As they pushed toward the Soul Forging Zone, the air grew hotter and drier.
It seemed the Titans of Strife's aura was at work again.
"Come to think of it, we really could die fighting here, couldn't we?" Phainon said suddenly.
Mydei stopped and turned to him:
"Careful. Your thoughts are being corroded by [Strife]."
"Maybe." Phainon felt the air grow drier still, his breathing quickening.
"I believe we'll complete our mission and make it out alive."
"Just like the road ahead. Broken as it is, it will lead to the end."
As they went, more and more Heavenly Condemnation Kin appeared, guarding the area.
"Glory to our lord Nikadori!"
"Glory to the undying soul of war!"
A Heavenly Condemnation Kin stood before the three of them, empty-handed and doing nothing but shouting.
"Kin, tell me—is Castrum Kremnos preparing to wipe out Okhema?" Mydei asked.
The kin did not answer. It just kept chanting.
"Glory to our lord Nikadori!"
"Glory to the undying soul of war!"
Its mind was probably gone.
Since it did not attack, the three went around it.
"Perhaps there are kin farther ahead we can speak to," Mydei said, looking forward.
Phainon glanced back at the empty-handed kin. "Shouldn't we deal with it?"
"If you consider it a threat, go ahead. I have no reason to attack." Mydei kept walking.
Yan Huan followed Mydei, then pointed toward a gate not far away.
"Look at that one. It's even holding a book."
"That's a scholar from the Carving Zone," Mydei said gravely.
"But it does look capable of speaking. Let's go see."
The three approached the scholar kin. Sure enough, it did not attack.
"With steel that shall never be reshaped, carve a body that shall never perish!"
"Glory! Nikadori... ruler of all lands. Glory, Nikadori... peerless