The Rise of the Black Plain

After hearing Sender's warning, Minos remained silent for a minute, realizing the maximum danger to his group had not passed, as he had expected before coming to the Magma Barrens.

One of the corpses approached him and asked. "What are you going to do? Those men ended in their situation today because we surprised them and killed them quickly. You won't be able to do the same against a General. And even if you find a way to survive the fight against them, all the General has to do is sacrifice their Flashdrain, and you are finished.

With the power of a 12th stage cultivator, such a General will be unstoppable against any of us.

Ruth was worried because she had not thought of this possibility.

Today's enemies didn't use their parasites to strengthen themselves for two reasons. First, they didn't have time. The enemy attack was quick and decisive, since Minos knew how they would behave in battle. Since they weren't that much stronger than this group, the enemies had no way of thwarting the plans of someone who could see the future. The second reason was that even if they used it, it would be enough for Minos' group to do the same. In the end, the battle would be the same.

But with a General, everything could be different. They could easily surpass Minos' reaction speed, and even if this group's members sacrificed their parasites, the power of someone who could temporarily reach 12th stage could not be countered by it, even with the sacrifice of the group's members' parasites.

Minos looked at Sender and pointed at the level 113 Sovereign. "For now, this guy is my weapon against the General. But let's think more about our options when we get back to the guild. There are some missions we can do without risking so much in the short term."

Sender sighed, realizing he wouldn't last long in this world.

"What else do I need to prepare?" Minos asked him.

Sender replied. "Resistance within the Law Enforcement Hall, difficulties in buying resources, stronger competitors in promotion attempts, attacks on your companions on external missions, in short, the usual.

Jembei had reasons beyond personal motivations to act against you. Many in the guild may not hate you or even have a history with you. But they want your head because of the things you can have, because it's good to defeat someone famous and respected, and because they fear you will threaten them in the future.

I can give you a complete list of who might be against you from now on. We've prepared enough in advance to stand against you."

"Hmm, prepare the list. I want my group to have it in hand before we return to headquarters." Minos said before turning his attention to the corpses.

"Thank you for your help in today's battle. Unfortunately, you must return."

Each of the eight individuals nodded in understanding before Minos returned their bodies to their coffins. They disappeared as they were transported back to the faction's headquarters.

While Otis and a human collected the corpses of the enemy, as well as the space storage items of these dead people, Minos and Ruth walked towards Theo, where the man was still undergoing his test.

Sender followed in silence, having already drunk a restorative potion to heal the wounds in his soul and body.

"Looks like it's going to be a while before things get easier for us," Ruth commented to her husband, feeling stressed by yet another deadly problem in their path.

He laughed bitterly, but he was used to dealing with situations like this. "The enemies are stronger than ever, but that means the pressure to get stronger will take us even further. We'll deal with it as we always have." He grabbed her waist before kissing her, obviously worried, but not losing his composure.

"We'll split up to cultivate while Theo finishes his mission. I don't sense any trouble nearby, so Sender and I will cultivate while you monitor our surroundings." He said as he sat down on a black rock at the top of the active volcano.

Ruth and the other two soon positioned themselves to observe the surroundings while the two strongest there began their cultivation.

...

Four hours later, everyone in the group had had a chance to cultivate and recover.

At the end of those hours, Theo conquered the Eternal Fire Flower and completed his mission by storing it in his spatial ring.

However, even though he had to give this resource to the guild to complete his mission, this human had a twinkle in his eye when he finished collecting this flower.

After being able to cultivate for 30 minutes, he was ready to follow the group to help the next one complete their mission when he said what he had experienced in the past few hours.

"These missions aren't just to put us in danger. While I was earning the right to harvest the Eternal Fire Flower, I went through many difficulties. But at the end of the process, I felt as if my soul had been washed by flames, and my foundation had been strengthened a little more! Even cultivation was easier after I finished harvesting it!"

"Oh?" His companions looked at him, happy for Theo.

"I feel like I'll be able to get to level 108 faster!"

Minos looked at Ruth differently and made her understand what he had in mind.

There were enemies waiting for them and plotting against them, but while the enemies were putting them in danger, opportunities were appearing in front of them!

"Let's go find the Fire Essence Ruth has to collect in the Central Caldera." Minos said, eager to complete the third of the five missions they had to complete in the Magma Barrens.

The six made their way to the core of the Magma Barrens, the most dangerous area in the region where Ruth and Minos had to carry out their missions, according to what Sender had told them in the previous hours.

Sender knew the location of each of the places the group would have to pass through to complete their missions. So now, instead of moving around the area looking for their targets, they went straight to the places where there were also traps that Jembei's group had left behind.

But with Sender in the group, dealing with these traps would be the easiest of the difficulties the group would face in the next few days!