《World Walker's Final Quest》 Chapter 1: The final quest begins *Ding [Quest: Helped the fated one save the world] [Clear] [Condition: Raise a child] [Clear] [Result: Preservation Process ¨C ???%] Finding myself in the empty space where it all began, I raised my head to the endless white above and closed my eyes. A mixture of regret and relief churned in my chest as I recalled the last battle ¡ª the one that liberated the previous world. I successfully baited the last Demonic Arts user, the Heavenly Demon, into stabbing me through the chest with his bare hand. That gave me the opportunity to inject him with a lethal poison. Thanks to that poison, we managed to take him down after a grueling day-long war. I didn¡¯t want to brag, but, ahem, all me, baby. Even so, when my daughter looked at me like her entire world had collapsed instead of being saved, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I had truly made the right decision. We spent twenty-four years together, and I threw it all away. ¡°I should have done more for her,¡± I mumbled. No one replied since there was no one else here. This space was barren, save for a marble round table, a white armchair with a cushion softer than clouds, and that fucking gate. I slumped back into the chair, sinking into the cushion. The past was set in stone. Dwelling on these feelings served no purpose. I needed to move forward, as I always had. But being moody wasn¡¯t my thing, so I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on my usual checkup. This routine was one of the few things keeping me sane. Taking over a dead body every time I entered a new world wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant experience. Especially when decades of memories were force-fed into my brain, making me feel like I had always been the original owner. It sucked. Eleven out of ten would not recommend. Well, back to my checkup. Shitty trench coat? Check. White shirt slowly turning milky white? Check. Comfy slacks? Check. Black leather shoes decent enough to not make me look like a hobo in front of clients? Check. Leather briefcase filled with proposals and medical bills? Check. I pulled my citizen ID card from my wallet and stared at it. At the same time, I mumbled my name over and over again, trying to ground myself. Fragments of memories flashed through my mind ¡ª my mother, my loved ones, my friends, my colleagues, my home. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t recall their faces or voices. Those memories were silhouettes shrouded in mist, hazy and blurry, slipping further away each time I reached for them. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this over with,¡± I muttered, turning my gaze toward the looming, jet-black stone gate. Its presence was imposing, an unnatural monolith that had ripped me from the mundane train station and brought me here. When I first arrived, the number etched on the gate was zero. Back then, the gate was closed, cold, and unyielding. Afterward, the number shifted to one, as though marking some strange progression. I had tried everything to force it open. Pushing, punching, kicking, slamming. I screamed, roared, cursed at it until my throat went dry. But the gate stood indifferent, unmoving, as though it had existed since the dawn of time and would continue to do so, utterly unconcerned with the rage of an insignificant man. Shaking off the memory, I refocused on the gate. The number above it now flickered, shifting upward from ninety-nine to one hundred. The number only increased when I succeeded. *Ding [Quest: Helped the fated ones save the world] The System¡¯s message rang in my mind. Eighty percent of the System¡¯s quests were like this. Nothing new. The only noteworthy detail was there were multiple fated ones. It was rare for a world to have more than one. [Condition: Restore Harmony through the power of culture] ¡­What the bloody hell was that supposed to mean? Harmony? Likely a unique aspect of this world, I assumed. Culture? The first things that came to mind were songs, then movies. Alright then. Since the System¡¯s conditions were always tied to the quest, it was my job to figure it out and complete it. I didn¡¯t even want to think about the consequences of failing the System¡¯s conditions. They always led to the end. In some worlds, the end was catastrophic ¡ª buildings collapsed, mountains toppled, the sky cracked and fell to the earth, and the ground shattered, bursting into flames. Calling it hell would have been an understatement. In others, the end was quieter, more insidious. Life slowly withered away, like the last lonely tree in a flooded forest, waiting in hopeless silence for its eventual demise. Among all the worlds where I had failed, one thing was constant: the wails of terror and despair etched into every face, eyes hollow and devoid of hope. The stench of rotted and burned flesh lingered in the air, mingling with the acrid taste of smoke that choked my throat. With every step I took, it felt like thousands of knives shredded my heart. And always, always, the same image haunted me: a mother kneeling to embrace her children one last time, bloodied tears streaming down her face as the world crumbled around her. Those things, they looped in my nightmares still. [Reward: Return to Terra; All Curing Potion x1] Shaking my head and focus back on the present. Finally, my goal was right before my eyes: finish this final quest and obtain the all-curing potion to heal my mom. On one hand, I was furious. This place had forced me into a worlds-saving journey out of nowhere. On the other hand, I was grateful. It gave me a way to save my mom when all the doctors had given up. I refused to let her spend the last moments of her life alone in that cold, indifferent hospital while enduring unimaginable pain. I refused. Once the rage coiling around my heart settled, I drummed my fingers on the table, reviewing the simple steps I had refined over countless worlds to gather information when arrived in a new one. After running through them, I was ready. Walking through the empty space devoid of shadows, which always messed with my depth perception, was still strange to me no matter how many times I had been here. At its end, I stood before the black gate once more, hopeful this would be the final time. No, wait, second to the final time. I still need it to return home. ¡°Alright. Time to head off.¡± I cracked my neck from side to side and pushed the gate open. What lay beyond defied comprehension. The constellations of heaven danced across the earth, while clouds floated in a space between sky and ground, as though the laws of physics had taken a backseat. An indescribable chorus resonated through the vast universe itself, expanding across space and time, filling me with a sense of something ancient and eternal. Every star I touched felt both cold and warm, tangible yet intangible, as if they existed in multiple states simultaneously. I took a step forward, leaving the empty white space behind, and fell into the embrace of the stars. I closed my eyes and let my consciousness drift away. *Ding [Error] [Error] [Error] ***** That¡¯s some awesome singing. It was the first thought that came to mind as I regained consciousness. The voice was bright and velvety, radiating the warmth of sunlight in spring after a harsh winter. At the same time, it carried a powerful intensity, like a warrior poised to charge into battle at any moment. *Ding [System rebooted. Memory merge sequence activated] [Starting pack received] [Welcome back, World Walker] My head throbbed with pain, like a knife had been stabbed into my temple and twisted ten times out of sheer spite. Ignoring the agony, I ran through my newly merged memories and scanned the room I was in ¡ª my room. From what I could recall, the space had been cluttered with creative junk made by the previous owner of this body, Karl Xanderson. He had been physically weak but still tried to find ways to be useful to his outcast mercenary clan. Crystals pulsing faintly with Mana and various inventions that had once littered the floor were now neatly arranged on the shelf next to my bed. Piles of books, previously scattered across the table behind the girl singing near the open window, had been returned to the waist-high bookshelf on the right side of the room.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The girl, nineteen, had long white hair, sky-blue eyes, and a diagonal scar that ran from the bottom right of her neck to the top left of her forehead. Her voice, like that of a goddess of war, matched her well-trained, finely-tuned muscles. Even the thick fur cloth she wore couldn¡¯t hide her fighter¡¯s physique. She was my twin sister, Sera Xanderson ¡ª a [Warrior] halfway toward her 1st Ascension. She was also our clan¡¯s only Songstress. Sera sat on a wooden stool, staring out the window. Her powerful voice didn¡¯t match the melancholic gaze she cast outside. As if she wanted to sing the sadness away, her voice grew louder and louder, filling the room. It didn¡¯t last. A massive coughing fit overtook her. She spun around, clutching her throat with one hand and covering her mouth with the other as her expression twisted in pain. I sat up, squinting at her throat. The murky thing I¡¯m sensing there is not a good sign. Once Sera stopped coughing, our eyes met. And an awkward silence followed. Without warning, her face flushed, and she grabbed the throw pillow from the stool. With a surprising lack of hesitation, she hurled it at me. The pillow flew like a cannonball, smashing into my face and knocking me backward. This body is too damn weak, I thought. ¡°Big brother, you idiot! Why didn¡¯t you say something if you were awake already?¡± Sera yelled before storming out of the room, her embarrassment evident. I set the pillow to the side and sat up. That was quite a way to start. Anyway, follow the procedure. First things first, status. =============== Name: Karl Xanderson Race: Human Level: 8 (73%) Class: [Level requirement not met] Class Skills: [None] General Skills: | World Walker¡¯s Comprehension ¨C Level 1 Status Effect: | Void Heart (Permanent) | Full body restoration (6 days 23 hours 52 minutes 41 seconds) Inventory (1/10): | Demonic Arts Fragment x1 =============== Let''s see. The [Full body restoration] was an effect granted by the System to restore my new body to its peak condition whenever I started in a new world ¡ª a period of grace after I took over a dead body. [Demonic Arts Fragment] was the reward I received for successfully helping save the previous world, a Murim world where martial artists reigned supreme. This demonic fragment came from the Demonic Cult, those who sought to destroy their own world. My eyes moved to the last thing that caught my attention. I mentally clicked on the [Void Heart] status effect. =============== |Void Heart A physical condition that only affects one person every millennium. - You cannot store Mana in your heart the same as other living beings. - Every trace of Mana that seeps into you will leak back out into nature. - As Mana is one of the driving forces of life, you will slowly head toward an early death. =============== Constantly leaking Mana out of my body? I thought, focusing on the [Demonic Arts Fragment]. I know how to deal with that. Sitting in a lotus position on my bed, I began breathing in a specific rhythm, trying to form the foundation of my martial arts. Each world had its own laws, and the System functioned differently in each one. That was why I had developed a martial arts of my own ¡ª something I could use in any world. Mana gathered around me, pulsing in sync with every breath. Warmth seeped into my body, and I carefully directed the Mana toward my bloodstream, attempting to merge it with my life force to create Qi. If Mana was like water ¡ª an external force ¡ª then Qi was like blood, an internal force. Both had their own merits and drawbacks. But since Mana leaked out of me too easily, the obvious solution was to convert it into Qi and store it in a Qi Core, where it would be safe. Both were driving forces of life, but unlike Mana, Qi wouldn¡¯t escape my body once it was formed. One drawback, though: while Mana could be transformed into Qi, Qi could never be reverted back into Mana. Unless, of course, the person was dead. I kept trying to form a Qi Core, my breathing steady, my bed was soaked with sweat. Alas, man proposed, heaven disposed. I failed to merge the Mana into my life force, let alone gather enough Qi to form a core. I needed some external stimulants. This was a problem I had to solve if I wanted to use my martial arts. It was crucial. There was no way to help the fated ones save this world if I couldn¡¯t even save myself. With no other choice, I decided to search for something useful to address my predicament. Getting out of bed, I headed toward the shelf. Unintentionally, I found the reason for the previous Karl¡¯s death: an invention called the Sound Amplifying Crystal. By engraving Runes into the crystal, it conjured two layers ¡ª one side to receive sound, the other to amplify it. Simply put, if a microphone and a speaker had a baby, this would be it. It was designed to help Sera sing without straining her voice. Good intentions, but in the wrong direction. The previous Karl hadn¡¯t accounted for the fact that the more Mana he used to engrave Runes, the closer he came to death. He had succeeded, but the cost had been too great. I sighed. ¡°Your effort won¡¯t be in vain. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± After pocketing the crystal, I put on a Bearowl fur jacket and stepped outside. What greeted me was a sea of white, blanketing everything in sight. Another piece of memory surfaced. This was Xanderson Village, home of the Xanderson Clan ¡ª a clan feared and hated for their ability to steal life force, a power humans weren¡¯t supposed to possess. ¡°You¡¯re awake, young master,¡± a flat, doll-like voice said. I turned toward the only person in the village who called me that ¡ª Lucy, our family maid. It was amusing, in a way, that a Dark Elf maid had chosen to stay in this godforsaken land of eternal winter. A place with no hierarchy, only roles and duties to fulfill. ¡°Here¡¯s your medicine, young master. Please be sure to drink it all this time.¡± Her dirty blonde fishtail braid, tied with a small pink bow at the end, swayed in the icy morning breeze as she handed me a bowl of crimson, slime-like medicine. When I took the bowl, her amber eyes fixed on me, sharp and unyielding, like a nocturnal predator eyeing its prey. I couldn¡¯t blame her. The previous Karl had a bad habit of leaving this medicine unfinished. But "I" wasn¡¯t that Karl. Without hesitation, I drank it all in one gulp. The medicine slid down my throat more easily than I¡¯d expected, leaving only a faint, bitter aftertaste at the tip of my tongue. Lucy nodded, taking the bowl back with her usual efficiency. ¡°Young master?¡± Lucy asked when I froze and didn¡¯t release the bowl. A burning sensation coursed through my veins as my life force and Mana churned. It was exactly what I needed to stimulate my body enough to create Qi. From what I could recall, the previous Karl had never bothered to ask what this medicine was made of. He simply knew he didn¡¯t like it but had to drink it because it helped his body retain Mana. ¡°I never asked before, but what is in this medicine?¡± I finally let go of the bowl. ¡°The village¡¯s mead combined with some other herbs. The most important among them is Bleeding Berries found around Bearowl¡¯s territory,¡± she replied flatly, her expression as unreadable as ever. Bleeding Berries. I tried to recall what they were but came up blank. Perhaps noticing my confusion, Lucy added, ¡°They¡¯re a type of berry that grows near Bearowl territory. We use them to stimulate blood flow to fight the cold and make remedies for colds and other ailments. But if you use too many berries, you¡¯ll bleed from every pore in your body.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said, nodding while mentally noting the location. ¡°Where¡¯s Sera? There¡¯s something I need to give her.¡± Lucy¡¯s gaze flicked briefly toward my pocket. ¡°She¡¯s at the clinic. A child¡¯s condition became worse than we thought, and we ran out of medicine.¡± I nodded again. ¡°Thanks, Lucy.