The Herb King



Aethelwolf clutched his Communication Rune with a serious look on his face. He thought that after becoming a Level 5 Esper, he would already be invincible in the Regalis Continent. The news he got from Argus made him feel a bit nervous. The power of a Transcendent being could overturn the sky and split the oceans! No one in the Regalis Continent is strong enough to stop a being of that level! Even Argus who was known as the strongest expert in the Regalis Continent wouldn't last a single blow against someone like that. 

Once someone becomes a Level 5 Esper, their Hegels will be baptized making them able to wield god-like powers. The world essence they could control is vast and they could summon the wind and cloud at their fingertips. However, their physical bodies are still limited and they still couldn't escape the natural process of aging. Only Transcendent beings have indestructible bodies and they could even extend their lives to thousands upon thousands of years! 

'The appearance of a Transcendent Underworlder was a huge threat to everyone in the Regalis Continent. Only the ancestor of the Ancient Fairy can help us in this crisis, but how can we unseal her from that coffin?' Aethelwolf thought deeply as he jumped on top of his Golden Horned Gryphon. 

The aura of the Level 5 magical beast scared the nearby Espers and even the authorities were alerted. However, Aethelwolf couldn't care less about the chaos he caused since there was something more urgent at hand. 

Inside a giant villa, General Trevor was playing chess with Eliazar when they suddenly noticed a powerful aura.

"Level 5 magical beast?!" They exclaimed in unison as they raised their heads. They saw a huge Gryphon flying above the clouds and Aethelwolf standing on top of it, his expression cold. 

"That's Sir Aethelwolf and his Golden Horned Gryphon! What's going on? He seems to be going in the direction of our Mystic Island's headquarters." Eliazar muttered in shock. 

"Is he planning to challenge the Island Master to a spar?" General Trevor was visibly confused as well. 

"How is that possible? Sir Aethelwolf isn't the kind of person who would randomly spar with someone. I have to go back to the headquarters and see what's going on. Let's play at another time, General Trevor." Eliazar cupped his fists at the old general before he flew into the sky.

"Wait! I'll go too!" The old genera swiftly followed him.

Meanwhile, in another part of West Ocean City. 

Lark Whitmond, the strongest expert of the Paramount Heaven Empire was drinking tea in his room when he sensed multiple powerful auras in the sky. "Hm?" He walked to the balcony and raised his head with his eyebrows furrowed. 'That is Aethelwolf, Holy General Eliazar, and General Trevor... Where are those three going? Could it be that a rare treasure has appeared somewhere?' Thinking about this, Lark stepped into the air and disappeared in a flash. 

The Level 5 Espers who came with their juniors were also alerted when they noticed the disturbance. They stopped what they were doing and followed the trail left behind by Aethelwolf and the others.

Soon, the Golden Horned Gryphon landed on an obscure island that was protected by multiple high-level Defensive Runes. Its arrival attracted the attention of the Mystic Island's experts and they immediately surrounded the magical beast despite its overwhelming aura. 

"Look! There seems to be someone on top of that magical beast!"

"Wait! Isn't that Sir Aethelwolf Lassiter?!" 

After realizing that it was Aethelwolf, the experts heaved a sigh of relief. They already know that the Mystic Island and the Barden Territory are now allies. 

"Sir Aethelwolf, what brings you here?" A peak stage Level 4 Esper nervously inquired. He could already be considered a top expert wherever he goes, but in front of Aethelwolf, he was just a puny figure. 

"Take me to your Island Master. I have something important to discuss with him." Aethelwolf muttered in a cold voice. 

"Yes! Yes! Please follow me, Sir Aethelwolf! I'll take you to see him." The peak stage Level 4 Esper volunteered without hesitation. 

Aethelwolf jumped off the Golden Horned Gryphon's back and followed him. "Stay here." Aethelwolf commanded the magical beast.

The Golden Horned Gryphon reluctantly nodded its head. It then curled its body on top of a hill and decided to take a nap. 

