"Hina! We’re going to visit Nima’s! Wanna come!"

Hurried footsteps was heard and they see Hina with her outdoor outfit.

"Wait! Are you going somewhere? I’m sorry."

"Don’t be tense, the place I’m going is to Nima’s, since you guys are also going there, I’m coming with you."

"Is aunt Tsu going with us?"

"Mom! All of us are going to Nima’s, do you want to come!?"

"No, I’ll stay here with Liliaghant, we can’t just leave our house unattended."

"Who would dare try anything at our house, if they really are that brave, anyone of us will be enough to destroy their lives." Hina is confident in this.

"Besides, Ganko and her little brother are here to help Liliaghant, together with some of Jasmine’s subordinates." Sean smiles and also persuades her.

"I nearly forgot, Ganko said that her little brother is slowly recovering, she’s sorry that she wasn’t much of a wife to you these couple of weeks."

"Don’t worry about it, I’m not that type of azshole, I’m not insensitive."

"Be that as it may, she promised that she would make it up to you at a later date, for now, you can now vent your lust on mom and I."

"What!?" Sean’s eyes widens.

Even Tsu was shocked.

"Yeah, we talked earlier and she agreed to be a member of your harem, she’s just waiting for you to visit her room."

Tsu wants to interject when she freezes, she sees Sean staring at her with intense desire.

Hina smiles mischievously, she flashes a smug grin to her mother, clearly, their so-called talk went differently from what she said.

"I understand, I’ll ask later." His voice is hoarse, clearly trying to hold himself in.

He quickly went out of the house, afraid that he might not be able to stop himself.

"Wait! I didn’t." Unfortunately, the person that she was speaking to was no longer there.

Her heart starts beating quickly, that look earlier had said it all, Sean has intention towards her, he just wants permission and her daughter basically gave him one.

The thing that she hated the most is the fact that she was actually expectant of his advancement and was afraid that she wouldn’t refuse if he really make a move towards her.

In the rainbow, Hina looks at her lover and snorts and she pinches his side.

"Stop smiling so much! Hmph! As expected, when men have brand new partners, they would forget the old ones."

"Wait what!? I’m not that kind of person!"

"Really?" She purses her lips while looking at him doubtfully.

Sean didn’t answer, he doesn’t want to go against this lover of his, she had done so much for him.

"We’re here."

They land at the Gold Family estate, Flowery pouts, she likes traveling at the clouds.

Seeing her like this, he puts cluster of clouds in her feet.

She jumps and floats, she starts giggling, Yana becomes jealous and pulls his clothes as she looks at him with puppy eyes.

He also puts clouds on her feet as the two of them starts playing with them.

"I never knew that your clouds has so many uses."

"They do, they are even better when used in combat, you should had seen just how Wuk uses them."

"I want to obtain one too."

"No, I don’t want you to experience the same thing, let’s just say that I nearly died, so did Wuk and that’s with our abnormal bodies, if it was anyone else, they would had certainly died."

"What!? How did the two of you obtain this skill in the first place!?"

"By angering the heaven and being stroke by it’s wrath, basically, taking multiple lightning bolts."

"What did the two of you do to invite such a reaction from the heaven."

"Wuk protected me, I was the one that was being punished."

"Eh!?"

"Heaven is cruel, Hina, they don’t care about what our race think right and wrong is, for them, anyone that goes against their natural order is an enemy and I clearly did that."

Hina was pensive, this is the first time she sees the world as someone with power.

Heaven is cruel, a phrase that seems to resonates with her.

"If Heaven is cruel, then, why do we create all of these rules and laws to follow?"

"Because we’re humans, it’s in our society to create order that fits our community and the ones that controls and enforces these laws are the powerful ones, that’s why no one really dares to say no to my ideas."

"That makes us a powerful family that shoulders and manages the lives of thousands of people."

"What do yo think our family is? Of course we are exactly what you described and the people themselves are the ones that are begging to rule over them."

She becomes silent once again, Dorothy, listening besides them agrees with all his words but she’s surprised that his family was unaware of such information.

Everyone knows that Sean is the strongest person in their city and no one can deny this fact, the sheer difference between him and the rest of the gold rankers is just too large.

Any of his pet beast can conquer the city and his existence is the one that keeping the other powers at bay.

He’s equal to that of the Federation in terms of pure power, no one dares to slight their family.

Everyone wishes to obtain his favor, that’s why many girls were daydreaming of marrying him and many men wishes to be him.

"Nima, we come to visit!" Hina shouts but she was stunned to see familiar faces in front of them.

"Jericho? What are you guys doing here?" He asks.

"My mercenary group is allies with the mercenaries under the Gold Family."

"Then, had you met Steel Plate’s group?"

"Yeah, I was actually attracted to them because one of them is called Leo, just like our classmates, only to find out that both you and Chika were actually once members of the group."

