Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 310 Interesting Information

"She asked you to stay here… like a hostage?"

Olga was the first to react as she just looked Rhys in the eyes, almost as if wanting to say more than she already had. Ayesha also reacted, but she only squinted and lowered her eyebrows as she glanced back and forth between Calypse and Rhys.

"Yes," Rhys just nodded, "She says she will tell the Verdant Python to move so she can open up a path for you — Orpheus and Eurydice are trapped inside, you'll meet them immediately as soon as you enter the Golden Tree… But since Calypse doesn't fully trust us, she's asking me to stay here."

"That is understandable," Sorokin let out a small grunt as he looked around, "We also need a lookout to notify both teams in case the monsters here start acting up. You have the radio?"

"Yes," Rhys just once again nodded as he pointed at his trusty utility belt, "I will notify Esme and the others of any changes."

"You still should not be out here alone, Commander," Olga loudly breathed out as she looked at Ayesha, "If the monsters do start to act or if Calypse just has a change of heart — you'll be trapped here alone with a nymph. I can't stay since aside from you, I am the only one who has faced Orpheus before."

"Pass," Ayesha quickly said as she noticed Olga looking at her, "My expertise would be better for beating the balls of the Orpheus guy."

"I'll stay here with him," Remy raised his hand while sighing, "I… don't think I would be much of a use against Orpheus, I might only get in the way. At least here, I can try and repel the monsters to give us more time in case something happens."

"I will have Malenia and Edissa with me too," Rhys pointed at his two demi-humans.

"Oh, they are not coming with me inside?" Dr. Dhani let out a small chuckle as he scratched his patchy gray beard, "I would say I am starting to miss the company already."

"Ayesha and the others are there," Rhys also smiled, "I think that would be all the protection you need."

"Well, since it's decided—"

"I think I will stay behind too."

And before Olga could signal Rhys, Rukawa suddenly raised his hand at the final second.

"My ability is more on causing damage over a wide area," Rukawa let out a short but very deep sigh while shaking his head and pointing at the Golden Tree, "I might actually do more harm than good now that I know we will be fighting it in an enclosed space — we should have brought Adam Armstrong instead."

"No, I believe this team is enough," Sorokin just once again grunted before looking at Olga, "The four of us are enough."

"Very well," Olga nodded as Dr. Dhani, Ayesha, and Sorokin stood beside her, "Commander Rhys."

"Alright…" Rhys then let out a small breath as he looked at Calypse and said something; she looked a little confused at first as she looked at the other people, but after a few seconds, she flew into the air and started singing.

"Hm…" Sorokin closed his eyes, letting out a small breath as he listened to the powerful but slightly sorrowful voice of the nymph.

For the strongest person in the entire world, one would think that Sorokin would be stuck-up or be unfriendly, but not at all — he talks to everyone and treats everyone with respect; he could be a little arrogant, but one could say not enough considering he has the right to be.

Rhys had already read his file, but to see it in person was quite different.

And very soon, the song was replaced by a low humming rumble; the Golden Tree, now whispering loudly and without end as its leaves started to fall and dance in the air — hundreds of thousands, just completely veiling everything in gold.

But of course, no one really had any moment to cherish this ethereal view as they all were focusing on the colossal Verdant Python as it started to move and uncoil itself from the Golden Tree — and with its head now leaning away from the tree, one could not help but just open one's mouth from the sheer size of the python.

It almost felt like they were drowning as they stared at it. The Verdant Python, however, was completely oblivious of all the stares it was getting as it just very slowly continued to uncoil itself, slithering away from Golden Tree, causing all the other creatures to just move out of the way and bow down to its glory.

"It's… massive," Remy gulped as he watched the Verdant Python, "You… were able to fight that, Mr. Sorokin?"

"Calling it a fight would be wrong," Sorokin breathed out and shook his head, "It had no interest in me at all."

"...But if you truly fight with it, do you think you can win?"

"Let's leave the useless questions for later," Ayesha stepped forward as she pointed at the small crevice forming on the Golden Tree, opening up a pathway for them to go through, "Rhys, just run if something happens."

"Godspeed to you, Commander Rhys," Olga saluted to Rhys before just walking away.

"Hm," Rhys nodded as he looked at Ayesha, Olga, Dr. Dhani, and then Sorokin, "Be careful, he's not going to be an easy opponent."

"That's why I'm here," Sorokin smiled and nodded before following behind Olga and Ayesha. As for Dr. Dhani, he just looked at Rhys for a few seconds, and then glanced at Rukawa before following the others.

And as the four stepped into the Golden Tree, Ayesha raised her fist, slightly glancing back at Rhys before the opening closed.

"There they go," Remy let out a long and very deep sigh, "World's mightiest heroes. Seriously, just… how are you people so strong?"

"I'm a Noble," Rukawa just crossed his arms.

"...I'm a Noble too, and considered to be one of the strongest. But the World Rankers are…" Remy could really only breathe out in disbelief, "And him…"

Remy then turned to look at Rhys, who was talking with Malenia, Edissa, and the two nymphs.

"...Just where did he suddenly pop out from?" Remy squinted his eyes, "I mean this in a non-discriminatory way, but he's a Lowborn. He shouldn't have the strength that he has."

"There are a lot of things we don't know in this world," Rukawa just glanced at Rhys; his eyes, also squinting as he noticed that Calypse was looking at him from time to time, "That's… just how it is."

"Yeah, no—I understand that. It's—!!!"

And before Remy could finish his words, the ground suddenly quaked violently; the leaves of the Golden Tree, once again dancing in the air, almost as if in tune with the endless quake.

"I… guess they are starting," Remy glanced at the colossal Golden Tree. He was about to say something, but another violent shockwave almost tore off his face as another crevice was formed on the tree — this time, not a pathway at all but just a large scar created from the inside,

"Is that…" Remy quickly caressed his face, "...Sorokin?"

"Or Ayesha, could be either way," Rukawa let out a small hum as he looked at the giant crevice, "But since Ayesha doesn't really use weapons that could make that kind of cut, then it's probably Sorokin."

"...Sorokin the Thousand Blades," Remy gulped as the noise and shockwaves from the inside started seeping out of the crevice, "They say he could turn anything into a weapon, but I haven't exactly seen it… just how powerful is he?"

"He's from the line of the Valeryevich — all of them are monsters," Rukawa softly groaned while shaking his head, "They specifically breed their people. And Sorokin, well… the blood of Athena and Ares runs through his veins."

"...I've also heard that his younger sister currently holds the highest purity in the world?"

"Hm…" Rukawa shrugged, "...Just overall, not a family to be messed with."

"I'd say all of you are not to be messed with," Remy then turned to look at Rhys again as he started to approach them, "What is the nymph saying, Mr. Wilder?"

"Nothing much," Rhys sighed and shook his head, "Aengela and I are just trying to explain to her the entire situation about Orpheus and Eurydice, and she told us she would walk in her dreams to tell their other sisters."

"Then… I guess Nihon is safe now?" Remy let out a loud breath of relief, "Just… wow. The ability to talk to the creatures of the Underworld is just… wow."

"I did hear something else interesting, though…" The tone of Rhys's voice suddenly changed as he looked at the Golden Tree.

"Oh, what is it?" Remy asked in excitement.

"Well…" Rhys sighed, "...When Maria started digging for everyone's information, she actually also investigated several other things. In particular this land, or specifically the school that was here before the Golden Tree demolished it…

…its owned by the Nihon government."