Chapter 1650


    This came as a massive blow to Ares, who thought his attainment of King ss would bring him within


    reach of Zeke.


    It did not ur to him that Zeke would have reached Ultimate ss while this was happening.


    The difference in the strength of each ss spanned a world apart, and that meant that he had been


    cast far behind.


    “Do not be disheartened,” Zeke said. “It was your incapacity that dyed your progression. With my


    help, it would only be a matter of time before you attain Ultimate ss.”


    “Thank you, Great Marshal!”


    Ares cupped his hands respectfully.


    “I-Is this... Lacey?”


    Only now did Ares notice the unconscious Lacey.


    He went up to her immediately and held her hand in his. “What happened to her?”


    Zeke responded with a look of guilt, “Forgive me. I failed to protect Lacey and allowed her toe to


    harm. Now, she''s in aa. But don''t worry. I''ll make her well again, no matter the cost.”


    “Wait.” Ares closed his eyes as he sped her hand tightly. “T-This feels oddly familiar. It''s dark energy.


    D*mn it! How did Lacey be afflicted by this?”


    Zeke was taken slightly aback.


    He assumed that the dark energy Ares spoke of must be rted to the negative energy that hailed


    exclusively from Netherworld.


    Could Ares'' familiarity with this dark energy suggest that he had prior contact with people from there?


    Zeke promptly followed up on his hunch. “Were you in contact with anyone from Netherworld, Ares?”


    “Netherworld?” Ares asked. “Could that be where that person hailed from?”


    “Who''s this person you''re referring to?” Zeke pressed.


    “When I was gravely ill, a mysterious person with a ghostly visage came to me,” Ares exined. “He


    told me that if I would be willing to join his side, they could not only reconstitute my body and bring me


    back to life but also forcefully boost my prowess many-fold.”


    He continued, “Us Thisletons have been servants of Eurasia for generations, so how could I, as an


    Archduke and a representative of our country, possibly join up with some unorthodox organization? I


    rejected them on the spot but never could I have expected that they might try to take me by force.


    Fortunately, someone''s entry then caused that mysterious person to quietly slink away.”


    That drew a frown from Zeke. “You''ve been in aa all this time, so how were the both of you able to


    communicate?”


    “You wouldn''t believe it even if I told you,” Ares replied. “He was able to tap into my subconsciousness,


    allowing me to speak with him without needing to move my lips.”


    “The denizens of Netherworld are experts in the ult. He must have been using sorcery to


    communicate with you,” Zeke concluded.


    Ares nodded. “The energy I felt from him was simrly peculiar, just like that on Lacey. Was she


    harmed by someone from Netherworld?”


    “That''s right.” Zeke nodded. “Even my daughter Missy was kidnapped by them. I swore to all of Eurasia


    that I''ll exterminate anyone who harms my family, and so I shall show no quarter to anyone from


    Netherworld!”


    Ares, too, clenched his fists. “Hmph. I will muster all the powers held by the Thisleton family against


    those who transgress against us and stamp out Netherworld!”


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    “We can start by reiming the Spirit Stone mine first,” Zeke said. “I want to use it to treat Lacey''s


    wounds. Let''s go!”


    The group had just arrived at the perimeters of the restricted zone when they heard a disturbance to


    their rear, followed by a series of uniformed footsteps which rocked the ground upon which they tread.


    When they turned, they saw a six-hundred-strong procession of warriors swarm toward them like a tidal


    wave.