Affinity: Chaos

The Leopard ran after Grey who had already passed through the opening.

Grey was welcomed by a large cave, but he could tell that it was very spacious the further he walked in. It was as if there was an entire city hidden in the mountain. To be honest, this wasn't the first time he was seeing something like this, but this was probably the first time he was seeing one used by Magical Beasts.

There was a pathway that led further into the cave, and just as he was about to start the journey into the cave, he caught sight of the Leopard running after him.

"Don't bug me, don't think I won't kill you."

The only reason the Leopard was still alive was because Grey didn't see any point in killing it, after all, it saved him the trouble of having to explore this place for hours searching for the opening when it was at the foot of the mountain the whole time.

There's also the fact that he was technically invading their space, although he had killed countless Magical Beasts in this manner, he didn't want to continue wantonly killing them since these Magical Beasts all had lives, but if any of them wanted to kill him at all costs, he didn't mind returning the favor.

The Leopard paused when it heard Grey's words. It knew that it was not on Grey's level, so it wanted to see if it could plead with Grey to leave this place alone.

"If you open your mouth again you'll lose the ability to speak, forever." Grey added when he noticed the Leopard hesitating.

Void wanted this treasure, so he was going to get it, it didn't matter what the Leopard said.

After passing through the pathway, he saw a flourishing civilization, well, of Leopards. Most Magical Beasts outside prefer solitary lives, but these Leopards have formed tribes, just like those Beasts in the forest. There are countless cases like these as well.

The Magical Beasts will create a tribe and then live with the aid of themselves for protection and also giving themselves the chance to grow, rather than kill each other.

The Leopard didn't speak as he followed from behind secretly. It knew Grey knew of its presence, but since he wasn't saying anything, it meant he didn't mind it being around. As long as it didn't get in Grey's way, that is.

'Void, can you sense it?' Grey asked Void after they sneaked into the tribe of Snow Leopards.

Void nodded and said, 'It's there. Let's go. They have a Late stage Rank Eight Magical Beast guarding it. There's no way to sneak in.'

Void's words alarmed Grey. A Late stage Magical Beast definitely wouldn't be easy to deal with. Even a Late stage Elemental Sovereign among humans, not even the ones who are geniuses, but the normal ones are very hard to deal with, much less a Magical Beast who in most cases are better than their human counterparts in the same cultivation level.

'Don't worry about it. You say this thing is good for you?' Grey questioned to see if it was worth it.

'The best treasure I've ever seen.' Void replied.

Void is someone who has a very high standard when it comes to treasures, and from their travels, he has come across countless top tier treasures. The fact alone that he was saying this was the best treasure he has ever seen means that it's probably heaven defying. Void is already amazing as it is, adding this heaven defying treasure to it will only make him even more powerful.

Grey's curiosity towards this treasure spiked as he too wanted to see just what could get Void this worked up.

Thinking about the Leopard in the Late stages of the Eighth Rank that he has to deal with, he felt a slight headache. From the looks of things, he knew that there's no way he could see this treasure. At most he'll distract the Leopard while Void and take the treasure.

After some thoughts, Grey turned to the Leopard who has been silently following them all this while.

'Looks like you still have some uses.'

Grey didn't want any issues, and being the meticulous person he is, the best way to get the best way to enter the place where the treasure was kept was through the aid of this Leopard. The Leopard will be used to gather information, while Grey will see if he could trick the Late stage Rank Eight Leopard.

The Leopard was placed under Grey's control and it took the lead.

'Hide inside its body. You'll get closer to the treasure this way.' Grey suggested.

Void didn't have any issues with creating a space in the body of the Leopard and knew that as long as he was careful enough, no one here could sense him unless he wanted to be found.

The Leopard entered the tribe and headed straight for the eastern part of the tribe. The treasure was kept there, and that was also the region where the Late stage Rank Eight Leopard resided.

Grey was careful as he didn't want to be exposed. He wasn't familiar with the other Leopards in the region, and that's not something that should happen since this Leopard was a Rank Eight Leopard and therefore should have quite a high status here.

The Leopard could be classified among the top experts in the Snow Leopard Tribe. In the human world, this was a very powerful force, and only those top Favtions and Families wouldn't have to worry about them. Thinking about it, Grey realized that these Magical Beasts' tribes always tend to have at least one Late stage Rank Eight Magical Beast in them who acts like the leader of the tribe.

A few minutes went by before the Leopard successfully maneuvered its way to where the treasure was located. As soon as it was within a few hundred meters away, the cultivation level of the Magical Beasts in the area spiked. From the Mid stages of the Seventh Rank to the Early stages of the Eighth Rank.

If not for Grey and Void's powerful spiritual abilities, they wouldn't have been able to sense the strength of these guys who were hiding.

Grey knew it would be hard for him to get too close to the treasure, the moment these Leopards sense any form of abnormality, they'd attack immediately and question later. This was their sacred treasure, after all.

'Void, can you enter from here?' He asked softly.

'No, I need to get closer.' Void replied, he was still too far from the treasure. He needed to enter at least a hundred meters of it. The Leopards in the region didn't make things easier for him.

'Hang on, I'm afraid you'll only have a few second to sneak in. Don't waste the chance.'

Grey wanted to attract all those Magical Beasts to where he was, but he knew that if the Late stage Rank Eight Leopard doesn't make an appearance, then it would be meaningless.

He wiped off the dust on his top and flew into the air, he looked at the tribe and sighed.

'The things I do for friends.'

"I'm here to challenge the great Snow Leopards, I hope I'm welcomed." His voice was loud and clear as he spoke out.

The Leopard Tribe didn't expect any visitors, especially one as brazen as this.

All the Leopards in the tribe came out. They looked above them to see a small human floating in the air with his hands behind his back, it was as if he was lording over them all as he stood in that manner.

"A human dares to come into our tribe and act presumptuously?! Kill him!" A loud roar came from the depths of the eastern part of the tribe.

Grey knew that it was the voice of the Late stage Rank Eight Magical Beast. He couldn't help but pray that it came out. If it didn't come out, there's no way Void would be able to sneak into the place where the treasure was kept.

Two Snow Leopards in the Early stages of the Eighth Rank flew to the air to confront Grey, these were Leopards looking to gain favor in the eyes of the leader.

"It's been a while since a human barged into our tribe. What I can say is that, none has ever left this place alive. It's the reason we're still undiscovered for hundreds of years.

"I'm only here to spar with the famous Snow Leopards, I bear no ill intent." Grey was humble, not showing any air of arrogance.

"It doesn't matter, invaders are all given the same punishment, execution!" One of the Leopards roared and charged at Grey.

Grey expected this in the first place, Magical Beasts are not the type that likes talking, they attack at the slightest disagreement. His lips curved upwards as he said…

"You're not enough to punish me."