The Author's POV

An oppressive silence filled the air, disturbed only by the occasional trickle of water and the distant echo of a bat's wings in flight.

The temperature was cool and clammy, like a dank veil of the eternal night had settled over the passage. The only beacon of relief came from the entrance, through which a bright beam of sunlight occasionally shone, illuminating pockets of mineral deposits that sparkled like stars in the night sky.

The cave was a dark, damp abyss.

It seemed to stretch on into eternity, filled with oppressive shadows and the occasional glimmer of a distant light source.

Rock walls surrounded the path, hard and smooth with years of sedimentary deposits, providing a tight and narrow passageway.

All of a sudden…

Cla Clank—!

The sound of metal clamping together reverberated, scattering all other sounds.

Seated in the middle of the cave, black scales started to appear on the surface of a male figure. They covered his whole body and only stopped at his cheeks.

Fwap—!

Suddenly, two enormous bat like wings emerged from his back and extended all the way to the opposite end of the cave.

Rumble—! Rumble—!

The power that erupted from the figure, who slowly opened its eyes to reveal two crimson red eyes, caused the cave to violently shake, and it appeared that it was on the verge of collapsing.

Bringing his hand forth, and closely examining his long finger and sharp nails, a smile formed.

"Finally…"

His voice cracked, and the rumbling around him stopped.

As he closed his eyes, the scales on his body and his wings began to retract. The two red eyes morphed into blue ones over the course of a few minutes, and the figure shrunk by several inches.

The process was rather fast, and once it was over, the power that seemed to overflow from his body, completely disappeared. It was as if it never had been there to begin with.

"I've finally managed to completely assimilate the blood into me."

Ren mumbled, observing his hands which had now returned to normal.

Lowering his hands, he took a deep breath before looking around him.

"How long have I been here for?"

He wasn't sure. He had lost track of time while trying to assimilate the blood and the Nectar. The only pity was that he was still ranked.

Due to the lack of mana in the air, he made no substantial advancements in that area. With that being said, his overall power was significantly higher than it had been in the past.

Perhaps he might even be able to escape against a Patriarch...

'Since the others haven't disturbed me, I shouldn't have exceeded four months.'

Since he needed to get back to earth and still had one more thing to finish, it would be inconvenient for him to stay there for any longer than that.

'They should've realized by now, right?'

Ren suppressed his urge to smile. Thinking back at what he'd done, he couldn't help but shake his head.

If he continued like this, those around him would start having trust issues.

stretched his body and made his way

then, let's get

***

Prince Valling's

with his granddaughter, Priscilla, and about four months since

time,

out the biggest winners. It wasn't even by a small

in the harvest, with the exception of the Patriarchs, and those who were successful in gathering their

Envy that would come out with the biggest gain, but this

they were

off. Due to all the infighting, many tried sabotaging each other in order

to be said

end, under his granddaughter's leadership, the house of Sloth emerged with the biggest gain

the other houses said anything since they all understood that, had it not

this, and the fact that they didn't have time to be jealous, everything

long are you

Valling calmly set his

long after, a figure appeared from out of thin air and pointed toward the seat opposite

"Do you mind?"

"Go ahead."

"Thank you very much."

simple exchange. A

back,

around the place, before turning his attention back to Prince Valling who looked back at him with

"You don't seem surprised?"

He asked.

"Should I be?"

"No."

smiled and shook

pretty obvious. Of course,

chair and drummed his fingers

to the chase; have you come up with a

"No."

Valling shook

Ren, he tapped once at

you once before coming

"Oh?"

Ren raised his brow.

you satisfied

"Maybe."

made it hard for Ren to discern

…Not that he cared.

come a time when you will

there was one thing that Ren was aware of, it was the fact that he was not even

other side was the Demon King, the one being that stood at the pinnacle of the

was only for

I want you to choose

one devil fruit for your silence. We've gained quite a lot from the World Decree, but I still can't offer you more than that... I

"…"

at a loss for words. Prince Valling was more straightforward than

he disliked

It saved him

smiled from

to