The Evolution Of A Goblin To The Peak Chapter 1247: Return to the Land of Vanko

He shook his head. Right now, the key point was his complete recovery, along with his douion advancing to Stage IV. This allowed him to push forward with the subsequent part of his strategy without hesitation.

Souta’s eyes scanned the expanse of the Everlasting Kingdom.

"Tasman is doing well... bolstering the country’s armed forces. And with my [Douion IV] achievement, I can shift individuals to the dream realm free of any downsides... plus summon dream beings into the real world."

His scheme was advancing quicker than he’d foreseen.

He could advance to the following phase ahead of schedule.

As the Rank 1 Sovereign of the Land of Vanko, having control over his domain came as no surprise.

"I haven’t gone to Vanko lately... Time to inspect it and gauge the situation." He halted, his sight shifting to the tattoo on his skin. "But before that..."

Ohm!

The bear tattoo on him ignited in a burst of red glow.

"Come here."

Suddenly, a huge bear appeared in mid-air. Its red coat burned like flames as it charged at him, yet Souta just grinned, grabbing it with ease.

That bear turned out to be Yuko herself.

"Master!!" Her shout rang loudly in his ears, brimming with delight.

"It’s been a while," Souta replied gently, stroking her dense, soft fur.

Yuko’s paws encircled him in a tight embrace. For a normal individual, it might prove fatal, but for someone like Souta at the fifth stage of monsters, her power meant little.

After some time, she let go and floated beside him.

Souta looked her over, quite amazed. "You’ve gotten much stronger, Yuko. Nearly five months since that fight... and your growth has been incredible."

He could feel her strength now, sitting at the top of the Fourth Evolution Stage, right on the brink of the Fifth.

So much has happened to you while I was asleep...

"Perfect timing. I’ll assist you in hitting the Fifth Stage before long," he promised, rubbing her head softly.

He skipped inquiring about her experiences. Questions could wait until after they delved into the Land of Vanko.

"Follow me to the dream realm." Souta swept his hand across the air, ripping open the space ahead like a gigantic, gaping maw. "Let’s go."

Without alerting anyone in the Everlasting Kingdom, Souta and Yuko slipped into the dream realm.

Ohm!!

A tear formed high above the Land of Vanko, from which two figures stepped out: Souta and Yuko.

"I’ve returned sooner than planned," Souta noted, overlooking the expansive terrain beneath.

"Let’s go."

They dropped down quietly, hidden from notice. Souta reined in their auras, rendering detection almost out of reach. Only folks with exceptional senses might detect their arrival.

Beneath stretched a huge domain ruled by a raging sea of lightning, surging over the earth like liquid fire. Sharp, airborne chunks of land drifted overhead, each bearing communities such as hamlets, settlements, and full-fledged cities crafted by survivors who’d tamed this charged wilderness.

"This area falls under a Rank 23 Sovereign’s control," Souta remarked, eyeing the area.

Each Sovereign molded their realm to match their ideals, sculpting it from the Land of Vanko using immense dream energy and their bond to the soil. That explained the unique, frequently bizarre look of every zone.

Yuko’s head swiveled sideways, her instincts on high alert. Something had piqued her awareness.

A subtle grin tugged at Souta’s mouth seeing her response. "Finally. It took you a few minutes."

Yuko cocked her head, her look full of curiosity, wordlessly seeking clarity.

"Well," Souta began, hesitating as he snapped his fingers. Visions appeared before Yuko, glowing faintly in the atmosphere.

"There’s another territory that smashed into Vanko," he clarified. "What you picked up is that territory, now positioned next to Vanko. They both dwell in the Nightmare Realm of the Dream Realm, yet remain... separate. It’s akin to meeting someone from a different world. That’s the best comparison I’ve got."

He chose his words with care, easing the concept for Yuko to understand.

Sure enough, a gigantic chunk of land had slammed into Vanko. The clash ignited instant strife as inhabitants from each side battled fiercely, igniting a war that engulfed multiple zones. Numerous Sovereigns got pulled in, and endless lives perished.

The Land of Vanko suffered the worse end. A handful of Sovereigns had perished in earlier clashes merely months back, weakening their barriers.

Souta had predicted this result. He’d witnessed such chaos previously and felt no shock at the ruin.

"Let’s see what we can achieve," he declared, striding forward on the breeze.

