The area struck by the residual energy from Ballock's clash with the red beam had crystallized into a strange, gleaming formation.
However, before the crystallization was complete, Salza had visited the place and recognized his son's blood within the pool of blood. The crystalline surface proved to be incredibly hard, and its use was indecipherable, so Salza sent a message along with a shard of the material for examination.
In this way, he was able to avoid the chief's clutches.
He led him to the site, and the chief eventually took control of the operation. Salza could do nothing; however, he was secretly relieved—his son's blood traces had vanished by the time they got there, erased by the crystallization.
It was for this reason that he delayed sending word of the crystallized area. If his son's blood were to be discovered within it, questions would surely arise. As a result, Salza withheld the message, releasing it only at the final moment when its concealment was no longer possible.
Even then, his son's blood had not been fully hardened by the crystallization, and Salza feared the truth would be uncovered at last. Only now did he realize the process was complete—the blood had been consumed entirely, secured within the crystalline mass.
Still, the crystalline spread continued, moving outward in all directions at a slow yet inexorable pace.
Maria tore the seal from the letter and drew out a light-blue parchment inscribed with words. Her eyes darted back and forth as she read, her expression started to twist the more she read the letter.
She just couldn't bring herself to accept the message. A variable always haunted her mind amidst the rising tension of the city—especially now that a contender had been chosen.
Salza became uncomfortable when he heard no reply from his wife. He raised his head and caught sight of her dejected expression, instantly stirring agitation within him.
But when his gaze fell on the bluish parchment, he knew instantly what it contained.
Parchments such as these were rarely used except as signs of imminent war—and only one man in the entire city had the authority to sign them.
He held the parchment and read its contents, and his suspicion was confirmed.
"Two days from now, your division and the seventh division are dispatched to Bland Town. The operation must be swift and decisive. The head of the town leader is to be hung outside the gates as a warning to all other forces."
These words were the unmistakable stamp of the Lord.
Salza's face suddenly became dark. "We are to attack Bland Town two days from now. Hhmm! My division alone is more than enough to crush those wretches and turn the place into a clean slaughter. I need not join hands with that pompous burger." he spat, his voice was laced with disdain.
He was never on good terms with the other division commander, and the thought of cooperation only soured his mood further.
A division was divided into five smaller units, each led by a unit commander. Those units, in turn, were split into ten lesser squads. At the top of the hierarchy stood the lord, followed closely by the chiefs, then the deputy chief, before the division commanders, unit commanders, and so forth.
Salza believed that his own division, one among the nine total divisions, was more than enough to resolve the crisis with Bland Town.
Though, just because it was called a town did not mean it should be underestimated. Many towns were stronger than cities, even rivaling kingdoms in strength!
Bland Town was no exception…
However, Salza didn't think they were as powerful.
"Don't worry, dear," he said softly, "this is also a chance to search for our son in the other region. Who knows if someone has him and is merely stalling? I have this feeling he isn't dead."
He paused, then added in a strange, almost forced voice that was meant to tease her, "At least… not yet."
Maria glared at him, struggling in his embrace before speaking with quiet worry. "It's not that." she said calmly.
"I'm afraid he may have been captured by the people of Bland Town. You know they would surely use him as leverage in the war, because I don't see how they could best our grade-4 city, being only a grade-3 town. Don't you think?"
Her words made perfect sense, but Salza refused to admit it.
He prayed it wasn't as she had said, because if it were, the operation would not end with the hanging of a single head. That boy was vulnerable, innocent, and precious. If anything happened to him… the entire town would pay dearly for their sins.
"Don't worry, dear. Nothing will happen to him. He is a strong child, clever and resilient, isn't he?" Salza whispered into her ear.
He held his wife tightly as crimson light flashed across his eyes.
If Blood were here, he would have recognized the aura emitted by that crimson light, because it had a striking resemblance to the energy of the domain he had stepped into—and that was the hidden secret of the Marble family…
___
It was the thirteenth day since Blood had entered that strange, unmoving state. At first, Ballock had been deeply worried, since this condition resembled the last one—and he was not prepared for it.
He knew he would be as good as dead if Blood didn't return within a month.
Ballock was delighted when he noticed Blood's aura growing, even in his still state. He was also bewildered at the uniqueness of this domain, as he fantasized about its strangeness.
He too had benefited greatly once he began to recognize the uniqueness of the domain.
He didn't remain idle during this time. After erecting a defensive formation around the area, Ballock himself entered cultivation, drawing on resources from Blood's spatial ring, which he had kept with him beforehand.
In just six days, he had gained much—not only in cultivation but also in natural herbs he discovered during his careful exploration of the region. He never went far though, since his eyes had to remain fixed on his friend, ensuring Blood's safety.
Yet even this desolate stretch of land filled him with fear. Beasts rarely wandered here, save for a few strays—but one thing he noticed was that every one of them was in the Bronze Realm.
Yes!
Since his exploration began, Ballock had not encountered a single beast of the Iron Realm. Only Bronze Realm beasts and stronger ones wandered this place.
That alone revealed the peril of the domain. This area might well be considered a forsaken corner of it, and yet, within this desolation, Ballock had uncovered treasures of great value.
He had fought against many beasts, but he never tried to kill them. Instead, he drove their battles away from Blood, ensuring they would not disturb his advancement—for he could feel Blood was close to a breakthrough.
To slay them outright would have risked attracting more of them, since he had learned how sharp their senses were.
He also knew he couldn't withstand multiple beasts alone.
Thankfully, he had made a breakthrough himself, stepping firmly into the Bronze Realm. That was how he managed to contend with the beasts he encountered. He was now a full-fledged Bronze Realm cultivator.
Ballock's silent thoughts were suddenly disrupted by the clamoring of the red, ambiguous energy. He looked upward—only to see a teenager plummeting from above, a trident clutched in his grasp. The guy appeared unconscious, falling without caution.
Ballock abandoned what he was doing and leapt, catching his companion in his arms before descending smoothly to the ground.
He laid Blood on the plain terrain he had prepared and waited patiently, his heart heavy.
The dangers of this domain were truly appalling!