The departure of the powerful army put an end to the dangerous mission and forced the experts to make a point of their situation. Noah and the others gathered in the barren environment that stood right under their location and sat in a circle to enjoy Divine Demon's wine and spend some last moments together.
The words didn't arrive right away. The seven experts preferred to rest a bit before voicing matters that everyone had long since predicted due to the behavior of their other companions.
Steven, Wilfred, and Divine Demon had stepped into the ninth rank. They had to focus on improving their worlds and growing accustomed to their new powers now. Being in a group would only slow down their growth, especially since the influences of their companions would be a constant pressure to fend off during the journey.