Death... and me

Rean still felt some difference in how Landeau explained the runes and their effects between him and Droman. Nonetheless, he would still answer all his questions without complaining... although he didn't seem very pleased with it. Rean and Droman used that opportunity to the fullest, making sure to record everything they needed.

Another few weeks passed in a flash. By now, Rean had already forgotten about the week he had free before going back to the Limigo Region. Because the signal of the communication towers didn't reach this underground city, the cultivators even thought that Rean, Essefy, and Kentucky had died somewhere.

Rean didn't mind. What he gained during this time in the Essence Race City was several times better than the Serene Gold Filaments. He could even think about several places where he could apply the knowledge he got from Landeau in his new set of armors in the future. As for the Gold Filament necessary, he would try to come up with some excuse to rejoin the army later.

Finally, they reached a point where both sides taught everything they could. Naturally, there were a few secrets that each side would rather keep for themselves. Nonetheless, The Essence Race and Rean earned a lot from the experience.

Back in the room where Huban stayed, Rean, Landeau, and everyone else once again gathered. Huban looked at his Essence Race members and especially at Landeau. "How is it? Did he fulfill his part of the deal?"

Landeau nodded. "Yes. I have already put the methods of creating a communication system to the test and achieved a very simple version of it. Naturally, it will be impossible to reach the size and complexity of the humanoids and demon beasts' system. After all, we are keeping ourselves hidden here. Nonetheless, once we go out and show ourselves, it shouldn't be a problem to build a much bigger and more complex one."

Huban nodded, satisfied. "If that's the case, then it is good. What about the communication badges he promised us?"

Landeau took out seven communication badges that Essefy had acquired while he lived outside. "I'm not too sure if they are truly capable of hiding our communication. After all, the equipment to create these badges is definitely much more advanced than what I can build here at the moment. In this specific case, we can only trust Rean here that he did what he said."

Rean shrugged his shoulders. "Well, that is, after all, up to you to believe or not. Even if you don't want to, at least Landeau and the other Essence Race Formations Masters already know how to build the communication system. You might as well just throw these badges away and wait for the day you can build and spread your own system."

Huban didn't seem to mind. "Let's use them. If things really go south, I can bring everyone away to safety on my own. I can't intervene in the changes of the world, but no one will complain if I just carry some members of my race away. For now, they are just too useful to ignore."

"Very well," Landeau nodded and passed one of the badges to Essefy. "I already added these other six badges' numbers to yours. It shouldn't take long until the signal of the communication system towers reach this place as the Realm of Gods' forces advance into this continent. You can use it to contact us later. Of course, we will use some codes so that no one can figure out who we are in case the conversations are still being monitored."

Essefy nodded and quickly put the badge away. "No problem."

Huban then looked at Rean, Roan, and Kentucky. "With this, you have accomplished your part of the deal. Now, it is time to go ahead of mine."

Huban's body expanded, turning into a colored flame several times bigger than the Peak Divinity Realm Essence Race experts. Following that, a Spatial Gate appeared, showing a connection to another world on the other side. Just like the Essence Race City, there were many buildings with similar characteristics, all with the same colored cubic image on them.

*Pin!*

[Universe Foundation Fragment Detected!]

[New Quest Available: Retrieve the Fragment from the Dimensional Realm protected by Huban.]

[Destiny Points Reward: 1000000 Destiny Points]

[Failure Penalty: 2000000 Destiny Points]

[Failure Conditions: Leaving the Central Area of the Realm of Gods without the Fragment.]

[Time: Unlimited]

Sure enough, the soul gem system immediately activated, feeling the power of the Fragment coming from inside that Spatial Gate. However, that wasn't everything the system detected.

[Warning! Extinction Sphere Remnant Energy detected!]

The system continued.

[The Extinction Sphere was responsible for killing a Universe. It was the natural enemy of the Universe's Foundation Pillar. As something derived from the Universe Foundation Pillar, the Soul Gem System's Control Orb is extremely vulnerable to this kind of energy. Hosts must be absolutely careful to not let the Soul Gem Orb get in contact with that energy. Otherwise, the system might get damaged or even destroyed.]

'Remnant of the Extinction Sphere's Energy?' Rean and Roan were taken aback. They obviously remember that Soul Gem destroyed it in the past, but the result of the Universe being split in two. 'To think that some of its energy still exists to this day...' they thought.

[No wonder the system seemed to detect something but couldn't figure out what it was,] said Sister Orb. [This Energy and the System do have some kind of connection, after all.]

'Is it dangerous?' Roan asked.

[For you, not really. Only the system would be affected by such a small amount of energy from the destroyed Extinction Sphere. So, make sure you don't force me to come outside if you enter that Dimensional Realm.]

'Alright,' Rean and Roan agreed with her.

Huban, not knowing anything, called the twins' group. "Come with me. The Universe Foundation Fragment can be found inside. I'm using the energy in this Dimensional Realm to hide its presence."