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.

stronghold was a black castle located in a deep valley. Black figures appeared

to other devil tribes that served as protectors of the Short Devil tribe. Since the creatures

this, Ricky and the other two cautiously hid in

you sense them inside, Ricky? Can you tell

asked the other

can sense their auras inside the

answered Ricky

drove the space into

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

them found what they

four, while the

He only knew that it came

heard that this particular sacred weapon could release powerful

space's strength depended on

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

reached the Emperor Level. In fact, this one looked positively ancient that it seemed like he would deteriorate

from the Short Devil tribe and

but none of them dared to enter the Illusory Ring, nor did they try to attack the people inside. The short devil inside the Illusory Ring must be a high-ranking official of the Short

and hand over our casting heritage, we will let you live," said the Short

devils?" asked Mordechai out of

strength, only one devil can pose a threat to us,"

grin. "That's not much, so we can probably take them. However, I'm afraid that stronger

race's strongholds are located far away from each other, so we'll have plenty of time to get away 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

tribe in this stronghold seems to care a great deal for their

and Peter. They managed to take the Short Devil tribe's

Mordechai, thinking

nothing is blocking 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 picking!

go. I want to kill every devil here

waiting for? Let's kill all of them." answered Mordechai playfully, laughing in amusement. They