¡± ¡°¡­Young master, is this about our mead problem?¡± There was a subtle hint of doubt in her voice. ¡°Yeah. I might have a solution,¡± I said with a shrug. Whether it worked or not didn¡¯t matter. A boy had sacrificed his life to make this. Such a death must never be in vain. Never. Lucy looked me in the eyes before saying, ¡°I won¡¯t stop you, but if you want to test out your¡­ invention, please let me know first. It¡¯s dangerous near the Meat Bees¡¯ hive.¡± I nodded at Lucy before heading to the clinic. ¡°I will.¡± A few steps in, I noticed Lucy was walking the same way. I turned to look at her. ¡°I have work to do at the storage, clan leader¡¯s order,¡± she explained. The front of the storage had been turned into a makeshift clinic, so it made sense she was heading there too. My elder sister, the clan¡¯s leader, was still worrying about the village even while fighting in a war herself. What a kind woman. As I walked through the desolate village, I saw firsthand how dire the situation had become. Children were falling sick in droves, their coughing echoing through the empty, snow-covered paths. Hunters were growing weaker by the day, and no game hung in the back of their houses. The once lively village was now a shadow of its former self. Our withering lives were preserved inside cabins made from the same pinewood. These houses shielded us from the biting cold but also became our shackles. Was there truly nowhere else in this world that could offer warmth beyond the confines of our chimneys? For us, mead made from Meat Bees¡¯ honey was our lifeline. We needed it to fend off the cold, to make medicine, and to trade with the Frost Elf and the NorthStar expedition team for herbs and materials. Killing the bees was an option, but it would set off a dangerous chain reaction. Without Sera¡¯s singing to calm the bees, it was extremely dangerous to harvest their honey without killing them. But killing the bees would disrupt the Bearowl¡¯s main food source, pushing them to attack our ranches. Their target? Our Strong Hoof Oxen. Losing the oxen would threaten both our food supply and the bees¡¯ survival. We had ways to protect ourselves, but the cost was steep. Not everyone in the village was strong enough to face a Bearowl, let alone a horde of them. And that was just half the problem. As I paced toward where Sera was, I took out the Sound Amplifying Crystal and studied the Runes etched into it. This thing might just be the solution to everything. Let¡¯s see how Runes in this world work. I focused my attention on the crystal in my hand and dived into the Rune Space. Almost immediately, motes of light began to appear, arranging themselves into intricate circles marked with various symbols. The circles shifted and turned, appearing and disappearing in a constant, fluid motion. Some floated independently, while others linked together, forming what I understood to be this world¡¯s language ¡ª magic. *Ding [World Walker¡¯s Comprehension Level up: Level 1 ¨C> 2] The Runes began to make sense as patterns emerged from their chaotic movements. The ones designed to record sound gathered on one side of the crystal, while the ones meant to amplify sound clustered on the other. A link, formed by the glowing motes, connected the two sides seamlessly. Good. I nodded in satisfaction. It¡¯s great to have this World Walker¡¯s perk. I¡¯ll study it more later. Shoving the crystal back into my pocket, I opened the door to the clinic. Sera¡¯s familiar velvet voice greeted me, drawing my attention to where she was sitting. She was singing softly, her voice was like a balm that seemed to smooth the boy¡¯s suffering, if only for a moment. The child¡¯s face, previously flushed with fever, began to lose its burning red hue, and his labored breathing grew steadier. Sera¡¯s voice somehow helped him recover. When Sera finally stopped singing, the boy¡¯s mother, who had been tense with worry, let out a relieved sigh. Her face softened, the weight of her anxiety easing as she relaxed at last. *Ding [You have experienced Harmony for the first time. You can now trigger Harmony] Interesting. This was something I had never seen before. The boy¡¯s mother held Sera¡¯s hands and thanked her repeatedly. In return, Sera offered a reassuring smile before turning toward the door. Her expression brightened when she saw me. ¡°Can you come with me for a bit?¡± I asked. My little sister nodded and followed me outside. ¡°Hold still,¡± I said, placing my palm on her throat as soon as she closed the door behind her. Her surprised look didn¡¯t deter me. I focused on the murky parasitic thing clinging to her, stimulating my life force with Mana in an attempt to force the thing to latch onto me instead. But no matter how hard I tried, I failed. ¡°Um,¡± she wanted to say something, but I stopped her with a raised hand. ¡°Can you wait for me at the usual spot? There¡¯s something I need to give you.¡± ¡°Is it important?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s important.¡± I looked her directly in the eyes with an unyielding gaze. Whatever she saw must have struck a chord because her eyes widened. After a brief pause, she nodded and walked away. ¡°Lucy,¡± I called out to the Dark Elf as I made my way to the back of the clinic. ¡°Yes?¡± came her voice from beside me, just beyond the log wall. ¡°Please give my share of the remedies to the children. I¡¯ve found another way to treat my condition,¡± I said confidently. As long as I could form my Qi Core, the Void Heart condition was as good as solved. ¡°Are you¡­¡± She trailed off, leaving the question unfinished. Leaning against the wall between us, I replied in a light tone. ¡°You know me. I¡¯m Karl ¡®never give up¡¯ Xanderson.¡± I felt her amber eyes piercing through the wall, silently assessing me for what felt like hours before she finally responded. ¡°¡­Understood.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what Lucy was thinking, but I wasn¡¯t planning on dying anytime soon. Afterward, I made my way into the pine forest, heading toward where Sera was waiting. After about ten minutes, I found her. I froze, taken aback. My little sister was silently crying. Chapter 2: Carnivorous Meat Bees Sera sat on a protruding flat rock, tears gleaming at the edges of her eyes. The Frozen Grass piercing through the snow beneath was as abundant as ever, swaying gently in the wind, oblivious to the sadness of the girl sitting among them. When she heard the crunch of snow beneath my feet, she quickly wiped her tears away and turned around, putting on a brave front. ¡°I think my throat is getting better. We should gather as much honey as possible before I go to NorthStar,¡± she said with a bright smile. In my eyes, Sera was too kind for her own good. She couldn¡¯t stop worrying about how the villagers would survive once she left for NorthStar Academy ¡ª the best magic academy in this world. After all, she was our only Songstress. Without a word, I took out the Sound Amplifying Crystal and tossed it to her. She caught it easily, tilting her head in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s this, big brother?¡± ¡°A temporary solution to our problems,¡± I replied, some part of me answering eagerly like a child anticipating Christmas. This was the first step toward solving our village¡¯s struggles in the long run. Sera tilted her head again, her eyes filled with even greater confusion. Maybe I should have explained it better. ¡°What does this do?¡± she asked, tossing the crystal lightly between her hands like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. ¡°Try speaking after pouring Mana into it.¡± A demonstration would be far better than any explanation. Sera hopped down from the rock, activating a body enhancement Skill to protect herself from any potential accidents. Accidents that might, or might not, happen. In my humble, yet correct, opinion, using a Skill for this was unnecessary. However, considering the previous Karl¡¯s inventions were infamous for exploding, her caution was justified. After double-checking the crystal, I was confident it was safe to use. Once Sera finished preparing, she poured Mana into the crystal and spoke. ¡°Hello.¡± Nothing happened. No explosion, which she clearly expected, and unfortunately, no intended effect either. ¡°Put it closer to your mouth,¡± I instructed. The crystal failed to pick up her voice since she held it, quite literally, at arm¡¯s length. Sera glanced at me suspiciously before slowly raising the crystal closer to her mouth. By ¡°closer,¡± I meant she moved it from a fully extended arm to a barely bent elbow at a forty-five-degree angle. I sighed at the sight of such blatant distrust and walked toward her. ¡°Give it to me if you don¡¯t want to do it,¡± I said, holding out my hand. ¡°No way!¡± she exclaimed, clutching the crystal and turning away. ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t explode.¡± ¡°You said that last time too.¡± Stubborn girl. I shook my head at her odd way of showing care. It¡¯s a simple microphone. Nothing¡¯s going to happen. Sera took a deep breath and, after what felt like an eternity, finally brought the crystal close to her mouth. Overcoming her fear of explosions, she spoke into it. The crystal didn¡¯t explode, which was a relief. However, the result was far from perfect. The crystal unleashed a supersonic blast directly into my face, rattling my brain and probably rupturing my eardrums. I stumbled back, dazed, as the realization hit: the crystal worked. It just needed a serious adjustment to its volume output. Meanwhile, Sera, similarly shaken, froze for a moment before collapsing to the ground. Her eyes shrank to dots, and she clutched her ears, rolling around in pain. ¡°Why do you hate me, brother?¡± Sera lamented, her voice muffled as she lay sprawled on the ground. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I said, patting her back once she stopped rolling. Shrugging off the ringing in my ears, I picked up the crystal Sera had dropped and began modifying it. With my ridiculously small amount of Mana, I identified the Runes responsible for the volume output. It wasn¡¯t the Runes that resembled a tree branch. Nor was it the Runes that looked like a lamppost. After some trial and error, and another supersonic attack, I finally found what I was looking for ¡ª a Rune that moved like waves with droplets attached to its ring. Adjusting the height of the waves downward was enough to reduce the volume. ¡°This should do it. Try this, Sera,¡± I said, holding the crystal out to her. I looked up, only to see heaven and earth switch places while everything else spun sideways. ¡°Huh?¡± I muttered, disoriented. Sera¡¯s face swam into view, filled with panic as she poured Mana into me. Her lips were moving, but I couldn¡¯t hear a word she was saying. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] A warm sensation coursed through my veins, stopping the sky from spinning. I got up and thanked Sera, only to receive an earful about how I must never do that again. It seemed I had overestimated the amount of Mana in my body. Forming a Qi Core was becoming more urgent by the second. ¡°Repeat after me: I¡¯ll never use that much Mana ever again,¡± she instructed, puffing out her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll never use that much Mana ever again,¡± I repeated obediently. ¡°Swear it to the Guardians,¡± she demanded, her cheeks still puffed out.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. It was amusing to see someone as muscular as Sera still manage to look cute. Maybe it was just my brotherly instinct talking. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The point was that she¡¯d just mentioned a clue. ¡°The Guardians?¡± I asked. She squinted at me. ¡°Big brother.¡± Her tone carried a warning edge, perhaps thinking I was hesitating or unwilling. Truthfully, I was more curious about who or what these Guardians were. I¡¯d noticed a recurring pattern across worlds: if there were god-like beings or actual gods, they often held the key to understanding what threatened that world. Myths and legends often played a huge path in finding a path forward. ¡°I swear to the Guardians,¡± I said, knowing I needed to get out of this predicament first. Searching for more information about these beings would come later. The gap between those who used Mana and those who didn¡¯t was vast, an abyss ordinary men couldn¡¯t cross. Her demand was technically impossible, but I intended to keep my promises. I wasn¡¯t going to rely on Mana much anyway, Qi was the right path for me. So, technically, I didn¡¯t lie. ¡°Good,¡± she said, nodding in satisfaction. Sera took the crystal and, after learning from her earlier mistake, poured Mana into it cautiously. This time, she sat on the ground and blocked her ears with her hands, using her feet to hold the crystal steady. ¡°Don¡¯t do something like this when you go to the academy,¡± I sighed. ¡°What¡¯s that? I can¡¯t hear you,¡± she replied smugly before whispering into the crystal. ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice vibrated through the crystal, which amplified it to just the right level ¡ª about twice as loud as her normal voice. This time, it worked perfectly. ¡°This is great!¡± she exclaimed, her face lighting up. ¡°I can sing without straining my voice now.¡± I stared at her throat. That obnoxiously familiar feeling surfaced again. If it was truly what I thought it was, then this world was in far deeper trouble than I had anticipated. Confirming my hypothesis just got bumped up to the must-do list. ¡°It¡¯s only a temporary solution,¡± I said. ¡°We need to heal your throat. And this thing still needs improvements before we can leave the village without worries.¡± ¡°Eh? You¡¯re coming with me, big brother?¡± she asked, tilting her head. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied with a firm nod. ¡°But you didn¡¯t enroll in the academy. You didn¡¯t even get recommended.¡± ¡°I can enroll later. According to plan, once we arrive at NorthStar, we should have two weeks before the semester begins.¡± If there was a magic academy hailed as the best in the world, then the fated ones would undoubtedly be there. Especially in the best class ¡ª S-Class, First-Class, or something along those lines. It was clich¨¦, sure, but patterns like this were hard to ignore. With my knowledge, I was certain I could score perfectly in the entrance exams. I had done it before. Sera scratched her cheek awkwardly. ¡°The student enrollment period ended three months ago.¡± ¡­Well, shit. ***** ¡°Meat Bees,¡± I mumbled as we crouched in a bush just a stone''s throw away from their hive. Before us stood a hive as massive as a double-story house, with countless bees buzzing in and out. They resembled honeybees at first glance, but their heads were the size of basketballs, and they behaved more like vulture bees. Their enormous mandibles looked ready to shred meat into small chunks and haul it back to the hive to make honey. If I study their patterns and figure out how they turn meat into honey... I paused, dismissing the thought. No, that would take too long. I didn¡¯t know how much time I had before the end arrived. In some worlds, it had come right after I woke up. In others, it had taken over a hundred years. The best course of action was to solve the problems in front of me as quickly as possible with the tools I had, then move on to the next. Ideally, the solutions I created would be sustainable in the long run. I opened the mission log again to check if anything had changed. [Quest: Helped the fated ones save the world] [Condition: Restore Harmony through the power of culture] There was no countdown to the end of the world this time. That much was certain. Considering the condition involved culture, I was confident I had plenty of time. Culture wasn¡¯t something that could be established easily or quickly after all. