The full moon appeared in the evening, with the figures of two creatures moving through the sky.
They flew over the large expanse of the seas, and Reith gripped tightly to Jeran's clothes. The air was moist, and he didn't dare to open his mouth.
Over the course of the journey, countless insects had flown into his mouth during his complaints.
Jeran didn't pay any attention to his discomfort, so he had learnt to keep his mouth shut.
At some point, he didn't think there would be insects in this part of the sky, but it seemed even insects and creatures knew how to absorb hana.
It wasn't really good news to humans, and it was troublesome.
Reith had realized how closed his mentality of the big world felt.
Even though he had grown up in the city, where he lived could be described as the scum area of the city, it was natural to have some misgivings and misunderstanding about the world at large.
Reith narrowed his eyes as the turbulence in the air got stronger.
Was it an incoming storm?
He had to admit Jeran was quite fast. There was something in the distance, moving on the sea.
It was a large wave cruiser. The city had no such wave cruiser and Reith knew that.
"We are landing but not on the ship," Jeran's voice floated into Reith's mind, and the boy was amazed. This was power on a totally different level.
The ability to communicate through the mind.
Jeran's clothes that were furiously moving slowed down. His cloak flowed down his shoulders as he slowed to a halt, hovering over the wave cruiser.
The large ship felt like it was floating over the surface of the water.
Its body was sleek and shiny, with the front part of the ship pointed like the tip of a spear, where it was able to cut through the water as it moved.
Jeran slowly drew closer, narrowing his eyes. Hardy was not someone he could underestimate.
This man had hailed from the Regallo Clan, the clan who would give their lives for the Regional Insignia.
But Jeran couldn't understand what made Hardy fall off.
Four years ago, they heard a story about a lost heir of the Regallo Clan. And last year, someone had waltzed into the town and killed every single member of the clan.
Jeran drew closer to the boat. Those bodies at the warehouse, and the ones found at the Regallo mansion, had the same method of killing.
A slit throat, clean and precise, at a one-eighty degree angle. It wasn't a deep cut and made the victims suffer a lot before their death.
"He knows I am here," Jeran spoke to Reith, as they floated on the surface of the water, right beside the shiny surface of the wave cruiser.
Reith nodded.
He understood the dangers and he had still decided to come. The goal was to secure Isho.
"I'm guessing the reason your friend was sought was because of his cultivation path. Do you know the name?"
Reith shook his head in negative.
He didn't know what else to say. He never paid attention to when Isho got his cultivation path.
He found this mind magic quite annoying. Still, it was great that this man couldn't hear his thoughts.
Jeran scoffed. "But you call him your friend." He took the boy and placed him closer to a window in the ship.
Once Reith was in the ship, Jeran flew up and landed on the dock.
Before he could find his footing, something moved in the air, slashing toward him.
But he had noticed the change in the vibration of the wind right before he landed, and by bending his head to the side, he was able to evade the blade.
"Hardy," Jeran said with a smirk, brushing off the moment like it meant nothing. "Your parents didn't teach you how to welcome a guest?"
Hardy smirked and moved forward with slow steps.
His tailored midnight blue suit fitted him in the right areas, and his hair was sleeked back.
Hardy Regallo would match for a prestige butler if his crimes weren't already known.
"My hospitality doesn't extend to uninvited guests, Jeran Lohengrin," Hardy said, his voice smooth. "Younger brother of the mighty Regional Insignia."
At the end of his words, he stretched out his hand, displaying the manifestation of what looked like a thin sword.
The blade had a red tint, contrasting with Hardy's attire, giving him the look of a cool-headed slayer.
On sighting it, Jeran furrowed his brows.
"The Sword of Demitri."
Things got a lot harder now.
Jeran had gone on this search alone because he had just advanced to Spirit Refinement, and he knew Hardy was still stuck in the last stage of Spirit Root Realm—Spirit Adept.
The two realms were miles apart already, but seeing Hardy's card, Jeran knew he had to take things more seriously.
In the next minute, Hardy ran forward, slashing with his first strike in clean precision yet brutal force.
"I'm glad you recognize this beauty," Hardy said as he advanced again. "Once I get that kid's cultivation path, I'll begin my new life. A new path... built with that boy's soul."
Hardy's smile widened as he watched Jeran evade his strike for the second time.
"Come out, Uriel."
With a soft call, a giant bird appeared behind Jeran.
The bird cried with a loud screech.
Her purple wings were lined with golden stripes, and on her beak was a red gem.
She resembled a smaller version of a phoenix, but her body was larger than Jeran. She looked like a golden guardian behind him.
Her wings flapped and a large gust of wind moved Jeran to a distance away from Hardy.
Able to catch his breath, Jeran stretched out his hand, and Uriel transformed mid-flight, her body twisting and narrowing, folding into a gleaming purple spear with a golden tip.
She landed in his palm with a low vibration, and the weapon trembled slightly as if to say it was ready for action.
Hardy chuckled. "I expect nothing less from the Regional Insignia's younger brother."
Under the moonlight, he raised his hands and a coin emblem appeared, attaching itself to the Sword of Demitri.
Two great spiritual pressures clashed.
Hardy was almost on par with Jeran.
They both bared their weapons and closed in for the strike.
Jeran's cloak fluttered in the wind, his weapon sweeping out.
If he couldn't capture Hardy alive, then he would have to kill him.
The spear moved in an arc, and Hardy parried instantly. Without giving him space, Jeran moved again, swinging his spear and piercing forward.
Every move was met with a loud clang. Hardy's smile widened more, even as sweat dripped down his face.
Despite being slightly on par with Jeran, he still couldn't make up for the power difference in their cultivation.
It was pitiable, and it made him chuckle harder.
This was why he wouldn't let anyone stop him from getting that kid's cultivation.
"Come on, Jeran. Fight harder," Hardy taunted, his swings getting faster.
Jeran drew his lips into a thin line, masking the smile that threatened to spill out.
When was the last time he fought this hard? And he enjoyed it for which he mentally scolded himself.
Adrenaline ripped through his muscles as he swung his spear in rhythmic movements.
His feet dug into the floor of the wave cruiser's deck, and his blows were getting heavier.
Sparks flew from the clash, and Hardy's grin widened.
"Yes, that's what I'm talking about. You amaze me, Jeran!"
Jeran ignored his words, even when he felt the excitement ripple beneath him, wanting to destroy his calm facade.
"Hardy, surrender yourself by the order of the Regional Insignia."
At the end of Jeran's statement, the atmosphere changed in an instant, and Hardy frowned.
"Order?"
Something crept under Jeran's skin and he jumped back a few steps. What was that feeling of death?
Hardy moved closer, tossing his sword from hand to hand.
"The only order that exists lies within me. This game is over. Jeran, let me show you what true Order is."
The next moment, he brought out a bottle and popped it open.
On sighting that bottle, Jeran's instincts made a single move.
"Kid!" Jeran made his voice move through the vibrations of the air. "Get your friend out of this ship now."
If his memory was correct, that potion was a corruption potion.
Hardy was about to use a corrupted path.