[Salem]

In a laboratory in the depth of Salem, a group of witches was observing a ring behind glasses covering it in dozen of spells.

[Analyze]

[Observation]

[True Secret]

[Revelation]

[Truth Seeking]

More and more spells were placed, around the ring and they were analyzing the composition down to the smallest particles, all of this to make sure that they understood what they were dealing with.

Sitting not far from them was Ambrosia, sipping quietly on her tea as usual.

It was truly an entertaining sight for her so she was more than willing to watch.

“Mother. Should we stop them?”

Persephone asked with a bitter smile but Ambrosia simply shook her head.

“Let them. They are all old stubborn women. They will not accept the truth they have not obtained by themselves.”

Be it Persephone, Ambrosia, or even Medea who was sitting close, the witches were unable to perceive them thanks to a space-type spell Ambrosia used.

She had created this spell after seeing what Sol could do with his dimension and while it still came short to a dimension, it was very useful when it came to peeping and observing people without being noticed.

“So, what do they exactly hope to do?”

Medea massaged her forehead, feeling tired as she watched the action of her fellow witches.

It was quite embarrassing in a way, but she could understand the need to explore everything before trusting something that was too beautiful to be true.

Back to the witches, when the number of spells analyzing the ring stopped one after another until there were none, the witches of the councils observed the result with disbelief.

No matter what spell they used, the answer was always the same.

There was nothing special about the ring itself.

Sure it was made of a rather rare and expensive metal but it was nothing that the wealth of the witches couldn’t afford. The ring had no special function nor conductivity.

In fact, clearly, the material mattered little for the power engraved. Even a rock could have been used as a receptacle.

‘This is extraordinary.’

The current president of the council couldn’t help but marvel as she observed what could only be described as perfection and sophistication.

The intricacy of the spell was woven in a way that defied perception and gave the power to reverse causality itself.

She felt like she was being entranced and was looking at a masterpiece.

To think it’s one of those barbarian who managed to create such a thing.

Many witches had a way of looking down on people who simply followed the path of innate power.

Be it because of superiority or hidden feeling of inferiority, they slightly despised those who used feeling to reach a higher power level rather than using reason and intellect.

They believed that while the road was harder, the results were without a doubt higher and a witch at the same level would never lose to anyone.

The proof was how the witches nearly dominated the world once and how Persephone beat down a Blessed, the Queen of Elves, to the point where she lost her pride and lost her path.

For them, Sol was no different.

A barbarian could be stronger than a martial artist. But they did not have the same understanding of how to fight.

“Do you think we can replicate this?”

One of the members of her faction. The witches who had been against an alliance and wished to ask for as much as possible asked her with a grim tone.

But there was nothing the president could say.

She could not see them but she had no illusion that their current actions were not being observed in real-time.

“It’s impossible for us to even think of replicating it. I believe even Mother would not be able to do so.”

She sighed as she admitted the bitter truth. They have been checkmated by a gift they could only dream of for thousands of years.

The dream of nearly every witch dead or alive.

She grimaced. Even for her, who was not particularly into such a thing, the appeal of finally being able to have a relationship with someone without fearing of killing him was extremely attractive.

She could imagine that the young witches would be screaming in joy and jubilation.

The council worked for the benefits of the witches and not for their simple belief. They had no way of stopping the future alliance.

The President gave a small tired smile,

“Let’s prepare the letter of surrender.”

Medea had made sure to tell that that the prince of Lustburg was extremely disappointed by their earlier demand.

She knew that this meant he had the full support of the Princess and since Ambrosia said nothing, this means even she approved of him.

At this time, fighting the inevitable would only result in creating an enemy.

“Mother. I do not know if you can hear me. But we accept to open the gate of Salem. If the prince wishes for it, we will come forward and beg for his forgiveness.”

“No need to. Sol already told me he wished to observe Salem. So he will come.”

“...Very well.”

He would be the first man to ever step foot in the sacred world of Salem. The last bastion of refuge for the witches.

This was a moment worth nothing in the annals of history.

.

.

.

While the witches were going on about what they needed to do to welcome Sol, the one they were thinking about was currently fighting for his dear life.

Moving left and right, he avoided two deadly swings of a sword before retaliating with hundreds of Ice shaped swords that were floating all around him.

The path of the swords were erratic and impossible to guess as they would move through space and teleport to a different point.

That wasn't all. When it looked like he was about to get cornered, he would simply move away by teleporting himself to another place and continue to attack.

“I must say. Even though I am not going all out, the feeling of fighting you is really disgusting.”

“Thanks for the compliment. Hehe.”

Sol laughed as he tanked one hit and the shallow wound immediately closed.

Facing him was none other than Lilith.

The two of them were currently training and Lilith had limited her power to that of a powerful Duke but she realized just how much of a pain it was to fight Sol.

He was already a pain in the past but now that he obtained the power of space marking, he was simply a pure menace.

Fighting against him was like using a sword to strike at the ocean. No matter how many times to hit, nothing much changed.

Strong physical defense.

Near immunity to magic.

Super regeneration.

Incredible movement skill.

He could also actually hide in his dimension if things were necessary.

and he could resurrect even if he died.

He was fast, resilient, and near immortal.

The perfect cockroach in a way.

No…A super cockroach would be a better description in reality.

“Hey. I feel like you are thinking something rude.”

Lilith chuckled, “You are thinking too much. Though, I do admit I am baffled by how hard it is to kill you.”

“Hehe. Let’s continue?”

“Very well.”

—And so the training between the two continued.