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch. Be careful, young master, second miss,¡± Lucy said, pulling two hidden daggers from her Victorian maid dress. How she managed to hide those knives while keeping her dress so impeccably fluffy was a mystery. Sera gripped her Nilde firmly ¡ª a szabla gifted to our family as a token of friendship by the Frost Elf. The blade had been passed down through six generations of our family. Forged from Elven steel and tempered in Frost Fire, it was a masterpiece with three azure lines running along the curved edge. The hilt, wrapped in soft yet durable Snow Hare leather, ensured the wielder¡¯s grip wouldn¡¯t slip. Enhanced with toughening, slashing, and self-repair Runes, it was one of the greatest treasures the Xanderson Clan had ever received. The Elf who crafted it was likely still alive. Six generations to us was barely over half a lifetime for an Elf. With an average lifespan of five hundred years, they had time on their side. We, on the other hand, didn¡¯t. No one in our clan had ever lived past fifty ¡ª a curse in exchange for the ability to steal life force. Or so the story went. ¡°Ready,¡± Sera said, raising the Sound Amplifying Crystal. Our roles were clear. Sera would keep the bees in a daze with her song, I would collect the honey, and Lucy would keep watch and pull us out if things went south. Lucy conjured a shadowy rope and tied it securely around our waists. ¡°Two tugs mean proceed with caution. Three tugs mean retreat immediately,¡± she reminded us firmly. We nodded in unison and began. Sera poured Mana into the crystal, and her bright and velvety voice, amplified by the crystal, rang out. The melody carried by the wind, drifting toward the massive beehive and weaving its spell over the Meat Bees. ¡°? We reached beyond to the stars, Chasing what should never meant, We touched the core of a law, And left it ripple and then fall, We tried to hold the thread tight, Yet what we took changed all our lives, our lives, I hope you learn from the broken, And hear the songs we once sung, When the winds start to fall, We hope you rise above the tides, ¡®Cause that¡¯s what you can, that¡¯s what you can, When the storm came through, Oh, when the storm came through, ?¡± There¡¯s something about this song. A clue, perhaps. I thought as we treaded carefully toward the hive. The bees didn¡¯t attack us, which meant the first step in solving the village¡¯s long-term problem was a success. I kept my eyes on the dazed bees as they fluttered around, ignoring us as if we were nothing more than air. One of them, however, stopped directly in front of us and clicked its mandibles. The sound was sharp, like scissors in a tailor¡¯s hands, ready to cut through cloth, or a doll¡¯s head. Its ferocious, almost mindless compound eyes stared at us. Sera tightened her grip on her szabla. She kept singing, her voice unwavering, but her gaze remained locked on the bee, not daring to blink. Fortunately, the bee eventually ignored us and flew away. Interesting. Sera¡¯s singing didn¡¯t make us invisible to the bees. Instead, it likely altered their perception of us, making them see us as part of the hive. That was my hypothesis, at least. But I still lacked enough information about this ¡°Harmony¡± to be certain. More testing would be required. We exchanged glances and nodded before moving closer to the hive. Once inside, we were greeted by countless hexagonal cells stacked into towering walls. These walls kept the freezing wind out, leaving the hive¡¯s interior noticeably warmer. In the farthest corner of the hive, a massive Meat Bee as large as a pickup truck lay resting, likely the queen. The wall on the left brimmed with a gooey substance of an ochre hue. As soon as I caught a faint lavender-like aroma wafting through the air, I knew we had found what we were looking for, honey. Setting down the wooden box, which was nearly as tall as me, we began collecting the honey. Our hands moved methodically as we worked, ignoring the few bees nearby that were busy digesting leftovers into fresh honey just twenty steps away. Surprisingly, the gooey substance wasn¡¯t as sticky as I had anticipated, making it much easier to harvest. Before we could finish filling the box, I felt three distinct tugs on the shadow rope connecting us to Lucy. Sera and I exchanged a glance. Without a word, I closed the box and hoisted it up while Sera took the lead, charging out of the hive. We were barely an arm¡¯s length away from the hive¡¯s entrance when a beastly roar echoed through the woods ¡ª the unmistakable roar of the apex predator here, the Bearowl. *Ding [Harmony has been disrupted] What followed the System¡¯s message was the ominous hum of a thousand wings, rising like a storm. A wave of bees surged toward us, their mandibles ready to shred us to pieces, digest us, and turn us into honey. Chapter 3: Demonic Qi I followed close behind Sera as we ran for our lives. Yet, despite the chaos, it was a great opportunity to see why my twin sister had been accepted into NorthStar Academy. And she did not disappoint. Sera carved a path through the swarm of bees with precision and grace. Every step she took was deliberate, every movement refined, every slash of her blade devastatingly precise. Meat Bees fell around her like flies, each attack slicing cleanly through their bodies. No matter how loud the furious hum of wings behind us grew, her eyes remained focused on one thing: forward. When a bee attacked from her blind spot, her blade moved with instinctive accuracy, brushing the side of the bee¡¯s head and redirecting it into another behind us. That level of reaction wasn¡¯t born from training alone. It was pure instinct. A feat only a handful in history could achieve at her age. Sera was, without a doubt, a reliable protector. As we rushed out of the hive, a shadow darted backward toward us, halting five steps away. It was Lucy. Murky, dark crimson blood dripped from her dagger. Her maid uniform bore claw-shaped tears on her shoulder and the right side of her belly. Thankfully, none of the wounds seemed to have reached her body. My gaze shifted to what she had been protecting us from, the source of the roar we had heard earlier. Standing before us was a Bearowl, the apex predator of these woods. Its upper half was that of a polar bear, with three straight horns protruding from its head. The bottom half resembled a snowy owl, complete with massive wings and viciously sharp talons at the end of its owl-like legs. Even its pure white fur couldn¡¯t help it blend into the snow, as its towering height ¡ª twice that of an average man ¡ª made it unmistakable. Yet, something was wrong. This wasn¡¯t a normal Bearowl. Crimson mist swirled faintly around its body. Bloodshot eyes glared at us with unnatural ferocity, and stinking saliva oozed from its mouth like that of a rabid dog. I recognized the symptoms all too well. I glanced at Sera¡¯s throat. The same thing trying to turn her into a mindless beast like the Bearowl ahead of us was inside her ¡ª Demonic Qi. The Bearowl¡¯s state was the result of Demonic Qi being injected into living beings. It consumed their life force, clouded their minds, and amplified their worst emotions and darkest desires, driving them into a relentless frenzy until they died. That was exactly what this Bearowl was experiencing. It was sheer luck that Sera only had a minuscule amount of Demonic Qi in her throat. ¡°We need to get out of here. Now!¡± Lucy shouted as she conjured a ball of black fog at the tip of her daggers. The fog could obscure the Bearowl¡¯s vision but would do nothing to stop the bees behind us. Unless... I quickly assessed the situation. Lucy ¡ª [Level 42], Sera ¡ª [Level 28], the Bearowl ¡ª [Level 53], and the bees swarming toward us ¡ª [Level 12], [Level 16], [Level 18], [Level 9], [Level 22]... We were caught between a frenzied apex predator ahead and a horde of carnivorous bees behind. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. But the worst part? This Bearowl was male. That meant its female partner wasn¡¯t far away. We had to move fast. ¡°Forward!¡± I shouted, sprinting toward the Bearowl. Lucy immediately caught on to my intent and dashed at the beast without hesitation, her speed allowing her to overtake me quickly. Sera and I followed close behind, putting as much distance as possible between us and the bees. Sera tightened her grip on her szabla, readying herself, while I opened the honey box and scooped up a handful of honey. The Bearowl roared and charged, its massive wings spread wide, blocking any chance to dodge left or right. ¡°[Blinding Fog],¡± Lucy commanded, launching the black fog directly at the beast¡¯s eyes. Even in its frenzied state, the Bearowl¡¯s instincts kicked in. It tilted its head to the side, dodging Lucy¡¯s [Blinding Fog]. But that was only a distraction. The real attack was her throwing dagger. The blade embedded itself deep in the Bearowl¡¯s right eye. The beast roared in agony but refused to slow its charge. The shadow rope around Sera¡¯s and my waists sprang to life, rushing forward and binding one of the beast¡¯s forelegs. ¡°Now!¡± Lucy shouted, pulling on the shadow rope and leaping to the right. The Bearowl lost its balance, crashing hard into the snow and sliding forward. Sera dodged left, using the momentum to deliver a precise slash at the beast¡¯s left eye. Her attack landed perfectly, rendering the Bearowl completely blind. Taking my chance, I threw the honey at the Bearowl¡¯s face and jumped to the left. The bees would now be too occupied with the raging predator to chase us. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered under my breath as I sensed another source of Demonic Qi. This time from behind us. I snapped my head around just in time to see an even larger Bearowl. If the male had been twice the size of an average man, this female was at least triple that. With a deafening roar, the [Level 55] beast opened its jaws horizontally and swooped toward Sera like an eagle closing in on its prey. Sera noticed the new threat and twisted her body, preparing to counter. But the sheer size of the beast caught her off guard. A single sidestep wasn¡¯t enough to move her out of the path of its gaping jaws. There was no time to think. I ignited a small part of my life essence to activate my martial arts ¡ª a last resort I didn''t want to use. Everyone was born with a finite amount of life essence. Once it was gone, it was gone forever. If life essence was the glass that held water, then life force was the water itself. Refilling life force was easy, but once the cup shattered, it could never be repaired. And the less life essence I had, the weaker my life force would become.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. *Ding [You have reclaimed your martial arts: Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Level 1] Qi erupted from the ignited life essence, surging through my body like an unstoppable torrent. Strength coursed through me, every fiber of my being brimming with newfound power. Wasting no time, I directed the freshly formed Qi toward my legs, preparing to execute one of my martial arts techniques. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] The capillaries in my legs burst under the strain, and a searing pain radiated from my heart, spreading through my body like wildfire. It felt as though my organs were being consumed from the inside out. Ignoring the pain, I skated across the snow¡¯s surface, unhindered, hurtling toward the incoming beast. I threw the honey box to the ground as I redirected all my focus to the Qi gathering around my fist. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Smashing technique ¨C Head of the Black Turtle] Qi compressed tightly within my fist, ready to erupt on contact. The moment my fist met the female Bearowl¡¯s jaw, a deafening boom resounded across the snowy forest. Pain surged through my arm as I felt my forearm bones shatter and blood vessels burst from the sheer rebound. The beast, knocked violently to the side, bounced twice before crashing through an ancient pine tree that must have stood for over a century. A single canine tooth, dislodged from the Bearowl¡¯s mouth, landed in the snow with a faint puff. Warm blood dripped onto the tooth from my mangled, bleeding arm. ¡°What just happened?¡± Sera¡¯s voice cracked, her jaw dropping in disbelief. How could she not? I, someone who was supposed to be too weak to fight, had just knocked a massive monster away like a ragdoll. A monster that even veteran hunters from our village struggled to handle. ¡°Your arm!¡± she exclaimed, her eyes fixed on my injured arm. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] I raised my hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. See.¡± That wasn¡¯t exactly a lie. My insides still felt like they were on fire, and my hand hurt like a motherfucker, but the wound had already healed. ¡°How¡­¡± Sera was taken aback, her eyes darting between my arm and my face. Just moments ago, my arm had been dangling and bloody, and now it was completely fine. I quickly scanned the battlefield. It wasn¡¯t looking good for us. I had miscalculated. There were far more Meat Bees than I¡¯d anticipated. Some were attacking the blinded male Bearowl, others were swarming Lucy, and a few were already heading toward us. If we wanted to survive this, we needed to use the female Bearowl to our advantage. ¡°There¡¯s no time to waste. Give me the crystal. You grab the honey box and lure the bees attacking Lucy here.¡± ¡°No,¡± Sera refused firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll stall the Bearowl.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this, Sera,¡± I said as we both leaped backward to dodge the female Bearowl¡¯s incoming claw. I landed to the right, and she to the left, the closer side to the honey box. The beast turned toward me and let out a deafening roar, crimson fog swirling ominously around its body. Great, another one infected with Demonic Qi. Is this a worldwide issue, or just regional? I thought while sidestepping a wing slash. Demonic Qi wasn¡¯t a natural phenomenon, after all. ¡°Now, Sera!¡± I shouted, shifting my focus entirely to the raging Bearowl. Sera gritted her teeth, her hand tightening around her sword¡¯s hilt before dashing toward Lucy. The Bearowl¡¯s left shoulder muscles twitched ¡ª a diagonal claw attack. Its wings unfolded skyward ¡ª a vertical wing slash. Veins bulged around its neck ¡ª a straight bite. I saw the attacks as they came, but my body struggled to react quickly enough. Wounds began to pile up on me as I barely dodged each blow. Too bad for the Bearowl, it¡¯s all useless. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] No matter what wounds I endured ¡ª broken bones, burst blood vessels, or shredded skin ¡ª my body always returned to its peak condition. The System¡¯s period of grace had saved me more times than I could count, and this was no exception. If only my life essence could be restored too. That was my only concern. Burning another part of my life essence was far from ideal, which was why I had been dodging as much as possible, carefully minimizing my Qi consumption. ¡°Big brother, catch!¡± Sera shouted, throwing the Sound Amplifying Crystal my way. The timing was perfect. Sera and Lucy were heading toward me, trailed by a horde of Meat Bees. I jumped back to evade the Bearowl¡¯s snapping jaws and caught the crystal mid-air. ¡°Cover your ears!¡± I yelled. Lucy carried the honey box on her back, then quickly covered her ears with her hands. Sera followed suit without hesitation. I took a deep breath and cranked the crystal¡¯s volume to eleven. With a sharp exhale, I unleashed my supersonic assault ¡ª ¡°Karl¡¯s Specialty.¡± The ear-shattering sound blasted everything in sight. The Meat Bees froze mid-air, their compound eyes vibrating uncontrollably as they were assaulted by the maddening melody. The Bearowl staggered, its massive frame trembling under the auditory onslaught. It was chaos. The horrendous sound sent every creature into a frenzy far more terrifying than the effects of Demonic Qi. The Bees and Bearowls turned on each other, tearing into one another with a violent, unrestrained madness. *Ding [You disrupted Harmony. A penalty has been imposed on your physical condition for 3 hours] [Full body restoration activated. Penalty canceled] Sweet. I thought as I made a mad dash to group up with Sera and Lucy. Once we were together, Lucy hurled a fog ball at the ground, creating a thick veil of darkness. The distraction was enough to let us slip away unnoticed as the monsters continued their frenzied battle against one another. We ran as fast as our legs could carry us, not stopping until we reached the safety of the village. Only then did we finally exhale in relief. Not only had we survived that unexpected mess, but we¡¯d also managed to bring back some honey. