C1203 Once so Close

The wrecked warship that suddenly emerged in the Lower Continent not only caught Denise's attention but also astonished Rong Xun and his companions.

Streams of concealed remnant souls burst forth from the rivers and forests of the Otherkin, drifting toward the warship.

Rong Xun and the others suspected that their pursuers had arrived, using the warship of the Otherkin for concealment.

"Just like the beings of this world, they're all Otherkin."

Rong Xun, in the late period of the Solar Spirit Realm, sensed the situation and eased his mind. He communicated with Han Dan and Jin Haolong through a mystique, assuring them there was no need for alarm.

Xie Bin remained composed, his thoughts darting like sparks of electricity as he navigated the dense forest, still in search of the valuable thunderwood.

At the plaza before the majestic palace, Dogget, of the eighth-level bloodline, hovered with sleeves casting specks of starlight. His eyes, like glittering diamonds, shone intensely. "Why have you come so suddenly?"

He was obviously privy to the situation.

After a moment's hesitation, Dogget descended sharply and strode into the hall housing the Starbeast, his brow furrowed.

The warship, smeared with paint to mask its tattered state, seemed to have pinpointed Denise, emitting a thunderous roar as it approached the forbidden area.

Denise's face tensed as she quickly pleaded, "Please, don't be upset. I'll handle it right away!"

The Starborn noblewoman, wielding her gem-studded wand, offered her apologies to Yu Yuan before rushing off. She decided to meet her confidant outside the forbidden area, reasoning that since her presence was known, it would be safer to convene there.

With a resounding boom, the dilapidated warship adjusted its course to follow Denise's path, eventually coming to rest in a clearing just outside the forbidden area. The ship's hatch swung open, and out stepped the tattered-clad members of the Moonlit Wanderers, Shadowkin, and Shura clans.

These Otherkin, having traveled from distant lands, carried their belongings, some old, some young, all with families in tow.

Denise's graceful features involuntarily twitched, her smile strained.

"Denise, why didn't you go to our agreed-upon meeting place?"

A striking young woman from the Shura Clan emerged, her fiery figure clad in gleaming silver armor that covered her ample chest. Sharp spines adorned her knees, elbows, and shoulders, glinting coldly. A dark red belt, reminiscent of a serpent, encircled her slender waist, while her long, bare legs and shapely buttocks were embraced by leather armor.

This was Elena.

Following closely behind her was Pattinson of the Shadowkin. He offered Denise a weary smile and said with an apologetic tone, "I couldn't wait any longer and had no other choice but to impose on you."

His eyes betrayed his fatigue. Despite being at the peak of the eighth level, he appeared completely drained.

"My older brother has died, Calves is dead, and Elena's father too," Pattinson explained. "We've lost our strongest warriors, and our hideout has been compromised and overrun by rival bandits. The infighting among bandits is even more vicious and bloodthirsty. We've lost many brothers along the way."

"All that's left are... the people you see here."

Pattinson was aware that Elena and Denise were close. Many of the Otherkin in Zekrica were once refugees brought there by Elena.

They had come to Denise out of sheer desperation, with nowhere else to turn.

Initially, Denise was supposed to pilot her Voidfarer to their rendezvous point, pick up Elena, Pattinson, and the rest, and then transport them here.

Their battered pirate warship should have been scrapped.

However, Denise's journey through Zekrica took an unexpected turn when she encountered Yu Yuan, and subsequent events left her unable to act, forcing her to remain behind.

Pattinson and Elena had waited a long time without seeing her. Learning that their enemies were closing in, they had no choice but to come in this manner.

Both felt remorseful, knowing their actions might bring trouble to Elena.

But they were truly out of options.

"Pattinson, settle these people nearby and don't stray too far," Denise directed. "And find a place to hide your warship, out of sight. The Zekrica has changed; I must be extra cautious! Elena, come with me. There's someone I need you to meet."

"Oh," Elena responded, her voice devoid of enthusiasm.

A moment passed.

"Her father, Fernand, was once a close comrade-in-arms with my father. Due to certain events, her father turned to banditry, but she and I have always maintained contact. My father was aware of this and chose to overlook it," Denise explained candidly, gesturing towards the Shura girl.

Yu Yuan massaged his temples, watching the girl who had parted ways with Chen Qinghuang at the Dissolving Fortress and now stood before him once again. What were the odds?

"Elena?" Denise finished speaking and turned to find her dear friend with eyes reddened, tears streaming down as she fixed her gaze on Yu Yuan.

Elena, fiery in spirit, stared unwaveringly at Yu Yuan, her jaw clenched tight, yet she uttered not a word. A torrent of grievances and yearnings overwhelmed her, bringing tears to her eyes, but she remained silent.

