"See Nicole I told you if we could find these books it'll help explain what Odin knows. See the part about keys is also Element base. I'm such a genius hahaha!" Staring at Lily in pure shock at the idea she's proven paradoxes can truly send people into madness when framed with these keys the book of Odin talk about.
Responding to a taboo outbreak with this cosmic taboo loving idiot only to realized I walked into a brick wall that proves her right. As I'm left piecing together my pride from this idiot being right again.
"See here it says that the keys are conceptual things based on each astral world. Each world gets their own set void of the Death and alpha keys. It's said the keys are the only way to win some game but the details are vague and sounds like Odin isn't fully grasping it either. But I'm right either way. So pay up on dinner and I want some good steaks!!!"
"So Oceanus will you take the deal? I can get Drake and his pack off your back if you allow is access into the sea." Speaking over the phone as I held the dagger to the other man's throat and with his grandson bring the main target for not one demon but two.
"I guess some of us forgot the rules of the sea and being a traveler. If he dies then that's his own fault. Anyone caught up in his mess weren't and will not be any of my inner circle so take your threats somewhere else.
Before I go and putt that mutt down for that one eyed bastard."
Hearing his voice that sounded calm but held fury only explorers could understand.
"Don't be to upset old man. I just wanted to find a way to help you out. If that's not possible then I won't push. Worse case scenario is Zeus annoys the rest of us.
But I shouldn't have to tell you how serious rumors of allying with the astral sea are. Consider this a tip from an old rival. Those rumored hold some truth."
Hanging up before they
could erupt with fury as I looked to my assistant who just laid down a recent report of the summit held by the Travelers Society.
"Yes sir they've decided that any further investigation is pointless until they can locate the masked man. Whether he's Tyr or Odin still remains the biggest question.
And with Artemis using Zeus against us. We're being cut out any information sharing.
Including the underworld with Hugin bearing his hammer for once."
Stepping back as the gravity of the event is left to settle over the conference room after I finished the phone call with that monkey bastard.
As everyone around held their breaths. Even SS classed travelers couldn't hope to stand up to Explorers even if the room is filled to the brim. Yet my son continued to direct the over all flow as he's already sent a team to bring us our trouble making brat.
"So Alexis are you going to tell me what everyone keeps dodging?" Raising my head from the Odin dairy log I'm studying for information about those keys Lily kept bugging me about.
"Ummm I can't really describe it either. The bigger issue you should be focus on is who's dog is Duece. Thomas already told you he turned into dragon." Looking towards Duece who doesn't even shuffle at the look as he maintained his sleepy look while watching us.
"That's a good question. Uncle Tasey never said whose. Just that it's his older brothers he left with him. So I think Tyr if the timeline lines up since Odin has been gone since 30yrs ago. Tyr only left 15yrs ago. No one said what happened there but that both went in and never came out. Mom went talk about it even a little bit." Seeing her look of disappointment as we're left guessing our family tree.
Even we are invested in the famous lore of what happened within the sea for it to be sealed today and Odin dairies being the only things that show any clues about how Odin lived in the sea.
Derailing stories from worlds that were still in the Stone Age or worlds slightly surpassing ours in technological advancements. Proving that earth isn't the only developed life out here but with information about the keys. I can't help but wonder if that's a good or bad thing.
"Do you think Cani-B and the Wolfpack will make Oceanus pay up? I know Tasey can't do much in the open but beating up a bunch Olympus people could still get them to back off." Understanding she's making big wishes when Zeus has never been known to take the hint from explorer level figures. Although Tasey isn't in that ranking when explorers don't make moves then you can't really expect anyone to keep one of the few SSS level travelers under control was a crazy idea they tried.
The only ones to curb him both his older brothers. So for now it could show some results but I can't really expect much.
"Unless it turns into a full scale war then I truly doubt Zeus will learn his lesson even if Tasey broke his legs." Rubbing my face in exhaustion at everything piling up.
"Yes Mr. Zohran my men can proved detail escort and aid any missions your requesting. We're just asking you to provide us with a chance to sit down with promising talent our young Guildmaster Zeus is eyeing." Seated in office space hidden from observing eyes as we held this meeting. With the most political influencial person possible.
"So you're saying Baldur is in possession of the Light key that'll allow access into the astral sea? And if we aid you with acquiring this talent you can force him to hang it over? What does your side gain?" Feeling my grin threatening to stretch past human limits as this old senile man who smelt of death.
How he assumed he'd survive in the astral sea isn't my issue. Just key that man Baldur owns. On the surface we're going for someone close to Baldur but that target is extra. By all recent accounts that demon spawn is more a concern if he's already in touch with that man's master death.
