Ikazuchi’s gaze was fixed in the distance as if seeking something, lost in thought. He took in his surroundings perfectly as the details of the ship within twenty five meters instinctively mapped in his mind. After his bout with Drakkon, he had stepped into the realm reserved for those at the pinnacle of skill. During the time since, he naturally adjusted to his newfound capabilities and stabilized his progress through long hours of meditation and training. Someone like himself was commonly referred to as a God of War in history, particularly when standing on a battlefield due to the domain they naturally establish.

Currently though, his focus was an area far outside of this domain. ‘Joya…’ He felt mixed feelings as he recalled the countless tales of his father, someone who was born and raised there. As he grew up, Ikazuchi understood that a lot of what his father spoke of had been romanticized by both his father and his own childish imagination. His father was skilled, but not particularly strong. It was only natural that there were embellishments in the stories for the sake of Ikazuchi’s entertainment.

As he grew older, he subconsciously found himself avoiding the country. He immersed himself in the tales of his father and some of the traditions passed down to him, but a part of him didn’t want to face reality after his father passed. This likely would have continued for a much longer time had he not encountered something that he had to seek out, regardless of his feelings. It was something he noticed during an inspection of his Cloud Ring that had been inherited from his father. It contained similar principles to those reflected in the spirit formation technique. As someone who repaired one and practiced the other, he naturally connected the two. It was something that he hadn’t encountered during his many adventures, nor had any other item contained similar patterns for the mana.

That meant that regardless of his feelings, it was time for him to visit whatever may remain of his father’s clan. Although he didn’t ever hear much from the man, he was certain that he must still have blood relatives; something that he had confirmed through information brokers in recent months. That was precisely why he was enroute towards the country from the Guild Hall in Seven. For this trip, he had decided against utilizing his wyvern mount as it would prevent him from continuing his training during that time. It was also possible for him to gain more information by interacting with others if he chose to do so.

In fact, he chose to remain in the open area on the deck of the ship specifically for the sake of interacting with others. While he wasn’t actively seeking anyone out, he could rely on many details to grasp the potential of anyone that he inspected. In some ways, there were few in the world which could understand as much about others at a glance as he could due to his unique advantages. What he needed was someone who may be able to assist during his time in Joya with either extensive knowledge or influence. ‘What are the chances though?’ This thought lingered in the back of his mind as he continued to meditate and observe his surroundings.

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