Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 369 - 368 - Fortune Trap

Lind and the demon made their way west and south.  There were few routes open to cross from Indelia to Sarth but Lind had an option open to him once he took care of his new companion.

Emancipation had to be registered and Lind knew where to go for it.  Petra was the only coastal city with the facilities needed to officially emancipate the demon.  Their companionship was still awkward but over the last few weeks the demon had become more open.

Lind used a few demon elixirs to stabilize his foundation but the damage was done to his potential.  He still might be able to break through to the Nightfall Realm but it would be very dangerous.

There were a few Ruins that might help him but access was regulated by Darkmoor Kingdom directly.  Lind could only offer a recommendation via a sealed jade slip.  The demon now had battle robes with a storage bracelet.

It was not as good as armor, but it was far different from his previously poor leather armor.

The dark violet battle robes had both defensive formations and offensive formations that enhanced his elements.

It was pure luck as Lind only carried a few demonic items for his study and the other set of robes were only a blue fire and darklight combination he was studying.

They made their way to Petra before the smell of salt and decay began to fill the air.  Lind welcomed it as it meant he was nearly where he wanted to be.  Once in Sarth, he would be able to finish his journey.  It would probably be the most difficult part for him.

"Master Cord, there is a strange feeling in the city."  Lind was confused as they had not even reached the wall yet but then he noticed.  It was quiet.  The normal screech of birds, murmur of shouts from the docks, and general noise were far more subdued than was normal.

His Eyes saw nothing odd but when he tried to directly Touch the Qi in the air he felt something odd.  It was as if there was weight added to the Qi, but he could not detect any out of place formations.

What was going on?

"Keep your eyes open.  Once our business is complete, I think we should separate and wish each other luck.  This might be about me."  Lind knew he was being hunted both seriously and frivolously, but he was not sure what could cause the issues they sensed.

The gate finally came into sight but the line and guards seemed to act normally.  Lind carefully examined the people waiting to get in and noticed something.

Below Iron Tier there was no indication of issues.  They were acting normally and even complaining about everyday things, but even so close, Lind had trouble hearing them like he should.

The Gold and Diamond Tiers seemed nervous and were not talking as they grasped artifacts or weapon hilts as they looked around.  It was clear that whatever was happening was on a level only they could start to detect.

Lind kept himself like them and the demon needed no prompting.

The line moved efficiently, but the closer they got to the wall, the more Lind's instincts became disturbed.  Something was wrong in Petra and the changes in his body were warning him to stay away.

Normally, battle was welcomed so what was making his dragon instincts react that way?  Or was it his human instinct?

Lind carefully roused his soul and his eyes faintly changed before a feeling filled his head.

Danger!

He dismissed his aura but now it was like he could not get that feeling out of his head.  He could not locate the source but the danger was there.  If not for his promise to the demon, he would have left the line.

Some did leave the line and nothing happened to them.  What was the source of this feeling?

It was finally their turn and their entry was simply a handful of mid grade World Stones.  Nothing happened after that.  There was no attack nor activation of formations but the feeling of danger did not diminish.

Lind felt on edge but made his way to the officials office they needed.  He kept his guard up but the intensity did not change.  What did was the attitude of the people inside the city walls.

Outside the Iron Tiers and below did not seem affected but inside the city walls, all were on edge.  There was no negotiation over prices at stalls nor were hawkers trying to draw attention to themselves.

Even mortals caught the tense mood and nearly ran on their errands.

"I once returned to the slave pens with my former masters.  I saw something like this when there was a prince examining the slaves.  He caused this kind of feeling in them.  I know that feeling.  It is the kind of master that you never know day to day if you will live to see the end."  Lind slowly nodded but disagreed in part.

To a slave, such an owner would inspire fear and insecurity from moment to moment, but the feeling Lind got was worse here.  It was not vile like when he faced Cymera, but it was not a good feeling to be sure.

