CHAPTER 148: PROVING HIMSELF.

Meanwhile, Levi had reached the formation of eight nightcrawlers in no time. The visibility inside the dark clouds was near null. But for nightcrawlers? It was nothing.

99% of nightcrawlers possessed genetics that helped them see better in the dark due to their colorless habitat.

While this usually meant a massive advantage for the nightcrawlers battling in the dark, when faced with Levi? It made no difference.

Levi ordered Vyra to take them way above the nightcrawlers’ formation without getting noticed.

Vyra reduced her speed to subsonic, knowing that it would give her away. Then, she took off into the high heavens, stopping only when she pierced through the dark sea of clouds and was met with the breathtaking view of the sun attempting to cleanse the clouds.

Its rays burned bright, and the darkness seemed to fade away, but immediately after, a new layer was born... The Broken Peak was fueling the whirlpool eternally.

’How intriguing... How are they pulling it off?’ Levi murmured in wonder at the sight.

’It’s not difficult.’ Ash’Kral replied lazily.

’They find a nightcrawler species called Fume Rats or Gloompuffers, then create a farm of them near a Stygian Gate.

When fed a common Shadow Realm fungus known as Gloomcap Mush, the Fume Rats store the rot inside specialized glands near their rear.

Within minutes, they can release a thick, sulfur-black gas cloud from their tail-end, covering a wide radius quite easily.’

"...Are you telling me, I’m flying inside a giant fart cloud surrounding hundreds of kilometers..."

’Most definitely.’ Ash’Kral confirmed.

’I see...’ Levi remained silent, ’Why didn’t you tell me earlier?’

’Why bother? Aren’t you wearing a cleansing mask?’

’Mask, huh.’

Without an ounce of hesitation, Levi summoned Ash’Kral in his weapon form and pinpointed the nightcrawlers’ arriving location, following a short calculation.

"Vyra, catch me."

Then, he grinned widely and jumped back into the sea of darkness clouds, piercing through them with the Judgement’s Chainstaff pointed forward.

"You petty f*cker." Ash’Kral cursed, closing his eye in disgust.

Levi laughed behind the mask in enjoyment, the wind fluttering his hoodie and hair. Amidst the black fog, he noticed that the eight nightcrawlers were flying in a perfect V formation, getting closer and closer to his calculated location.

As he approached, Levi quietly murmured, "Echoforging: Twinblade Style."

In an instant, two large, humming blades materialized at each end of his staff, their edges glimmering with intense vibration!

Their size perfectly matched the oblivious nightcrawlers’ formation. Before they could react to the intense humming noise, Levi appeared amidst their formation, akin to a ghost.

With perfect calculation and form, Levi twisted the staff in one smooth motion.

Slice!

The sound blades sliced through both air and flesh, cleanly cutting each nightcrawler from different body parts...

While it wasn’t a perfect slice, none of them suffered less than having their wings cut off.

Kreeee...

Ignoring the hideous seagull-looking nightcrawlers’ screech, Levi continued on his descent until he pierced through the dark clouds, returning to the visible skies.

To his surprise, he passed by Velmira, who stared at him, falling into his doom speechlessly.

"Peanut, catch..."

Before she could finish her order, Vyra sped past them like they were standing still and swooped under Levi, catching him somewhat gently on her back.

Only then did she return next to them, not a single weary huff released, like this was as effortless as a brushstroke on an untouched canvas.

"I am back." Levi showed the same peaceful smile, like he had never left.

The entire sequence was carried out in less than a minute, from his departure to his return...Yet, this was a mere 10% of Levi’s first ultimate technique!

Echoforging, the ability the Crimson Tree considered the most needed ability in Levi’s current level. A powerful ability allowing Levi to create potent vibrational constructs based on his imagination!

It was like bypassing the Resonance System to obtain an arsenal of sound-based constructs!

Of course, Resonance System was still a must to create the rest of the abilities, but when it came to constructs? Levi could only create perfection...A true hack!

"So fast? Did you fail by any chance?"

Velmira frowned, unable to accept a Junior Daywalker finishing off eight Tier 2 nightcrawlers in midair in less than a minute.

