The reunion after a separation is always incredibly touching.
Jessica kept hugging Lucas Reeve, unwilling to let go, as if afraid that Lucas Reeve would fly away again as soon as she did.
Driving the Rhodes Island Land-runner into [Stardust], the three Rhodes Island Operators looked around at the massive [Stardust], completely bewildered.
Rhodes Island had low-altitude aircraft.
But...
Compared to [Stardust], it was as if they weren't products of the same era.
In comparison.
[Stardust] seemed like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie.
This young man named Lucas Reeve, what exactly was his identity?
The three Rhodes Island Operators were full of questions, but they didn't dare to ask. To own such a high-tech aircraft, it was clear his identity was extraordinary. He was probably not an employee of Rhodes Island, but some big shot from somewhere.
Because there were some things Lucas Reeve couldn't let these three ordinary Rhodes Island Operators know, he simply used Mirror Flower, Water Moon, letting them do their own thing and subconsciously ignore all the words they heard next.
Jessica and the others asked Lucas Reeve what had happened during this time.
But he had basically been asleep, so not much had happened. Lucas Reeve just told them the story of how Beeswax found him after he condensed his physical body.
Beeswax was still a bit shy, especially with so many new people at once. Beeswax hid behind Lucas Reeve the entire time. Since Beeswax was connected to his power, Lucas Reeve didn't hide much from Beeswax either. It wasn't some huge secret anyway, as long as ordinary people didn't hear it.
"Seriously, it scared me."
"When I woke up, I was really afraid a thousand years had passed."
Lucas Reeve said with a smile.
And Jessica had already switched from crying to laughing, hooking her arm through Lucas Reeve's the whole time, and said grinning: "Me too... I was also afraid Mr. Reeve would sleep for several hundred years..."
"Indeed."
Franka also nodded: "You have no idea how much Little Jessica missed you in the eight months you were gone. She couldn't eat well and couldn't sleep soundly."
"Hey, hey, hey!!" Jessica's face instantly turned red, and she quickly covered Franka's mouth: "Don't say it!! Senior!!"
"Huh? Nian? And Lao Ba?"
Lucas Reeve looked around, feeling as if something was missing, missing that familiar 'Hei hai hei!'
"Lao Ba?"
Franka paused. "Is that a new nickname for Magallan?"
"Magallan came back for a month after you went to sleep, stayed in Columbia for a month, and then left again. When she left, she said this trip might take a long time. She found an incredible secret realm, so, she's been gone for half a year now and still isn't back."
"Er... aren't you guys worried?"
Lucas Reeve retorted. Franka's tone was way too calm...
"Don't worry, Miss Nine-Colored Deer already did a divination for Magallan. She'll face danger but escape unharmed~"
"What about Nian?"
Dusk, who was playing her NS nearby, said: "Nian went to Yumen City a few months ago. If I'm not mistaken, she's probably already working construction in Yumen City by now."
"Oh~"
According to Dusk.
Recently, the Northern Demons had suddenly become active again. The Grand Tutor even personally wrote an email to Lucas Reeve, but unfortunately, Lucas Reeve was already asleep and didn't see it. About two months ago, not long after Nian set off for Yumen City, a complete god-level Demon suddenly emerged from among the Demons. Although they successfully dispersed it, it also cost a lot of troops.
The original plan in the Yan court was to use the mechanisms Nian built to replace the Old Celestial Master so he could rest.
But after that god-level Demon appeared, the Old Celestial Master seemed to vaguely sense that a great chaos was coming. Although he didn't know when, or how chaotic it would be, in the end, the Old Celestial Master still chose not to leave the front lines and return to the capital to rest, continuing to stand guard in Saibei like a guardian god.
Dusk's words made Lucas Reeve fall silent for a moment.
He had seen many things in his dream that he had never seen before.
Above the sky... there seemed to be something.
