The Innkeeper - Chapter 1304: Back to the Crystal realm II

“Humans become immortal by undergoing a tribulation and creating their tenets which help them manipulate laws. That does not mean that every other race does it the same way. Kraven are a race that devour anything and everything they come across, laying waste to entire realms if they can.

“Naturally, then, the way for them to grow stronger is to devour laws. It’s a lot easier for weaker, newer realms compared to older, more mature ones, which is why you will often discover Kraven invading new realms. The nature of their race is such that they are excellent cannon fodder for other, stronger races – but that’s it. The Kraven are not destined to survive past the end of the early phase of the universe.”

The third time Lex teleported, and still did not find the capital, he knew that something was amiss. He spread his spirit sense far and wide, and began to sense the changes in the realm.

“There is something wrong with this place, but I can’t tell what,” Lex said after a few moments. “My instincts aren’t detecting any danger or threat, nor can I sense something amiss. But there has to be something wrong, or else I wouldn’t make a mistake while teleporting thrice.”

For a moment, Cassandra was silent while she thought. “Previously you mentioned that Ventura might be holding some exams here,” she said, her voice calm. “It seems like the exam has already begun.”

Lex did not know what that meant, but at least it wasn’t something bad. It would suck if he visited the Crystal realm after a few years only to discover that the Kraven had already wiped everyone else out.

Since the coordinates he recalled seemed to be incorrect, Lex began teleporting in a specific direction, hoping to encounter some town or settlement from where he might be able to get directions.

It was a simple plan and should have worked without a hitch. In fact, it did end up working, in a way.

As Lex was teleporting through the realm, he eventually sensed someone relatively closeby, so he corrected his direction and teleported that way. Instead of a town, Lex teleported over a large military base, filled to the brim with a few different races, most of which he didn’t recognize. That was still fine, considering that the Crystal realm had countless smaller and weaker races, with only the major seven getting recognition.

Lex and Cassandra were quickly spotted, especially since they weren’t really hiding. A number of imps, small red skinned creatures with wings and a very high affinity for fire, flew up into the air and surrounded them.

“Who are you? Declare yourself!” yelled one of the imps, a captain in the Golden core realm.

“My name is Lex. I mean no harm – I’m just a little lost and could use some help finding my way. I’m on the way to the Hum Nation. Could you mind pointing the way for me? I have to meet with King Cornelius.”

Considering that humans were one of the top races in the realm, he wasn’t really expecting any problems. Of course, upon hearing Lex’s declaration, he immediately sensed their hostility, long before the imps could draw their weapons. Even so, he did nothing as he was more interested in finding out the latest news of the realm. Besides, none of these imps could do anything to him.

Before any of the imps could actually attack him, Lex spread out his Domination, freezing the whole base under his aura, while he peeked into their minds to learn what they knew.

Lex sighed in disappointment as he read through those memories.

“It seems a lot has changed. You’re right about the exams though.”

“What happened? Do we need to be concerned?” Cassandra asked.

“We? Not really. Cornelius is fine and in good health. But the natives of this realm have good reason to be concerned. The exam began, yet instead of targeting the Kraven and helping push back their advance, as was promised by the overseer of the realm, the subject of the exam is to help mature this realm and increase the upper threshold of power from Earth Immortal to Heavenly Immortal.

“In pursuit of that, the examinees have found their own empire, taking advantage of the weakness of the other races fighting the Kraven. None of the guards and soldiers in this base were high enough of a level to know the actual plan of the examinees, but they appear to be just spreading chaos where and when they can. They’re killing as many immortals as they can, regardless of whether they’re Kraven or from the other races. I’m sure there is more to their plan, but none of the soldiers here know what it is.”

“A bold strategy, even if it is an idiotic one,” Cassandra praised, or came as close to praise as she could.

“The good news for us, at least, is that I know where to go. I’m not sure how, but in the last few years, the size of the realm has grown nearly 30%. That’s an immense amount of growth for a very short amount of time. Even the Midnight realm, despite being filled with the Cosmic Sea, is not growing as quickly as that.”

Lex looked down at the imps and hellions that filled the base, but then decided to ignore them. With his destination now clear, Lex only needed to teleport one more time before he reached the familiar buildings of the academy where he once studied.

It seemed so long ago, yet the place looked exactly the same.

“Identify yourselves,” said a number of guards who suddenly surrounded Lex. Unsanctioned teleportation within the capital was supposed to be blocked, yet Lex did not seem hindered in any way.

“My name is Lex. I am here to see King Cornelius II. Please let him know I am here – he will recognize my name. Is Aegis around?”

“Go inform the King,” said one of the guards to his underlings, though the security around Lex did not diminish. If anything, more guards came and surrounded him. As it happened, Lex recognized one of them.

“Nora?”