Ascent of Hero on the Dragon Throne

"Ha-ha, I knew you would say that. Anyway, it does not matter. You will have a lot of time to think about staying in the Timber Deity Empire. I'm sure of it. If not, how could I offer you such a thing?" Woods said patiently.

"Aren't you afraid that when I'll find an opportunity to escape after you let my friends go?" Rocky asked seriously to break Woods' confidence.

"The problem is, where are you going? I have already ordered my people to spread the news that you have betrayed the Holy Dragon Empire to join the great Timber Deity Empire. Soon, the whole Holy Dragon Empire will come to know you as a traitor and will never have you back!" Woods had expected Rocky to refuse, so he had devised an alternative way to prepare for it.

"Of course, in order to be safe, upon arriving at the Timber Deity Empire, I will have to ask my beloved sister to seal your spiritual power. I'm sorry, but I have to do so," Woods said honestly with a smile. He had long planned for Rocky to submit to him by hook or by crook. He never desired to have Rocky's strength; instead, he wanted Rocky's mind power. Thus, Woods had no problem with sealing his captive's spiritual power.

"It seems that you have planned it all out," Rocky said through gritted teeth. If Sabina and his other friends were not still in Woods' hands, he would have already knocked him unconscious.

"Hey! Don't forget that I saved your life. You can call me your savior from now on. Of course, Moon Fox has helped in the rescue as well," Woods said boastfully.

"Moon Fox? That strange but powerful spirit-manipulated beast?" Rocky asked. He was sober at that time, so he remembered what happened vividly. However, he did not understand why Alyssa's spirit-manipulated beast would go against her master's will and save him instead. In fact, it had saved him from danger more than once.

"A guardian beast, to be exact," Woods replied.

"What? A guardian beast?" Rocky had never heard of anything about a guardian beast. Guardian beasts could only be owned by the spiritual race. They were different from the spirit-manipulated beasts since they were much

s injuries. Then, he saw the barricade of mysterious spirit manipulators who had apparently blocked their way.

"Is this your rescue team?" Woods asked as he turned to look at Rocky. He knew his question was silly, but he had to ask anyway.

"No, I think they might have come here to kill me," Rocky said with furrowed eyebrows. He had heard from Woods why he and the Crimson Dragon Group soldiers were ambushed by Alyssa and why they were also pursued by the forces of the Timber Deity Empire. Apparently, someone had secretly revealed the information of their location. Rocky was certain that Alston was behind all of it.

'These spirit manipulators might be sent by Alston too. He wants to kill me now and take advantage of my injury, ' Rocky thought to himself.

"They are here to kill you? Are you sure?" Woods was shocked. He did not know why someone would send so many mercenaries to kill Rocky. He thought that the news of Rocky being a traitor must have spread to the Holy Dragon Empire like wildfire. However, it was impossible considering the time it should take for all of that to happen.

"Ask your men to block them. Let's run first!" Rocky told Woods after giving the matter some thought. He was seriously injured, and his spiritual power had not fully recovered yet. If those people were sent by Alston, he could only rely on Woods and his three bodyguards at the Heavenly Stage to protect him.