Not long after Aethelwolf's arrival, Elizar and the other experts who followed them arrived one by one.

"What's going on?! Why are there so many experts going here today?!" 

"It looks like something has happened..."

The experts of the Mystic Island were shocked by the arrival of these Level 5 Espers. From their rough estimates, there were more than twenty of them here and all of them are experts in the Heavenly Might Rankings! 

"Why did you guys follow us here?" Eliazar stared at Lark and the others in confusion. 

"I thought you guys found a treasure. That's why I followed you all the way here. I didn't know that you are actually going back to your headquarters, but I'm curious why Aethelwolf is here." Lark could see Aethelwolf's mount resting on top of a hill. 

The other experts remained silent, but they nodded their heads at Lark's words. Their reason was more or less the same. 

Hearing this, Eliazar shook his head and sighed. "To tell you guys the truth, I also don't know what's happening. However, something that could make the man rank fifth in the Heavenly Might Rankings come here so urgently is definitely extraordinary. Since all of you are here, follow me inside." 

Lark and the others nodded their heads and followed Eliazar.

***

"Sir Aethelwolf, I'm surprised by your visit." Estes smiled lightly when he saw Aethelwolf waiting for him in the reception area of his manor. 

"I apologize for my abrupt visit, Sir Estes." Aethelwolf cupped his hands with a serious look on his face. 

When he saw Aethelwolf's expression, Estes scrunched up his eyebrows. "Is there something you wish to discuss with me?" 

Suddenly, more people arrived at the reception hall. 

"Island Master!" 

"Sir Estes!" 

"Sir Aethelwolf!" 

Estes glanced at everyone in surprise and confusion. 'How come so many experts are here?' He stared at Eliazar with an inquisitive look, but the latter only shook his head. 

Aethelwolf stared at the Level 5 Espers and then turned his gaze back to Estes. "Let's go somewhere more private." 

"What about them?" Estes pointed at Lark and the rest.

"They need to hear it as well." Aethelwolf muttered in a solemn tone.

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but feel curious. 

"Alright. Come with me, everyone." Estes brought them to a huge discussion hall. "Please take your seats, everyone." 

Everyone sat down and stared at Aethelwolf. They wondered what he was going to tell them that he even alerted the Island Master of the Mystic Hall.

"I received news from Argus earlier. He is now in the Northern Region to observe the Underworlders. He told me that five million Underworlders have gathered in one location and their numbers are steadily increasing!" 

"What?! There are already five million Underworlders?!" 

"How did they emerge so fast?!" 

The experts were shocked when they heard this information. Five million Underworlders were enough to destroy a small empire and if there was a Level 5 Underworlder, even big empires would be threatened! 

"Not just that... He also told me that there is a Transcendent being among the Underworlders!" 

Silence. There was absolute silence in the room when Aethelwolf said those words.

A Transcendent being! A figure at that level could destroy a big empire with just a punch! Knowing that there was such an expert among the Underworlders, everyone inside the discussion hall felt incredibly nervous. 

"A Transcendent being? How could that be? Didn't they die in the ancient war back then?" Lark Whitmond slumped on his chair with a blank look on his face. 

"If this is true, that means the calamity of the Regalis Continent is coming... Even if we joined hands to fight that being, we still have no hope of defeating someone at that level." Estes shook his head and sighed.

Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces.

"What if we unseal your ancestor?" Aethelwolf suddenly asked in a low voice. The mysterious ancestor of the Ancient Fairies was their only hope. 

Estes' eyes shone at his words. "If it's the ancestor, there might be some hope, but how do we unseal her?" His eyes dimmed at the end of his words. A seal that could trap a Transcendent being was no ordinary thing. 

"I've seen the seal that trapped your ancestor. It must be a Transcendent Rune. It will be difficult to destroy it, but I know of a way that might be able to weaken the seal." Aethelwolf muttered after pondering deeply. 

"If we can weaken the seal, Ancestor Xymera could break free herself!" Estes stood up in agitation. There was hope in his eyes.