Mia seemed to have concluded that everyone was there to avenge their team, and along the way, she not only showed no fear but also walked with an aura of arrogance.
Occasionally, she would rant, using the most venomous words to describe the despicable Hero Squad.
But after listening repeatedly, Angel couldn’t extract any substantial information, only pure resentment. The specific issue boiled down to the fact that the other party came to Zone Three to treasure hunt.
No one interrupted Mia’s words; the others were too lazy to interrupt, while Dox seemed amused. When Angel saw this, he knew that Dox was again in the mood to watch the drama.
However, this time, there probably wouldn’t be any drama to watch, as they were all ordinary people, and the Black Earl likely wouldn’t waste time on disputes among ordinary people.
Mia walked with her chest out and head held high; her demeanor didn’t resemble someone walking in ruins but rather someone attending a ball.
Along the way, people would appear now and then, either taking a glance and then leaving or hiding in the shadows to observe. These were all ordinary people employing very rudimentary hiding techniques, so much so that even Mia spotted a few.
Seeing other people only made Mia more exuberant.
She walked at the front, as if fantasizing herself as the leader of the team. If someone looked over, she glared back, occasionally sneering some words. The most repeated were things like "stinking groundhogs hiding in the shadows" and "earthworms too scared to come out in the daytime, twisted and disgusting."
The tone had a haughty pretentiousness of a noblewoman, but from the deliberate performance, it seemed like she’d overheard a noblewoman speaking similarly and was imitating it.
The tone and expression were similar, but the innate demeanor was entirely absent.
However, none of these were important or a point of focus for Angel. He looked at the ordinary people showing up now and then and suddenly remembered something.
Before Angel could open his mouth, Dox, as if telepathically, asked the question Angel had in mind.
"Mia, according to your classification, which zone is this?"
Though Mia walked at the front arrogantly, she turned back to face Dox with a humble manner: "Esteemed sir, this is the fourth zone at the lower left of the ruins."
"And straight ahead is Zone Three, right?"
Mia shook her head: "Ahead is a forbidden zone, overrun with blood-sucking vines and hallucinatory mist, where no adventure group dares to enter. As for Zone Three, you need to bypass the forbidden area and walk a while to reach it."
"I see." Dox nodded, continuing to ask, "Then who rules this fourth zone adventure group-wise? Why haven’t they come to stop us?"
Dox seemed to ask offhandedly, yet it made Mia’s expression hesitant.
"What’s wrong? You don’t know?" Dox looked over, his eyes still clear as if he was genuinely asking without ulterior motives.
Mia swallowed and, with her head lowered, whispered, "I don’t know either. It’s chaotic here, probably without a ruling adventure group."
Everyone was a Transcendent; none were blind, all saw that Mia was lying.
From the people they’d seen before, though ordinary, many had robust auras, clearly skilled warriors or knights. Plus, the adventure group outfits varied, implying that several adventure groups coexisted in the fourth zone.
Among those knights, any random pick could greatly overpower Mia. They might not completely outmatch the full White Crocodile Adventure Group, but certainly wouldn’t fall much short.
Yet, the fourth zone had no monopolizing behavior; paradoxically, Zone Three saw domination by the White Crocodile Adventure Group. The truth was clear at a glance.
Angel had initially thought zoning off for a monopoly was a shared rule among adventure groups; apparently, it wasn’t, just something Mia’s adventure group did alone.
"Is that right? I thought here was like Zone Three, featuring monopolizing adventure groups. Turns out not every area has it." Dox said, feigning surprise, "It appears monopolizing isn’t present in every zone."
That pretentious performance left everyone else speechless and glancing sideways, leaving Mia unsure if Dox meant it intentionally or unintentionally, forcing an awkward smile as a response.
"Let’s continue, faster this time." Angel spoke, not to bail Mia out but simply because it was getting late, and he didn’t wish the Hero Squad to be asleep by the time they reached Zone Three.
Having said that, Angel’s lips moved slightly, and the hidden Speedy immediately cast a layer of Blessing of the Wind on Mia, along with the apprentices Kaier and Vay.
Speedy’s combat power hadn’t reached the Wizard Level, but its auxiliary ability and the intensity and density of the Wind Element within were on par with a wind-based wizard. The Blessing of the Wind provided was akin to the spell-level Wind Walk, allowing them to stride vast distances with every step while having counterbalancing winds to maintain their balance.
This experience was rare even for Kaier and Vay, who were gleeful in their swift run. Mia, too, was astounded by this remarkable ability. Previously, she might have flaunted herself like a peacock displaying its plumage, showing off her uniqueness to others. However, after Dox’s seemingly performative yet subtly cautionary remarks, she dared not act out, obediently riding the winds.
"Your Wind Element partner is quite something; in pure speed, it’s surpassed many of its kind." The speaker, Black Earl, had returned to Vay, still displeased with him, but hitching a ride on the "windmill" consumed far less energy than flying alone.
"However, if you only pursue speed, understand that gaining insight into the Wind Sequence is improbable. For Rhein’s sake, here’s some advice: in fostering it, let go of chasing ultimate speed. Instead, focus on short-term bursts."
Angel didn’t elaborate on Speedy’s connection with him, nodding respectfully: "Thank you, sir, for your guidance. Since you’ve mentioned Speedy, perhaps you could also advise on Dangross?"
Angel grabbed Dangross by the little finger, shaking it for Black Earl to see.
Dangross, not knowing what was happening, bewilderedly wanted to resist but stopped upon seeing Angel holding it, assuming it was a playful act, and started swinging side to side enthusiastically, using its little finger as a pivot and its entire body as a pendulum until the motion exceeded the limit, turning into a spinning top in Angel’s hand.
Angel watched it silently, quite embarrassed, but as it was his family’s child, he remained outwardly calm while looking at Black Earl.
Originally, Black Earl wanted to tell Angel he seemed "overly greedy," but upon witnessing Dangross’s curious antics, he stayed silent for a moment.
Let it be; given Dangross’s intriguing display, Black Earl decided to play along and began speaking: "It remains a spirit; the nurturing phase for spirits is predominantly about experience. Judging by its appearance, it’s undergone considerable flame tempering, right? But mere flame tempering isn’t enough. It needs experiences with other elements, which won’t lower its developmental ceiling but will instead enhance it. The sole downside is a slower ascent to the summit."
"Of course, if you’re merely using it as an Alchemy flame tool, you can disregard what I’ve said. The way you nurture it is up to you."
Angel contemplated for a moment; Black Earl’s so-called flame tempering seemed like the cleansing of quenching fluid, as Dangross had indeed become overly fond of it recently. However, for Dangross’s greater future potential, preparing experiences with other elements seemed necessary, and such trials couldn’t cease, requiring constant intensity enhancement.
But, is this what Dangross wants?
After all, Dangross wasn’t his Element partner, and initiating such trials now seemed inappropriate. Perhaps this matter requires consultation with The Sage Magu in the Tidal World.
With this thought, Angel bowed respectfully to Black Earl, this time sincerely heartfelt.
The Black Earl snorted coldly and said nothing more.
Angel silently added a new tag to the Black Earl in his mind—tsundere. Prior to this, the Black Earl’s tags included: recluse, split personality, descendant overseer...
After receiving some guidance, Angel didn’t say anything to Dangross but instead hung it back onto the Blood Night Shelter, with a practiced hand, as if he were hanging a pendant.
As Dangross climbed back onto the Blood Night Shelter, it showed a hint of silence. It was playful, but it heard Angel’s question and the Black Earl’s words just now.
So, Angel actually wanted it to be his elemental partner?