Two days ago, Jacob moved silently through the ancient forest's dense underbrush; his senses heightened as he followed the trail left by the barbarian's group.
Autarch had already sifted through the memories of the barbarian Jacob had captured, extracting every detail that might lead him to the rendezvous point. The barbarian was actually one of the loyal followers of the Princess of the Myriad Galaxy Guardian, an independent power of Leo Galaxy!
Jacob's eyes narrowed as he navigated the twisted trees. The group had been cautious, covering their tracks well, but they hadn't anticipated someone with Jacob's skills would be hunting them.
After hours of tracking, Jacob arrived at a secluded clearing where the trees parted to reveal a small, hidden glade. His gaze swept over the area, searching for any sign of the woman's group.
The barbarian's memories had led him here, but it seemed deserted. He frowned, knowing there had to be something more. The group wouldn't have chosen this place for no reason.
Then suddenly, he whispered a chant in a runic tongue, one Autarch had pulled from the barbarian's mind—a spell known only to members of the woman's group.
As he finished the incantation, the air shimmered before him, and faint, glowing runes appeared, etched into the ground in a circular pattern.
"A message…" Jacob murmured to himself, recognizing the cryptic runes as a form of magical communication.
He studied them intently, his mind racing as he deciphered their meaning. It was a directive, a set of coordinates, and a warning—only visible to those who knew the spell. The runes indicated a location beyond the forest, near the outskirts of an ancient ruin where the group had agreed to regroup.
Without wasting time, Jacob retraced his steps back to the forest's edge and made his way to the new location, moving with the agility of a shadow. When he arrived, he found the group encamped near the ruins, their figures barely visible in the fading light. He remained concealed, cloaking his presence with a stealth that made him invisible to even the sharpest senses.
The woman, now fully in command, was at the center of the group, her posture exuding confidence and authority. Four of her men were gathered around her, listening intently as she discussed their next move.
"One of our scouts has already confirmed it," She was saying, her voice low but clear. "The Heir of the Thunder Galaxy King has been spotted. He's killed a lesser galaxy idiot and taken the Legendary Key of Aquarius."
Murmurs spread through the group, a mixture of admiration and tension. The woman continued, her eyes gleaming with ambition and calculation.
"This is our chance. The Heir is strong, no doubt, but he's still inexperienced. If we move quickly, we can catch him off guard and take the key for ourselves. Once we succeed, you all will be generously rewarded for your work, and I promise that once I become a Legendary King, I'll owe everyone here a favor!"
The mercenaries' eyes shimmered with excitement as they nodded in agreement, their expressions hardening with resolve.
They began to prepare, gathering their gear and weapons in silence. The woman's eyes flickered with excitement, and her mind was already calculating their approach.
But they had no idea Jacob had already observed all of this from the shadows, his mind working just as swiftly.
Although he didn't know who this Heir of the Thunder Galaxy King was, since he had the legendary key and this woman was already going after him, Jacob decided to remain hidden and bid his time.
They were now players in his game, but players that could potentially be exploited. He could see that the woman's plan was sound—her group was skilled, and their numbers gave them an advantage if that guy was alone. However, she had no idea he was watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As the woman led her group out of the encampment, Jacob followed at a distance, his steps silent as a breeze. He trailed them for hours, his patience unyielding as he remained hidden from sight. The group moved quickly, driven by their desire to catch the Heir and claim the key.
Finally, they reached a secluded area where the Heir seemed to be hiding. The woman and her group slowed, their senses on high alert as they prepared to confront their target. Jacob could see the excitement in the woman's eyes as she anticipated the impending battle.
Jacob watched intently as the woman's group closed in on their target, but he was surprised when a crimson streak of light suddenly bolted in another direction. He quickly saw the lone man with the crimson shield fleeing!
It was an unexpected situation for both the woman and Jacob, and Jacob even wanted to use his slumber hex on him. Still, he hesitated when he saw the woman and her group instantly chase after the guy with the shield.
Although he didn't know who this Heir of the Thunder Galaxy King was, since he had the legendary key and this woman was already going after him, Jacob decided to remain hidden and bid his time.
Another reason Jacob didn't use his hex was that the crimson shield gave him a strange feeling as if his hex would not work with that shield around, which was quite strange.
So, he continued to follow and ended up in the region of the mountain range covered with purple lightning. He had to admit that this place was extremely terrifying, but for Jacob, it was an unexpected opportunity. But first, he needed to take care of this group.
Jacob watched the battle, which was swift and brutal. The woman emerged victorious by using vicious and decisive means, and he even approved of her undertaking.
When everything was over, Jacob waited until the very last moment. Just as the woman claimed her prize, her triumph turned to horror as Jacob uttered, "Slumber Hex!"
Jacob stepped out of the shadows; his presence was revealed as the woman's body hit the bloody group.
"You had been so close, only to be undone at the last moment. What a tragedy…" Jacob looked towards the woman, but his eyes were icy and emotionless. He had already seen everything she had done, but in the end, he was the one who was going to claim all the harvest, and he had no pity for her.
The only reason he wasn't crushing her head under his foot was because he wanted her memories.
"Autarch, take her memories! But be careful, since she's the heir of a Legendary King, there might be some security measure to ensure no one probes her memories!" Jacob sternly ordered with a warning.
He had already learned some common sense of Legendary Ranks from the barbarian memories. Searching for other memories directly from their souls is also a trait of Legendary Rank, and there were also many countermeasures against it, so the other wouldn't find the core secrets of an organization.
Furthermore, Autarch almost died when he tried to take Sebastian's memories, so Jacob was now conscientious about this as well. Nonetheless, this woman was an heir of a Legendary King, and her memories would be enough to enrich his knowledge about the legendary rank even more.
While Autarch followed Jacob's order, Jacob waved his hand, and the Legendary Key, with the crimson shield and golden staff, and everyone's space rings flew towards him. He was especially excited about the crimson shield and the golden staff, which the woman called the Mystical Golden Staff. He had never expected to get two Fable Legendary Rank Treasures!
Furthermore, unlike those two, Jacob's soul force was on the same level as the Fable Legendary State, and in his hand, these two legendary treasures could showcase their true might!