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.

Devil tribe's stronghold was a black castle located in a deep valley. Black

from the Short Devil tribe. They belonged to other devil tribes that served as protectors of the Short Devil tribe. Since the creatures from the Short Devil tribe specialized in casting weapons, they couldn't fight well,

this, Ricky and the other two

them inside, Ricky?

Mordechai eagerly asked the

their auras inside the castle,"

Ricky

drove the

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

them found what they were looking for.

golden halo surrounded Claire, Peter, and the other four, while

knew that it came from the Sacred

could release powerful and

strength depended on the user's

her companions

this one looked positively ancient that it seemed like he would deteriorate at any

the Illusory Ring stood countless devils from the Short Devil tribe

did they try to attack the people inside. The short devil inside the Illusory Ring must be a high-ranking official of the Short

hand over our casting heritage, we will let you live,"

these devils?" asked Mordechai

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

Mordechai repeated with a delighted grin. "That's not much, so we can probably take them. However, I'm

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

tribe in this stronghold seems to care a great deal for their old chief. That or they just care about the casting inheritance. Either way, we have a trump card

Claire and Peter. They managed to take the Short Devil tribe's casting heritage," Ricky agreed with a smile.

them in?" asked Mordechai, thinking

is blocking me here. However, wouldn't that be a waste? We are

also don't want to let this chance go. I want to kill every devil here whose strength does not far surpass mine," explained

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