"How is old Steel Plate doing?" Hearing this, Jericho looks at a couple of individuals.

Fred steps forward. "Sorry to tell you this but Steel Plate died during the invasion, together with some of the mercenary captains."

Sean falters, after a moment of silence, he sighs.

He had never looked up the casualties regarding the invasion, he thought that all of his acquaintance had survived but it seems that he was too hopeful.

"Where is his ashes buried?" He asks.

"He is buried in the mausoleum of heroes, everyone that participated in the invasion did, anyone can visit them if they want to."

"I’ll be sure to visit him, probably by myself or with Chika."

"Sean! You finally visited!" The solemn atmosphere was broken by a loud voice.

It was Nima, both Hina and her were hugging tightly.

They truly missed each other.

"I thought that you wouldn’t visit unless you want something!"

He blushes and coughs slightly. "I did visit because I want something."

"Hmph! Some friends you are! Here I thought that you missed me and wanted to visit us!"

"Sorry, I’m actually here for two reasons, both reasons requires the permission from your father."

"Two reasons?" She pouts but still calls her father, he was immediately brought to the office, before Nima leaves, she stomps on his foot.

"Sorry about my daughter’s behavior."

"Nah, it’s okay, we consider her as a family friend and her reaction is justified."

"I have heard from my servants that you want to ask me about two things?"

"Yes, first is that your family should transport a large number of kobolds to the dragon mountain, the two dragons there requires servants to tend to their needs and according to them, their former servants were kobolds."

Harold’s eyes lights up, this is an opportunity for their family to befriend the rulers of Golden Paradise, he can’t help but look at Sean with gratitude.

"The second is the box, do you still have it, let’s open it to end that lingering attachment of yours."

Harold stands up from his seat with a stunned expression.

"I might not be a true Innate but I have several energies learned that are at the same rank, bring it to our house once you’re ready, I know that you still have a lot of things to deal with."

He left the room, leaving some time for Harold to calm down.

Taking out his phone, he makes a call, it was instantly answered.

"Sean, don’t speak too loudly, my sisters are trying to listen to our conversation." Chika’s hushed voice can be heard from the other end.

"Chika, I called you to bring some upsetting news, I’m currently in the Gold Family."

Chika’s heart skips a beat.

"Steel Plate sadly passed away, I know you’re busy right now but I still think that we should visit his grave."

Silence, an unbearable silence descends, only after a while does a trembling voice answer.

"Bring me to visit him later."

He sighs once again, Chika is more familiar with Steel Plate, he has treated everyone fairly and even sometimes treat them like his children.

Chika has been a long time member of the group, the memories they shared is something that he will never replace.

"I never thought that Steel Plate would die before I return."

They return back home, Dorothy was about to return back to the shop together with Flowery after sensing his solemn mood but he shakes his head.

"Stay here for now, I’m going to visit an old friend." He smiles and went out.

Waiting for him was Jericho, together with Fred and the others.

"I heard that you’re planning to throw a party? Is it still on?"

"Yes! I won’t stop, I will celebrate our return to the fullest and also cheer for our great future."

"I understand, you go visit your old friend, I’ll gather everyone."

"Thank you, I just wanted to throw a small party but it seems that plan had already sunk."

"You’re finally starting to act like your role." Jericho smiles.

"Says the person that was also pushed to a role that he didn’t ask for."

Jericho shrugs his shoulder. "What can we do, we aren’t cruel and ruthless as those from the Martial Alliance, you can call us reckless fools that tries to save everyone, so what!? What kind of young people are we if we aren’t hot blooded!"

"Well said! Since I represent our entire zone, I’m going to party supremely grand!"

"Hahaha!"

The depressing mood disappears, they also lost many friends along the way, he feels much closer to those students than with Steel Plate, the only reason why he was feeling like this is because of pride.

After reaching his current strength, he feels like he can do anything but this was disproved from the beating he got from the Professor, then, the death of an old acquaintance.

He’s still a human, someone that can be driven because of his emotion, if this is the case, then, so be it!

He will live how he wants! With a lifespan this long, always brooding and always cultivating will only make him like some sort of immovable rock.

He went to visit Chika’s house, the latter was already waiting for him at the gate, before her family can even say anything, she grabs him and quickly leaves.

Their destination, the musoleum of heroes, looking at the vases with the names and pictures on them, he can’t help but sigh.

He just now realized the number of people that died and the number of people that fought against the invasion.

"This is where the Gold Family buried the remains of the heroes that are members of their family."

"Uncle Sho."

"Aunt Mary."

"Big sister Gasia."

Chika mumbles the names of the people she knows during her time as a member of the Gold Family mercenary group.

Tears starts dripping from her eyes as she hugs his hand tighter.

She had already prepared herself but reality was far worse than she expected.

She was always a sociable person, this made it easy for her to make friends and she has many friends but in just a matter of months, she lost many of them.

