Chapter 325: Trusting Elder Sterling and Departure
"She’s in Italy right now!" Freya’s voice was filled with excitement.
Caelus was taken aback by this revelation.
Italy was where the Biblical Faction’s headquarters was located, and more importantly, where the beacon might be hidden.
"We’re going there," Caelus said firmly.
"I already spoke with my dad, he already booked plane tickets for us to Italy!"
"The timing couldn’t be more perfect." Caelus mumbled under his breath.
He cut the call after telling Freya to send the ticket details over.
Then he turned to Sylvia and used telepathy to share everything about the beacon and Tiamat being in the same location.
Her crimson eyes widened slightly at the coincidence.
Caelus then faced Elder Sterling with a serious expression.
"Can we trust you, Elder Sterling?"
The elderly man met his gaze without flinching.
"Follow your heart, Young Caelus. If you think I’m trustworthy, then I promise you that what you tell me, I will protect it with my life."
Caelus stared at him for a long moment, reading every expression on his face.
Finally, he made his decision.
He told Sterling everything about John Tutor, the message on the stone slab, and the island within the World Fragment.
Sterling’s composed demeanor shattered completely.
"He is my great grandfather," Sterling said with a trembling voice. "But from what I knew, my great grandmother and him never spoke after a certain point. He didn’t know she was pregnant with my grandfather."
Both Caelus and Sylvia were taken aback hearing this.
What sort of man doesn’t know a woman was pregnant with his child?
Caelus’s lips twitched slightly, this sounded like a cliché trope from a novel didn’t it?
He then revealed the most critical information, the Hollow Beast being sealed in Antarctica.
Sterling’s face went pale at his words.
"So that’s what it was," he spoke in surprise. "A mysterious man told all the major factions about a pocket dimension in Antarctica, and that the key to opening it was somewhere in America. I was also given the same information by him."
His eyes moved to the World Fragment still radiating faint light.
"To think this fragment really turned out to be the key. I found it in Las Vegas during an expedition years ago."
Hearing this, Caelus frowned.
"What did this man look like?"
"A wealthy-looking businessman wearing a highly expensive black suit," Sterling recalled. "He had a gold tooth that gleamed whenever he smiled."
Caelus and Sylvia exchanged stunned glances at his words.
That description matched the same person who had visited Candy’s blacksmith shop asking about Caelus before the Origin Ore Vein incident.
Just who was this mysterious businessman?
"Do you know him?" Sterling asked.
"No," Caelus denied, though his mind was racing with questions. "I was just asking."
Sterling nodded and glanced at the World Fragment in Caelus’s hand.
"If this is the key," Sterling continued with renewed determination, "Then we can enter the pocket dimension and kill the beast ourselves."
Caelus however shook his head grimly.
"The Hollow Beast is an Emperor-Rank being, and there were aliens involved in sealing it because Earth doesn’t have anyone at Emperor-Rank to deal with it."
Sterling was taken aback by this new piece of information.
Then with a frown, he inquired. "Then what are we supposed to do?"
"I don’t know, but the best course of action should be going to Italy and finding the beacon and get the aliens to deal with the Hollow Beast."
Sterling nodded slowly after processing everything.
"Then I will meet you there in three days. You go ahead with your friend first."
"I will make sure that we leave there with that beacon." Sterling said with confidence.
Caelus and Sylvia agreed.
They left the penthouse and returned to their apartment to pack their belongings.
While folding clothes into her bag, Sylvia asked a question that had been on her mind.
"Do you think you can achieve Emperor-Rank?"
Caelus let out a small laugh hearing her words.
"I’m just a Master Rank right now. Let’s see how things go, our best bet is still the Beacon."
Sylvia nodded in agreement.
They both soon made calls to their families, Sylvia spoke with her mother while Caelus contacted his parents to inform them about the sudden trip.
Hours later, they arrived at the airport with their luggage.
Raymond Alisson stood near the entrance with a complicated expression on his face, Freya bouncing excitedly beside him.
