Perfect Avatar
Chapter 173: The Scheme For Kalaharis

Chapter 173: The Scheme For Kalaharis

"Alright, without further ado, let’s move on to the Kalaharis expedition strategy."

Agiel’s voice echoed through the grand Parliament hall, capturing the attention of the diverse crowd gathered within.

Emissaries from different regions mingled with members of the noble, proletarian, and scholar factions, each group eyeing the others in a silent war.

"The wait was long but now all the special recruits and the various volunteers have reached a good number so, let’s move on to the second phase: the official presentation of the team."

All attention was drawn to a particular stage where about fifty emissaries gathered, including a few council members like Hope, Cid, and Lisa, as well as Freya, Mercy, and Iris.

Lilith and Marie were towards the rear while Candace, Agharita, and Eryl were sitting at the front, with a special desk featuring a microphone placed in front of them.

Agiel, with a quick flick of his hand, straightened his collar and continued his captivating speech.

"Behold! Witness the awe-inspiring might of this formidable alliance! A gathering of 57 elite emissaries, meticulously honed in their craft by the Sloth Avatar, accompanied by 50 selfless volunteers, forming an indomitable force of 107 extraordinary heroes. They shall embark on an unprecedented odyssey, the grandest ever undertaken in the annals of Ambrosia, to the enigmatic continent. Their noble purpose? To propel humanity towards greatness by forging a connection with the enigmatic elven kingdom and their sovereign, Apophis, the Avatar of Envy."

The room buzzed with chatter, as attendees debated fiercely about a certain topic. Then, a bell sounded from the proletarian platform, indicating a desire for their leader to address the crowd.

"I’m glad you’re already so responsive, we’re listening."

"Appreciate it. We’ve been reviewing the information about Kalaharis, and we’re finding it difficult to grasp something about Apophis. As an Avatar like the Queen or Greed, is there certainty that she’s not evil? The fact that she didn’t move from the beginning of this cataclysm has me thinking she could just be another Gluttony."

The room filled with an increasing volume of murmurs as everyone reached a consensus. In an attempt to restore order, Agiel raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"I acknowledge your apprehension. As of now, we possess no knowledge regarding the kingdom of the elves. Their stance towards us remains uncertain whether they are allies or adversaries, and if they too confront the Twilight of the Gods. However, let us consider this perspective: the apocalypse commenced over a year ago, and amidst this chaos, we are aware of two crucial facts. Firstly, our benefactor, the Sloth Avatar, has bestowed upon us the ability to confront hordes of monsters..."

Before he could finish his sentence, people began applauding the dean, the applause spreading far and wide.

The dean herself did not react, with emptiness in her eyes, which Eryl noticed.

Agiel waited until the praise subsided before continuing.

"... And the moment a Player decides to attack us, game over."

The room suddenly became silent again, a feeling of unease reigning on both sides.

"The second thing we know is that a Player’s only weakness is a Sin Avatar. The heroine Midgard has enlightened us about the consequences of not having an avatar for them. Over time, a Player’s power will gradually fade away. However, the problem lies in the uncertainty surrounding the duration of this process. We have absolutely no idea how long it would take. It could be ten years or even two hundred years. At present, our only immediate solution is to utilize the avatars of Greed or Envy."

"What about the Avatar of Wrath?" asked the leader of the nobles. "We know he’s suspected to be in the Kalaharis as well, right? So why not consider it?"

Both sides of the assembly were in deep discussion and it appeared that the majority were in consensus.

"Because only a fool would hide from a monster in the Devil’s lair."

A deep, gravelly voice echoed through the air, capturing everyone’s attention.

All heads swiveled towards the source, where a figure emerged from one of the corridors.

This newcomer was a sturdy man, not particularly tall, with a white beard and unruly, spiky hair. Strapped to his back was a massive sword that bore a striking resemblance to an oversized knife.