Moreover, the essence of a god is to comprehend one's own authority, commonly known as a Rule. They aren't born as gods, but need to rely on their own comprehension later on. Compared to humans, Gods and Behemoths have a stronger ability to comprehend authority.
So why could the Demons...
Lucas Reeve knew from his fragmented memories that Demons were, strictly speaking, somewhat similar to the Seaborn.
The individual strength of the Seaborn isn't high; their strength lies in the collective being equivalent to a single individual. But Demons are different; individual Demons are already ridiculously strong. But both share a common feature: lack of consciousness.
Consciousness is the most basic requirement for comprehending authority.
To comprehend authority, the most basic thing you need is your own consciousness, your own ability to think, your own ability to comprehend. But this kind of beast-like creature, without its own independent thinking ability, seemingly only possessing an endowed instinct... could actually randomly produce a god-level being from among them.
To be honest.
It was extremely illogical.
Lucas Reeve might not have thought so before.
But ever since possessing a physical body and personally witnessing that dream.
Lucas Reeve felt.
Demons are a type of land-based Seaborn, somewhat similar to the white blood cells in a human body, seeming to carry out a worldwide cleansing task based on instinct.
Of course.
This was just Lucas Reeve's current hypothesis. He couldn't say it was correct; it was just a guess.
Besides the Demons, Jessica mainly told Lucas Reeve about Sona's situation. Sona had successfully advanced from the top 16 to the top 8 in this morning's match.
"Yoohoo, the little girl actually made it to the top 8..."
To be honest.
Lucas Reeve was quite surprised.
After all, he had only taught Sona for a total of one and a half months after the Spring Major before hurriedly going to sleep. Without Lucas Reeve's hands-on guidance.
Honestly, Lucas Reeve didn't think Sona could get very far. At the end of the day, she just had too little experience. And, without Lucas Reeve's personal teaching, it's really easy to go astray with breathing techniques. Stagnating would have been fine, but the worst thing to fear is going down the wrong path.
And the Knight Major was different from the previous Spring Major. Even the Whislash Knight Zofia was likely at the level of the top 16. Of course, during the Spring Major, if the Chamber of Commerce hadn't deliberately picked a fight, Lucas Reeve wouldn't have gotten involved. In the final match, Sona would most likely not have been Zofia's opponent.
"After you left, Mr. Reeve, Little Sona trained even harder. However, the situation this time is very grim. In the match to advance from the top 16 to the top 8, the opposing knight was deliberately arranged by the Chamber of Commerce. Even though she won, Sona was also quite badly injured. Luckily, Mr. Reeve, you woke up in time. Otherwise, I might have advised Sona to forfeit the next match. After all, compared to results, safety is still very important. And Sona's talent isn't low, she just lacks experience. If she forfeits this time and continues training for three years, she can participate in the 24th Major in her best condition."
"Hmm..."
"There's one more piece of information, Mr. Reeve."
"I heard it from the person in charge of the Kazimierz branch office."
"I heard the Chamber of Commerce and the Supervisory Commission discovered the Knight King's Tomb in a very hidden place in Kazimierz. And the two factions really found the Holy Sword that symbolizes kingship inside the Knight King's Tomb. However, this Holy Sword seems to be just like in the legends. It cannot be pulled out without being recognized. Almost everyone from the Chamber of Commerce and the Supervisory Commission has tried once, and they even tried to use machinery to pull it out by force, but it still didn't work."
Lucas Reeve nodded. He wasn't very interested in the Knight King's Holy Sword.
However, since it was the same as the legends and couldn't be pulled out, it meant that a special rule-based curse must have been placed on the Holy Sword. Only those who meet the conditions could pull it out, or those with enough strength to break the rule's curse.
"How many days until the top 8?" Lucas Reeve asked.
"The day after tomorrow."
"Hmm... Let's go to Rhodes Island first. After visiting Rhodes Island, we'll go to Kazimierz."
—————————
[Stardust] slowly landed on Rhodes Island's deck. And on the side of the deck.
