Death... and me

Rean, Roan, and Kentucky were very satisfied to hear that. "Great! First, let's undergo our breakthrough. After that, we'll use the Spiritual Sense Bending Technique to wait for a gap to appear in the Spiritual Sense of those old monsters. Usually, it happens every three months, with the next one probably coming in two weeks."

[That's fine by me. Once Rean is free, head inside the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm to make your breakthroughs.] Sister Orb said, ready to absorb the outside world's energy to help them.

Rean nodded and continued his work with Palaris and Ophele's group for the day. However, everyone noticed that Rean seemed to be quite absent-minded during the next few days, not participating as much as usual. It couldn't be helped since he, Roan, and Kentucky kept rehearsing their own steps time and time again. Palaris asked if everything was okay. Rean obviously nodded, saying that he was pondering over a few new ideas in his mind.

Though, Ophele found it strange. After all, he would use every possible chance to tease her nonstop. She always felt angry about it. However, it made her feel like something was missing now that he stopped it all of a sudden.

The days passed in a flash, with Rean eventually coming back to normal. It's just that he didn't bother Ophele anymore. Eventually, there was only a single day left before the two weeks mentioned before were up. This day, Rean finished his work with Palaris's group once again and headed back to his room. Just like Roan did the last time, he would use the Mirage Assault skill to leave a clone of himself outside while he and Roan broke through in the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.

However, just as he was about to do that, someone knocked on his door. Rean spread his Spiritual Sense and soon saw that it was Ophele. "Hmm? This is the first time I've seen her come here after my breakthrough two years ago." The weird thing was that Ophele wouldn't waste her time knocking on the door but would barge in straight away. That was her personality. Nevertheless, Rean got up and told Roan, Sister Orb, and Kentucky what was happening. In the end, they could only wait for Rean to see what Ophele wanted.

He quickly got up and to see what she wanted, asking her, "Oh! It's my beloved Ophele! Could it be that you missed your lover and couldn't bear to stay away from me today?"

Ophele's mouth twitched after hearing that. In just one instant, Rean seemed to have returned to his usual self that kept teasing her. "Hmph! As if I would have any feelings for a human." Sure enough, she rebuked him straight away.

"Oh? Is that so? Then, how can I help you this time?" Rean asked with a bright smile, not minding her words a second ago.

However, Ophele definitely minded it as she thought, 'Idiot! Why did you even come here? He's the same perverted human as always. This was a mistake! He's totally fine! No, wait! It's not like I care. Yes! I'm only here because I was afraid that his behavior would affect our work with the formations, that's all. Yes! Definitely!'

Seeing Ophele's expression changing between bright and dark many times made Rean almost laugh. However, he held himself back since he had to send her away. "Well, since it seems like you have something on your mind. With that, I'm going to close the door. See you tomorrow, Ophele."

It was then that Rean remembered something, asking, "Oh, right! Miss Ophele, can I ask you a favor?"

Ophele was taken aback since it was the first time Rean asked her anything. Usually, he would head straight to Palaris. Somehow, it made her feel happy, prompting her to respond, "You're lucky. I'm in a good mood today. Tell me, what do you need help with? As long as it doesn't go overboard, I'll see what I can do."

Rean smiled before passing her a bottle with a pill, asking her, "Can you deliver this pill to a Zasfin named Clad in the excavation teams? He had given it to me after I helped him with a formation for his use. However, I really didn't do much since it was a very simple modification. He insisted that I should take it, but I didn't feel well about doing it. After all, I'm a human, and it's my job to help the Zasfins. I'm already getting way too much from all of you."

Ophele took the pill, which was a mix of black and white hues. She didn't remember to have seen a pill like that before, soon asking her, "What is it for?"

"It's just a cultivation boost pill, nothing impressive. Though, I really have no need for it in this place," Rean said before asking, "Can you promise me you will deliver it to him?"

Ophele nodded straight away. It was a very simple task, so she didn't have much of a reason to refuse. "Since it's just that, I'll help you."

Rean nodded, thanking her, "Thank you, Miss Ophele." He then turned back while letting out a small sigh. Ophele noticed that, feeling that something wasn't right. Just as Rean was about to close the door, she put her foot ahead, preventing it from closing.

Rean looked back with confusion as he asked, "Errr...is there something else?"

Ophele narrowed her eyes as she looked deeply at him. Eventually, she took a deep breath and asked, "What's happening? Why do I feel like you're going to disappear?"

Rean couldn't help but be taken aback. However, he quickly recovered before laughing out loud, saying, "Hahaha! Disappear? Me? We're in the Soul Rulers' headquarters. Unless you guys want me to disappear, how could I do that on my own?"

Ophele agreed with Rean on that. She truly couldn't see how Rean would be able to leave on his own. Still... "No! There's definitely something wrong!" Her instincts were screaming that something was definitely not right. She felt that if she let Rean close the door now, it would be the last time they'd see each other. "Could it be...that someone in the organization is threatening you?"

Rean was speechless. Since when was this female Zasfin that sharp? It wasn't wrong that someone was threatening him. Or, to be more specific, the entire organization would be a threat to him once the plan went into motion.