Point-of-View: Argent Stryker

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"Sounds like things are getting pretty bad up there, huh? I wonder if we should go help," Frowned Prysm uncertainly, a conflicted look on her face.

"I have little interest in a war between humans, especially since there’s unlikely to be anyone on either side who can genuinely challenge me," Shrugged Izzy indifferently.

"The main problem is that none of us can afford to expose ourselves...the Knight Commander knows what I look like, same with you, Izzy. Though even if no one did know what you look like, the fact that you’re a Monster would probably lead to them attacking you. Prysm’s got the Light Attribute, so she definitely can’t afford to be seen either. And Larrk’s whip will give him away, since it’s such a rare type of Soul Weapon," I surmised with a sigh.

It’s the 26th of Martius, 2020, the following day after I contacted our friends on the surface. I’d just finished informing Prysm and Izzy about what I’d learnt, and they each had pretty different reactions to it.

"Seems like things are going to get really messy. The entire Dark Continent could collapse in on itself if this keeps up," Remarked Prysm grimly.

In addition to our own civil war getting more and more out of hand, things have been even worse in the nation of Hematite, the northmost nation of the Dark Continent.

Gior informed me of that, the Adventurers and Knights of that nation have been massacring each other relentlessly over the last couple of weeks.

It’s very likely that the Light Continent has taken notice of this and are preparing for an invasion of the Dark Continent...the two continents have been at a deadlock for decades, so it’s very unlikely that the Light Continent will pass up on an opportunity to gain the upper hand in this centuries-old conflict between the two continents.

And as a result of that deadlock, there’s hardly been any clashes between the two sides, barring minor border skirmishes from time to time, and it’s probably thanks to that lack of conflict in recent times that the Dark Continent has been able to change, slowly but surely reducing the rift between Commoners and Nobles.

And while that rift has all but been eliminated in the nations of Zircon and Agate to the south of our nation, it’s not going so well in the rest of the Dark Continent. We’re in the midst of civil war here in Obsidian, and it’s even more severe in Hematite.

The nation between Obsidian and Hematite, Onyx, had been making similar progress to Obsidian, but with both the nations to its north and south warring over the rights of Commoners, the progress in Onyx is starting to come undone, their Nobles being, uh, ’inspired’ by ours.

So, yeah, to put it lightly...it’s a really messy situation. And I’m torn as to how we should respond...on the one hand, this is my home country, I don’t want to see it torn apart by petty infighting.

But on the other hand, even if the four of us do help the Adventurers and Knights fend off the True Nobility bastards, I doubt we’ll be shown much of any gratitude.

"Well, we’ve still got about three weeks left before we have to leave the Sanctuary...but we need to make a decision on what to do before then. I wish Larrk would wake up already," I muttered wearily.

"Yeah, me too...I wanna see how much stronger he is now," Nodded Izzy in agreement, cracking her knuckles.

Well, at least she’s consistent, right?

"I have to admit, I’m curious about that too...a Contract with a Demon is a big deal, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that happening before," Chimed in Prysm.

"I’m pretty sure it hasn’t, my father always told me to be careful about trusting humans, that most of them wouldn’t be nice to you without ulterior motives," Remarked Izzy wryly.

Wish I could say that’s not true, but...yeah...

"If nothing else, at least we’ve got something to work towards...Soul Weapon Ascension, now that we know the method, it should only be a matter of time before we’re able to use it...is what I’d like to say, but it feels impossible, it’s probably gonna be a while before we see any real progress on that front," Complained Prysm in exasperation.

Yeah, she and I had tried to trigger our Soul Weapon Ascensions this morning. I’d only begun explaining everything I’d learnt from the others, but when I got to the part about Soul Weapon Ascensions, Prysm asked me to pause and immediately began trying it out.

I figured I might as well give it a try too, but neither of us were able to successfully pull it off. I suppose it’s only natural, if it were that easy to achieve, then a lot more people would have reached that level already.

The only ones I know who’ve done it are Aries Velenet, the Knight Commander, and of course, Ilex. I have heard of a few others in the other nations of the Dark Continent, and it’s possible that there are some in the Light Continent as well, but as far as our nation goes, those two are the only ones known to have reached that level.

"Hm? Hey, I think I can hear some movement coming from Larrk’s hut...," Suddenly spoke up Izzy, her ears perking up as a gleam appeared in her eye.

I don’t hear a thing...but my senses aren’t as sharp as hers. Larrk’s hut is three huts over from ours, which is where we are. Yeah, no way I’d be able to hear anything from here.

"Really? Are you sure?" Prysm asked her, standing up with a start.

"Mhm, positive."

Prysm was quick to rush out of the hut, racing out the door as Izzy and I followed, exiting the hut just in time to see the door to Larrk’s hut opening...before that familiar head of dark blue hair appeared out, as he stepped out with a weary look on his face.

"Oh, hey, guys...what’d I miss?" He greeted us with a stifled yawn, as he munched on an apple...

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