Kal'tsit stood with her arms crossed, her face like frost, her sharp gaze fixed on the descending [Stardust]. Beside Kal'tsit, Amiya lowered her head in embarrassment. As for the other Elite Operators who knew Lucas Reeve's true identity, they also looked around awkwardly.
When [Stardust] landed on the deck and Lucas Reeve and the group walked off the aircraft.
Lucas Reeve smiled and waved at Kal'tsit and Amiya.
"Long time no see, Kal'tsit, Amiya..."
"Doctor!!"
Amiya wanted to rush over in delight, but was stopped by a single look from Kal'tsit. She stuck out her tongue and cutely fiddled with the hem of her clothes behind her.
"You're good at hiding, Doctor."
When Kal'tsit said the word "Doctor," she deliberately emphasized it.
"Welcome, Miss Jessica, and everyone."
When speaking to Jessica, her tone was quite polite.
"Hehe..."
Lucas Reeve laughed: "Didn't you find out long ago, Kal'tsit?"
Kal'tsit snorted.
"I did find out long ago. I even had some vague guesses when you first came to Rhodes Island. I just didn't say anything at the time. What I didn't expect was that Amiya and the others would actively hide it from me..."
"Haha..."
Blaze scratched her head and laughed awkwardly, while Amiya lowered her head in embarrassment.
"However, I have a question to ask you this time, Kal'tsit. You should have guessed it. I lost my memories, and this time after I obtained a physical body, another fragmented image has appeared in my mind."
"What question."
"Above the sky... what exactly is there..."
This question, Lucas Reeve knew, was one that likely only Kal'tsit would know the answer to. Because Kal'tsit's lifespan, to some extent, was even longer than that of the Gods and Behemoths.
After Lucas Reeve asked this question.
The atmosphere on the entire deck instantly fell silent.
No one spoke.
Everyone was looking at Kal'tsit and Lucas Reeve in confusion.
Lucas Reeve waited for Kal'tsit's answer, while Kal'tsit was pondering something.
After a long while.
Finally, Kal'tsit parted her lips.
"Come to my office, Doctor."
——————————
Kazimierz.
Sona lay on the hospital bed, while Raythean Industries' president's private medical team bustled around the bedside.
Justyna sat by the hospital bed, looking at Sona with worry.
"Are you feeling better, Sona..."
"Don't worry."
Sona forced a smile onto her pale face, wanting to sit up. However, just moving a little caused a pain in her chest that made Sona grimace.
"Sona... forfeit the top 8 match... I'm really scared... Besides, we're still young. You're only twenty, Sona. In another three years, you'll only be twenty-three. We can train together for three years and participate in the next Major..."
Yesterday's match was too intense.
The Chamber of Commerce had been extremely unsportsmanlike, arranging a knight with considerable strength as Sona's opponent. Although Sona barely won in the end by relying on tactics, she was also quite badly injured. Moreover, in the Major, Sona seemed to have lost the crushing, extreme strength she had in the Spring Major. Although she wasn't weak, compared to the Sona from the Spring Major, she was too ordinary. Coupled with the Chamber of Commerce's malicious smearing, brainless news about Sona using banned substances during the Spring Major instantly spread across all major media.
The key was, many people believed it.
Mainly because it was too hard not to believe. After all, everyone had clearly seen Sona's performance in the Spring Major: invincible... crushing...
And compared to the Spring Major, her performance in the Major was truly a bit ordinary.
They had only seen strength get stronger and stronger; what logic was there for strength to get weaker and weaker? And it had only been half a year. To say she hadn't taken drugs, honestly, no one believed it. Even many ordinary spectators, led by the Chamber of Commerce's rhythm, were demanding Sona return her Spring Major trophy. Although Raythean Industries' PR team was resisting, this was their territory, after all. The media's voice was in the hands of the Chamber of Commerce.
"No... I don't want to forfeit... I'd rather be defeated than forfeit... Besides, I don't want to let everyone down..."