1008 Break them down. "Back away and you won't see or hear from me ever again." Vyriana spoke, her golden eyes looking straight at Astaria, waiting for her answer. Her previous act of giving into Astaria's demands maybe have given out a gullible or desperate image, so she was using this chance to make her stance clear. She didn't need Astaria. It was the other way around, Astaria needed her. She was just the one who gave out the offer first, but if that act of hers resulted in some Great Sages thinking that she 'wanted' them, then it was better to just end things right here. Astaria, on the other hand, had different thoughts in her mind. Did she want to be trained by Vyriana? Of course! Why would she not? Vyriana wasn't in the wrong here, her coming forward and reaching out to them was a favor, not a request. Although Nux wasn't trying to talk over Vyriana, Astaria could completely understand what Vyriana was thinking. After all, she had been in her situation a few years ago. Vyriana wasn't wrong, however, this didn't mean Astaria could simply disregard Nux and accept Vyriana as her master. No matter how much she craved strength, Nux was much more important in her eyes. Vyriana had turned this into a situation where accepting her as her master would simply mean disregarding Nux, and that was something Astaria could never do. A choice between Strength and Nux? Astaria didn't even have to think. "I wil-" "You do not have to take it that far, Lady Vyriana. I never meant to disrespect you, I was just blinded by the technique and spoke without thinking. I apologize." Seeing the situation getting tense, Nux stepped in. "N-" 'Not right now, we need her.' Astaria wanted to step in but Nux was faster. He continued to look at Vyriana and, "You do not have to give us that technique but please don't be like this, Astaria needs your teachings." Nux bowed his head as well. "..." Vyriana didn't say anything. She first looked at her student then, she glanced at Nux. Then, started observing Nux's other wives one by one. "Please tell us what you want, Lady Vyriana." As Vyriana's eyes fell on Amaya, she spoke up. "Hmm?" Vyriana tilted her head in confusion. "You don't want us to have the technique, despite that, you came to Aisha when we were around and gave her the technique right in front of us. Someone of your stature doing something like this makes no sense. You actually wanted us to see the technique, you wanted us to ask for it, that's why you said everything you said about it being a gift or what not, however, you do not want to give it away for free." "Well, I don't see why I should be giving something so precious for free," Vyriana replied. Her tone sounded calmer than before. This black-haired girl... She had a positive impression of hers... At the very least, this girl wasn't dumb. "That is why I am asking, Lady Vyriana. What do we need to do in order for you to give us the technique." "Heh." Suddenly, Vyriana laughed out loud. "Being around you guys is fun. A woman who craves strength more than anything yet doesn't step ups when it is offered to her. A woman who has a more level head than most of the 'leaders' I have met. A Succubus who was a human before but now has a Saint Level Succubus Blood flowing in her veins. And to think you people would be close to a recently awakened Succubus with Primordial level Bloodline. I wonder how many more surprises you people would show me in the future." Vyriana chuckled. Then, she glanced at Nux and, "Your wife is right. There is a way for you to get your hands on this technique. I will also make sure each of your wives gets the one that is best suited for them." "What do I have to do?" Nux questioned directly. This was much better than shamelessly begging. Though he would have still preferred if he had gotten the technique without having to do anything. So no, it was not better than begging. Begging all the way! Woohoo! "The Seven Heroes are too arrogant." Vyriana commented. "The Seven Heroes?" Aisha frowned, where did they come from? Nux and his wives, however, had a rough idea as to where Vyriana was taking this. And just like they expected, "Defeat them, and not just simply defeat them, overwhelm them. Unlike what you did with Elijah, where he still thinks about challenging you again and defeating you, overwhelm them to the point of helplessness. Make them wish never to cultivate again, make them question what they have been doing this whole like, make them think of the point of their life, and make them question their existence. Break them down." Vyriana ordered and hearing her words, all the people in the room were dumbfounded. "Break... them down...? The Seven Heroes...?" Eisheth couldn't believe what she just heard. Was Nux not capable of doing this? Of course, he was! She was sure he can. But the fact that Vyriana was demanding something like this... "Aren't the Heroes training under you...?" Nux questioned with a deep frown on his face. Why would Vyriana want the heroes to suffer like this? Were they not trained by the Order? Or... was Vyriana not from the Order...? A possibility arose in Nux's mind. A possibility that made him shudder in fear. However, "Yes, after you break them down, I want to see them get up again. I want to see them come back at you, this time, a lot stronger than before and trying to defeat you with everything they have. Those are the Heroes I want. As for those who simply give up, They aren't suited for this world." Vyriana explained. Then, she glanced at Nux and, "So? Are you going to break them for me?" "Where are they? The Seven Heroes I mean." "The Order has released them for a while, you can think of it being their holidays, so you will find them in their own continents, spending time with their families." "So I guess I need to visit all the continents huh..." "Guess you do."