Chapter 146: Going Deep Into Plata Plain
"What are these?"Enzo asked, intrigue evident in his tone.
"Items that could save your life."Mina replied tersely, then sensing the inadequacy of her response, added, "These vials contain the Frenzy Star Potion, which can significantly enhance your strength for a brief period. However, once the effects wane, you will endure several hours of weakness."
"One more thing—"
"If you find yourself faced with insurmountable danger, you may invoke my name; simply inform them that you are acquainted with the Grand Potion Master, Mina."
With that, Mina departed swiftly.
Amy remarked, "Mina seems to be in a rather somber mood of late."
Enzo nodded in agreement.
He examined the vials. The unique concoctions, contained in glass bottles, revealed the extraordinary elixirs within, crafted by Mina herself, undeniably remarkable.
As for Amy's observation, Enzo was well aware.
Ever since he had bestowed the Water of Life upon Mina, allowing her spirit to persist beyond the confines of the soul seed, he had indeed been filled with exuberance at that moment.
Such exhilaration, however, was but fleeting.
In recent days, Mina appeared to be troubled by some vexing issue, her demeanor consistently gloomy.
Even Enzo's inquiries yielded no answers.
At present, with the tribe besieged by a torrent of beasts, Enzo found little time to delve into the secrets behind it all. After entrusting Amy with a few matters, black wings unfurled from his back, and he soared into the skies, heading deep into the heart of Plata Plain.
...
The Darl Mountains.
This term refers to a range of peaks stretching over tens of thousands of meters, carrying a grand significance in the lexicon of the Barren Mountain Tribe. At this moment, a group of individuals stood on the mountainside, encircling a colossal wild boar measuring over ten meters in length. The creature radiated a silvery glow, and suddenly, spikes erupted from its body.
Clang!
These spikes pierced the trees, vibrating violently. Some even penetrated the sturdy trunks.
Yet, these trees were not the target of the boar's wrath.
Its focus was a singular figure.
More precisely, it was a towering human, nearly three meters tall, with a massive frame and skin gleaming like bronze. The spikes struck the man, leaving only a series of small white marks upon him, before falling harmlessly to the ground, inflicting no damage.
Witnessing this, the wild boar was consumed by despair.
It turned and fled.
This spectacle elicited hearty laughter from the onlookers surrounding the boar.
Among the crowd, one individual swiftly drew his bow, and an arrow flew forth, striking down the beast. Others rushed forward, skillfully skinning the boar, extracting its supernatural essence, and preparing the innards, igniting a fire to commence roasting the meat.
As they gathered around the flickering flames, lively conversation ensued.
"Captain Gene, your prowess has grown even stronger!"
A voice among the throng complimented with a jovial tone.
This group of individuals naturally comprises members of the Gene Adventurer squad, though they differ significantly from the original Gene squad. Gene now finds himself surrounded by no fewer than thirty individuals, a number that clearly exceeds the customary limit for the Adventurer squad.
Upon hearing the praises from his companions, Gene smiled and remarked, "This level of strength is hardly noteworthy."
As he spoke, memories of Enzo's almost divine demeanor flashed through his mind—each gesture effortlessly coaxed countless vines from the earth, effortlessly dispatching those terrifying creatures.
In the presence of Lord Enzo, he still felt like a mere weakling.
However, he knew that he had grown significantly stronger since then.
This return would undoubtedly surprise his fellow tribesmen.
With that thought, a smile graced Gene's face once more.
Meanwhile, the newly joined members seized the moment to tease, "Captain Gene, Captain Lester, why don't you share more tales about the Crimson Star Tribe? Is it true there are endless supplies of pottery, salt, and all manner of wondrous creations?"
Pride swelled within Gene as he contemplated this topic.
Beside him, Lester wore a smile upon his aged visage, brimming with warmth.
Ultimately, it was Lester who spoke first, "That is certainly no trouble at all. However, before we begin, I must reiterate one important point: once we return to the Crimson Star Tribe, you must adhere to their rules. Should you continue to display the same laxity as before, do not expect Gene and me to treat you with leniency!"
The atmosphere grew solemn, and they quickly assured him, "Absolutely no problem!"
These individuals were members from various tribes whom Gene and Lester had encountered during their journey, all possessing notable talents. Coupled with the supernatural essence harvested by the Gene Adventurer squad, it was certain that these newcomers would soon rise as formidable supernatural warriors.
