The Pegel region was surrounded on all sides by continuous mountain ranges. The only flat piece of land in the middle was barren, without a speck of green, as it was right next to the Mentos Desert.

Of course, its barrenness might not have had much to do with the Mentos Desert. After all, it was rumored that the relationship between the Giant God and the Goddess of the Forest had never been good.

Although the Giant God had already left the Sitatul Continent, it was clear that his temple still retained his habit of repelling the power of nature.

The closer they got to Pegel, the scarcer the plants became. In the end, they could hardly find any woods to rest in.

The Wolf Race didn’t have many demands when it came to their environment, but Olivia’s expression grew colder by the day.

The relationships between gods were not always harmonious. After learning about the relationship between the Giant God and the Goddess of the Forest from Olivia, Cynthia was very glad the Giant God hadn’t left a race behind on this continent.

Otherwise, the situation on the Sitatul Continent would surely be even more complicated.

The supreme gods also had emotions, likes, and dislikes. The difference between them and humans was probably just that they possessed the power to control everything.

After the Elf Race and the Wolf Race discovered their destruction of the temple, the Vampires became even less discreet about their actions. The entirety of Pegel was shrouded in a thick, blood-red fog. Even from over a thousand li away, one could feel the dense, oppressive power of darkness.

This was a domain manifested by a Second Generation Vampire. The Lasombra clan had openly ignored the orders issued by the Ventrue and Brujah.

They seemed determined to conquer the Sitatul Continent.

On the barren mountain, aside from yellow sand and rubble, not even a single blade of withered grass could be seen. A fierce wind howled, whipping up the sand. Heavy dark clouds brushed past the crescent moon hanging in the night sky. Cynthia stood on the summit, staring blankly at the darkness before her. Her long silver hair hung smoothly down her back, and a faint golden light emanated from her body, deflecting the onslaught of the wind.

On the other side of the summit, the werewolves gathered in twos and threes to spar. The lively sounds reached Cynthia, dispelling the coldness around her.

A figure suddenly emerged from the darkness. Her pale complexion and overly bewitching face made her look like a soul-stealing succubus. Avira’s loose dress couldn’t hide her impressive figure. She casually raised a hand to brush back the red hair on her chest, every move filled with natural charm and temptation.

But unfortunately, this charm failed to tempt Cynthia.

Cynthia returned from her thoughts and glanced sideways at Avira. She habitually curled her lips into a smile. Although her voice was as gentle as ever, her golden eyes were as cold as the night. “You’re late.”

After several failed attempts to seduce Cynthia, Avira had given up on the idea of teasing her further. She covered her mouth and yawned, her expression carrying the languor that follows pleasure. “I was delayed by some pleasant matters.”

Her gaze swept around the area, and she raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised Olivia didn’t follow you to keep an eye on you.”

Doesn’t that little elf usually keep a tight watch on this silver-haired God Race member?

“Her Majesty the Queen has no desire to see you,” Cynthia said with a smile. “However, if you could take care of the Vampires stationed in Pegel, I think Her Majesty the Queen might be willing to meet you.”

Understanding the meaning behind Cynthia’s words, Avira let out a low laugh and demurred, “I’m here to look for the Blood Coffins. Until the Blood Coffins are found, the Lasombra are still companions of our Ventrue clan.”

“I don’t want to stain my hands with the blood of a companion.”

Only a Vampire could say something like that without batting an eye. Throughout history, if one were to rank the races by the chaos and frequency of their internal strife, the Vampires would undoubtedly be number one.

Cynthia chuckled softly, not bothering to expose Avira’s lie. Instead, she changed the subject. “I was just thinking about something.”

Avira asked with interest, “What is it?”

“Why did your Ventrue clan and the Brujah jointly issue the order to withdraw from the Sitatul Continent?” Cynthia raised her eyes to stare into Avira’s red ones and said with a smile, “I’m guessing it certainly wasn’t because you found it boring.”

The order for the Vampires to withdraw had been sudden. Before it was issued, the Vampires were still rampantly capturing other races on the Sitatul Continent, showing no signs of being tired of that life.

Moreover, after withdrawing, they had specifically restricted high-generation Vampires from traveling to the Sitatul Continent.

All these signs made Cynthia think of a single word—apprehension.

But what on this continent could possibly make the Vampires feel apprehensive?

Could it really be because the Vampires were afraid the gods would return?

Avira hadn’t expected Cynthia to ask this. Her eyes flickered, and a curve formed on her red lips. “You can try guessing again,” she said softly.

Cynthia withdrew her gaze from Avira’s face, pondered for a moment, and said, “Because of the gods?”

“Oh?”

After the gods left, there was no sign they would ever return. Cynthia didn’t think the Vampires would choose to withdraw for such a vague reason. She brought up the gods because she had thought of another possibility. “Before the gods left the Sitatul Continent, they deliberately sealed all the first-generation vampires because the gods knew that after their departure, no race would be able to suppress the first generation.”

