Starting from primitive world, building the strongest divine kingdom

"Alas…"

Enzo could only let out a heavy sigh to convey his sympathy, for his own circumstances were scarcely better than Karina\'s had been.

Yet, the Beast Temple…

"Karina, what kind of organization is the Beast Temple?" Enzo inquired, turning his gaze toward her with curiosity.

This was a question he had long yearned to have answered.

Having spent a considerable amount of time within the Beast Temple, perhaps Karina could shed light on his perplexity.

There was nothing to conceal regarding the existence of the Beast Temple, and Karina shared all she knew. "The Beast Temple is the sovereign power of the entire Fierce Beast continent. It is said that the true master of the temple is an immortal deity, though no one has ever laid eyes upon this being.

Nevertheless, even in the absence of the immortal deity, the Beast Temple remains extraordinarily formidable. The temple guards possess nearly the strength of low-level deities, far surpassing that of Lovins. In addition to the guards, there are also protectors, bishops, and priests, whose powers are even more pronounced."

"Are there any peculiar rumors surrounding the Beast Temple?" Enzo pressed further.

"Peculiar rumors?" Karina furrowed her brow, pondering for a moment before affirming, "Indeed! By chance, I once overheard a few bishops conversing, their discussion touching upon the temple\'s secrets. However, I could only catch a fragment of their dialogue, which spoke of the Beast Temple establishing numerous Node Temples across the Fierce Beast continent to suppress something.

This something is related to the Elder Deity crystal and the origins of the Fierce Beasts. Yet, I have not heard such claims from anyone else—even that rascal Cornelius is oblivious to it."

"To repress something…"

Upon hearing this phrase, Enzo was certain that whatever was being suppressed was likely connected to Maude, perhaps even a fragment of his degenerated soul.

However, Karina did not possess further details.

The two remained in the cave for half a month, until Enzo\'s wounds finally healed. Yet, the elemental power within him remained sealed, eluding perception, which rendered Enzo somewhat despondent.

The loss of supernatural abilities was an uncomfortable burden to bear.

Karina seemed to empathize with his plight. She helped him to his feet and said, "Not far from this desolate expanse resides a master of elemental theory. I encountered him while on a mission at the Beast Temple. If you wish to break the curse Cornelius placed upon you, you should seek him out."

"What is his name?" Enzo inquired with curiosity.

"Mau." Karina replied succinctly.

"Mau?" The name struck Enzo like a bolt, for it was a fragment of Maude\'s name. Furthermore, Karina\'s mention of Mau\'s expertise in elemental theory solidified Enzo\'s belief that this Mau was inextricably linked to Maude.

Perhaps Mau was even Maude himself.

With urgency swelling within him, Enzo implored, "Karina, take me to him!"

Karina was taken aback by Enzo\'s enthusiasm.

Karina responded, "Do not be hasty. Master Mau is elusive, and finding him is no easy task—it requires a touch of luck. However, that place is his home, and he returns there every month."

Karina seemed to possess a profound understanding of Mau\'s life.

Enzo refrained from inquiring further, instead following Karina through the desolate expanse of wilderness and a vast forest of weathered stone, ultimately halting by a wooden cabin beside a tranquil lake.

"Is this Mau\'s residence?" Enzo inquired.

Karina nodded, her gaze drifting to the thick layer of dust coating the wooden door. "It appears that Master Mau is temporarily away." She remarked.

No sooner had she spoken than a resounding roar echoed behind them.

"Who are you?"

The newcomer, clad in an oversized leather coat that rendered him quite bulky, appeared oddly out of place in the sweltering heat of the wilderness, where the scorching sun beat down mercilessly.

Enzo and Karina immediately adopted a stance of caution.

"And who might you be?" Karina challenged, her tone growing icy as she scrutinized the strange figure.

The leather-clad man cast a fleeting glance at Karina, and upon noticing something, his demeanor softened. "Are you seeking Mau? He is not here and likely will not return."

A sense of urgency gripped Karina at his words.

"What has happened to Mr. Mau?" She pressed.

The man shook his head, responding, "I do not know. It was about a year ago that Mau mentioned sensing something unusual. He felt compelled to investigate."

"What was it?" Karina insisted once more.

The man shrugged, a bemused expression crossing his face. "My dear lady, I am not Mau. I cannot fathom what he meant. If you are acquainted with him, you must realize he has always been a bit eccentric, shrouded in mystery. Who knows what schemes he concocts?"