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but it was better than nothing. ¡°Next time, we shouldn¡¯t get so close to the Bearowl¡¯s territory,¡± I said, brushing snow off my shoulders. ¡°What was that?¡± Sera asked, staring at me intently. ¡°What was what?¡± I feigned innocence. ¡°Those Bearowls with the crimson fog around them! They were crazier than a Snow Hare during mating season! And then there was you with your woosh and pow and sending a Bearowl flying with just one punch! What kind of Skill was that?¡± While Sera reenacted all the kung fu moves with exaggeration, Lucy stood silently nearby, observing me with her sharp eyes. If I were her, I¡¯d be suspicious too. Before I could come up with an excuse, Sera suddenly grabbed my hand. Her large frame, which always exuded strength, seemed so small and vulnerable as her shoulders began to tremble. She was half a head taller than me, but right now, she seemed so fragile. Her voice cracked as she looked down. ¡°Please don¡¯t die,¡± she said, choking on a lingering pain. A shadow of past trauma hung heavy in her words, a pain she clearly hadn¡¯t moved on from. Maybe my actions reminded her of our parents, who were no longer here with us. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I made an unreliable promise. Hoping to lighten the mood, I added, ¡°Now, let¡¯s get this honey to the brewers and make some mead and medicine.¡± I didn¡¯t wait for a reply, hoping the change in subject would work. Lucy seemed to be on the same page as she followed up, ¡°Yes, the children need more medicine immediately. I¡¯ll handle that. Young master, second miss, please go home and rest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sera tapped her cheeks lightly, snapping herself back to her usual cheerful self. ¡°See you later, Lucy.¡± As we walked home, Sera didn¡¯t say a word for a long while. The only sounds that echoed through the desolate village were the crunch of snow beneath our feet and the faint rustling of leaves. ¡°Did you Level up and get a Class, big brother?¡± Sera eventually asked, breaking the silence. ¡°No,¡± I shook my head. ¡°Still Level 8.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s even weirder, isn¡¯t it? You didn¡¯t Level up with all those bees we killed? I thought that punch and your movements were Skills, but they weren¡¯t either. You¡¯re not even Level 10 yet and have no Class. This is just so weird.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. I had noticed the same thing. I didn¡¯t gain any Experience Points during the battle. Either I needed to personally kill monsters, or the System had other requirements. ¡°I¡¯ve been weird since I was born,¡± I replied, trying to play it cool with a joke. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ true,¡± Sera mused. ¡°¡­At least deny it a little,¡± I sighed. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s say I reach Level 10 tomorrow. Is there anything around here that can help me get a Class?¡± Sera thought for a moment before answering, ¡°If you want to be a [Warrior] like me, you have to sacrifice the body of a monster you hunt alone. It¡¯s the same for [Archer], but you need to hunt with a bow. I don¡¯t remember what a [Rogue] needs, though. You can ask Lucy.¡± She crossed her arms and thought so hard her face scrunched up in concentration. ¡°That¡¯s all I can think of for our village. You want to be an [Alchemist], right? Maybe you could sacrifice some of your inventions to get that Class.¡± ¡°I see. Thanks, Sera,¡± I said, reaching out to pat her head as I used to for my daughter in the previous world. ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a long time since you did this,¡± Sera said softly, giggling like a little girl. ¡°Good girls deserve praise,¡± I smiled. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to test out. Can you help me with it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said, thumping her chest proudly. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± I laughed lightly. It was time to test some hypotheses and grow some goddamn grass. Chapter 4: Grow grass, get Class ?I spent another day gathering honey with Sera and Lucy. Thankfully, we didn¡¯t encounter any unexpected situations like the first time, since we avoided going anywhere near the Bearowl territories. The good news was we gathered a large amount of honey and made enough medicine to last for a while. The bad news was I still had no idea how to level up. I even killed a few bees myself, but that didn¡¯t work. Unlike in all the previous worlds, where I could go full murderhobo to gain Experience Point, this world seemed to play by different rules. Since that was the case, there was one more thing I needed to test. In my room, I picked up the Sound Amplifying Crystal, aka the microphone, and dove back into the world of Runes. Once I understood what each Rune did, I started copying them from the original microphone crystal to create a few more. It was great to be able to keep working non-stop. Every time my body got messed up thanks to [Void Heart] and my constant Mana exhaustion, [Full Body Restoration] kicked in to save the day. Thanks to it, I was as good as new even after pushing myself hard enough to pass out seventeen(?) times. A cheat was a cheat, and there was no reason to not capitalize on it. With enough spare Sound Amplifying Crystals at hand, it was time to take the next step and create an MP3 player. To turn a microphone crystal into an MP3 player, I needed to add a third part to the process ¡ª a set of Runes to store sound inside the crystal for an extended period. I also needed to separate the recording process from the playback process. Since the only way to activate the crystal was by pouring Mana into it, I decided to try merging two crystals ¡ª one for storing sound and one for playing it. But that approach failed miserably. Every time I attempted to merge the crystals, the Runes inside them turned into a chaotic, jumbled mess. They refused to synchronize, and I couldn¡¯t even get past the first step. Back to the drawing board. The next solution I came up with involved the amount of Mana the user poured into the crystal. Following that train of thought, I began tinkering with the sound-gathering Runes. The Runes for receiving sound remained the same, but I added additional Runes to store the sound in the motes bridge between the receiving side and the amplifying side. With that modification, it was time to test the Mana mechanics. After several rounds of experimentation, I quickly realized that requiring an exact amount of Mana would completely defeat the purpose of making the device accessible to everyone. Precise Mana control wasn¡¯t a skill most people had. It would demand too much effort. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± I muttered for what felt like the hundredth time. I needed a process that could handle a flexible amount of Mana. After half a day of testing, I settled on a baseline condition. The condition was that whenever someone poured Mana into the recording crystal, it would begin recording sound. To play back the sound, they¡¯d need to reduce the amount of Mana they used. Confident in the update, I brought the recording crystal to Sera for testing. ¡°Is this the thing you mentioned? The sound thing?¡± Sera asked, inspecting the crystal with curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s a Recording Crystal,¡± I corrected. ¡°And yes, this could solve some of our village¡¯s biggest problems.¡± Sera took the crystal and began testing it. At first, everything worked perfectly, just as intended. But then she tried using the same crystal a second time. The problem became apparent immediately. Since the amount of Mana she poured into the crystal differed between uses, the previously recorded sound was overwritten and disappeared entirely. ¡°Thanks, Sera. I need to fix this,¡± I said, taking the crystal back. ¡°No problem.¡± She paused, then tilted her head. ¡°By the way, have you found a way to Level up yet?¡± I pointed at the recorder. ¡°This is it. If my hypothesis is correct, then not only can this thing solve our village¡¯s problem, but it could also solve my problem and help me understand what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Can I help?¡± Sera asked, her eyes lighting up with determination. ¡°You¡¯re already helping,¡± I smiled lightly. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll go gather more honey,¡± she replied cheerfully before heading off. By day three, the Recording Crystal finally worked as intended. This time, I went back to using Mana thresholds. To record sounds, the amount of Mana poured into the crystal had to exceed a specific threshold, which could be set by the user. To replay the recorded sounds, only one-tenth of the Mana used for recording was required. The gap between these two thresholds provided an acceptable margin of error, ensuring the crystal was user-friendly. Even if someone poured slightly more Mana than necessary, it wouldn¡¯t interfere with the functionality. To make it even simpler, I added a vertical value bar with markings etched onto the crystal. There was a circle to indicate the recording threshold and a triangle to show the replay threshold. This way, anyone could visually gauge how much Mana they needed to use. *Ding [World Walker¡¯s Comprehension Level up: Level 2 ¨C> 3] Thanks to that, I had a much better understanding of this world¡¯s Runes and laws. Now, it was time to find out whether all the trouble I¡¯d gone through had been worth it. Sera and I headed to her usual song training spot, where Frozen Grass grew in abundance, shimmering beneath the soft light. ¡°Ready,¡± Sera said as she held both the Recording Crystal and the Sound Amplifying Crystal. I nodded, giving her the signal to begin.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. What happened next was a sight I had seen many times in the memories I inherited, but this was the first time I witnessed it firsthand. The Frozen Grass swayed to the rhythm of Sera¡¯s voice, moving as if carried by an unseen wind. Mana gathered around the blades of grass, swirling gently at first before intensifying in sync with the melody. Within moments, the grass began to grow taller at a visible rate. This miraculous phenomenon wasn¡¯t just magic. It was the work of this world¡¯s Harmony, a gift bestowed upon the Songstresses. Once Sera finished singing, I pointed out something she had never noticed before. ¡°Your singing makes the grass grow.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Sera let out a funny sound, blinking at me in confusion. She looked at the ground and gasped. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Her eyes sparkled like stars as she jumped off the protruding rock and ran her hands across the grass. ¡°Cool!¡± she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. ¡°With this, we don¡¯t have to worry about food for the Strong Hoofed Oxen in the village¡¯s ranches.¡± ¡°Want to see something even cooler?¡± I asked. ¡°Obviously!¡± Sera¡¯s enthusiasm was infectious. ¡°You see that pole-like marking on the crystal¡¯s surface? The one with the circle and the triangle?¡± ¡°Yeah, I see it. It glowed blue earlier,¡± she replied, holding up the crystal to examine it. ¡°Exactly. Now try pouring just enough Mana so the blue bar only touches the triangle.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Sera did as instructed, focusing her Mana into the crystal. The moment the blue bar level hit the triangle, her voice rang out again, resonating through the forest. ¡°That¡¯s my voice!¡± Sera exclaimed, staring at the crystal with eyes as wide as saucers. ¡°Yes, yes it is,¡± I confirmed with a nod. Then came the moment of truth. I turned my attention to the Frozen Grass around her, watching closely for the effect I hoped for. Mana swirled around the grass, just like when Sera sang directly. The effect was weaker, only about one-tenth of the Mana she normally moved with her voice, but it worked. I smiled, pleased with the result. This was enough. With this, the village could safely accelerate the growth of Frozen Grass. More grass meant more hares, more hares meant more oxen, more oxen meant more bees, and more bees meant more honey. Of course, there was a downside too. More Bearowls. For now, the temporary solution was to thin out the Bearowl population before we left for NorthStar. The permanent solution would be to increase the overall strength of the village. *Ding [You have created a new way to experience Harmony and share it. Level up: Level 8 ¨C> 10] [You can now select a Class. You cannot level up until you select a Class] Sweet. I thought as I stood up, brushing off the snow. It was just as I suspected, the clue lay hidden within the condition. This world¡¯s laws revolved around Harmony, and the Recording Crystal tied directly into it. ¡°This is amazing!¡± Sera exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement as she watched the Frozen Grass sway and grow in response to the crystal. ¡°I don¡¯t have to worry about the village as much now!¡± I smiled softly at her. She truly was too good of a child for her own good. Ever the optimist, Sera hadn¡¯t yet considered the broader implications this might have on the villagers¡¯ lives, but her enthusiasm was a good thing. ¡°I need to mass-produce these for the village,¡± I said, calling out to the little girl still running her hands over the spikelets of grass. ¡°Let¡¯s head back for now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Sera replied, skipping back to the village. That night, after pushing myself to the brink and passing out nine(?) more times, I managed to create ten additional Recording Crystals imprinted with Sera¡¯s voice. Finally, with the work done, I had time to check my class selection menu. From what I could see, there were seven Classes in total. =============== [Warrior] Requirement: Use the corpse of a monster you hunted alone with a melee weapon as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for melee fighters. Grants vastly increased proficiency with all types of melee weapons. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Berserker]: Empowered by an unrelenting drive for combat, you engage in battle with ferocity, bringing destruction to the battlefield. | [Knight]: Guided by an unwavering duty to protect, you become a steadfast shield, standing firm against all adversaries. =============== [Rogue] Requirement: Use an item you stole without the owner''s knowledge as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for stealth operators. Grants vastly increased proficiency in hiding your presence and moving undetected. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Assassin]: You embody the silent night, delivering swift and precise death with unmatched efficiency. | [Shadow Dancer]: A master of shadows, you command and manipulate darkness to confound and overwhelm your enemies. =============== [Archer] Requirement: Use the corpse of a monster you hunted alone with a long-ranged weapon as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for ranged combatants and trap users. Greatly enhances proficiency with long-range weapons and traps. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Sniper]: A deadly archer who eliminates foes with a single arrow, embodying precision and lethality from a distance. | [Hunter]: A master of the hunt, ensuring no prey escapes your arrows, traps, or beasts. =============== [Mage] Requirement: Use a Skill related to magic as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for magic users. Greatly enhances proficiency in learning magic and mastering Runes. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Elementalist]: Command the elements at will, bringing either blessings or devastation to the land with your mastery. | [Formation Maker]: Harness the power of formations, creating intricate designs with applications limited only by your imagination. =============== [Blacksmith] Requirement: Use an item you created without assistance as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for craftsmen. Greatly enhances proficiency in handling items, materials, and the art of creation. