right moment. For now, forget about capturing them."

That casual, dismissive tone made Ethan’s blood boil. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Suddenly, beneath the Bone Sovereign’s massive feet, swirling rifts of space tore open—one after another—each one pulsing with intense spatial energy. Blinding light flickered from the portals, stretching into what seemed like endless voids.

"Tch."

The Bonefiend Maiden shot Ataneya a venomous glare, her eyes full of spite. Then she let out a cold, mocking laugh and turned away, following the Bone Sovereign into the glowing rifts.

In the blink of an eye, both of them vanished—gone from sight.

The moment they disappeared, a heavy silence fell over the group. They were safe... for now. But no one looked relieved. If anything, their faces were twisted with frustration, their hearts weighed down by helplessness.

Some were even trembling with rage.

"Goddammit..."

"They were so damn arrogant..."

Ethan clenched his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth might crack. What he lacked right now—what they all lacked—was power.

Two Tier-15 monsters had just shown up out of nowhere, toyed with them like they were nothing, and then walked off like they owned the place.

What the hell was that?

It wasn’t just a defeat—it was a slap in the face.

And Ethan had never felt this humiliated before. The helplessness, the fury—it burned in his chest like wildfire. He wanted strength. No—he needed it.

The only silver lining was that after all the recent battles, Cicero, Isaryne, and the others had finally broken through to SSS rank. Emerald Castle’s overall strength had reached a new peak.

Ethan looked around at his team. Their eyes were burning—not just with anger, but with determination. They were ready. They wanted to fight. They wanted to grow.

He didn’t hesitate.

Raising his hand, he said coldly, "Everyone, come with me. We’re heading back to the Graveyard of Legends. You all know what kind of power lies hidden in that world. Once we’re there, stay sharp. Be careful. But if there’s even the slightest chance to grow stronger—take it. I’m not going through another day like this. Ever again."

"Yes, my Lord! We won’t let it happen again!"

"My Lord... we’re sorry. We were too weak..."

Their voices were filled with guilt and fire. This wasn’t just a loss—it was a humiliation they couldn’t stomach. And they weren’t going to let it happen again.

"Let’s move," Ethan said, his voice like steel.

A massive spatial rift tore open in front of him, humming with energy.

Without another word, he stepped through—and the others followed close behind.

In the next instant, they were back inside the Graveyard of Legends.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he looked out over the eerie, ancient world of Nethora and the looming Gate of Carno in the distance. There was something about this place that called to him—something powerful, something dangerous.

But this time, they weren’t here to explore.

They were here to evolve.

No matter what it took...

They would become stronger.

...