After listening, Karina refrained from pressing further.

She turned her gaze towards Enzo, her eyes tinged with apology.

Enzo, however, paid it no mind. Instead, he focused on the peculiar figure and inquired, "Who are you? What brings you to the vicinity of the Mau house?"

"Me?" The figure chuckled, its corpulent form quivering slightly before it continued, "As for my identity, that remains a secret—no comment. However, everything I have stated regarding Mau is entirely true. And one more thing. If you wish to seek out Mau, you should travel southward until you encounter a Node Temple constructed of a unique metal. That fellow may be found there."

"By the way, if you seek to resolve the issue of your elemental powers being suppressed, seeking Mau will be futile…"

These words caused a shift in Enzo\'s expression.

The strange figure had accurately discerned the purpose of his and Karina\'s visit—who on earth was this person? Yet, just as Enzo was about to inquire, the figure let out a dry chuckle and dissolved into smoke.

What kind of sorcery is this?

Both Enzo and Karina stood in astonishment.

Yet, this was not their primary concern.

Karina looked at Enzo, seeking his opinion, "Enzo, should we continue southward in search of the metallic Node Temple?"

Enzo pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "Not for now."

With that, he approached the spot where the figure had vanished into smoke, crouching down to examine the faint traces left behind. Although the marks appeared quite indistinct, their general outline remained intact.

Seeing Enzo\'s actions, Karina too crouched down to scrutinize the traces.

Suddenly, her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "This is the Otrank Mountains!"

"The Otrank Mountains, what kind of place is that?" Enzo possessed only a limited understanding of the world of Fierce Beasts.

Karina, however, seemed quite knowledgeable about the Otrank Mountains. Without a moment\'s hesitation, she responded, "The Otrank Mountains are rumored to be the lair of all Fierce Beasts in the world of Fierce Beasts. It is said that the original Fierce Beasts were born there. Many have sought to verify this claim and discovered some traces that confirm its validity."

"It is precisely for this reason that the Otrank Mountains have become a forbidden zone in the world of Fierce Beasts."

"Virtually no one dares to venture into the Otrank Mountains. The environment is not only treacherous but also devoid of resources, and it is home to a terrifying multitude of Fierce Beasts. Ordinary supernatural beings that enter rarely return."

Upon hearing this, Enzo\'s eyes sparkled with intrigue.

Such a mysterious place must surely harbor some profound secrets.

Karina then asked, "Shall we venture there?"

Enzo did not respond immediately. Instead, he shook his head slightly and said, "The peculiar individual left clues leading to the Otrank Mountains, clearly urging us to explore. Although he showed no hostility before, we cannot ascertain his true intentions."

"Therefore, let us first observe the situation."

"We could visit the metal Node Temple first, and then decide whether to proceed to the Otrank Mountains."

Enzo outlined his plan.

Karina nodded in agreement, offering no objections.

The two continued on their journey, traversing vast stretches of wilderness and crossing a crimson river, until they finally glimpsed the peculiar Node Temple deep within the southern jungle. The moment Enzo laid eyes on the Node Temple, he became convinced that it was inextricably linked to the Disaster World.

The outer walls of the Node Temple were adorned with intricate carvings of various monstrous figures.

However, these creatures were not the Fierce Beasts from the world of killers but rather denizens of the Disaster World. Among the many sculptures, one particular monster stood at the center, surrounded by its minions, exuding an air of sovereignty. It was the very embodiment of Artemis, the consciousness of the Disaster World.

"It seems that \'Mau\' refers to Maude…"

Enzo mused, a sense of conviction settling within him.

As the two approached the Node Temple, they were met with an unusual wave of energy that enveloped them, inducing a heavy haze in their minds, as if their very souls were on the verge of drifting away from their bodies.

Karina and Enzo, wary of the strange phenomenon, retreated immediately.

Once they had distanced themselves to a safer point, Karina\'s expression grew grave as she turned to Enzo and inquired, "What should we do? That eerie wave is quite peculiar. I cannot get any closer."

Faced with this unsettling occurrence, Enzo found himself similarly at a loss.

The elemental forces within him were suppressed, and his mental prowess could not be harnessed. He was reduced to an ordinary human.

At that moment, a sudden crack echoed as dry twigs crunched underfoot nearby.