Chương 478: Chapter 476 – Back To Ardnet

Inside the comfort of Ardnet, Damion, Mages Levine, Teft and Veers met with Visault and Visneer to discuss their next plan of action. The remainder of the human expedition were allowed to rest inside the city, some even going on tours of the city with Iblis who had learned Otash. Largely because of the short duration of the conflict and the element of surprise they had held, there were very few human casualties, with only a couple being seriously injured.

Thankfully, despite there not being many Light or Holy affinity mages amongst the human forces, the Iblis were more than willing to heal those human mages who needed more treatment than the expedition could provide its members. With everyone quickly back at full health all that was holding the expedition back in Damion's mind was their members recovering their mana.

"The journey into the ruins of Atlantis will not be as simple as you believe," Visneer told the humans.

"Matron Jysella and Mistress Mirax escaped, as did close to half their army. We have dealt them a blow, but now they know you are on the Mother World, and they will anticipate you going to the ruins."

"Do you think they will release the Demonic Beasts trapped there?" Damion asked. If such a horde was released it would likely be the largest beast wave ever. Worse even than the attacks on the three White zone cities that landed Damion on the Mother World in the first place.

"Matron Jysella is difficult to predict," Visneer admitted.

"Otherwise, how could she have tricked our army away so easily to mount an attack on Ardnet. However, I do not believe she would risk unleashing the horde."

"Why not?" Mage Veers asked before anyone else.

"It would seem to be a viable way to wipe out this city and many of your forces without costing her side much."

"Because she cannot be certain the beasts would merely attack us. Nor can she be certain we would choose to fight them."

"You mean you would let Ardent be destroyed?" Mage Levine questioned.

"To what end?"

"It is possible for us to evacuate the city long before any beasts from the ruins reach us here. It is unlikely for the beasts to find anything of interest in an empty city and doing so would give us a decisive advantage," Visneer said, looking to Damion.

"Because without the hundreds of thousands of Demonic Beasts in the underground ruins, we can just waltz in and release the seal. It might take years to fully counter the beasts in mass, but as they spread out, it would become easier with time."

"Precisely. By denying the battle with the beasts we could fully focus on the true problem."

"Then what do you think this Alfar will do?" Mage Levine asked.

"Plan a way to ambush us in the underground ruins. She will certainly block our retreat or ability to resupply. With so many Realm Breaches to deal with, even with the additional forces you have brought, it will not be an easy task." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"There are a few things we can do to enhance our chances," Damion said, taking out one of his Breach Collapsers out to show the others.

"This artifact can collapse Realm Breaches, without anyone having to go inside." Visault reached out and took the artifact from Damion's hands to examine. After a moment he passed it to Visneer who looked to the human for more information.

"This artifact is made from Mana Absorbing Crystal. How many do you have?"

"A little over a hundred, but I need time to upgrade them. Do you think your people can make a bunch more of those in the meantime?"

"The artifact appears fairly simple; however, the material is the issue. Mana Absorbing Crystals are quite rare."

"I have plenty to spare," Damion told the Iblis.

"Show me where you want them and I'll unload them. Then spread the word that I am willing to optimize artifacts for anyone going into the ruins with us. I should be able to boost anything up to A Rank."

"You are being more altruistic than usual," Mage Teft commented.

"Not going to charge people?"

"I won't say no if people what to provide me with cores to offset the costs of my process, but I don't want anyone going in with lackluster artifacts. Now is not the time to cheap out."

"If we provide you with S Rank materials, can you improve artifacts to S Rank?" Visault asked.

"Not until my magic power gets to that point. I might be close, but I am not over that threshold."

"Odd, I can sense S Rank magic power from you," Visneer said, sounding puzzled as his eyes wandered over Damion's body several times.

"I have an artifact that gives me a boost to magic power, but it doesn't truly make me an S Rank, just a slight boost. Right now, I am close enough to S Rank that it allows my magic power to have the characteristics of S Rank. I might be able to push myself up to S Rank, but I'm not sure if that is wise. Once I actually hit S Rank, it might take me a few days to get used to it. That would delay us going into the ruins."

"I think the delay will be worthwhile," Mage Teft said.

"It will give our allies time to create more of the Breach Collapsers and time for our forces to fully rest and recover. Not to mention the time needed to upgrade artifacts for everyone."

"Agreed," Mage Levine and Visneer said in unison.

"Go train, Damion," Mage Veers told him.

"You at S Rank will be a much greater asset than setting off now. For the time being, I think I will have Mage Parivar go and scout the ruins."

"It is not wise to upset the beasts in the ruins, not to mention, a scout could reveal much about our plans," Visneer frowned.

"Mage Parivar has a rather unique affinity, she can change form and appear as a Demonic Beast," Mage Veers explained.

"She is a most excellent scout and can likely give us valuable intelligence about the situation in the ruins and what the Alfar have planned for us down there."

"I see," Visneer said.

"I had no idea such an affinity existed. It seems our people have more to learn from your world than I believed." After a few more minutes of discussing what the Alfar possibly were planning for them, Visault led Damion to the workshops. Once the cargo container of Magic Absorbing Crystals was left to the Iblis artificers, the two headed to a training room.

"This room can simulate the environment of an S Rank Realm Breach for ten hours. The cost it requires to function is substantial, but it is worth it to help you advance. I'll be back shortly with A Rank cores and I'm sure my people will begin coming by to drop off their artifacts. I do hope you will be able to reach S Rank and be capable of optimizing their artifacts."

"I hope for that as well. If we can field an army equipped with S Rank artifacts instead of a mix of B and A Ranked ones, it will certainly surprise the Alfar." After Visault left, Damion sat down in the room and activated Mana Absorption. There were already a few cores of various Ranks in the room and while they would have given him a few credits for the Magic System, he chose instead to begin absorbing the mana from them. With the boost Mana Absorption gave getting the most out of the cores was not difficult.

However, boosting himself to S Rank took more than just absorbing more mana.