If it were on the ground, it might make sense, but midair and inside a pitch-dark sea of clouds?

"Nope."

Hearing his response, Velmira decided to check for herself with her spiritual sense. Unlike Levi, spiritual energy was highly taken care of by most Psych specialists, relying on it only during combat or serious matters.

Thus, they had to turn it off and on to save as much fuel as possible, understanding that its recovery was a pain in the ass.

However, before she could use it, Velmira was left stunned at the sight of a rain of blood, flesh, and body parts falling behind them.

Not a single bird was spared...

"How about now, do I still need your attendance?" Levi asked, smiling.

"No... Please, just go away..."

Velmira covered her face while shooing Levi with her other hand, feeling defeated... She didn’t even want him to tell her how he did it.

She just wanted him to go away and leave her to enjoy the stability of her little world, where logic mattered.

"I will update you on any information I find." Levi nodded in appreciation and took off in a different direction.

Watching him go away with his arrogant nightmount, Velmira and Peanut sighed in relief. Then, she told Lord Idriss about what happened, and he relayed the news to Instructor Seraphis.

Both of them chuckled at the front line of the army, their eyes affixed on the skies, where dark dots of some scouts were still visible.

"His cultivation and fighting progress speed are truly mindblowing." Lord Idriss commented.

"Giving him a contract is like giving a tiger wings... Vision impaired or not, he will pave a path for himself just like he did with his contract." Instructor Seraphis smiled proudly, believing that Levi had what it took to bypass the Pathfinder’s problem imposed on him by the rest of High ranked Daywalkers.

"Hmm, aren’t you favoring him a bit too much compared to your other students?" Madam Naima interjected, sitting modestly on top of her husband’s nightmount.

"I don’t play favoritism." Instructor Seraphis denied the allegation with a forced cough.

Lord Idriss and Madam Naima chuckled, knowing that he had a soft spot for Levi after what he went through as a child, and still not giving in to the nightcrawlers’ temptations.

He had a massive amount of respect for anyone under serious trauma and still maintaining their humanity.

Suddenly, Velmira’s voice resounded in Lord Idriss’ mind.

’Two Midnight Dominions Nests spotted; one ten kilometers ahead, one five kilometers east.’

’Are they full?’ He asked.

’About two hundred to three hundred nightcrawlers in each. Two Tier 3 as heads, and varying Tier 2 and Tier 1.’ She replied.

’Continue the good work, we will deal with them.’

Lord Idriss relayed the news to the main squad and the captains... Then, he split two teams headed by powerful Warden Daywalkers.

He sent them to clean the nests with two purifying statues while the main army remained following its original path.

A Midnight Dominions Nest wasn’t too much of a threat to their army compared to the Shadow Castles and nests above.

Fortunately, it wasn’t allowed for Shadow Castles under the authority of the CRS Platform to join another nest.

It negated the need for the platform in the first place since the moment a Nest Owner joined the dimensional platform as a Conqueror, he would be rewarded based on the size of his territory and how much time he was maintaining it.

On the other hand, Midnight Dominion Nest owners could also join the platform, but it was too risky for them since it would place them in the crosshairs of many Raiders.

Although the Raiders would have an appropriate power level, balanced to the targeting nest based on the platform rules, it was still too much of a risk.

"Grave’maw should already be knowledgeable about our invasion." Instructor Seraphis asked, "What do you think, will he take the fight on the surface or within the mountain?"

"Mountain, most definitely." Lord Idriss replied, assured.

He knew that Grave’maw was of an enhancement type and possessed the powers of earth element and petrification... He was much stronger and safer within his sealed fortress of a mountain.

So, even if he knew about their arrival, all he could do was slow them down to prepare for the assault on Mountain Thurnak... That’s why Lord Idriss refused to stop moving forward even once.

Time was of the essence... Or at least, this was everyone’s thought process.

Unfortunately, Lord Idriss was only correct with one conclusion.

The Lord of the Broken Peak would remain inside his mountain... But he had already known of their arrival hours ago and prepared appropriately for it...

Of course, not alone.