They entered the office.  It was almost disturbing to see how mundane the receptionist and paperwork was.  The whole time, Lind was expecting someone to burst in but nothing happened.  It was almost frustrating how efficient bureaucracy worked for a change in the current environment.

The emancipation badge was issued and the demon's features were recorded.  He even chose a name, Talon.  It was a fairly common demon name but he smiled so wide that he got to choose it for himself.

"Well, you have my recommendation and some resources to see you through your journey.  I was going to recommend booking passage but I would suggest heading to Birellia in the south.  It is a teleportation spot for Darkmoor, although I am not supposed to know about it."  Lind smirked at the surprise on Talon's face.

If such a thing existed, why had they not gone there?

"Master Cord, I mean Senior Cord, why–"  Lind held up a hand and then pointed at the partial horn on Talon's head.  He touched it and then slowly understood.  "Only demons can go there?"

Lind nodded.

"Go, quickly.  I suspect the noose is closing on this place, but they will not stop a demon.  I wish you well."  Talon looked conflicted but bowed to Lind before he walked off into the flow of the crowd.

Lind gave him a good lead before he turned to the sky and flew up.

Many froze as flying without a sword or other artifact was the telltale sign of a Sky Realm but all that could confirm it was only a Diamond Tier.  Confusion spread but some more well informed cultivators put pieces together in shock.

"To the person disturbing Petra.  I am here."  Lind shed his disguise which now included his robes.  His crimson robes were easily recognized as the flying bride was broadly shown in black at his backside.

At first, there was no reaction but then the sky parted with a distortion and a man stepped out that made everyone tremble.  He was just wrong.  His skin was too pale and the aura was both a Sky Realm but not.

Lind narrowed his eyes at the man.

While his Heaven Eyes could pierce some of a Sky Realm's cultivation, what he saw made him confused more than afraid.

"While those idiots ran around the countryside looking for you, I banked on sentiment.  Whether to use a boat or simply stop by for some unfathomable reason, I would catch you here."  The man had a raspy voice.  It was also clearly painful for him to talk.

"You have a single element at Sky Realm Tier 1, but the other 2 are Nightfall Realm.  You have demonic and normal Qi.  That is not naturally possible."  There was no surprise in the mixture of putrid yellow and red eyes.

"Let's just say there are those that push the limits of nature.  They are also very dead after a very long and imaginative process."  The man tried to smile but it only came out as a rictus of horror.

The crowd below trembled.

"You have taken them hostage then?"  Lind ignored the obvious question and asked the one he was concerned with.  Disappointment filled the pale man's eyes but he nodded as he waved his hand.

Lind could finally see it.  The reason everyone felt tense was a barely functional formation made up of demonic and normal Qi.  As his sect had learned, the 2 could work together but not quite in that fashion.

Trying to use them in a formation resulted in instability and horrible destructive energies.  The man in front of him not only reached the Sky Realm, but also somehow cobbled together a formation.

"Your theories have been most helpful to me, but you are too timid.  There are so many things you don't explore that you should.  Now, will you surrender, or do I allow that formation to do what you know it can do."  The rictus returned but Lind was truly stuck.

If it was simply a question of escaping, he could do so in the short term.  Not all Sky Realms had speed, but their endurance was far greater than his.  Still, a sprint would give him enough to lose them in a myriad of ways.

This creature, however, would no doubt push the barely working formation to the brink.  It did not matter what it was supposed to do, once the demonic and normal Qi collapsed, it would take all of Petra with it.

The coast would even change shape due to it.

If he surrendered, his fate was sealed.  He would be crippled or enslaved for the rest of his life.  His wives would try to come for him but their advanced cultivation would limit their time at best, or cripple them as well.

Ethry might be able to come but she would lay waste to whoever harmed him or held him.  There would be no innocents spared either, the wrath of a dragon was not a small thing.

Lind could see it all unfold but no way out of it.

He was completely trapped at one end of the Fortune Way.

Or so his captor believed.