"Don't tell me you two know each other?" Denise, though usually slow on the uptake, noticed her friend's distress and exclaimed in astonishment, "Impossible! How could this be?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback as he watched Elena's expression shift, her eyes moving between him and Chen Qinghuang, first filled with doubt and then with certainty. Wasn't he disguised as a member of the Shadowkin? Xie Bin hadn't noticed anything amiss. How then did this girl recognize him in such a short time?

"How did you figure it out?" Yu Yuan finally asked with a resigned sigh after a lengthy pause.

"It's not by sight. I... I recognized it by scent. There's a unique medicinal fragrance about you," the Shura girl admitted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "We were once very close."

"How did you two meet?" Denise's face was alight with curiosity and a touch of gossip.

"Denise, Schwarz's death has nothing to do with my father!" Elena suddenly interjected with a grave expression, eager to set the record straight, "I don't recall Schwarz ever stepping foot in Ionodios! Both my father and I have met him. If he had come to Ionodios, we would have definitely recognized him!"

"What about Schwarz?" Denise asked, a pang of sorrow in her heart.

"He died just outside the Ionodios," Elena mused before continuing, "Initially, entry into the Ionodios required guidance from the Skyreach Consortium. Schwarzer's bloodline level wasn't sufficient, so he was probably kept outside temporarily. I don't think he ever made it in."

"His death likely has something to do with the cosmic giant beast known as the Abyssal Leviathan or the Demon God Grec."

This issue had been weighing heavily on Elena's mind during her journey. After much reflection, she was certain she had not seen Schwarzer in the Ionodios.

She was acutely aware of the dishonorable part her father had played during the Blood King's invasion.

She didn't want Denise to feel that her father had a hand in her brother's death.

Denise's delay in joining her had led Elena to worry that Denise was avoiding her, possibly due to this issue, and didn't want to accept her help.

"You're not to blame. Since you've said as much, it definitely has nothing to do with my uncle. Moreover, Uncle Fernand has already..."

Denise sighed deeply, her mood turning somber.

Hearing this, Elena's anxiety eased, and she shifted her focus back to Yu Yuan.

"Princess Denise, if you could give us a moment, I'd like to have a private word with her," Yu Yuan interjected, unable to bear Elena's intense gaze as he subtly urged her to leave.

"Oh."

Denise departed with an odd look on her face.

"Why do you look like this? Ah, I get it—you're worried about being found, right?" Elena answered her own question, nodding in understanding. "We bandits have our ways of staying informed. We've heard about you... and her."

The Shura girl cast a cautious glance at Chen Qinghuang before quickly averting her eyes in fear.

The secular bird!

She marveled inwardly, recalling the age-old legends with a mix of fear and thrill.

"Let's hear about your situation," Yu Yuan prompted.

Elena fell silent for a moment before bursting into heart-wrenching sobs, her body convulsing as she recounted her tale.

"My father's death and his pledge of loyalty bought my freedom. The Shura have declared that I can rejoin the clan whenever I wish and have also granted me a spot to train in the Dark Realm. But as soon as Pattinson and I returned to our lair, we were ambushed by other bandits."

"I could return to the Shura and claim that spot in the Dark Realm, but what about my father's loyal old retainers?"

"I can't stand by and watch as they're slaughtered, their families wiped out! I promised my dad, and I promised them, that I would protect them!"

"So I didn't go back. Instead, I've been leading them, fleeing from one place to another."

"Our numbers, both clansmen and followers, keep dwindling. Every so often, we lose a few more."

"We've become the very definition of 'stray dogs,' and the infighting among bandits is even more brutal than I imagined."

"..."

Outside the forbidden area.

"Miss Denise, where's Elena?"

Pattinson, preoccupied with coordinating the Shadowkin, noticed the ruler of this world emerge without Elena and couldn't help but cry out in alarm, his expression darkening, "You didn't hand her over to someone, did you? Bandits, especially ones like her, can fetch a pretty penny!"

His words instantly drew menacing glares from the surrounding bandits.

Denise smirked dismissively and retorted, "Have you lost your mind?"

"Then where is she?" Pattinson pressed.

"You might find it hard to believe, but she actually ran into some acquaintances," Denise said with an odd look on her face. "A brother and sister from the Shadowkin, one of whom is skilled in concocting poisons, just happened to show up in my world."

"Shadowkin skilled in poison crafting?" Pattinson furrowed his brow, deep in thought, but no answers came to him.

After a while.

Elena appeared at the cosmic energy wall, escorted out by Denise. She greeted the perplexed Pattinson with a beaming smile, "It's Hart and Benin from the Shadowkin! How much high-level alien beast flesh do we have left on our warship? Get it all for me, Hart needs it urgently." She gave him a conspiratorial wink.

"Hart? Benin?"

Pattinson froze, wondering to himself, "Aren't Hart from the Silverscale Tribe and Benin from the Voidweaver Tribe supposed to be dead?"

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