Forgotten's fight with Rai was lengthy but seemed like a fleeting moment. The audience was mesmerized by their mastery and skills, but the main reason why they couldn't take their eyes off the battle was their fighting spirit.

It was not a trivial battle for resources but a confrontation between two ideologies. For the Ashens in Flaming Forest, this battle had a special meaning.historical

They all knew they had two paths, either fire or ash, which was one of several thousand to choose from. Most were of the opinion that the ash path was too risky and unnatural, yet some considered such to be true masters.

To meet an Ashen who renounced the flames and suppressed it was a rarity, so now they watched a unique battle. If Rai wins, they would forever be convinced that flame is the only right development, but if Forgotten prevails, there would be a change in their worldview.

"Your flame is getting weaker by the second. Where is your strength that you boasted so much?" Forgotten said coldly and swung his sword from top to bottom.

It created an ashy blade that flew next to Rai and left a deep bleeding wound on his shoulder. The fire armor couldn't protect him from this attack, and he had to retreat again, but Forgotten wasn't about to let him go.

He concentrated ash particles on his sword and began launching multiple attacks, aiming at vulnerable points. Rai had a hard time blocking it. He had to stop the bleeding, but Forgotten wouldn't let him take his mind off the fight for a second.

Forgotten's movements became faster, and his sword suppressed the flames on Rai's weapon.

"You bastard!" Rai shouted, and the fiery armor exploded. He had to sacrifice his Beyond to throw Forgotten aside.

,m Forgotten swung his sword and dispersed streams of flame rushing in his direction. He was calm and collected, his eyes icy.

"You asked me why one should follow the path of ash, so one of the clear advantages is the comprehension of a Martial Essence. Apparently, despite your power, you still have not been able to understand your Martial Essence. Isn't that direct evidence of my rightness?"

Rai frowned as Forgotten was right. All Ashens had one problem. They took a very long time to comprehend a Martial Essence. It was considered something natural, and no one paid attention to it, but some knew that those who went the way of the Ashes had no such problem.

"It just means that I need a little more time to know myself. There's nothing wrong with that." Rai said proudly and raised his sword high above his head. It burst into a bright flame like a torch.

Forgotten sighed and held the sword out before him, "At the end, I'll show you what you could achieve if you followed the ash path."

His fingertips were covered in ash, and the silhouette of a dragon reappeared behind him, only not white but gray, as if made of ash.

Whoooooosh.

Forgotten lunged forward, and Rai unleashed a flaming sword at it. The fire took over the entire space in a massive wave.

Elegan even had to create a protective barrier around the monsters to keep them safe.

The ground was incinerated, the ice melted, and the water immediately turned to steam. The power of this attack was immeasurable, but Forgotten did not back down.

It passed through the flames, and the dragon's silhouette turned into a real one made of ash. It consumed the flames and extinguished them like a match. Rai was shocked and wanted to attack again, but Forgotten was already in front of him.

He plunged his sword into his heart and swung it upward, knocking his head off his shoulders and slicing through his flesh. A fountain of blood poured into the ashes, turning it red.

A purple soul flew into Forgotten's body, and he looked up at Ashens.

"In fact, each of you can choose the path you desire, but today you saw it all with your own eyes. The ash is our essence, and the flame is not given to us from birth to be with it forever, but to suppress it and thus become stronger. By following the path of ashes, you are not going against our nature, but instead are using our full potential."

The Ashens did not know what to say. Their leader had been killed, but they didn't feel disappointed or angry. Forgotten had won a fair fight, and they had to accept it.

Forgotten's words were deep in their heads. They looked at their hands, and the flames burning on them and wondered. Now they were unsure of the right path and reverence for the fire they had chosen. They knew they were many times weaker than Forgotten, and reaching his level was an impossible task.

"Forgotten, it is time to finish. The threads are almost done with their work." Wain said. As the owner of Void, he could intuitively sense this.

"Of course, I just decided to give hope to the younger generation. They need to figure out which path will lead them to their desired goals." Forgotten muttered and returned to the Ice Caves.

Then the area shuddered, and the spatial barrier was restored. The portal was closed, and several messages appeared before Wain.

[Void - Forest of Frozen Dreams was upgraded from Rank-D to Rank-C. Bonus values have been redistributed per the increase of the Rank zone.]

[As long as you own this Void, all your stats are increased by 25. Your resistance to the elements of ice and nature is increased by 25%.]

[As long as you are within this Void, your stats are increased by 25%. Your resistance to the elements of ice and nature is increased by 50%.]

[Stats of all creatures in this territory are increased by 55%.]

[All creatures in this Void, progress and accumulate Soul Essence 55% faster.]

[Forest of Frozen Dreams will gradually grow and strengthen. Over time, this area will increase in size and its overall power.]

[The quantity and quality of the resources growing in this zone have been increased. Three new resources and one point of interest have been added to the Forest of Frozen Dreams. The rank of some resources has been increased by one notch, and the effects have been enhanced.]