He advanced with purpose, traversing the mists while observing the scenery down below. No rush gripped him; he savored the distinctive vista. Yuko trailed right after, her eyes sharp.

"Do you know why we landed in this particular spot within the Land of Vanko?" he inquired.

Yuko shook her head.

Souta offered a light smile. "Because this zone faces an incursion... and the locals haven’t caught on yet."

The pair kept their quiet journey until arriving at the foot of a colossal fortress. Soaring to five hundred meters, it stood like a beacon amid the lightning sea, its immense size overshadowing nearby drifting isles. Scant few beasts ventured near; the place exuded an invincible might.

By the fortress entrance, a pair of sentries stood ready. They were third-stage beasts, lion-shaped with dual sets of wings, their stares sharp with command.

As Souta and Yuko drew near, the beasts snapped their eyes open, spotting the unwelcome visitors right away.

"Without an invitation from the lord, no one may enter," one of the winged lion beasts proclaimed.

Souta cast them a steady look. "I don’t wish to cause unnecessary deaths, so..."

Before he wrapped up, he snapped his fingers.

In a flash, the two third-stage sentries disappeared, replaced only by drifting trails of pale vapor.

Yuko observed quietly, puzzled by the event but holding back her questions.

Souta held her stare briefly, then uttered, "Let’s go," as he shoved the huge doors wide.

As the portals parted, a streak of lightning ripped from the turbulent heavens, slamming into the fortress like heavenly wrath.

Souta simply watched, unmoved, while the bolt faded into nothingness in the sky, its might reduced to a mere whisper.

"You’ll fight the Sovereign, Yuko," Souta stated resolutely.

"I promised to help you reach the Fifth Stage, but that still depends entirely on you." He stopped, allowing the message to settle. "We’ll use the assets here to elevate your strength, so don’t worry about that. As for the rest... I’ll make sure no one disturbs you."

Scarcely had his words ended when the earth quaked fiercely, jolting the whole vicinity. Ominous clouds gathered over the fortress, draping dark veils across the ground.

Souta grinned softly, giving Yuko a pat on her back. "The Sovereign of this zone has sensed us. You will confront that beast, and I’ll manage all the other matters."

Yuko nodded. She harbored no doubts, placing full faith in his scheme.

Boom!!

A lightning bolt crashed into the soil right before them. The blast tore the ground asunder, and from the split rose a gigantic beast. Dual lion maws bellowed together, its frame clad in smooth dark plumes, three electrified tails whipping wildly in its wake.

This wasn’t some common fiend.

The Lightning Dream Bahalmun Lion, a Fourth-Stage Monster and the Rank 23 Sovereign of the Land of Vanko.

"Who are you?!" it bellowed, its roar booming like thunderous skies.

Yuko stayed silent. She parted her jaws instead, spewing a raging blaze.

BOOM!!

The instant Yuko loosed her inferno, the battlefield’s atmosphere exploded in brilliance and force. Her blaze collided with the Sovereign’s bolts, unleashing tremors that shook the hovering land chunks. Ozone’s tang blended with blistering warmth, each clash resounding like explosive blasts over the lightning ocean below.

The Lightning Dream Bahalmun Lion howled, both heads lunging at Yuko. Its tails cracked like charged lashes, sparking arcs that rent the heavens. Yuko dodged by tumbling aside, fire streaming after her like a shooting star, evading a hit that would erase lesser existences.

Thus, the clash ignited.

At the same time, Souta floated over the fortress, peering at the sprawling view underneath.

His goal stood firm: complete conquest of this realm. The Land of Vanko and the adjacent domain that had merged with it, called Reem.

No creature in those realms could stand against him.

He shut his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, then gradually extended his arms. An enormous wave of power burst from within, expanding like a tempest’s heartbeat.

Ohm!!

Its immense pressure coursed through the firmament.

Every entity across Vanko and Reem—Sovereigns, beasts, mighty figures—sensed the quake of his might. All whipped their gazes toward the domain of the Rank 23 Sovereign, stares bulging.

The aura differed from anything prior. It hummed with raw ferocity, a vital essence that compelled focus.

"What is this?!!"

"That’s... the Blue Lightning Region!!"

"Another invasion?!!"

"Prepare yourselves! Let’s move!!"

The territories quivered beneath Souta’s overwhelming aura, all inhabitants instinctively sensing the dawn of apocalypse.