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Warsmith]: Wield the hammer to forge legendary weapons and armor, becoming the ultimate artisan of war. | [Crafter]: Master the creation and enhancement of tools, gadgets, accessories, and more¡ªyour versatility knows no bounds. =============== [Alchemist] Requirement: Use a potion or enhanced item you created without assistance as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for rule breakers. Greatly enhances your proficiency in understanding and manipulating the ever-changing interactions between matter and magic. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Potion Maker]: Craft miracles in liquid form, blending science and magic into potent creations. | [Transmuter]: Unlock the interchangeability of all things, harnessing this knowledge to reshape the world around you. =============== [Healer] Requirement: Use your faith as tribute. Description: The foundational Class for believers. Greatly enhances your proficiency in healing wounds and cleansing impurities. Possible Paths for 1st Ascension: | [Cleric]: Mend the wounded and restore what was lost, embodying compassion and divine care. | [Purifier]: Stand against corruption in all its forms, wielding the power to cleanse and purify. =============== I immediately felt a wave of immense disappointment as I reviewed the available Classes. Every single one of them demanded the use of Mana. Except for [Healer], which relied on faith instead. [Healer] wasn¡¯t a viable option for me. I had no idea what kind of gods or deities this world had, and relying on them had led to disastrous consequences more times than I cared to count. I wasn¡¯t about to repeat those mistakes. What frustrated me most was the lack of any Class that allowed me to cultivate Qi instead of Mana. Sure, I could choose a support Class like [Blacksmith] or [Alchemist], but I despised relying on the fated ones to get things done. In my experience, trusting others like that was no different than handing a knife to my enemies and asking them not to stab me. That wouldn¡¯t do. I¡¯d had enough of leaving my fate in someone else¡¯s hands. I opened my Inventory and stared at the only item I¡¯d received as a reward from the previous world, the [Demonic Arts Fragment.] The System didn¡¯t give me this for nothing. There had to be a reason. I took the fragment out and placed it on my palm. As I did, a System notification popped up. I smiled as a new Class I¡¯d never seen before appeared: [Otherworldly Demon.] Chapter 5: Otherworldly Demon [Otherworldly Demon] Requirement: Use the [Demonic Arts Fragment] as tribute. Description: The Demonic Path is an endless road paved with blood and corpses. Kill, steal, plunder, cheat, deceive, control, and dominate. For you are a demon. Demonic Skill Tree | [Qi Control]: Mastery over Qi is mastery over life itself. Your path to dominance begins with the fundamentals of martial arts. | [Spectral Deception]: The heart¡¯s weakness begins with the outer shell. Fool your enemies with illusionary disguises. | [Mental Manipulation]: While the flesh may be strong, the mind is fragile. Bend others to your will and make puppets do your bidding. | [Aura Domination]: The Demonic Path leads to standing triumphant above all creation. Every living being shall bow before your overwhelming presence. | [Curse Tool Creation]: With the right tools and the right price, no being can escape your grasp. Once their desires burn, it¡¯s already too late. =============== This was it. This was my path forward. Finally, a way to use Qi to fight. The only drawback? It came from the Demonic Cult. ¡°I know it¡¯s an evil Class, but can you not make it sound like I¡¯m becoming some kind of final boss?¡± I muttered, shaking my head at no one in particular. Now then, what to do? Choosing one of the Classes that used Mana was a death sentence. From my earlier tests, I would¡¯ve died countless times just from using Mana to carve Runes had it not been for [Full body restoration.] On the other hand, the [Otherworldly Demon] Class allowed me to use Qi and could potentially solve the Void Heart problem. ¡°Demonic Qi,¡± I mumbled. Demonic Qi was fundamentally different from regular Qi. It was created by combining Qi with negative emotions and madness through Demonic Arts, forcibly drawing out the user¡¯s latent potential. Even the Demonic Generals from the previous world couldn¡¯t escape its destructive nature. The only exception was The Heavenly Demon, the one individual who had full control over his mind while wielding Demonic Qi. But the price was steep. Using Demonic Qi inevitably transformed the body into something grotesque, something inhuman. To be useless, die, and watch this world be destroyed as a powerless ghost. Or to live as a monster. I laughed. The answer was obvious. I would rather become a monster to save lives than be deadweight and watch this world perish. *Ding [You made your choice. Using Demonic Art Fragment as tribute] [Success. Your Class is now Otherworldly Demon] A series of notifications flashed through my mind, their presence ringing like distant bells. A numbing sensation spread across my body, heavy and all-encompassing. Then, a sharp shiver ran down my spine, its knife-like legs tracing every nerve. I felt the changes taking hold, altering me in ways both profound and irreversible. *Ding [You can now cultivate Demonic Qi] [You gain access to the Demonic Skill Tree] [1st Demonic Arts Branch ¨C Qi Control unlocked] [You gain a new Skill ¨C Plundering Qi] =============== [Plundering Qi] | Level Requirement: Level 10 ¨C Complete | Unlock Condition: Create a Qi Core ¨C Incomplete | Description: Harness the demonic power to devour your enemies'' Qi, leaving behind only lifeless, empty shells. No need to fear the mixing of life forces as the demon accepts all beings equally. The more Qi you consume, the greater your strength grows. =============== I took a deep breath, though it felt like someone had sliced my body open and forcefully ripped out my arteries. No matter. The ability to use Qi was worth it. More than that, once I unlocked this new Skill, the Demonic Qi lingering in Sera¡¯s throat would no longer be a problem ¡ª so long as I only extracted the Demonic Qi. ¡°Time to create a Qi Core,¡± I muttered, moving to sit in a lotus position on the floor, far from my bed. The last time I¡¯d tried to create a Qi Core on my bed, it ended with the sheets soaked in sweat. Drying a wet bedsheet without anyone noticing was a horrifying ordeal I didn¡¯t want to repeat. A lesson learned. Focusing inward, I controlled the Mana within my body, directing it toward my life force to merge them and create Qi.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. This time was different. My Mana seamlessly merged with my life force, as though they were two halves of a whole, now reunited. A burning sensation surged through me, accompanied by a relentless rage. Veins bulged across my body as the fire coursed through every muscle and nerve. I gritted my teeth, enduring the torment as my muscles relaxed, contracted, and broke down repeatedly. Each time, they reconstructed themselves stronger, adapting to the influx of Qi. My mind, however, was not spared. It overflowed with rage directed at who or whatever tore me from my mundane life, forcing me to lose myself over and over again for the sake of saving strangers. The agony lasted only a moment, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, I exhaled a long, blackened breath. My body and mind settled, calm returning to me at last. The first step was complete. I paused for a few seconds to collect myself before moving on to the next step. Gathering Qi into a core. I closed my eyes and began circulating Qi throughout my body, directing it toward the spot below my navel ¡ª where the lower dantian resided. The plan was simple, refine and gather enough Qi until a Qi Core naturally formed. Alas, once again, man proposed, heaven disposed. As my Qi started to gather, I noticed something abnormal. The flow was disrupted. Some of the Qi dispersed as it passed through my heart. Void Heart. The same curse that had prevented me from cultivating Qi before gaining my Class was now interfering again. Bulldozing headfirst into the process did nothing but waste energy. ¡°This won¡¯t do,¡± I muttered and stopped after my fourth failed attempt to form the core. What I needed was an external stimulant, something that would push my body into fight-or-flight mode and force every last bit of my life force into action. Since it had come to this, I returned to my original plan ¡ª using the Bleeding Berries. ***** Early the next morning, I left a note on my desk to inform Sera I was heading into the forest. It would be a hassle if she insisted on coming along with me. Bleeding Berries only grew near the Bearowl¡¯s territories, and I needed a lot of them. But consuming too many also meant bleeding from every pore on my body. Well, not exactly a pleasant sight. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the crunch of soft snow beneath my feet and the rustling of leaves to break the silence. Soft light filtered through the white sky, casting a glow on the dew that clung to the pine needles. It was a strange sight, morning dew in a forest blanketed in snow. The chilling wind brushed against my skin, soothing the burning sensation within me. Demonic Qi was rampaging inside me, devouring my life force since I had no core to control it. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] My muscles had begun to adapt slightly to the Demonic Qi, but I couldn¡¯t say the same for my organs and bones. The uncontrolled Qi was breaking them down, piece by piece. I would need to refine my body later anyway, so it was better to use this period of grace when my body constantly recovered to its peak to speed up the process. As I walked, a thought crossed my mind. This world¡¯s magic was based on Runes. Could I apply the same principles from the previous worlds here? It was worth testing. The first thing that came to mind was Navigating Runes. The faster I found the Bleeding Berries, the better. I raised my hand, preparing to draw a Rune using Qi, but noticed something peculiar instead. Did I actually need to physically draw Runes with my hands to use them? Over the past few days, I had only used Mana to replicate the Runes inside the crystals crafted by the previous Karl. ¡°Interesting,¡± I muttered. Experimenting to uncover answers was always enjoyable. Runes were made from motes of light that were likely fragments of this world¡¯s laws. The key to using them was to clearly communicate my intention to the motes. Expanding my senses, I searched for any potential dangers. Finding none, I sat beneath a tree, let my mind dive into Rune Space that existed everywhere, and began working on creating a Navigating Rune. The intention behind the Navigating Rune was to gather information from the surroundings and guide me to what I sought. Motes of light appeared on my outstretched palm, gathering into a circular shape. At first, it seemed like a success, but the circle of light was unstable and quickly dispersed back into motes. I shrugged. Success on the first attempt would¡¯ve been nice, but it wasn¡¯t realistic. If it didn¡¯t work the first time, I would simply try again. After about half an hour, I finally succeeded. The Rune resembled a dreamcatcher, but instead of a net in the middle, a floating arrow pointed forward, gently pulsing with energy. *Ding [You have crafted your first Rune. Rune Crafting ¨C Level 1 acquired] ¡°Could do better,¡± I mumbled, letting the Navigating Rune dissolve. After these past few days of experiments and the test just now, I realized this world¡¯s Runes were surprisingly versatile and well-developed. The potential applications seemed endless. ¡°Let¡¯s make a minimap,¡± I set a new goal. With that in mind, I set out to recreate two types of Runes: Illusionary Rune and Life Tracking Rune. Thanks to my new Skill, the process felt far more intuitive. To my surprise, just like Navigating Rune, both types of Runes had already existed. The Illusionary Rune would allow me to visualize the map, while the Life Tracking Rune would monitor nearby living beings. I briefly considered adding a Mana Tracking Rune, but quickly abandoned the idea after realizing everything, even a random rock, contained Mana. After an hour or two of refining and testing, I completed my simple minimap. On the map, I was represented as a blue dot at the center. My target appeared as a golden dot with an arrow pointing toward it, and nearby living beings were displayed as grey dots. Fortunately, the life force of flora differed significantly from that of fauna so it was simple to separate them. If life force could be compared to a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, then a tree¡¯s life force would be like a circular puzzle, while a human¡¯s life force would be rectangular. The pieces that made up the life force were identical, but the frame in which those pieces fit was entirely different. *Ding [Rune Crafting Level up: Level 1 ¨C> 2] With that done, I checked my status. =============== Name: Karl Xanderson Race: Human Origin: Xanderson Clan Level: 10 (4%) Class: Otherworldly Demon Class Skills: 1st Branch ¨C Qi Control: | Plundering Qi ¨C Level 1 General Skills: | World Walker¡¯s Comprehension ¨C Level 3 | Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Level 1 | Rune Crafting ¨C Level 2 Status Effect: | Void Heart (Permanent) | Full body restoration (3 days 11 hours 37 minutes 04 seconds) Inventory (0/10): =============== Feeling satisfied with my progress, I began heading toward the closest Bleeding Berries bush. After about ten minutes, something unexpected happened. The bush I was tracking started moving toward me. I sensed Demonic Qi the moment the golden dot appeared on the minimap floating on my palm. Snapping my head toward the source, I saw a giant Bearowl. It was chasing someone. The crimson fog swirling around the Bearowl, along with the multiple bee stingers lodged in its back, told me it was the same female Bearowl I had faced before. Its eyes now glowed a deep crimson, a mix of yellowish blood and murky red blood dripping from its maw. Something large latched onto one of its legs, dragging across the snow as the beast moved. But the Bearowl wasn¡¯t targeting me this time. Ahead of it was a young petite Frost Elf girl with bluish-white hair that trailed behind her knees. She was running as fast as her legs could carry her. Her flat bangs and two locks dropping down her shoulders were a disheveled mess, and both her hair and clothes were covered in snow ¡ª likely from falling multiple times as she fled. Her teary violet eyes locked onto me, and her pointy ears trembled as she screamed in a shaken, desperate voice: ¡°Karl, run away!¡± I raised a brow at the familiar stranger. I appreciate the sentiment, but if you¡¯re that desperate, maybe ditch that freaking huge staff first. Her grip on the cumbersome staff remained firm as she stumbled forward. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, cracking my knuckles. ¡°Time for round two.