Watching those people flee, Derick controlled his clone to walk towards the ruined Suspended Sword City.
There were still many Scourge Hunters and Scourge Vanguards there; he would kill some first.
This would allow the clone to absorb a portion, and at the same time, release some of Nikador's energy, allowing the main body to absorb it properly and become stronger.
Derick's clone swung its scythe, killing Nikador's kin one after another.
...
After controlling his clone to slay an unknown number of Nikador's kin, Derick felt somewhat tired. So he found a suitable place for his clone and rested.
The state of his clone was now confirmed, and it had also slain many of Nikador's kin. Most importantly, the message had been delivered to Caenis, to see how she would react.
His vision fully returned to his own perspective. This time, Derick truly fell into a deep sleep.
He slept for an unknown amount of time before waking up.
And when he woke up, he smelled the strong aroma of food in his nose. Derick opened his eyes and saw Castorice standing before him, wearing an apron. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing her fair hands, and the tips of her purple hair were still dusted with flour.
Castorice also noticed Derick waking up at this moment, and a happy smile appeared on her lips.
"Derick, you've slept for a whole day. You must be hungry now. I've prepared food, let's eat."
"I feel very hungry right now, I could eat a whole Dading Beast," Derick said, flipping over and standing up, stretching lazily.
Now he felt his strength was better than ever before; the energy within his body had been completely digested. He was full of spirit and brimming with power.
Hearing Derick's words, Castorice smiled and said, "Then I'll go roast a Dading Beast for you right now."
She knew Derick was joking, so she also responded with a smile.
"This... let's forget it. I'll just eat normal food," Derick quickly shook his head, then stepped barefoot onto the ground and ran towards the dining table.
He picked up the food and began to wolf it down.
Watching Derick eat, Castorice felt immense joy.
She also felt a bit hungry herself, so she walked to the opposite side of Derick, pulled out a chair, sat down, and began to eat the meal.
While eating, Derick said to Castorice, "Sister Castorice, you should rest for a while later. This time, it's my turn to watch over you."
"Okay." Castorice didn't refuse Derick's suggestion at all.
She cared for Derick, and similarly, she was very happy to receive Derick's care.
After a few bites, Derick said to Castorice again, "By the way, Sister Castorice, after you wake up, let's go outside the city. I want to test my current full combat strength. I feel like besides power, a lot of techniques have also appeared in my mind."
Techniques appeared? Did Nikador's energy also carry these?
Castorice couldn't quite figure it out.
But as long as Derick's strength increased, she was still very happy.
So, facing Derick's request, she naturally smiled and agreed.
...
Castorice woke up after resting for a few hours.
Afterward, she and Derick, having packed their clothes and weapons, headed out of Okhema city.
Just as they reached the Path of Parting on the outskirts of Okhema, Derick and Castorice were preparing to leave. But right at the entrance, they saw the green-haired Anaxa slowly walking in.
"It's Teacher." Castorice recognized Anaxa at a glance.
She subconsciously wanted to step forward and greet Anaxa, but thinking of Derick beside her, her footsteps paused, unsure if she should proceed.
Derick took Castorice's hand and walked forward.
"Sister Castorice, even if we don't meet here, we'll see each other at the Citizen Assembly anyway."
He walked forward and greeted Anaxa.
"Is that Lord Anaxa?"
Hearing this, Castorice's expression froze.
Visibly, the expression on Anaxa's face changed from calm to angry.
Derick also reacted at this moment.
Anaxa hated it most when people called him by that name.
"My name is not Anaxa. A-NA-XAG-O-RAS, Anaxagoras – is this name that hard to remember?"
Anaxa said to Derick through gritted teeth.
Castorice quickly apologized from the side, "Sorry, Teacher, Derick isn't aware of these things."
"Yes, Lord Anaxagoras, it is my mistake." Derick also quickly apologized.
Regardless of what Anaxa might do to him next, at least in this initial meeting, he was the one who had been impolite.
Anaxa stared intently at Derick for a good while before finally speaking, "Hmph, since you could say that subconsciously, it definitely means someone has been saying it in your ear often. Castorice is my student; she wouldn't do this. So, it must be that woman Aglaea who taught you this. Hmph, I'll remember this debt and settle it with her when I get the chance."
Huh?! He's blaming Aglaea for this?
It seems... not entirely out of the question. After all, the relationship between these two is at rock bottom; this small matter couldn't affect anything anymore.
Castorice also thought of this and decided to remain silent and not offer any explanation.
Anaxa's attention was focused on Derick. He closed his eyes, sensing the energy fluctuations in the air. Then, his face suddenly moved close to Derick's, and he reached out his hand.
Derick hurriedly dodged.
"Teacher, what are you planning to do?" Castorice asked Anaxa.
"Because I found that the intelligence I received was incorrect." Anaxa stood up and looked at Castorice. "It seems that after the Strife Titan was devoured, an unexpected change occurred. After the Strife Titan was devoured, can't even the influence of its Core Flame penetrate that pitch-black creature's body?"
No, in fact, it's gone even further; the Strife Titan's Core Flame has been completely digested.
Castorice thought to herself.
Anaxa continued to look at Derick and said, "If possible, I would now like to take you to my research facility and properly test your adaptability to the Titan's power. If successful, your strength could still increase a lot."
Derick immediately refused, "Your Excellency, this is impossible. I will not accept human experimentation."
"Ignorant and conservative, just like that woman." Anaxa looked at Derick. "If you have the chance, I suggest you go to the Grove of Epiphany to study for a period. I hope knowledge can give you a different perspective."
After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the depths of Okhema.
"I'll leave first. You are not my primary research target right now; I won't waste too much time on you for now. I will stay in Okhema for a while longer. If you want to thoroughly understand the changes in your body, you can come find me anytime."
Anaxa's figure gradually receded into the distance.
______________
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