"Take them off."

I nodded at Elder Zal and removed the Grivs.

They fell to the ground with a light thud and rubbed my wrists ever so lightly. There wasn't any pain or even a mark left behind from wearing it for so many years, but I had gotten used to their presence, and being without it now definitely felt a little odd.

Even the restriction I had gotten used to... it being gone now made me feel a bit weird as well. Though… that weird feeling didn't overpower the freedom my Qi circulated in now as opposed to its restricted state.

Hm.

It felt different.

If before I started this training, my Qi was akin to a powerful swimmer gliding, showcasing their talents in an Olympic pool, then it was now like a fish instead. While my previous state couldn't be described as bad per se, it was nothing compared to how in sync my body felt now.

Everything flowed the way it was supposed to. My Qi, my flames, my blood—it all flowed both naturally and with power.

Even on this moon that was starved for Qi, my body practically thrummed with increasing power the more and more my Qi circulated now that the Grivs were off. Good. Very good.

"With this, our training is now complete. Any further advancements beyond this point will be up to your own comprehension, as we have previously discussed. Do you understand?"

"I do, Elder Zal. Thank you."

She then nodded, and a slight smile made its way onto her face. Then she did a very deep bow.

"Forgive me for not being able to rightfully kneel before you, Patriarch Raizen. It is forbidden for me to do so as someone who has sworn their loyalty to another. It has been a pleasure serving as your Elder for the short time we have been together. I look forward to your exploits as an Infernal Patriarch and the growth of your Clan.

"I will await your trip to Planet Infernal, where I will guide you one last time."

She paused for a moment, and then the meager Qi in the area began to stir.

"Let your Flames burn Eternally, and your spear be ever Swift."

The Qi in the area stirred even stronger as she spoke the words of Infernals. A moment or two later, it settled slowly as Elder Zal rose from her bow.

"Inform both Liran and Frian that I will be telling their parents about them joining your Clan. They will be overjoyed."

"Thank you for the well wishes, Elder Zal, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to guide me. I will not forget it."

She said all that she had to say, so all I got in return was a nod. Back to regular Elder Zal.

We then boarded the ship in silence, and before I knew it, I was back in the skies over Earth. After one more farewell to Elder Zal, she promptly teleported me from the ship and into my office at the Infernal District.

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Right at my chair.

I sat down slowly.

Ah.

I closed my eyes for a moment as my body happily bathed in the Qi rich environment that was Planet Earth.

I allowed the passive effect of my core to ramp up unrestrained for a few seconds as I soaked in the Qi of the world. There was no more need to only circulate the minimum to ensure I didn't die from suffocation.

So I allowed a few moments of indulgence.

A few seconds later, I opened my eyes, and immediately the Qi in my body became tame once more. Every single movement of Qi was under my explicit control and so it will remain.

My spear was lying peacefully on the desk in front of me. Despite it being untouched for the last five years, it looked to be in pristine condition. Almost like its creation was only just yesterday.

It was about 8 feet in length, with both the blade and the shaft being pitch black in color. And it wasn't just a regular black either, the color itself seemed to be 'burning' away the light in the area around it ever so subtly.

Yeah… my flames can burn anything and everything.

On the shaft itself was a bunch of flames that coiled around it from the bottom to where it met the blade.

And what a blade it was.

Dark red veins grew out from the shaft and onto the blade, branching out until they reached the tip.

The veins themselves pulsed slightly every few seconds. As if it was alive.

And according to the note that was laid next to the spear, then it very well might be.

The words on the note were quite simple:

"Feed it Nascent Level Flames and It will Evolve."

That was it, but enough was said.

This spear will last me for my remaining time in the Core Formation Realm, and hopefully all the way through my journey in the next.

Alright...

I think it's time.

I wrapped the spear in my flames and brought it to my side. There it shall hover, wrapped in a veil of flames, until it is time for me to wield it properly. I think it is only right that the first time I touch it will be the first time it gets to taste blood.

Don't worry. It will come soon.

I then took my time standing up from my desk.

Oo.

My body… it feels far too light.

I didn't want to damage the building from a lack of balance with my movements, so I wrapped my body in a thin layer of Qi and began walking to the door.

There were a few stumbles, as I sometimes took too hard a step while following it up with too light of a step and overcompensating.

Interesting.

I made it to the door, but instead of opening it right away, I slowly walked over to my desk and started the process over again.

I repeated this a few more times until I felt confident enough to walk without stumbling or taking awkwardly powerful steps that might as well be stomps.

A few moments later, I found myself once again outside and under the beautiful sun of Earth.

It was one thing to soak up the Qi in the area, but it was another thing altogether to bask in the sunlight once more. Something that I missed dearly.

I then took my focus off the sun and took in the scene around me.

Vrusha, and I'm guessing every single Infernal that remained in the Infernal District at the moment, were gathered around me and on one knee with their heads lowered.

I turned my gaze to Vrusha specifically, and it seems that it was the cue he needed.

"Welcome back, Patriarch."

After he said that, the voices of a few hundred Infernals resounded throughout the area as they all repeated his words.

"It's good to be back."

I paused for a moment as I scanned all the Infernals in the area. Hm. Neither Lidaz nor the boys were here.

Vrusha seemed to notice my look immediately and spoke up.

"Lidaz has commenced his breakthrough to the Immortal Realm, Patriarch, while the Pillars made their way underground some time ago to reinforce the Black Dawn."

Wait, what? Immortal Realm? So soon? Actually…

"Do you know Lidaz's age by any chance?"

"I am not sure about his exact age, but I am sure he has already passed his fifth or so century."

…

Well shit.

"And you, Vrusha?"

"I've only recently entered my third century, Patriarch."

Damn.

So I guess it really isn't 'so soon,' then.

"How long is it going to take? A day or so?"

He might just have a few hours before he finishes, since I don't know exactly when he started his breakthrough. Elder Zal was worried for nothing, it seems.

"…It will be at least another decade at best if he succeeds with his breakthrough, Patriarch."

Never mind.

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