¡± Chapter 6: Elfina Glaciviel, the Forst Elf’s priestess ¡°This girl shall be our new priestess,¡± an elder had proclaimed, holding the newly born Elfina high at the end of her First Blessing Ceremony. Unlike anyone before her, when Elfina received the great tree''s blessing, the Isolation World Tree gifted her one of its branches ¡ª an unprecedented act. That branch was later crafted into the staff she carried even till now. That was forty-five years ago. For all those years, Elfina had done her best to meet everyone¡¯s expectations as the chosen priestess. Yet deep down, all she wanted was to lie on the floor of her room and draw. Her most cherished memory was from her childhood, when her mother took her to witness the sunrise above the Endless Tundra. The dawn¡¯s light danced across the icy surface, weaving a harmonious waltz of bronze, orange, and yellow. She was utterly captivated. From that moment, her desire to see all the beauty the world had to offer and capture it in her paintings only grew stronger. But as the Frost Elf¡¯s priestess, she was bound to her duties. Her primary responsibility was communicating with the Isolation World Tree to request the tree¡¯s blessings. In exchange, the Frost Elf offered their unwavering faith, which helped the tree grow and maintain The Great Barrier. Thanks to the tree¡¯s blessings, the Frost Elf enjoyed an abundance of fruits and herbs, even in the heart of this frozen land. For Elfina, every day was a monotonous cycle. She woke up, had breakfast, performed her prayers to the World Tree, trained her abilities as a [Healer], practiced crafting medicine, honed her skills with throwing weapons for self-defense, and finally went to bed. The same routine repeated, day after day. Occasionally, when her yearning to see the outside world became unbearable, she would sneak out of the village. Heading south, she found solace in the company of her trusted companion, Abby, and indulged in her passion for drawing amidst the fleeting freedom. Abby ¡ª a little wolf-like pup with gray fur and bright hazel eyes ¡ª was a Huskil gifted to her on her fifth birthday. Back then, he was small enough to sleep on her palms, but before she realized it, he had grown into a towering giant, large enough to serve as her mount. With Abby by her side, Elfina never feared even the most ferocious monsters lurking in the forest. During one of her outings, she met a pair of twins from the nearby human village. They were younger than her, but the three quickly became close friends. The girl was a whirlwind of energy, dragging them around the forest for adventures. She was strong and healthy, always ready to play whenever Elfina visited their village. The boy, however, was much like Elfina herself. He disliked physical activity and preferred to stay indoors. Frail and often sick, he rarely joined their games. Even so, both siblings held a special place in Elfina¡¯s heart as her cherished friends. As the years passed and they all grew older, Elfina resigned herself to her life¡¯s monotonous routine. ¡°Is this it? Is this my life?¡± she wondered aloud during one of her drawing sessions away from the Frost Elf village. She wished for change, any kind of change. But the change that came was far worse than anything she could have imagined. Eleven years ago, during one of her prayer sessions in the sanctuary, an alarm shattered the silence, signaling an attack on the village. Rushing outside, Elfina was met with chaos. Her kin were locked in desperate combat with twisted, nightmarish creatures cloaked in crimson fog. The attackers were humanoid monsters, their limbs grotesquely warped and their features unrecognizable. Their assault was swift and brutal, cutting down many of the village''s defenders. Even with support from the human village, the Frost Elf barely managed to repel those Fiend Forgers. Elfina herself only survived thanks to Abby. Her loyal companion shielded her with his massive body, taking a near-fatal blow meant for her. After the battle, the great tree began to wither under the influence of the crimson fog. The fog spread slowly, devouring the tree¡¯s life force and creating a crack in The Great Barrier. Beyond that crack lay the part of the Endless Tundra a Guardian had sealed long ago to halt the Abyss Walkers'' invasion. From that moment on, danger loomed ever closer for the Frost Elf. The relentless crimson fog continued eating away at their World Tree, weakening The Great Barrier with each passing day. When a human suggested seeking help from NorthStar, a free country further south, the elders initially resisted. ¡°No offense, but we can¡¯t let those greedy humans move freely in our village,¡± one elder argued. Despite their objections, the worsening situation forced them to reconsider. As the crack widened and the tree¡¯s blessings waned, the elders reluctantly agreed to request assistance. The great tree was dying from within, and there was no time to waste. Soon after, scholars and merchants from NorthStar arrived, eager for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thus began the biannual expeditions. The Frost Elf offered the team lodging and shelter before they ventured beyond The Great Barrier into the Endless Tundra. During their stay, the Frost Elf and the Xanderson Clan hosted a modest trading festival, exchanging goods and materials needed for daily survival. The Frost Elf didn¡¯t require money but relied on essential supplies the expedition team brought with them. Once the festival concluded, the Frost Elves prayed to their great tree, asking it to open The Great Barrier slightly for the expedition team. On average, an expedition into the Endless Tundra lasted anywhere from a week to a month. Each time the team returned, they brought back a trove of strange, metallic-looking objects. These relics from another era fascinated the scholars and became the primary focus of their efforts. The expeditions also had a secondary purpose, something that was essential to maintaining the integrity of The Great Barrier and ensuring the safety of the Frost Elf. This year¡¯s first expedition was supposed to follow the same routine, but something went terribly wrong. The withering World Tree shook violently, its massive form trembling as crimson fog oozed from its bark. The fog spread, and more cracks appeared in The Great Barrier, unleashing an overwhelming number of Fiend Forgers and Abyss Crawlers that had been sealed within. If not for the humans from Xanderson Village and the expedition team, the Frost Elf might have faced extinction that day. ¡°Please heal,¡± Elfina whispered with unwavering faith. Like the other [Healers], her devotion to the World Tree remained strong despite their limitations. However, the blessings they received only allowed for up to ten healings per day, even for those who had reached their 3rd Ascension.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. To compensate for the limited healing, Elfina and her fellow [Healers] relied on herbs to craft remedies for the combatants. One of the most vital remedies for delaying the symptoms of crimson fog exposure was the Blood Stopping Pouch, its core ingredient being Bleeding Berries. As the priestess, Elfina bore witness to her kin suffering day in and day out. Worse still, she could feel the anguish of their great tree, which struggled to fight back the crimson fog, maintain their garden of fruits and herbs, and sustain The Great Barrier. Each of these monumental tasks demanded an immense amount of faith from the Frost Elf. The unrelenting pressure weighed heavily on Elfina¡¯s heart. At times, she felt as though their great tree¡¯s suffocation mirrored her own. When the enemies were finally dealt with, there was finally a brief respite to tend to the wounded. Meanwhile, the expedition team returned to NorthStar to regroup and promised to organize another expedition within a few weeks. Weeks passed, and while there were no further attacks, the situation remained dire. Those afflicted by the crimson fog showed no signs of improvement, and the strain on the village only grew heavier with each passing day. That day, after Elfina had exhausted her healing Skills, she noticed their stock of Bleeding Berries was running dangerously low. Seizing the opportunity for a much-needed breather, she volunteered to gather more. Even though the Frost Elf fought daily for survival, the world outside their village remained indifferent, untouched by their struggles. While gathering berries, Elfina lay on Abby¡¯s broad back. ¡°I wish I could do more,¡± she murmured, burying her face in Abby¡¯s warm fur. The loyal Huskil barked twice, his deep woofs filled with a reassuring tone. ¡°Thanks for encouraging me, Abby.¡± She rubbed his thick neck affectionately. ¡°Let¡¯s gather some more berries and head back soon.¡± After filling a sack with Bleeding Berries, Abby suddenly snapped his head toward the horizon and growled. ¡°Okay,¡± Elfina said, immediately leaping onto Abby¡¯s back and gripping his fur tightly. The massive wolf-like dog bolted away from the unseen danger, paws pounding through the snow as quickly as they could manage. But no matter how fast they ran, they couldn¡¯t outrun the Bearowl that descended on them from the sky. Its hulking form crashed into the snow with a thunderous slam, narrowly missing them as Abby jumped to the side, dodging the attack. Elfina¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. She had no healing Skills left, no remedies to turn to, and running seemed their only option. But the odds weren¡¯t in their favor. The snow slowed Abby¡¯s movement, and the Bearowl¡¯s massive wings gave it an undeniable advantage. To make matters worse, crimson fog swirled around the crazed beast, amplifying its strength. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Elfina with unrelenting madness. Its jaws chewed on the mangled remains of a Meat Bee and of its mate. With a sickening gulp, it swallowed, let out a bone-chilling roar, and charged. Abby dodged to the side with nimble precision, claws raking at the Bearowl. The beast bled briefly, but the wound closed almost instantly, as if mocking their efforts. Elfina¡¯s hands trembled, but she steeled her nerves, reaching for her throwing knife. Just as she had practiced countless times, she aimed carefully and hurled it straight at the Bearowl¡¯s eye. It didn¡¯t work. The monster raised its massive paw, deflecting the knife effortlessly. It roared with fury, then lunged at them in a relentless frenzy. Abby twisted and leaped nimbly to dodge the Bearowl¡¯s frenzied attacks, but Elfina¡¯s heart raced as she desperately rifled through her pouches for something useful. ¡°Found it,¡± she muttered with shaky determination, pulling out a handful of crushed black leaves. ¡°Abby, back up and don¡¯t breathe for a moment.¡± The leaves were from a special herb mixture known for its potent, rotten egg-like smell, often used by hunters to distract Bearowls in emergencies. Not only did the stench repel the beasts, but the herbs also caused a burning sensation in their sensitive eyes, doubling its effectiveness. Abby obeyed her command without hesitation, retreating as far back as possible while holding his breath. Elfina threw the small pouch containing the herb mixture at the Bearowl¡¯s face. The beast slashed at it mid-air with its claws, scattering the powdery contents across its nose and eyes. The reaction was immediate. The Bearowl roared in agonizing fury, thrashing wildly at its surroundings in a blind, uncontrolled rage. ¡°Now, let¡¯s run awa¡ª¡± Elfina¡¯s words were cut off as Abby had already turned and bolted, speeding away from the chaos with every ounce of strength he had. Their destination was the Frost Elf¡¯s village. ¡°Even the wildlife is affected by that crimson fog¡­¡± Elfina whispered, tightening her grip on Abby¡¯s thick fur. Sweat soaked her shirt as her mind raced. I must report this to the elders. After sprinting for what felt like an eternity, Abby suddenly snapped his head toward the sky behind them. Elfina¡¯s stomach twisted. She slowly turned her head, her violet eyes widening. The crazed Bearowl hadn¡¯t given up. Its massive wings sliced through the air as it pursued them relentlessly. Elfina pressed her lips into a thin line. They were nearing the edge of the Bearowl¡¯s territory, which meant they were closer to Xanderson Village. It was their only chance. If there were hunters or warriors nearby, they might stand a chance of survival. ¡°Abby, head to the human village,¡± Elfina commanded. Without hesitation, Abby veered off toward Xanderson Village, racing against the beast that refused to let them go. They changed direction and ran. Despite their best efforts, the Bearowl cloaked in thick crimson fog drew closer and closer with each passing moment. The sound of snapping branches echoed louder and louder, crashing through the air like a warning bell of impending doom. Elfina bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and gripped her staff so tightly that her hand went pale. ¡°World Tree, Guardians, please bless me,¡± she prayed. And then, hope appeared. Abby barked sharply, signaling that a human was nearby. Relief flooded Elfina¡¯s heart like a wave washing away despair. It was as though a massive weight had been lifted from her chest. But fate was cruel. Abby¡¯s front leg caught on a protruding root hidden beneath the snow. Unable to react in time, he stumbled and fell, his momentum from running at full speed working against him. The sudden stop sent Elfina sprawling into the snow as well. ¡°Abby!¡± Elfina scrambled to her feet, only to witness a sight that froze her blood. The crazed Bearowl descended from the sky, slamming its massive weight down onto Abby¡¯s hind legs. The loyal companion let out a heart-wrenching yip of pain as the beast roared with unrestrained savagery. ¡°GET AWAY FROM HIM!¡± Elfina screamed, charging at the Bearowl with her staff raised high. She swung with all her strength, desperate to protect her companion. But the Bearowl swatted her away with a casual flick of its claw, sending her hurtling through the air. Her back slammed against a tree with a sickening thud, and the force squeezed the air from her lungs. She collapsed to the ground, coughing violently as searing pain coursed through her body. Even through the haze of agony, Abby¡¯s bark reached her ears. ¡°Go get the human? How can I leave you here?¡± she screamed back at him, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to stand. Her muscles burned, her bones ached, and her mind reeled with fear and desperation. But none of it mattered, she wouldn¡¯t abandon Abby. Abby barked again, the sound carrying urgency and determination. With only his forelegs to move, he lunged at the Bearowl, refusing to back down. The best companion one could ever ask for fought fiercely, clawing and biting even as the monster¡¯s claws raked through his fur. Elfina¡¯s heart twisted in anguish as she watched Abby¡¯s unwavering resolve. She couldn¡¯t let this be the end. Elfina raised her trembling hand toward the brutal scene before her. Steeling herself, she staggered to her feet and ran toward the human village. Her sudden movement drew the monster¡¯s attention. With a feral roar, it turned its sights on her, opening its massive wings and taking flight, flying low to the ground. Abby, still clinging desperately to one of its legs, refused to let go. Elfina¡¯s legs burned with every step, her muscles screaming in protest. Each stride felt like she would collapse at any moment. But she didn¡¯t stop. She couldn¡¯t. She ran until hope appeared before her. Relief briefly filled her heart, only for it to twist into despair as she recognized who it was. It was Karl. The frail, sickly Karl. Her friend. ¡°Karl, run away!¡± she shouted, her voice laced with desperation. If they ran in opposite directions, she could at least act as bait and draw the monster away from him. Her words, however, fell on deaf ears. Karl didn¡¯t run. Instead, to her shock, he charged at the Bearowl with a speed she could barely comprehend. His fist struck the monster square in the gut with a force so immense it knocked both Karl and the beast back. Elfina¡¯s jaw dropped as she struggled to process what she had just witnessed. Karl, the fragile, always-ill boy, had stopped the terrifying creature in its tracks. Karl skidded across the snow, coming to a stop right in front of her. He cracked his neck casually and said confidently. ¡°Round two is going to be fun.¡± Chapter 7: Round three, motherfucker ¡°Round two is going to be fun.¡± I cracked my neck and began circulating the small amount of Demonic Qi still lingering in my body. That punch? A one-off. I didn¡¯t have enough Qi to pull it off again. Still, it should¡¯ve sent a clear message to the monster ¡ª I wasn¡¯t easy prey. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] My broken fingers healed quickly, ready for action. As the snow plume scattered, I caught sight of a Bleeding Berry bush stuck to the Bearowl¡¯s shoulder. It was the closest one around, but there was no reason to take such a risk. ¡°Karl, please run away. Don¡¯t let Abby¡¯s sacrifice be in vain.