"Yes once we get the key everything else is simple. You enter the sea and it cures you of your illness that's seeping into your body from astral poisoning." Seeing him ignore his advisors in favor of personal longevity. I can't help but find it as easy as stealing candy from a child to walk humanity to its end and unravel the plans that originate from the beginning before me.
"Okay everyone ready?" Looking over the group ass behind us as everyone was trying to hold back their fear of entering dungeons again after feeling the auras of king class monsters.
As me and my group stood off like it was another day to fight monsters we've been fighting. Understand how rare of a situation that was. Even worse when factoring in the fact that four verified king ranked monsters took part yet it's starting to show difference between who's going to last and who'll fall apart.
I guess they took the message to not use heavily defended locations like astral tear dungeon that was famous for being the return sight of the explorers.
I call it stupidity dressed up as the government forcing schools to unite under their leadership which had proven to be the worse decision for us students.
If even half the class drops it can't come to terms with this level of danger then I'm not sure if they truly understood easy it means to be a traveler.
Especially the explorer level if going by Odin's description of how even the smallest things can be seeds of madness. While fear is the best food for corruption.
Shaking my head to ignore the looks of expectations from other students towards my group. With a pleading look to help them pass this test the school just announced.
I guess this was there chance to clean out the civilian and heroic minded travelers. Although it's cruel to not give everyone the same chances.
Their potential weakness to madness needed to be tested in a controlled environment. Although the three of us are a cut above due to our families.
It would be crazy to assume we're unaffected by the dungeon outbreak so none of arvied with it but we aren't here to help the other students just because they haven't realized the rat race of travelers begin when we walk into that school.
Entering the portal to dungeon that's a typical layout compared to the last one which was more of a grassland with jungle elements mixed in. While this place could only be called gloomy in comparison. A barren wasteland filled with nothing but undead type monsters.
Rather than a test of fighting ability. They're trying to see how long it would take for the weaker ones to break. A process all the teachers know who to focus on. Cruel or justified.
Letting a fragile mind into the sea where they can potentially drag back cosmic horrors could never sit well with anyone. Unless your the hero idealist of trying to give anyone and everyone a chance to prove corruption and madness isn't bad.
"Crow, you ready?" Seeing Alexis ready herself as pulled an arrow back while infusing it with enough power to scare off a majority of the students.
"Yea, I guess we don't have no choice but go all out so we can scare off the rats among us." Replying as I pulled my uncles spear out as Thomas bashed his shield with his sword.
"How many do you think will last for the full 12hrs?" Looking to the headmaster who's watching without batting an eye.
"We've all seen the results of madness among humans so to even question the need for something this simple is why travelers have a hard time becoming Explorers Simon.
If it was easy to describe the feeling it took to get there then these things wouldn't be necessary yet the government keeps pushing our hands to trim down on numbers to keep people who only see us as tools safe." Blowing out his nose as gust of wind picked up in this land of undead.
"I understand that but can't we just kick them out and be done with?" Replying to him as he glanced with lightning hiding inside his eyes.
"Once you've journeyed to sea. It'll make sense why I can't describe the feeling but need for this. Where we have skeletons, zombies, and whatever else undead you can find. To stand in place of other travelers chasing the same divine names as you or decided to take a rival or enemy name.
If you've fallen into madness then such small details become the building blocks that ruined pantheons and the answer to why only close to a million of us came back." Looking back forwards as I felt the weight of his words concerning the explorer wars that were something close to divine.
"Kill or be killed." Seeing him nod his head as he watched the one's injuried or running in the first hour with scorn radiating off him. As I'm reminded that explorers are the definition of elitist. If you're a human then whatever you'll likely never meet the truly dangerous ones but for the public facing ones like my sisters.
Towards the rest that could anger an explorer is like suicide. People who've been wage wars since they 12-20 in a time that time felt slow. Even Nicole's description could only vaguely describe the feeling of being in the sea. With a small grin as if it wouldn't hurt to return and leave all these things alone here.
Focusing back on the children as my personal group of Crow, Alexis and Thomas kept their normal pace like in training. Crow maintaining battlefield with his aoe spells like ice wall or fireball's. As Thomas maintained the attention of the biggest ones with crow cutting down the minor undead around. Alexis in the rear attacking with a bow like my sister.
Using the divine domain her dad controls with Light core. A pact of bonding but with the attention her group gets. I can see why that old man did it even my sister took the chance to do it. Giving her some of the old fools powers as well.
If I wasn't family even I would find her actions tactless but that's not my concern these days. Just train them and take naps