With such prospects, even the usually composed Lester could not suppress his radiant smile.
He then commenced his captivating account of the Crimson Star Tribe.
...
On the other side.
Upon entering the core region of Plata Plain, Enzo refrained from venturing further. Although he had come to confront the Six-Winged Colorful Phoenix, he was not foolish enough to proceed unprepared.
He intended to subdue a supernatural creature to extract valuable intelligence.
However, as he was about to capture a supernatural leopard, an unexpected turn of events transpired.
Not far from Enzo, a spatial rift abruptly opened, and from it emerged two young individuals, a male and a female. Upon their arrival, they were quick to express their disdain, with the girl exclaiming, "What a dreadful place! The foul stench and filthy ground are truly befitting of a primitive habitat."
The girl added, "Quit complaining and let's finish this. I have no desire to linger here any longer."
At that moment, the young man cast an uninviting glance toward Enzo, barking, "You there, come here."
Enzo furrowed his brow.
He sensed a formidable aura emanating from the pair. Both were at least Level 5 warriors, slightly weaker than Freya. Yet, should it come to a confrontation, he was confident in his ability to dispatch them within a single exchange.
Nevertheless, Enzo held his ground.
His curiosity about their origins and their purpose was piqued.
And he detected a familiar essence about them.
Trelina, Ix… the bloodline of the Solar Dynasty...
Were they from another realm?
Enzo approached them, calmly inquiring, "Who are you?"
Upon hearing his question, the girl erupted in laughter. "Colin, he isn't afraid of you and dares to ask who you are!"
"Silence, Veena!" the young man, identified as Colin, seemed provoked, shouting in response.Then he turned to Enzo, his voice laced with fury: "You brat, I am the one asking the questions, not the other way around! Tell me, where is this place? And have you seen a peculiar egg?"
Enzo simply turned away, unwilling to engage with the two.
However, just as he turned, a girl named Vina abruptly appeared before him, blocking his path, and with a smile said, "You cannot leave until you answer our questions!"
Enzo chuckled, unfazed by such threats.
Yet, his gaze grew cold as he retorted, "Are you certain?"
Vina appeared momentarily taken aback, her dignity seemingly affronted, and with a chilling smile declared, "If you insist on leaving, you may certainly try, but I assure you, the consequences will be dire."
Once again confronted with such threats, a surge of murderous intent welled up within Enzo.
He felt he could acquire the information he sought through a different means; with his mastery of mental power, he should be able to delve into their memories.
Thus, Enzo resolved not to be ensnared any longer.
But just as he prepared to act, an eerie screech pierced the air.
The sound was sharp and penetrating, emanating from its source like a shockwave, wreaking havoc like a tempest, causing the underbrush deep within Plata Plain to bow and flattening several low hills entirely.
"What is that creature?"
After the screech subsided, Vina's face drained of color, fear gripping her heart.
Colin, though equally unsettled, said defiantly, "It must be some powerful supernatural being. Vina, fear not; I possess a formidable treasure bestowed by the Solar Dynasty, and that creature will not stand a chance against us."
Veena nodded, "That's reassuring."
At that moment, she suddenly exclaimed, "That person has vanished!"
Colin scanned the surroundings, failing to spot Enzo's figure, and indignantly cursed, "What a cowardly creature, lurking away like a frightened insect!"
Afterward, he turned to Veena and stated, "Veena, don't concern yourself with him. Let's focus on completing our task."
The two of them continued deeper into the Plata Plain.
Unbeknownst to Colin and Veena, Enzo stood quietly behind them, muttering to himself, "Indeed, they are from the Solar Dynasty. That fellow named Colin exudes such confidence. Perhaps he possesses some strategy to deal with the Six-Winged Colorful Phoenix. I could follow them…"
Enzo quickly formulated his next course of action.
He stealthily trailed behind Colin and Veena, delving further into the depths of Plata Plain.
The journey was not lengthy.
Merely a few hours later, Colin and Veena reached the innermost part.
Unease settled within them.
Colin cautioned, "Be wary. It is too quiet here, something feels off!"
Veena nodded, a faint yellow glow emanating from her.
Typically, living beings possess a sense of territoriality, and the same is true for formidable creatures.
However, this does not imply that powerful supernatural beings will drive away others of different lineage; on the contrary, some rare-blooded supernatural entities will permit other supernatural beings to roam within their territory and even offer sanctuary.
But here, the situation was far from such an understanding.