However, what truly stood out among his distinctive attributes was a prominent scar that stretched across his face, running diagonally from the upper left to the lower right.

As Agiel caught sight of him, a warm smile spread across his face.

"What perfect timing, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the leader of this expedition, a legend in the shadows: Mister Grogard, the second known survivor of an expedition to the Kalaharis."

The room fell silent as a collective gasp echoed through the space, with every gaze fixated on the man whose laughter filled the air with a sense of madness.

"Oh, how sweet of you to make that announcement, cute face. However, if you’re going to mention me, make sure you refer to me by my rightful title: the lone survivor of the naval war with Wrath.."

****

Dora, along with his mother and Solaria, were standing outside an inn. The boy and princess had veils on to conceal their identities. Malia quickly opened the door and, making sure no one was around, ushered them inside.

As they made their way up the staircase, they eventually arrived at the bedroom door.

Pausing for a moment, she cast one last look at her surroundings before swiftly opening the door. She stepped into the room, with Dora following closely behind.

However, as soon as he entered, a soft projectile unexpectedly hit his stomach, causing him to wince.

"Aaaah!!! Dora!!! Uughh..." Wendy’s heart pounded in her chest as she let out a desperate cry.

She sought solace by burying her face against her brother’s stomach.

With each sob, large drops of tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving a trail of sorrow in their wake.

Dora, initially feeling a bit confused, couldn’t help but break into a gentle smile as his hands instinctively reached out to lovingly stroke his sister’s head.

(It was probably the right choice.)

"... I’m back, sorry for leaving."

As he lowered himself to the ground, he wrapped his arms around her trembling body, pulling her close as she wept uncontrollably. Malia, witnessing this heartbreaking scene, couldn’t hold back her own emotions any longer.

Overwhelmed, she placed her hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs.

With tears streaming down her face, she joined them in a tight embrace, intertwining her love and strength with theirs.

"Thank you God... thank you so much for this... We will never be apart again..."

They reunited after two long years in a secluded spot, away from the chaos of the world. It was a magical moment that seemed almost surreal to them.

Finally, they had the opportunity to create new memories together, a chance to escape the harsh realities of life.

Solaria stood in the shadows, her gaze filled with sorrow as she observed from afar.

The tender scene of a family coming together tugged at her heartstrings, making her long for something she never knew she was missing.

She nervously played with her fingers, unwilling to interrupt the precious moment unfolding before her.

In the heart of the bustling Parliament, Grogard emerged as a formidable presence, taking charge of the speech.

With a swift and agile movement, he maneuvered through the place, captivating everyone with his magnetic aura.

"Stop insisting, tenderfeet, I won’t explain anything about Wrath in this place, if you really want to know the truth, then join the expedition! I will tell you everything during the journey. MHAHAHAHA!"

His maniacal laugh filled the room, one that seemed to taunt and provoke, adding fuel to the already raging fire of anger within the crowd.

"What’s wrong with this imbecile?" Lilith groaned.

Agiel, standing nearby, couldn’t help but cough, a subtle gesture urging Grogard to carry on with the subject at hand.

"No spreading of germs, please. Now, onto the incursion plan for Kalaharis. It is situated on the other side of the Red Sea from our continent. Our means of transport will be the Queen’s Marina, the Kingdom’s largest sailboat. All participants must be in Paradea within two days of departure. Any questions before we move forward?"

The spectators stared at him as if he were a lunatic who had fled from a mental institution, but in the end, one individual raised their hand.

"I have a question for the one who seems aware of what is happening in the Kalaharis," asked Agharita.

The dean watched her out of the corner of her eye, trying to keep her focus on Grogard.

The man, easily flattered, rubbed his beard.

"Well, I like it when beautiful women caress me with compliments, it’s only sad that it’s often followed by a slap on the back. Go ahead."

Agharita stood up and glanced back at Candace.

"I would like to know, given the many failures of previous expeditions, what are our chances of success without Greed?"