"You’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations, Caelus Kross," Raymond said, his eyes fixed on Caelus. "I was honestly blown away, seeing you defeat a King-Rank. Every faction is now talking about you."
Caelus smiled softly hearing his words.
"I did what had to be done."
The words of Raymond reminded him of something.
His mind drifted briefly to Zhang Wei and Ayame from the Taoist and Shinto Factions, they had helped him during the demon leader fight and he wanted to thank them properly.
He also remembered something strange, when he received combat blessings during the battle, Ayame’s name had appeared as the Avatar of Amaterasu.
Was she actually Amaterasu in human form?
He didn’t know the answer.
Maybe he will find out once he finds her and asks her about it.
But for now, it was time to head out.
After brief farewells with Raymond, they boarded the plane together.
Inside, Caelus spotted two familiar faces already seated.
Zhang Wei and Ayame were on the same flight.
Freya ended up sitting next to Zhang Wei while Caelus and Sylvia found their seats, only to discover Ayame would be sitting right beside them.
The moment Sylvia noticed the arrangement, her eyes narrowed.
"Caelus, switch places with me."
"It’s just a seat," he replied as he glanced at Ayame.
He knew why she said that.
His obsessive girlfriend didn’t like him being next to a girl.
Sylvia pinched his arm with a scary smile.
"Oh? So you want to sit next to another girl?" Her voice dripped with danger that promised pain. "Am I not hot enough for you?"
Caelus’s lips twitched violently at her words.
He sighed and in the end switched places without another word.
Ayame watched this exchange with a strange expression, clearly confused by their dynamic.
Once settled, she spoke up with a slightly forced smile.
"I didn’t expect to find you here, Mr. Caelus. You really outdid yourself at that place, it was spectacular."
"I did what I had do to do," Caelus replied with the answer he gave to Raymond.
"Why are you going to Italy, Miss Ayame?"
Ayame’s expression turned apologetic hearing his question.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t reveal that."
Caelus shrugged. "I don’t mind, I was just curious. It looks like a faction mission."
She nodded in confirmation.
’Did that businessman with golden teeth also reveal that the beacon is in Italy?’ Caelus cursed internally.
Just how much did that guy know?
Just then, another familiar figure boarded the flight.
Lunari’s eyes widened when she spotted them.
"Why are you all here?"
"We’re going to Italy for a trip," Caelus answered.
"That’s great!" Lunari beamed with excitement. "I’ll show you around when we arrive!"
She took a seat directly behind Caelus and Sylvia.
Sylvia’s expression became increasingly wary.
She looked to her right and saw Ayame, a beautiful girl with elegant features.
She looked behind and saw Lunari, another attractive woman with holy energy radiating from her.
Her grip on Caelus’s hand tightened possessively.
She had to make sure her man was safe and sound in this dangerous environment.
The flight took off smoothly.
Hours passed as they cruised through the sky, and eventually a familiar notification appeared before everyone’s eyes.
"It seems like the Domain is open!" Freya announced cheerfully.
Caelus turned to Sylvia.
"Should we enter?"
"We’ll be here for nine more hours," she reasoned. "Entering the Domain would be a good idea."
Caelus nodded in agreement.
If they could get stronger inside, they would do so without hesitation.
Around them, Ayame, Zhang Wei, and Lunari also began entering the Domain.
Nobody was scared of assassination during this process, once you entered the Domain, you couldn’t touch or harm anyone in the real world.
When you returned, you were given five seconds of invincibility to prevent surprise attacks.
The only exception was Sylvia, who could touch Caelus even during that protected state.
She believed it was because of her Authority as the Vampire Progenitor, but Caelus knew the truth.
It was her former power as the Ender of Death.
That had to be it.
By now, he was fully convinced that she was the former Ender of Death.
But it was clear that Sylvia was not ready for that talk.
Hence, he just kept it in his mind for now.
Whrmm!
Light consumed their vision as they crossed into the Origin Ascension Domain.
When Caelus opened his eyes, he found himself standing in Genesis City as expected.
But something was very wrong.
[Warning!]
[Genesis City is under attack by monsters]