The legendary warrior

Ryland only agreed to lead Ricky to the Short Devil tribe's strongholds because the other man promised he would set him and his companions free right after. However, Ricky's favor was another story. He figured that he shouldn't think about it, at least, for the time being.

"Thank you, man! I'll remember this,"

Ricky responded gratefully as soon as Ryland agreed.

Ryland then led the three of them to one of the Short Devil tribe's strongholds, and they arrived at their destination after about half a day's travel. Unfortunately, Ricky couldn't detect Claire's aura in this stronghold, which meant that she and her companions must be in a different stronghold.

"It looks like they aren't here,"

Ricky muttered with blatant disappointment. He had hoped to find them here, but they came to the wrong place.

And since they went to a dud, all they could do was wait for news from Ryland's companions, hoping that one of them would have better news.

Thankfully, Ricky finally received good news from one of his Shadowy Replications after an hour. It reported that they had detected Claire's aura in another stronghold.

"Thank you for bringing us here, Ryland. Now, just as I promised, the five of you are free from now on," Ricky declared with a smile. "But you must make a Martial Arts Oath before you leave, as the others must not find out we are here. You five need to promise to keep this a secret."

"I understand,"

Ryland agreed, nodding.

Under their agreement, Ricky let them go once Ryland made the Martial Arts Oath.

With that taken care of, Ricky took Mordechai and Ella to the Massacring Zone, and they headed to where the Shadowy Replication found Claire. Once they arrived, he deactivated the Shadowy Replication that was waiting for him there.

Ricky's space and the Shadowy Replication's space were linked to each other.

In that way, the Shadowy Replication's space served as Ricky's safety net. It could take him away from dangerous situations, and it could also serve as his hiding spot.

'Perhaps, in the future, I should hide some Shadowy Replications in concealed places. When my Shadowy Replications reach maturity and could produce Flesh Replications, I can use them to hide and even escape in times of trouble, ' Ricky thought with much foresight.

located in a deep valley. Black figures appeared

that served as protectors of the Short Devil tribe. Since the creatures from

other two

sense them inside, Ricky? Can you tell where

eagerly asked the other man.

their auras inside the

Ricky

the

inside, following Claire's aura, until they arrived deep into

of them found

four, while the halo

this golden halo. He only knew that it came from the Sacred Illusory Kingdom's sacred weapon—the Illusory

heard that this particular sacred weapon could release powerful

course, the illusory space's strength depended on the

her companions stood inside, joined by an old and stout black devil.

incredibly old, and he had just reached the Emperor Level. In fact, this

the Illusory Ring stood countless devils from the Short Devil tribe and

Illusory Ring, nor did they try to attack the people inside. The short devil inside the Illusory Ring must be a high-ranking official

our casting heritage, we will let you live," said the

strong are these devils?" asked Mordechai out of

one devil

delighted grin. "That's not much, so we can probably take

from here. Plus, we have enough in our ranks. Every upper spiritual emperor of the devil race has a creature from the continent ready to confront him." Ella added

the looks of it, Claire and her companions picked a good hostage. The Short Devil tribe in this stronghold seems to care a great deal for their old chief. That

take the Short Devil tribe's casting heritage," Ricky agreed with a smile.

Mordechai, thinking that they would

me here. However, wouldn't that be a waste? We are already here. We can't just save them. This stronghold is ripe for the

to kill every devil here whose

kill all of them." answered Mordechai playfully, laughing in amusement. They seemed to be two peas in a pod. After all, he wanted to fight against