Supreme Lord: I can extract everything!

Not much happened in the next three weeks. Clearus turned out to be even bigger than expected. What Michael had presumed to be a small continent was three times as big. Traveling across Clearus took a while, even with the support of a dragon's wings and attributed energies.

Greater Enhancement used on Seer to unleash True Vision's full potential was a good idea, but the result wasn't as pleasant as they'd hoped. First, Michael found some troublemakers, humans, but none of them was a Number. They were ordinary thugs Michael beat up a little to release his stress before leaving them behind. The thugs weren't dead, but some of them might have wished to die.

Other than the thugs, Michael found some 'suspects'. Unfortunately, none of the human suspects did anything special after a while. They'd been acting weird for a few days, thus attracting Michael's attention, only to become boring Awakened with mundane occupations. Michael made sure to check the suspects out with the list provided by the authorities, but the background check turned out unnecessary. Michael's 'suspects' were clear.

After nothing happened for weeks – not even the Cleavers reported much action at the borders, which were supposed to be full of Numbers – Michael chose to visit his territory. The Sacred Desert and Untamed Jungle had all the resources needed to expand, but that didn't mean Michael should stay out of his territory. It had been six weeks in the Origin Expanse since he last visited his people, and it was about time for that to change.

Thus, Michael stayed in the Origin Expanse for the next 36 hours to check everything, read all daily reports, and listen to all complaints.

A handful of news were a little bit problematic, including the Dragys' movement in the Untamed Jungle. Apparently, the Dragys changed their target from blindly charging into the heart of the Untamed Jungle to spreading out in all directions. Their war with the other Lord must have affected the Dragys more than expected to change their plan drastically.

The Heart of the Untamed Jungle was given more time thanks to the change in the Dragys' tactic, but Michael's time until their inevitable second encounter with the Dragys decreased drastically. The Dragys were at war right now and thus only slowly expanding in the other directions, but the scouts were fairly sure about the Dragys' victory. They would emerge victorious in a few years – probably only a year or two – before expanding aggressively in all directions, burning everything obstructing their way into a cinder.

Michael learned a lot about the Dragys, their combat prowess, and the number of Awakened and Summons likely to ascend to Higher Lifeforms and Divine Lifeforms. The number became dangerously high, forcing Michael to adjust his plans.

"You will enter the Temple of the Forgotten soon."

Michael sighed deeply but nodded. If the Dragys would reach his territory or the Untamed Jungle's Heart – which would be equally bad – in a few years, two years in the worst case, and seven years to a full decade in the best case, Michael would have to make his move soon. Probably sooner than expected to acquire the combat prowess of a proper Divine Lifeforms...or be strong enough to fight multiple Divine Lifeforms simultaneously.

'I need to find my friends, capture and help them, advance to Tier-5, and then…I guess I can enter the Temple of the Forgotten…Fuck!'

Michael didn't like being forced to do something against his will or alter his plans. That became beyond annoying. But despite feeling like that, Michael's hair stood up to its end. Not in fear…but excitement.

The Temple of the Forgotten became long since overdue!

Michael finished his business in the Origin Expanse and returned to Clearus, where his Origin Watch lit up. A message from his sister popped up.

[Hesta Fang: I miss you brother. Plaza.]

Michael's expression turned dead serious.

The Numbers made their move!