“Although the gods have left, it seems they haven’t given up on this continent.” Cynthia observed Avira’s expression as she spoke in a low voice, “The reason the Ventrue and Brujah suddenly chose to withdraw… was it because you discovered something the gods left behind on this continent?”

For example, new races, just like the phantom she had seen in the sky above the Beast God’s temple.

The closer she got to Pegel, the more Cynthia thought about the races in that vision. They had seemed so real.

Avira narrowed her eyes and said impassively, “What could the gods have left behind?”

Cynthia studied her for a moment before thoughtfully retracting her gaze. She smiled and said, “Who knows? Perhaps a few new races.”

Avira was somewhat astonished, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She discreetly sized Cynthia up, unable to determine if the God Race member was guessing or actually knew something.

But whether it was the former or the latter, Avira was shocked, because Cynthia had hit upon the real reason the Ventrue had chosen to withdraw from the Sitatul Continent.

Vampires were never benevolent. Although their personalities were all eccentric, the idea of abandoning a continent full of delicious prey just because they were bored was laughable even to Avira.

They withdrew because they sensed a threat.

The gods had long since departed, so their reasons for sealing the new races were unknown. But anyone with a brain knew that these new races could not be released.

Aside from humans, none of the races created by the gods were weak.

If a few more races like the Elves and the Wolf Race appeared, it would be much more difficult for the Vampires to maintain their position as rulers.

Therefore, withdrawing was the best choice.

Having gotten the information she wanted from Avira, Cynthia didn’t press the topic further and began to discuss business. “The Vampires within Pegel haven’t discovered us yet, but it won’t be long before he senses something is amiss. Attacking before he finds out is the best time.”

“So, I need a map of the Giant God’s temple,” Cynthia said pointedly. “It would be even better if it were detailed.”

Avira was always talking about being allies, so naturally, she had to do what an ally should.

If she didn’t want to get her hands bloody, she could at least provide some intelligence.

After all, among them, only Avira had the ability to sneak in and investigate.

Avira looked at Cynthia for a moment, then said nonchalantly, “Just this little thing?”

“A map is simple. If you’re interested, I can even list out Edeli’s bed partners for you.”

Edeli was the second-generation elder responsible for destroying the Giant God’s temple this time.

Cynthia politely declined, “The map will be enough.” She had no interest in any lists.

Avira shrugged, bantered with Cynthia a little more, then turned and left to get the map.

Cynthia watched her back disappear into the darkness before slowly retracting her gaze. The wind on the summit was strong. She casually raised a hand to pull her cloak tighter. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a verdant green vine suddenly climbed up from the cliff face and wrapped around her calf.

Cynthia looked down, her expression gradually softening. She bent down to touch the leaves on the vine, then looked up. A tall, slender figure suddenly entered her field of vision.

Olivia emerged from the darkness, her long, light green hair swaying below her waist as she walked. Even the fierce wind seemed to grow gentle as it approached her.

When Cynthia was talking to Avira, Olivia had actually been nearby the whole time. Vampires were cunning, and she was worried for Cynthia’s safety.

The vine wrapped around Cynthia’s calf, restricting her movement. Thus, she could only watch as Olivia approached, her golden eyes filled with a deep smile. “When did Her Majesty the Queen arrive?”

Cynthia had invited Olivia when she went to meet Avira, but Olivia had refused. She didn’t know Olivia had been nearby all along.

“Just now,” Olivia said, then glanced down at the vine still wrapped around Cynthia. Watched by her, the vine’s leaves trembled slightly before it reluctantly released Cynthia and retreated into the darkness.

Watching the vine disappear, Olivia let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. Since birth, her power of nature had never been out of control. But after meeting Cynthia, it had gone out of her control one time after another.

This time was no different. She hadn’t planned on revealing herself. It was just that, looking at Cynthia shrouded in the night, she inexplicably felt a trace of loneliness around her. Her heart suddenly trembled, and in that moment of distraction, the vine had silently wrapped itself around Cynthia, exposing her and forcing her to appear.

It was so strange.

After the vine released her, Cynthia came to Olivia’s side. They walked toward the resting place shoulder to shoulder as Cynthia recounted her earlier conversation with Avira.

As the silver-haired God Race member beside her spoke, a gentle smile remained on her face. Her pace was unhurried, and even though Olivia gave no response, she remained patient, showing no sign of irritation.

Olivia had always thought Cynthia’s patience and gentleness toward others was simply her habit, but seeing her interaction with Avira, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Moreover, she was exceptionally formal when facing Avira, which surprised Olivia somewhat.

Olivia glanced sideways at Cynthia, her light green eyes slightly lowered, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a tiny arc.

Cynthia keenly sensed the change in Olivia’s mood. She paused and asked curiously, “What is it? Is something making you happy?”

The curve on Olivia’s lips flattened again. She shook her head, her expression blank. “No.”

This wasn’t exactly something worth being happy about.

…It just made her feel a little more cheerful, that’s all.