Reaching near the roots of the Sacred Tree we fought a few more Devils.
Since they were all High Devils at best, it was an easy clean up.
Reaching closer to the tusk of the Sacred Tree, Leleina touches the wood opening up a path for us.
We entered inside the Sacred Tree. The more we move closer to the centre the more brighter the area gets.
The width of the cave also increases ending up in a wide area with a large shining core of green colour inside.
There was a tinge of red colour mixed with the green colour of the Core.
'Traces of Demon energy, huh?' I think as I look at the core.
A few branches were forming out of the core.
"Lesser Fruit of Gaia," mutters Robin as he looks at the Fruit.
A golden red Fruit was present on the branch of the Core.
Looking at the area, the walls of the caves are burnt slightly.
'sigh...let's heal the core first,'
I begin chanting healing magic to the core and Leilena starts healing the wood around me.
Robin and Kaneto stand guard to protect us.
Robin also pours water to the burnt areas of the walls, cooling them down.
A few moments later, a man with a long sword enters inside the cave.
Robin and Kaneto stand guard to protect us.
"Hello everyone, I see that you have done quite a number on us but I would like you to leave now. That is if you can of course," he speaks with a murderous grin as he looks at us.
"Reflector," speaks Robin with a serious face.
Surprised, the Devil speaks as he looks at Robin, "So you have heard about me? My reputation precedes me, huh?"
"A Devil with the ability to clone an almost similar clone of another person and command that clone at will," Robin explains his ability.
'So it was him, huh? The one who created our clones and replaced us.' I look at him with a glint of anger on my face.
"So it was you!! The one who created our clones and replaced us!!" Speaks Leilena with a shocked and angry expression as she too observes him.
"Control your emotions Leilena, focus on healing," I remind her of our goal here.
Robin looks at us then turns towards the Devil as an understanding expression forms on his face.
"[Copy Magic: Recreate Devils: Thousands at Once]" mutters Reflector creating hundreds of copies of Supreme Devils as they start filling the area.
"I am in a hurry, so please die already," he speaks as he signals the Devils to attack us.
"[Domain of the Water Bearer: Damp Air]," unleashing his domain, Robin covers the whole cave with his mana.
The Devils' movements become considerably slow.
"[Domain Magic: Suffocating Moisture]," chants Robin and half of the Devils start falling in slow motion as they are trying to hold their necks.
Looks like they are having difficulty in breathing.
Kaneto takes a step ahead, slightly bending forward as he makes a stance while holding his sword in one hand which was in the scabbard.
"[Superior Aura Arts: Raging Tempest]" Kaneto unleashes his Superior Aura Arts...?
'Huh? Superior? Aren't only extremely skilled people can unleash those Arts? Just...'
I don't have any words for this. First, it was Morpheus and now this...Seriously just what kind of party took our quest?
'Whatever the case be, I better be friendly with them. Who knows how many more monsters they are hiding in their group.'
Dust surrounds the area as Kaneto vanishes from his position and soon reappears in an instant back to his original position.
Instantaneously all the Devils have their body cut into pieces.
Necks, arms, legs, heads, etc. Each Devil had at least 3 of their body parts cut by the attack.
Robin and Leilena are equally shocked at this.
Reflector looks at Kaneto with slight fear in his eyes.
"[Combination of World: Undefined Body]" Chants Reflector as he looks at Kaneto.
Then he vanishes from his original position.
-Clang
A metal sound his heard and soon another one
-Clang clang
Kaneto has vanished too.
This...is too fast for me...I can't see them at all.
Robin has a strange expression on his face.
Looks like he had underestimated them.
'Well, he is not the only one who underestimated Kaneto though.'
I concentrate back on the Core and start pouring my mana into it.
A few moments later
-Boom.
"Cough...cough...Who are you? How come I have never heard of you?" I hear a voice from my behind.
I observe behind my back using [Mana Sense].
"You don't need to know," answers Kaneto as he looks at Reflector with an expressionless face.
'Kaneto never regarded Reflector as a serious threat, huh?'
"It doesn't matter. Even if you kill me, more high level adventurers and Supreme Devils will be coming here to take the Fruit. Princess Lia is already taken. The Tree will take another year to be brought back to full vitality and another decade to give another Fruit," he speaks with a mocking smile as looks at Kaneto.
He then chuckles before continuing, "Haha...You will all die, the Devils will win. It is all but for the glory of Laplace. It is already too late for you to do anything."
Robin's expression turns furious as he looks at Reflector.
He looks like he wants to kill him but before he can take another step a voice comes from the entrance.
"HOW COME YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BASTARD, IF YOU WERE LIVING WITH HIM FOR THE LAST SO MANY YEARS???" A not so melodious voice of a beautiful girl with silver white hair comes from the entrance.
Behind her, another white haired girl with two boys was following.
The girl is wearing a blue robe and the boys are wearing black cloaks and white masks covering half of their faces.
"Princess....Lia?" Speaks Robin with a confused tone.