After concluding his discussion with President Feng, Arthur wanted to visit his other allies. The demon threat was escalating, his allies needed strengthening, and most importantly, his own power had plateaued at its current level. The solution was clear but would require significant preparation.
Arthur told Aether to teleport them, which he did gracefully.
Aether’s spatial manipulation, reality bending around him as he was transported across continents. His first destination materialised around him—the Palestinian government complex where President Hassan was currently residing.
"Sir Fateless," Hassan greeted him with the respectful wariness of someone who understood they were speaking with humanity’s most powerful awakener. "Your timing is excellent. We’ve been monitoring increased demon activity along our eastern borders."
Arthur withdrew another cache of equipment from his dimensional storage, the rare and very rare items gleaming under the office lighting. "These should help your forces handle the escalation," he said, placing fifty very rare weapons and a hundred rare-rank defensive items on the floor.
The equipment formed a small hill in the room and took up a lot of space. Luckily, the president’s office was big, and it wasn’t an issue to host these items.
Hassan’s eyes widened at the casual distribution of these items. "This generosity...Sir Fateless, we are thankful! We won’t disappoint, at all!"
"I’m going to be unavailable for an extended period," Arthur replied with directness. "Your defensive capabilities need enhancement before I leave."
The implications of Arthur’s temporary absence weren’t lost on Hassan. Without their most powerful protector actively monitoring global threats, each allied nation would need to rely more heavily on its own capabilities.
"Is...Formicia going to stay in here with us?" Hassan let out the question plaguing his mind. Without Formica protecting this area, it would be really difficult for them to stand against the new threat. In fact, it would be impossible.
Arthur shook his head. "No, Formica will stay."
Hassan’s facial expression immediately cooled down. The worry he felt evaporated as he wished Arthur a safe and good journey to his destination.
Aether’s next spatial jump carried Arthur to France, where President Dubois received a similar equipment distribution with the same explanation. The pattern continued across his alliance network—Canada, and each of the other nations that had chosen to align with him rather than oppose him.
Each leader received the same message: strengthened defences, enhanced equipment, and the knowledge that Arthur would be temporarily unavailable for direct intervention. They were also told about the demons and their farms.
By the time Arthur completed his distribution circuit, he had provided thousands of rare and very rare items across multiple countries. The guaranteed drop effect from his demon hunting had generated an enormous surplus of equipment that no organisation in this world could acquire.
Standing once again in his guild headquarters in Caldera, Arthur contemplated the necessity driving his decision. Level 24 represented a threshold he had maintained for weeks now, but the escalating demon threat demanded evolution beyond his current capabilities.
The second-order awakening—level 25—would unlock his talent domain, a fundamental transformation that would amplify his spatial manipulation beyond its current limitations. Within his own domain, Arthur would possess environmental control that made his current power a joke in comparison.
Furthermore, every single summon of his would also be able to form their own domain. At least the strong one if there was a restriction on talent level. That of itself wouldn’t just boost his power by a measly sum. Not at all, he would become a force of nature that even the demons would have to worry about.
But achieving that breakthrough required combat against opponents who could challenge his current abilities. Earth’s demon population, while numerous, lacked the individual power necessary to push him past his existing boundaries. The fodder demons provided experience, but it wasn’t enough. They were weak level 10 demons whilst he was at level 24; the level gap was too big.
He needed to face at least Legendary-rank opponents operating at levels that would force him to utilise his full capabilities under life-threatening pressure. Such creatures existed in Armageddon’s deeper regions, areas where ancient monsters had claimed territories through decades of dominance.
The decision crystallised with certainty. Earth would survive his temporary absence—his allies now possessed enhanced defensive capabilities, and the demon invasion patterns suggested a gradual escalation rather than an immediate overwhelming assault.
Arthur activated his communication systems, sending coordinated messages to his key allies and subordinates. Gates received instructions for maintaining guild operations during his absence. His allied leaders were informed of the temporary transition to autonomous defensive operations.
The message was consistent across all recipients: enhanced equipment had been provided specifically to maintain defensive capabilities during a period when direct intervention would be unavailable.
Standing in his private quarters, Arthur reviewed his decision with the detachment that had guided his most crucial choices.
Arthur’s mind catalogued the potential threats he would face in Armageddon’s untamed regions. Ancient beasts that had achieved territorial dominance through raw power and cunning. Creatures whose individual strength exceeded anything currently manifesting on Earth through the demon portals.
The risk was substantial but necessary. His current capabilities, while impressive, weren’t sufficient for the challenges he anticipated facing as the invasion escalated. The demons’ gradual approach suggested they were building toward something that would require every advantage he could develop.
His previous focus had been on resource gathering for his sister and alliance building. Now, his attention turned to personal advancement that would determine humanity’s ultimate survival prospects.
The monsters waiting in Armageddon’s deeper territories had no idea that Earth’s most dangerous protector was coming to test himself against their ancient power. For Arthur, it wasn’t about conquest or domination—it was about evolution.
Level 25 awaited, along with the domain awakening that would transform him from a powerful individual into something approaching a force of nature itself. The temporary absence from Earth was a necessary preparation for the greater conflicts he knew were coming. Google seaʀᴄh novel✦fire.net
Arthur’s smile carried anticipation as he prepared to venture into regions where survival itself was a myth.