"Their death are not going to be in vain, they had given their lives to protect the people of this city and secure our future."

Chika wipes her eyes and nods her head, they aren’t the only ones that lost someone they know.

They return back to Sean’s house, Chika doesn’t want him to return to her house, she doesn’t want to embarrass herself once again.

Looking at the packed house, Sean was stunned, he teleports inside his room and was relieved when he didn’t see anyone.

He calls Hina. "I’m inside my room, can you tell me why there are so many people in our house right now? I know Jericho and he wouldn’t invite people we don’t know."

"They are people that wants to get acquainted with you, many of them are either relatives of people we know or wealthy individuals that brought so many gifts and nearly groveled just to join the party."

His lip twitches when he heard this, he was in a state of shock, he quickly calls Jericho.

"Sean! Sorry, I hadn’t called you but there’s a massive situation in your house right now, the guys and I are trying our best to keep everything in order."

"Don’t worry, I called Jasmine to sort things out, I didn’t want to bother her because night is the time she cultivates but I am forced to do so."

"I told her that she doesn’t have to come personally (Told her that she must not come personally, just her clone, this is a test if she can split her consciousness into two, a lie he told to her.)"

They are unaware of this as the connection between him and his pet beast is quite deep that they can talk via their soul link.

In just a short while, Jasmine’s clone arrives, she was in her fox form.

"Unrelated individuals must leave! Stop bothering my master!"

Her presence radiates intense might, unbeknownst to her, this move alarmed multiple individuals, including some of the guests.

Bear, Frost, Christine, and Xi Mu all frowns after hearing Jasmine’s voice.

"Hmph! Those bxstards are trying to piss Sean off!" Bear was the first one to throw his bear and comes down.

The rest follows.

Zack, who was talking to Harold frowns, he turns to his disciples and orders them. "Go deal with those that aren’t invited."

"Yes, Dojo master!"

"I didn’t bring anyone with me as only one group is familiar with Sean." Harold sighs.

"Well, my disciples are invited but only some of them are worthy to come."

In just a short while, those that weren’t invited were kicked out, their gifts were returned to them.

Sean finally comes out of the room, feeling refreshed, Chika follows after him, covering her mouth while blushing.

"Sorry, everyone, I wanted to throw a grand party for both our past and for our future, I just didn’t expect that multiple individuals would join without even asking."

"That’s why you need bodyguards!" Xi Mu shouts, everyone agrees with this.

"You’re right, I’m probably going to recruit some disciples of the Black Ape Dojo."

"My soldiers are a lot better than those punks!" Xi Mu suddenly shouts.

"What did you say!?" Zack, was of course, riled up by their comment.

Ahem!

Sean coughs slightly but it feels like bells ringing in the ears of everyone.

"How about this? We’re going to create a competition for whoever wants to be my guard, ten slots, for people age fifteen to twenty, training near our house won’t only increase your ranking speed but also have access to unlimited healing from Liliaghant and a great feast from aun- I mean, from one of my lovers, Tsu."

Everyone was stunned by his words, Tsu was speechless, she glares at her daughter, it’s all her fault!

Sean was unaware of Tsu’s struggle as he mingles with everyone, they were laughing and having a great time.

Meanwhile, in the Core Zone, Maki and Fabuki were listening to their mother.

The news about multiple zones had already been destroyed disheartened them.

"Zone Z is currently safe, the rumours that boy the two of you always talks about has caused the other powers to be afraid of making a move against that zone."

"As expected of Sean!" Fabuki proudly states.

"Still, we need to inform him that our world has actually become a transit station for multiple small worlds, it’s devouring even pocket dimensions, it won’t be long for even more powerful creatures to descend on our world."

The expression of the two becomes ugly, they know that she’s speaking the truth, Fabuki has been trying to mibgle with the members of the Spirit Alliance to learn more information about the other worlds and he was getting bad news one after another.

The consciousness of this world was sleeping, it’s undergoing an evolution, putting up such a small and weak defense, making the situation for the natives of this world to become dire.

This is the reason why multiple more portals has opened in the world and the reason for the protection boundaries to disappear, the world is evolving and it’s currently in it’s most vulnerable state.

"I guess that we can only hope to survive until our world completes it’s evolution." Maki sighs.

"Actually, I heard from some of my acquaintances that there’s a way to increase the speed of our world’s evolution." Fabuki suddenly states.

"How!?"

"If the natives of this world starts reaching higher rank, didn’t you notice? More wild mystique creatures starts ascending to the Innate Realm, it’s because the world is assisting them, the heavenly punishment is still as harsh as ever but at least those that has accumulated for a long time has a greater chance of becoming Innates."

"It seems that this is the only way that our world can protect itself but at least, this serves as a good news for us."

"You’re right about that! Especially, the fact that monsters that wants to reach the Innate Realm has suffer ten to a hundred times worse heavenly punishment to ascend."