The Iceborns soon felt dismayed, incapable of comprehending what Zariel meant by that. Of course, it wasn't what I wished for either. If anything, I had a little sympathy for them and was thinking of fulfilling their request if it wouldn't be much of a problem.
However, Zariel seemed to be against it entirely. Although I wasn't sure what motivated her to act that way, one thing was certain. There must be a bigger issue if she, of all people, was denying the request.
"Oh, my lady! Please consider our future. If it goes as it has been, there is no guarantee that we will manage to survive even a decade. Our bloodlines will cease to exist. The Mavi Clan will be done for. We beg you. Please don't look away from us."
The Iceborns, including Shika, fell on their knees, gesturing in a begging manner as Mr. Hiba implored. Zariel, however, remained stubborn. She just wouldn't budge from her decision, unless I intervened.
"Come on Zariel. What gives you the attitude? You aren't this stubborn. You aren't cold-hearted either. It won't kill you to consider their future, will it?"
In any case, I was hanging in the middle of Zariel's denial and the Iceborn's miserable faces that seemed to be facing utter despair. Honestly, I didn't want to see Shika—the beautiful, graceful and elegant Iceborn—kneeling before us. Not that I wanted to see Mr. Hiba either.
"No means no." Zariel sat angrily on my shoulder, making balloon faces while folding her arms near her chest. "No! Never! Nah-uh! N O No! Just NO! I won't allow you to take their request. I don't like people ordering you around."
Sigh!
She was unimaginably stubborn. I couldn't help it.
[Data synchronization completed!]
At that moment, the system panel appeared, conveying a few new notifications. While Zariel was stuck to her decision, I read the notification, completely ignoring her for the moment.
[Quest Info has been updated]
[Dynastic Singularity Quest: Iceborn Reclamation]
[Gather all the broken fragments of the Frost Daiken from the remaining clans. Defeat the leaders guarding each fragment of the broken blade]
[Rewards: Immediate Rank-Up (+1); Immediate Avatar Exclusive Skill upgrade (+1); Immediate Tier upgradation of all the Primary classes (+1 in each); Alternative Entry Permit after defeating every clan to ascend to the next heaven; Additional rewards may vary on the subject Iceborns]
"I accept!" I said it out loud, filling the Iceborns' faces with hope as they stared at me solemnly. Now that the system had shown me the rewards there was no way I could ever let this opportunity miss. A single rank-up cost me an additional quest—which, by the way, was much more difficult than it appeared to be. That same went for the avatar-exclusive skill too. Not to mention, the alternative entry permit—if I were to defeat the clan leaders, I wouldn't have to go against the heaven guardians. That would also save me time.
"Come on Zariel." I said to her smilingly, "Let's help them. We aren't bad guys, you know. It will be a disrespectful act if we ignore their efforts. Top of that, if you agree, I'll summon more often in the future."
She, however, still looked stubborn as before. She sighed, flew around me for one time, and halted before my eyes.
"If you've already decided, who am I to talk to? But let me remind you, it's not as easy as you think it is. Unlike before, our strength won't be enough. The enemy will be tough this time."
"Don't worry, my lady." Shika interjected, "Since it's the reclamation of our clan, I—as the successor, must accompany you on this conquest. We will retrieve all the fragments."
"Wait. If you join us, who'd protect your clan if another hunting group appears." I inquired, showing my concern for their safety.
"Don't worry, Child of—"
"AHEM!!!" Zariel intervened again, preventing Mr. Hiba from completing his words.
"I mean, Zanthrix. I may look old. But I have enough strength left to defend my clan in the meantime."
It wasn't a joke. I was certain of it. His body may look fragile, but his determinations weren't. Not to mention the countless wounds on his body, that were scars from battle—proving just how many battles he had fought.
It was, however, a mystery why Zariel was acting out of her character—specifically near Mr. Hiba.
'Well, never mind.'
"Looks like it's settled then. We'll go and retrieve the missing pieces." I said confidently, seeing how happy they were just because I had accepted their request. I didn't let them know that I had my own reasons for it. On the contrary, this might be the very element of this quest after all.
"Shika, take this!" Mr Hiba passed down the broken hilt to Shika, "It'll protect Zanthrix and yourself. Don't ever lose it, okay?"
"Count on me, father." She looked determined as she replied, "I assure you that I'll be back, reviving the broken Daiken!"
They nodded.
*****
(The Next Day)
[Coordination Saved: The Broken Temple of Mavi Clan (Partial Safe Zone)]
The system notification appeared when I saved my current coordination outside the Shrine. Of course, I could. As long as it was a safe zone—regardless of partial or not, I could save my teleportation coordinates. I had to rely on the central city teleportation tower, though. It was the only place where players could teleport to their saved coordinates.
In any case, now that we were all set, the first thing we needed to do was to take down the heaven guardian on Arizoma. That way we could advance to the next heaven where the next clan was.
"We don't need to do that." Unexpectedly Shika replied, "Since we used to be the leader of this entire heaven, we do have our own 'Heaven Guidance'."
She meant Entry Permit actually. In the context, they dramatically referred to many simple things—like the miracle they spoke of, it was perhaps a patch update. Similarly, it was the Entry Permit that she referred to.
In any case, I was rather dumbfounded, yet relieved at the same time. Accepting their request was, after all, beneficial for me.
"Then what're we waiting for? Use it right away."
Shika nodded. Zariel was still upset. I, on the other hand, smiled confidently while replying to Shika.
As she used the Entry Permit—a scroll which she held up high, we started degenerating into particles that were teleported according to the permit.
However, I had a question—what was Shika exactly!?