‘Looks like the manticores yet to establish themselve properly in this region; otherwise, it would have been not easy for me to destroy their territory.’

Destroying Yarzer and his tiny territory took less than five minutes for Leo; however, things would have been different if it was an established territory.

‘Also, it looks like I need to pay a visit to the Everlasting city after I finish my revenge in the Phirie city. Let’s see what that b*stard Zerre is planning with Marco’s grandfather.’

Leo never forgets his friends and enemies. So, of course, he would not forget to pay them a visit in the future.

‘Screech’

The rank 5 griffin, Nasr, flew at an incredible speed to see his wife as they reached the cave in no time.

“Brother Leo, the slave seal on Herse disappeared.”

As soon as Julia saw that Leo and Nasr had returned, she hurriedly informed them about the seal.

“Also, after healing the injuries on Herse, I successfully advanced in my rank and became a rank 5 hero.”

Julia revealed a bright smile because she didn’t expect she would breakthrough in such a short time.

“Congratulations.”

Leo was not surprised at the progress of Julia’s talent because the higher the target she heals, the more experience points she would receive.

Since her potential had reached 75 before coming to the cave, after healing Herse, a rank 7 mutated beast, a couple of times, her potential reached 100 percent before having Julia become a rank 5 healing hero._-.

“Thank you, Brother Leo. It’s all because of you.”

Julia was grateful to Leo as she thanked him from the bottom of her heart.

“You can become powerful because you worked hard for it. So, there is no need to give contributions to others.”

Leo shook his head as he didn’t take any credit before saying, “Let’s go and see Herse.”

“Sir Leo, thank you for saving me. In the future, if you need any help, I will definitely come to your rescue.”

As soon as they entered the cave, the huge rank 7 Griffin thanked Leo with its head touching the ground.

“With your current strength, you can’t even help yourself and you will help me? Dream on.”

Since Leo had already saved Herse, he was no longer looking at her with pity as he coldly replied to Herse.

“I know I am not as strong as Sir Leo, but if there is something you need….”

“Let’s talk about it after you become powerful.”

Before Herse could finish her words, Leo interrupted her as he threw a small black-coloured stone at her.

“Th..this is….”

Hearse caught the black-coloured stone in its beak and sensed the pure entry inside the stone.

As a Griffin, Herse’s senses towards energies were top notch. She could tell it was a valuable item that could help her become a rank 8 mutated beast.

“Sir Leo has already done a huge favour for me. I can’t take such a valuable thing as it would only make….”

“Didn’t you say you will help me in the future? Consume that fragment of God stone and become a rank 8.”

Before Herse could finish her words, Leon continued, “After becoming a rank 8 mutated beast, don’t slack in improving your strength; instead, try to become a rank 8 mutated beast.”

“Only a rank 9 mutated beast can be useful to me.”

Leo saw that there was still some hesitation in her eyes, making him shake his head.

“Your husband nearly died in retrieveing that piece of stone. So, don’t consume it and become powerful to protect your family.”

“What?”

Herse looked at Nasr with a shocked look before glaring at him.

“It’s getting late. We will leave now.”

Leo and Julia decided to leave since they have a premium auction tomorrow.

“Sir Leo, when I become powerful, I will find you to repay today’s favours.”

Herse didn’t dare to stop Leo as she swore to repay Leo when she became powerful.

“Bye, Bluetail.”

“Bye, Blacktail.”

Julia bid goodbye to her new little friends as she walked out of the cave, leaving the Griffins alone.

“Brother, how are we going back to the city? Should I ask Herse to drop us at the city?”

Since they were hundreds of kilometers away from Phirie city, it would take them a lot of time to travel back on foot.

“There is no need for that.”

Leo shook his head as he rejected Julia’s suggestion.

“But, it will….”

“Don’t worry.”

Leo looked into the distance for a moment and shouted, “Are you going to follow me like that forever?”

‘Huh? Who is he talking to?’

Julia was confused because she saw none as far as her eye could see.

“Fine then. If you don’t come out now, I will just ignore you.”

‘Screech’

Just as Leo finished his words, a loud screech came out from the distance as a giant black coloured eagle appeared in front of them.

“Brother Leo, how did…was it here all along?”

Julia was shocked by the sudden appearance of the black eagle because it was hiding in plain sight; however, she didn’t see it.

“Yes. It is using one of its skills to hide in plain sight.”

Leo nodded at Julia as he looked at the colossal rank 7 black eagle and asked, “Why are you following me? Do you want to follow me?”

It was the same colossal eagle enslaved by the manticores that Leo had saved earlier with the rest of the mutated beasts.

From then, it was secretly following Leo, and since Nasr was in a hurry to see his wife, Leo didn’t bother much with his secret follower.

“Yes, sir. I want to follow you and repay you for saving me from those Manticores.”

Since the black eagle was a rank 7 mutated beast, it could speak the human speech.

“Sigh…I saved you to be free and live in this world as you want; however, you once again want to become a slave just to repay me.”

Leo shook his head as he didn’t like the reason. So, he mercilessly rejected the black eagle.

“Actually, I want to follow you because I want to become powerful just like you.”

Seeing that Leo rejected her, the black eagle hurriedly told her true intentions.

“Good. Now, you gave me a good reason; however, do you really think you can become powerful just by following me?”

This time Leo didn’t reject the black eagle; however, at the same time, he didn’t accept either as he asked a question.

“I don’t know why but I can feel that wherever you go, destruction follows. So, I am following that intuition. Also, I sincerely want to repay you for saving me.”

After finishing her words, the black eagle looked at Leo, only to see a calm look on his face.

‘As expected of the Abyss eagle, she has a scary intuition.’

Leo looked at the enormous black eagle and said, ‘Why don’t you follow her instead of me? As long as you do it, I will help you become powerful.’

*****

50 Power Stones:- One Bonus Chapter.

100 Power Stones:- Three Bonus Chapters.