After some thought, Cipher, feeling the limits of her remaining stamina, decided to abandon that idea for now.
"I'll go to Okhema and get the money from that tailor girl first," Cipher thought to herself.
Derick stood up and picked up the shrunken Blade of Scourge. Even reduced in size, the greatsword was nearly one and a half meters long, almost as tall as Derick himself. The massive hilt was difficult for Derick to wield with one hand, so he gripped it with both hands to lift it.
"Hm? Derick, what are you doing with that?" Castorice asked, puzzled, seeing him holding the greatsword.
"Sister Castorice, I feel a power within me. It seems like after the Blade of Scourge pierced my body just now, the residual power entered me."
Derick explained while lifting the greatsword.
His clone had completely swallowed Nikador, and although it was still digesting, some of its power had already been transferred to Derick. Derick felt that the Nika-energy signature on him was becoming difficult to suppress, so he had to find an excuse to explain the origin of this power.
At the same time, he needed to make his sudden increase in strength seem reasonable.
Conveniently, the Blade of Scourge had pierced his body, providing a perfect excuse for his newfound strength. Furthermore, because he had devoured Nikador, the Blade of Scourge now perfectly suited him as a weapon.
"This... how is this possible?" Trianne's face showed a puzzled expression. She had never seen anything like this before.
But in the next second, the energy that erupted from Derick dispelled her doubts.
In front of everyone, a golden light appeared around Derick and on the greatsword. Castorice and the others were incredibly familiar with this energy; it was the same energy Nikador had possessed moments ago.
"Little Derick actually obtained Nikador's power?" Trianne muttered to herself.
Derick felt the energy within his body and grew excited. Once Nikador's power was fully digested, along with the other miscellaneous energies he had absorbed before, his strength would be comparable to battle-focused Golden Lineage members like Phainon or Mydei.
"If this were a game, I'd definitely be a five-star character now."
A handsome young man wielding a greatsword, Imaginary attribute, Path of Remembrance – this gacha pool wouldn't have bad sales, right?
Why the Path of Remembrance? A clone should at least count as a summon...
Of course, that was just imagined game data, not reality here. Derick felt that his actual Path in reality was very likely to be the Path of Voracity.
Other Paths probably wouldn't allow for devouring others like this.
Derick slowly retracted the energy within his body. Looking at the greatsword in his hands, he suddenly realized a very awkward problem.
He didn't know where to put the greatsword. Wearing only a pair of shorts, he had no way to carry it. Especially since he was only slightly taller than the Blade of Scourge.
Seeing his predicament, the others couldn't help but laugh. Even Mydei couldn't suppress a slight smile.
Mydei said to Derick, "Just carry it for now. When we get to Okhema, find Hatonus to make you a strap and a scabbard. Then you can carry it on your back."
"Okay." Derick had no choice but to shoulder the greatsword.
Due to the disappearance of Nikador's energy and the recent battle's shockwaves, the buildings in the city of Okhema began to shift. Seeing this, Trianne quickly said, "Let's get out of here quickly."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They didn't dare to linger. After a short rest, everyone had recovered some stamina and had enough strength to leave Suspended Sword City. Castorice walked over to Derick and, still worried, checked his body.
"After we return to Okhema, Derick, you should still get a check-up," Castorice instructed Derick.
Although Derick's strength had increased, Castorice was still worried that the energy Nikador had placed in the Blade of Scourge might be harmful to Derick.
"If it's harmful to your body, it's best to deal with it as soon as possible."
Castorice would rather Derick's strength remain weak than have his body suffer any problems.
I can protect Derick, Castorice thought to herself.
"Indeed, Derick, it's best not to let this Titan's energy enter your body so easily." Cipher appeared on Derick's other side at this moment, expressing strong agreement with Castorice's words.
As she spoke, she reached out, intending to pat Derick's head.
However, before Cipher's hand could reach Derick's head, Castorice pulled Derick to her other side. At the same time, she narrowed her eyes and gave Cipher a warning look.
I won't let you touch Derick again!
I'll settle the score with you for what happened earlier when we get back to Okhema.
Castorice's eyes conveyed this message.
Cipher's eyes narrowed, her pupils constricting into slits like a cat's.
Once I recover my stamina, I'm going to steal Derick away. Not just steal him physically, but also make him willingly follow me and become a phantom thief.
The two of them barely exchanged a word, but the atmosphere grew tense.
Trianne, who was close to them, couldn't help but take a step back, wanting to distance herself from the pressure. Mydei crossed her arms, feeling a tension even more intense than the battle between the cloaked figure and Nikador earlier.
The group left Suspended Sword City amidst this atmosphere.
And after leaving Suspended Sword City, Trianne immediately sat down on the ground.
"Little Castie, Little My, Little Derick, let's sit here and rest for a while."
Her weakened state from using the Hundred Worlds Gate hadn't ended yet, and she truly couldn't walk anymore.
Hearing Trianne's words, the others also sat down.
"Lady Tribbie, you've worked hard today," Castorice said to Trianne while holding Derick's hand.
"It's what I should do." Trianne's expression was slightly dejected. "It's just that the matter of the Strife Titan's Core Flame might be more troublesome now."
As they were talking, a group of people rushed towards Derick and the others.
Mydei glanced over, her expression changing slightly, and then she stood up directly, regardless of her fatigue.
"It looks like Little Phai is here," Trianne said with a smile, noticing Mydei's expression and actions.
Castorice and Derick nodded in agreement.
Indeed, it didn't take long for Phainon to arrive before them with a team of Okhema soldiers.
"Teacher Trianne, Mydei, what was the outcome of your trip? According to observations, Suspended Sword City experienced violent tremors. Lady Aglaea sent me to reinforce you."
"Hmph, you're late. We've already resolved the situation there."
________
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