King Of Limbo

"What do we do?!" Sebastian expressed the worry the entire group was feeling in that moment.

The rumbling made it seem like the ruin would collapse underneath them at any moment but their only path to escape was blocked by an unknown number of creatures whose abilities they were largely unfamiliar with.

Most looked distorted and crazed like the creature Aron had killed earlier. Even if the creatures on their own weren't tricky to deal with the horde before them was simply to large.

"We obviously wait and hope the ruin doesn't collapse, going out now would be suicidal." Anastasia quickly proposed because no matter how she looked at it, staying was the best choice.

At this point a calm Lady Rose turned away from the window as if no longer interested in the matter. "She's right, besides the rumbling is simply a product of them stomping the ground simultaneously. At best only some rumble will fall but the ruin itself will remain standing."

Her words calmed the worry that began to rise and soon most of them turned away from the window, leaving only a scout to keep an eye on the situation.

Their focus returned to what each group found as they explored the ruin. Upon hearing all the different discoveries Lady Rose found nothing of significance was found by any of them, at this moment she turned to Aron hoping his discovery was different.

As luck would have it was, not only a simple discovery but the one Aron had been seeking this entire time.

He proceeded to explain what he discovered with half truths and lies, revealing only the device he discovered and it's function but not how it was powered.

This was to have everyone know it's value was immense because to him it truly was. But to make it even more so for everyone he revealed a script written on an old parchment that foretold a disaster befalling Pesia and author stating the device in the basement being a key to escape the looming tradegy.

When everyone heard this their worry spiked once again, all except Lady Rose who could recognize that the penmanship was Aron's. For someone like her who had read countless old materials she wouldn't be so easily fooled and could recognize a more modern penmanship even if forged close to perfection.

Was Aron trying to fool her as well?

She didn't voice this thought and played the role of a believer in what was said, going as far as to make the situation seem far more dangerous than it already was.

"If that's the case then we must ensure this device is taken somewhere safe. Quickly use your messaging scrolls and inform your families of this danger." Lady Rose added with absolute seriousness, anyone would think she was putting the bigger picture first and all else second.

However she was simply helping Aron express what he was trying to but more vividly. Even he could see what she was doing so he took the opportunity to add one more point. "Tell them to gather as many people and strong mana beasts as possible in either Galos City or the Capital, whichever is more secure. This could very well be Pesia's last stand."

Aron didn't hold back in his exaggeration of the their current predicament. By doing this he would ensure a suitable number of individuals to power the device were present in one single location for convenience.

All that was left now was to travel to said location and convince those with power to share his mentality. Once he got them on board the matter of sacrificing a couple hundred thousand or so people would require less labor on his part.

The amount of mana that one would gain from a dead body would obviously be less as mana returns to the environment once a living organism perishes, living only a mana crystal if one at all.

So to avoid wasting potential energy to power the device he wanted to avoid conflict that require him killing mass numbers of people wastefully.

"We'll do so right away!" Henry was quick to take action after hearing the gravity of the situation and immediately took out a scroll to start messaging.

Lady Rose on the other hand gave Aron a knowing glance before taking out her own scroll. "I'll message our helpers to assist in regards to this." She revealed clearly referring to Belle who was under their control and Lady Uva was easy to manipulate.

Aron gave her a nod before leaving her to do just that, his attention then turned to Juliet who was the only one not using her messaging scroll.

"Not warning your family?" He asked with a brow raised to which she slowly shook her head.

"I'd prefer they didn't know at all and fell victim to it, but chances are my father has already put our territory in a state of high alert. Once he sees other families following the warning you gave he'll naturally do the same, there's no need for me to intervene." She explained while leaning against the wall with furrowed brows, it seemed she really disliked hearing of her father.

"…I see." Aron gave her an odd glance but he didn't ask more, her words were true enough.

Silence followed as everyone went to other rooms to deliver news to their respective families in secret, it's clear they would be having greedy ideas concerning the device in such a situation.

However who among them could rival Aron or even Lady Rose? This gave him the confidence to reveal it's existence. Even if they somehow obtained it, only he knew how much power was needed to activate it.

What normal person would use thousands or even a million mana crystals just to test something? Currently the odds were finally in his favor.

….

Soon everyone returned to the lobby like room of the building with hurried expressions. "Where's the device? Are you holding it now?" Esmeralda asked curiously while trying to act distant but it was clear what her intentions were.

If the device was something they could steal and runaway with then all the better. Whichever power held this device would basically control everyone using fear and desperation to live.

Aron however gave a small smile at her question. "It's the basement, it's quite heavy but luckily we have Jagu who won't need to expend any mana carrying it." He revealed as if mocking what she was trying to do.

Sure they could carry it if they used augmentation but this would only last a while whereas Jagu or even could do it effortlessly, she couldn't make an excuse to carry it as she would come across as suspicious.

Brutas also looked unhappy because even though he hadn't talked to his family he still thought of obtaining it for them to help wash away the shame he had stacked up ever since meeting Aron.

Although no one said the atmosphere had now become quite tense…

"*Ahem* I've informed my family to send a fleet of airships to this location, we simply need to wait for safe transportation." Henry finally spoke and made it look like he had actually done something great but this too would mean the device was in the Rosenberg's hands.

Aron grew tired of the schemes rising one after another and saw he burst them all in one go. "No need, we'll go to the Aethelian capital and take one. We don't have the luxury to leisurely wait days for your people so once the horde is cleared we will leave."

"Good idea." Juliet added only because Aron's option meant she'd likely get to see him fight again.

After this no one showed any displeasure to the plan, at least on the surface. Since Lady Rose didn't deny Aron it was the same as giving approval, meaning anyone who did suggest otherwise would be going against her, him and Juliet. Jagu, Evanora and Jin were also clearly sided with Aron so it was a losing battle.

They could only keep quiet and begin planning from scratch.