¡± The Frost Elf tugged at my arm, her gaze darting toward my village. Abby? The familiar name gave me pause. Taking a closer look, I finally noticed the massive husky clinging tenaciously to the monster¡¯s right ankle. Abby¡¯s jaw and forelegs were locked in a desperate attempt to slow the Bearowl down. His lower body hung limply, crushed and bloodied beyond recognition. Another wave of memories hit me. The girl tugging at my arm was Elfina, my childhood friend, and that husky was Abby, her loyal companion. Back when I was sickly and bedridden most days, they were among the few I could call friends. Seeing them in this state ignited a rage deep within me. But anger didn¡¯t change what needed to be done. Elfina clearly couldn¡¯t fight anymore, she¡¯d been running for help. Abby was holding on by sheer will alone. That left only me. But with the limited Demonic Qi I had, charging into a fight wasn¡¯t an option. It also wasn¡¯t wise to lead the Bearowl toward my village since most of the hunters were still out gathering honey. The best course of action was to run, find another Bleeding Berry bush, and form a Qi Core before striking back. Outrunning the Bearowl would be difficult, but it was worth a shot. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± I hoisted Elfina onto my shoulder like a potato sack. If this were some romantic tale, I¡¯d be holding her in a princess carry as we fled. Too bad this was reality, and efficiency came first. ¡°Put me down and run! I¡¯m its target, not you!¡± Elfina protested, slapping my back with her free hand. I glanced over my shoulder to assess Elfina¡¯s condition. Her breathing was labored, her slaps weak, and her calf muscles visibly spasming. Exhaustion had taken its toll. Use her as bait to save myself? ¡°Yeah, no. Not happening.¡± I ignored her protests and ran. At this pace, it would take another half hour to reach my village. But after barely ten minutes, my body began to fail me. Sweat poured down my face, my breath grew shallow, and my lungs burned as if they were on fire. My legs screamed in pain, and my speed faltered. Behind us, the sound of snapping branches and furious wingbeats drew closer. The Bearowl was closing in, fast. Once again, I was reminded of how weak this body was. I searched for another Bleeding Berry bush on my minimap, but the system kept locking onto the closest target ¡ª the one embedded in the monster''s shoulder. There wasn¡¯t enough time to fix this oversight. Elfina¡¯s resolute voice broke through my thoughts. ¡°Put me down, Karl. I can act as bait while you get help from your village.¡± I turned my head slightly to glimpse her expression. Despite her steady tone, her hands trembled as they gripped her staff. Her pale fingers clutched it so tightly that her knuckles went white. Her determined gaze wasn¡¯t fixed on the Bearowl, it was on Abby. Running wasn¡¯t an option anymore. There were no Bleeding Berries in sight, and exhaustion would soon render us defenseless. If we wanted to survive, there was only one choice. Fight. ¡°You¡¯re a [Healer], right? Can you heal me while I fight that thing?¡± I asked without slowing down. Elfina shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t heal anymore today. I can only support you from afar with throwing weapons.¡± It was barely noon, yet Elfina was already out of healing power. Either something dire had happened at the Frost Elf''s village to drain her so early, or the gods of this world weren¡¯t as reliable as I hoped. Oh, right, not gods, they¡¯re called Guardians. ¡°Better than nothing.¡± I sighed. Our only chance of survival rested on getting that Bleeding Berry bush stuck on the Bearowl¡¯s shoulder.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I need those Bleeding Berries on the monster chasing us. That¡¯s our only way to survive.¡± ¡°What? Are you insane? You¡¯ll die!¡± Elfina snapped, her voice shaking. ¡°Elfina,¡± I said firmly, ¡°can I trust you to help me get those berries? If we want to live, now is the time to take a risk. Can I have your support?¡± Her violet eyes stayed glued to Abby, still dangling from the Bearowl¡¯s foot like a rag doll. ¡°Okay,¡± she finally said. ¡°Good.¡± I nodded. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. I¡¯ll throw you toward that pile of snow over there, then turn back and face the monster. Look for your chance. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± she replied, her body tensed. ¡°Three¡­ Two¡­ One¡­ Now.¡± I gently tossed her toward the pile of snow, making sure she landed safely. Demonic Qi surged through my veins, gathering in my right fist as I made a sharp U-turn. In a blur, the Bearowl was upon me, its blood-soaked teeth gnashing inches from my face. Its massive bear claws swung in from both sides, ready to crush me. I dashed forward, my fist glowing with energy, and delivered a bone-shaking uppercut straight to its jaw. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Smashing technique ¨C Head of the Black Turtle] The impact rattled my entire body as the recoil tore through my right hand. The attack wasn¡¯t strong enough to cause significant damage, but it disoriented the Bearowl for a crucial second. Gritting my teeth, I forced more Demonic Qi into my body, pushing it to the limit. I twisted sharply to the left, channeling every ounce of strength I had. Using both my momentum and the Bearowl¡¯s own, I managed to flip the massive beast over my head. It crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar, its back slamming against the snow-covered earth. Chance. With the last bit of Demonic Qi coursing through me, I charged toward the exposed Bleeding Berries on the Bearowl¡¯s shoulder. Twenty steps away, the monster locked its maddened gaze on me, preparing to strike. But Abby sank his jaws into the Bearowl¡¯s leg once more, drawing its attention. The beast roared in frustration and slashed at the husky with its massive claws. A sickening sound followed as Abby let out a whimper and collapsed motionless onto the blood-stained snow. Ten more steps. ¡°Noooooo!¡± Elfina wailed, her voice breaking as she hurled a small glass bottle of blackish-brown resin at the Bearowl. The beast instinctively raised its wings to block the projectile. The bottle shattered on impact, spreading flammable resin across the feathers and fur of its wings. Elfina quickly pulled out a glowing red stick, no bigger than her finger, and threw it with precision. The instant it made contact, flames erupted, engulfing the Bearowl¡¯s wings in a blazing inferno. The beast thrashed wildly, its roars turning to screams of pain as fire devoured its flesh. Why didn¡¯t she do this sooner? I wondered briefly. Was it because she only had one resin bottle? Shaking the thought from my mind, I surged forward during the chaos. I closed the last few steps and grabbed as many Bleeding Berries as I could from the monster¡¯s shoulder. The plan was a success. ¡°Karl!¡± Elfina screamed, her voice filled with terror. I turned and immediately understood why. Raising my left hand to block the incoming strike from the Bearowl was futile. The force of the blow felt like being hit by a speeding bus, shattering my left hand instantly. Before my brain could even process the pain, my body was flung through the air like a ragdoll. My back collided with a tree, snapping it in half with a deafening crack. An explosion of agony erupted in my chest as sharp pain radiated from my spine to every part of my body. Gasping for air, I struggled to breathe, each breath shallow and labored. Stars danced in my vision, and my ears rang incessantly, drowning out all sound. Even though Elfina was right in front of me, her panic-stricken words were lost in the void of my disoriented senses. Through the haze, I saw the Bearowl thrashing in the snow, desperately smothering the flames devouring its wings. There¡¯s no time to waste. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] Just in time, a warm and calming sensation washed over me, mending my shattered body and healing all my wounds. ¡°Don¡¯t pass out! If you pass out, you¡¯ll die! KARL!¡± Elfina¡¯s voice trembled as she shook my shoulders repeatedly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Under her wide, disbelieving eyes, I pushed myself upright. Ignoring the fire in my muscles, I grabbed all the berries and shoved them into my mouth. The moment I swallowed, it felt like thousands of blades were slicing through my insides. My organs screamed in agony as blood oozed from every pore on my body. The scorching heat coursing through me, coupled with the acrid smell of burnt flesh, was eerily reminiscent of the time I¡¯d been immolated. I turned toward Elfina, whose lips were moving frantically, but her words were lost to me. Perhaps my hearing was still dulled by the blood seeping from my ears. Fighting through the pain, I focused on the raging life force surging within me. I drew Mana from the air around me, fusing it with my own life force to forge Qi. Wrapping the Qi with the raw emotions of rage, frustration, and despair, I turned it into Demonic Qi then directed it toward forming a Qi Core. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] *Ding *Ding ¡­ I ignored the System¡¯s message, focusing solely on gathering Demonic Qi into a core. The searing pain ripping through my body was nothing compared to the torment I had endured watching a world collapse. Come on, come on. FASTER! *Ding [You have formed a Qi Core] [Condition met: Form a Qi Core. You have unlocked Skill ¨C Plundering Qi: Level 1] Finally, a chilling sensation, like a relentless snowstorm, seeped into every fiber of my being. My Qi Core thumped like a beating heart, refining my life force and Mana into Demonic Qi. Unlike ordinary Qi, it was cold and chaotic, but it was our ticket to survival. I opened my eyes to see Elfina standing resolutely in front of me, her staff gripped tightly in trembling hands. Despite shivering from head to toe, she held her ground. I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her illogical yet endearing determination. The Bearowl, its wings now reduced to smoldering remnants, charged at us like another mindless, crazed beast. With my newly formed Qi Core still empty, I grabbed my left hand and snapped it without hesitation. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] Just like with a Mana Core, my Qi Core refilled each time my body underwent restoration. This blessing was ridiculously overpowered. A shame it was only temporary. Empowering myself with Qi, I stepped in front of Elfina. My muscles and bones rejoiced as waves of power surged through me. At last, I could use the third of the five techniques in my martial arts ¡ª a move that required a stable Qi Core. ¡°Round three, motherfucker.¡± I cracked my neck and shot forward, striking the Bearowl¡¯s snout with a palm strike. Chapter 8: Farewell A Level 10 versus a Level 55. Me, someone who had just obtained their Class yesterday, against this Bearowl ¡ª a newly 1st Ascension monster. By all accounts, it was an uneven match, a hopeless battle even. But common sense didn¡¯t account for a World Walker with a limited-time cheat. With my body growing more attuned to my martial arts, I unleashed a new technique. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Piercing technique ¨C Breathe of the Blue Dragon] The Qi gathered around my palm, rotating like a drill. Unlike Black Turtle, which delivered blunt force, I designed Blue Dragon to pierce even the toughest armor and inflict internal damage by directing swirling Qi to a single point. This technique bypassed layers of protection to devastate vital organs directly. *Ding [Four Directional Protectors Arts: Level 1 ¨C> 2] As my palm connected with the Bearowl¡¯s snout, the concentrated Qi tore through flesh and muscle, spraying blood in every direction. Yet, despite the damage, the monster didn¡¯t falter. It slammed its massive head forward, aiming to overpower me. I reacted quickly, dodging to the side and narrowly avoiding a follow-up attack. The Bearowl roared in agony, thrashing violently as its nose was destroyed and its eyes wounded. However, the damage I inflicted was far from fatal. That strike had drained nearly all my Qi, and the monster¡¯s body ¡ª fortified by Demonic Qi ¡ª was far tougher than any normal Bearowl. If I wanted to end this fight, I had to target its brain or heart. Without hesitation, I snapped my wrist to trigger another heal, feeling the burst of power return to my body. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] With my Qi restored, I charged forward. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] I moved like a ghost, my steps so light they didn¡¯t break the snow beneath my feet. In an instant, I appeared behind the Bearowl. Its ears twitched, sensing my presence, and it swung a massive claw toward me with feral speed. Anticipating the attack, I used the same movement technique to skate across the snow, evading the strike. At the same time, I gathered Qi into my palm once more. The Bearowl, now disoriented from missing its target, turned to face me again, but I had already repositioned myself for the next attack. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Piercing technique ¨C Breathe of the Blue Dragon] When my palm struck the monster¡¯s belly, its steel-like muscles halted the physical force of my attack, but they couldn¡¯t stop the Qi spiraling from my hand. The energy surged inward, bypassing its defenses and ravaging its organs from within. The Bearowl let out an earsplitting roar, its massive body trembling as internal damage spread like wildfire. A piercing strike targeting vital organs was far more effective than a blunt impact against an enemy empowered by Demonic Qi. Before the monster could retaliate, I leaped backward, avoiding its wild swipe. Landing smoothly on the snow, I snapped my left arm once again. *Ding [Full body restoration] My Qi Core refilled itself, channeling fresh energy into my body. The monster stumbled but quickly steadied itself, its crimson eyes locked onto me with renewed fury. Blood dripped from its mouth, but the Demonic Qi sustaining it refused to let it fall. It was going to take more than a few well-placed strikes to bring it down. Dashed toward the monster, attacked its organs, backed up, healed, and repeated. The cycle repeated itself so many times that I lost count. Again and again, I struck the Bearowl, chipping away at it. Blood poured from its wounds, staining the snow, and each growl came with a fresh gush of blood from its mouth. Yet, even in its maddened state, the creature refused to fall. But that was only a matter of time. Sensing its impending doom, the Bearowl lunged at me with a desperate ferocity - a useless attempt. I sidestepped its charge and delivered a palm strike directly to its temple. The sensation of bones cracking beneath my palm and the squishy crushed brain was a feeling I could never grow accustomed to. The Bearowl¡¯s eyes rolled back as its massive frame wobbled, unsteady on its feet. That should have been the end. But before I could use White Tiger to create distance, the beast made one last instinctive move. Faster than I could react, it locked its massive arms around me in a bone-crushing bear hug and drove me to the ground with all its weight. Pain erupted across my body as the impact knocked the wind from my lungs. Pinned beneath it, the Bearowl¡¯s gnashing teeth snapped dangerously close to my head. I twisted at the last second, offering my shoulder as a sacrifice instead. Agonizing pain tore through me as the beast bit down, its jaws clamping like a vice. The Demonic Qi swirling within the Bearowl surged into me, attempting to devour my life force. I countered with my own Demonic Qi, forcing it to stay at bay. ¡°Let him go!¡± Elfina¡¯s voice rang out as she charged forward. She drove her throwing knife into the Bearowl¡¯s head repeatedly. Each strike glanced off the beast¡¯s reinforced skull, barely leaving a mark. Her efforts were in vain, but she kept at it with desperate determination. [Full body restoration] failed to activate. Even the most overpowered blessings had their limits. As long as the Bearowl¡¯s massive weight pressed against me, keeping me pinned, the cheat couldn¡¯t work. My Qi Core was drained, and my trump card was rendered useless. The situation was dire. I had one more trick up my sleeves, but using it meant exposing myself as a Demonic Arts user. Would Elfina treat me the same as this monster ¡ª the thing that killed her cherished companion ¡ª once she found out?Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. There was also my clan''s reputation to consider. Having a monster that devoured life force like eating candy wasn¡¯t exactly the kind of PR we needed. But dying here wasn¡¯t an option. I had sacrificed too much to let it end like this. This was the final world, the final quest, the final obstacle. I refused to give up now. Even so, I hoped Elfina wouldn¡¯t see me as an enemy because of this. She had been through enough. Besides, how was I supposed to explain my existence to her? But now wasn¡¯t the time for doubt. It was time for action. I sank my teeth into the Bearowl¡¯s neck and activated the Skill that had devoured many of my friends in the previous world ¡ª [Plundering Qi]. A navy-blue vortex, nearly black, formed in my mouth. Tendrils of Demonic Qi surged out like ravenous parasites, latching onto the Bearowl¡¯s Qi, Mana, and life force. They tore into the beast, ripping away everything it had and channeling it into me. My core filled rapidly, my wounds knitting themselves back together as raw energy surged through my body. The Bearowl thrashed and convulsed like it had been struck by lightning. Its roar died in its throat as its body deflated, collapsing in on itself. The once-massive beast shrank into a skeletal husk, its stretched skin clinging to brittle bones. In mere seconds, the monster dissolved into navy-blue fog. All that remained were its dried-out remains. *Ding [You have plundered Qi from another living being. Level up: Level 10 ¨C> 11] [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 1 ¨C> 2] [Full body restoration activated] I threw the empty drape of a monster to the side and sat up, every muscle in my body screaming for rest. The only sound around us was the rustling of leaves, a quiet reminder of the danger that had just passed. My breath fogged the cold air as I braced myself for something far worse than the battle with the Bearowl ¡ª Elfina¡¯s reaction. I turned toward her, mind racing to find an explanation for what just happened. But before I could say a word, she closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. Warmth replaced the icy air as she trembled. ¡°Thank the Guardians,¡± she whispered, her voice quivering with grief and relief. I was surprised by her reaction, then let out a deep sigh as an invisible weight lifted from my chest. I raised a hand and gently patted her shivering back. She doesn¡¯t know, or maybe she doesn¡¯t care right now. Either way, I would take it. The girl had been through enough. If all she needed was comfort, then I would provide it. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯re fine now. We survived,¡± I said softly, continuing to pat her back. Her trembling lessened, but we stayed like that for a few minutes longer, letting the silence stretch out between us. For once, the silence wasn¡¯t heavy, it was healing. Finally, Elfina let go and wiped at her tear-streaked face with the sleeve of her robe. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, thank you,¡± she said with a weak smile She leaned heavily on her staff, using it as a makeshift crutch. Without another word, she turned and dragged herself toward where Abby lay. I pushed myself to my feet and followed her. The sight that greeted me was heartbreaking. Elfina knelt beside Abby, the giant husky barely clinging to life. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, his blood staining the snow beneath him. Elfina wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his thick fur. ¡°Thank you, Abby,¡± she whispered, her voice cracking as she held him close. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you home now.¡± But she didn¡¯t move. Instead, she stayed there, cradling her treasured companion for what felt like an eternity. The only sounds were the quiet whimpers escaping her throat and the faint howling of the wind. I stood there, giving her space. There was nothing I could say, no words could lessen her pain. The silence stretched on. It was the silence of grief, one I understood all too well. The dull, unrelenting ache would set in soon enough, once reality crashed down on her. The adrenaline that had kept me moving faded, and the bitter cold returned in full force. The wind cut through me like a blade, sinking deep into my bones. But even as I shivered, I couldn¡¯t imagine the pain Elfina was feeling ¡ª watching her loyal companion, the one who had carried her burdens both physical and emotional, fading away before her eyes. The ache in her heart must have been unbearable, a rhythm now out of sync with Abby¡¯s struggling breaths. Yet, no matter what, we must move on eventually. That was why someone had to bear the burden of being the monster when no one else could. ¡°Do you need me to do it?¡± I asked, knowing full well the cruelty of leaving the decision to her. The weight of that choice would be something she carried forever. Elfina shivered, her arms tightening around Abby. She didn¡¯t answer, didn¡¯t look at me. She simply hugged him closer as his warm body turned cold and limp in her embrace. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the snow deep red. Neither of us was strong enough to end his suffering. ¡°We need to go.¡± I placed a hand on her snow-drenched shoulder. At first, she didn¡¯t respond, lost in her grief. But eventually, she nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± she murmured, her voice hollow. ¡°I need to bring the Bleeding Berries back to the village. We need more medicine. I need to bring Abby home too.¡± I removed my bloodied and torn jacket, wrapping it carefully around Abby¡¯s remains. Once secured, I tied it into a makeshift sling and hoisted it onto my back. The weight of her companion was nothing compared to the heaviness she must be feeling. ¡°Let me carry Abby,¡± Elfina said, her dull, lightless eyes meeting mine. ¡°Please.¡± It wasn¡¯t logical. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to walk, and we were still dangerously close to the Bearowls¡¯ territory. Staying here any longer increased the risk of another attack. Yet, against all reasoning, I handed him to her. This wasn¡¯t about logic. This was about her resolve, her way of saying goodbye. Abby¡¯s lower body dragged behind her, leaving a crimson trail in the snow as she shouldered him, step by painful step. I stayed close, ready to catch her if she fell. We followed my minimap, gathering as many Bleeding Berries as possible before turning back toward my village. Elfina collapsed countless times along the way, and each time I lent her my shoulder. She leaned heavily on me, but her gaze never wavered. She refused to stop, refused to break, even as the snow clung to her hair and the cold seeped into her bones. The silence between us was suffocating yet comforting at the same time. Snow continued to fall from the sky, indifferent to the pain beneath it. A gust of wind howled through the forest, and a single leaf fluttered down, landing softly in the snow before being buried underneath. I glanced at Elfina as she hobbled forward beside me, her steadfast eyes locked on the ground ahead. The snow piled up on her shoulders and in her hair, but she didn¡¯t seem to notice. Occasionally, I brushed it off, and she gave me a small thank-you nod. We pressed on through the endless white, a monster and a wounded heart carrying the weight of loss, with only each other to lean on. After what felt like an eternal march, we finally saw my village. Blurry smoke columns flickered beyond the dense wall of trees, their presence a silent call to safety and warmth. They beckoned us closer, and we trudged on. As we neared the village, voices reached my ears. Faint at first, but they grew louder as we approached. Breaking through nature''s imposing walls, we stepped into a clearing where a group of people stood in a heated discussion. To my left were villagers dressed in simple leather and fur clothing, their faces hardened by years of enduring harsh winters and empty stomachs. Leading them was the only elder of our village, his hunched back and weathered face a testament to the years he had lived here. To my right was a mixed group of outsiders, their postures casual as if the cold was their only real concern. They wore thick, pristine winter clothing, their slightly plump faces and clear eyes betraying lives untouched by starvation or hardship. They were the fifteen members of this year¡¯s NorthStar expedition team. The man leading the expedition stood out immediately. Like me, he bore the white hair of the Xanderson Clan. His neatly styled hair was marred only by a single rebellious lock swaying in the wind. Deep black eyes, sharp and calculating, swept across the gathering before landing on us. His pale, angular face betrayed no emotion, save for a brief gleam in his eyes that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The village elder noticed the man''s gaze shift and turned toward us. When our eyes met, he nodded and beckoned some villagers forward. Three men hurried to take Abby''s body, laying him gently to the side and wrapping him in a thick, black quilt. Elfina hesitated as her gaze lingered on Abby for a moment before a woman from the village gently guided her toward the medicine storehouse, which doubled as a makeshift clinic. The elder addressed the expedition''s leader. ¡°We can only help you get to the Frost Elf''s village tomorrow. We need to send a message to our friend first.¡± The leader¡¯s black eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest glimmer of something unreadable flashing through them. Then he smiled in a thin, practiced way. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. We will wait here for the day. If the village needs anything, please let me know.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he turned back to his group. I watched him closely, my suspicion gnawing at the edges of my mind. His face was foreign to me. I searched through my memories, trying to find some connection to him. Despite the shared hair color marking him as a member of my clan, I was certain of one thing. I had never seen this man in the village before. Not even once. Chapter 9: Body refinement ¡°Who is that guy, elder?¡± I approached him. ¡°Huh? Oh, him? That¡¯s Ragnar, someone from my generation,¡± the elder replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully. ¡°Youngsters like you might not know him since he¡¯s been working as a professor in NorthStar for a long time.¡± I nodded. That made sense, but it didn¡¯t put me at ease. A professor at the world¡¯s best magic academy who excelled at masking his emotions? From the patterns I¡¯d observed across worlds, people like him usually had knowledge of the looming threats their world faced. Keeping an eye on Ragnar seemed prudent. ¡°I see. Thanks for telling me.¡± ¡°No problem. We¡¯re clansmen, we ought to look out for each other.¡± The elder smiled calmly, the lines on his weathered face softening. It still felt odd to call someone who barely looked middle-aged an elder, but considering our clan¡¯s lifespan capped at fifty years, it was appropriate. Still, Ragnar didn¡¯t look like someone nearing the end of his days. Something about him felt... off. ¡°I planned on going to NorthStar with my sister. Do you think I could ask him for some help with that?¡± I probed carefully. ¡°You want to join NorthStar Academy, too?¡± The elder raised a curious eyebrow. ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded firmly. ¡°That¡¯s not possible, I¡¯m afraid.¡± The elder shook his head. ¡°Even if he¡¯s a professor, letting a student in without taking the academy¡¯s entrance exams is unheard of.¡± ¡°What about being recommended as his assistant or something similar?¡± I pressed. Being a student wasn¡¯t necessary, any position at the academy would suffice. In fact, considering the quest condition of restoring Harmony through culture, joining the academy without being a student might be better. The elder¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. He pinched his chin, mumbling under his breath as though weighing the feasibility of my idea. ¡°That... might work.¡± He met my gaze, his tone more measured. ¡°Since you can¡¯t join as a student, perhaps joining as his assistant is a possibility. I don¡¯t know much about how they handle things over there, so let me speak with him and find out.¡± ¡°That would mean a lot, elder. Thank you,¡± I replied earnestly. He waved me off with a slight smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Let¡¯s see what Ragnar has to say.¡± It was a relief that joining the academy was still an option. ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯ve been making those little ¡®inventions¡¯ of yours since you were young. Well, younger,¡± the elder chuckled, his tone tinged with nostalgia. ¡°Ragnar is a professor who teaches classes about Runes and potions, so you two might get along well.¡± One of those ¡®little inventions¡¯ is going to knock your socks off, elder. I smiled as I pulled out a Recording Crystal and handed it to him. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked, inspecting it curiously. ¡°When you pour your Mana into it, pay attention to the bar and the symbols etched on its surface. Stop when the bar reaches the triangle symbol. Then, try using it near some Frozen Grass. You¡¯ll be amazed.¡± The elder turned the crystal in his hands, his expression a mix of intrigue and skepticism. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll use it when I have the time. Bye, boy,¡± he said, tucking it into his pocket. A small plan began to take shape in my mind as I thanked the elder again and made my way back home. When I opened the front door, I immediately noticed the absence of Sera¡¯s boots on the rack by the wall. It seemed she was still busy gathering honey. I retrieved the note I¡¯d left on the table earlier and crumpled it before tossing it aside. There was no need for her to read it anymore. The elder had already contacted the Frost Elf to inform them about Elfina¡¯s situation. That was one task taken care of. Now, there was only one thing left for me to do today. With the Qi Core formed, it was time to refine my body into a vessel capable of properly housing and utilizing Demonic Qi. This would be the foundation for mastering martial arts and achieving peak efficiency. I entered my room, closed the door, and sat on the floor in a lotus position. Closing my eyes, I began breathing in a specific rhythm ¡ª the same one I used to create my core. But this time, instead of directing Qi to my dantian, I allowed it to flow into every muscle fiber. Seconds turned into minutes as I patiently waited for some kind of reaction. At long last, my muscles twitched ¡ª a subtle but significant sign that the first step toward body refinement was ready. I relaxed my body and mind as much as possible, calming my nerves until I felt like a leaf drifting along a slow-moving river on an autumn day. Once I reached that state of tranquility, I directed my Qi to attack my muscles. The sensation was excruciating. It felt as though millions of ants, armed with tiny, spear-like legs, were stabbing every inch of my muscles ten million times per second. My muscles broke down, reformed, broke down again, and reformed once more in an unrelenting cycle. The first time I experienced this, I had nearly lost my mind. If not for my master staying by my side, guiding and supporting me, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to endure it. That memory lingered, a testament to how far I had come. I was far too accustomed to the pain that came with this process, more than I cared to admit. Slowly but surely, the agony began to subside. A foul smell assaulted my senses, a revolting mix of rotten eggs and decaying carcasses. A tar-like substance oozed from my pores.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The first step, muscle refinement, was completed. ¡°Interesting,¡± I muttered, flexing my fingers and feeling the newfound strength surging through me. Although my body mass remained unchanged, the power coursing through me was undeniable. However, one issue persisted. Qi, much like Mana, still leaked out whenever it passed through my heart. While my core worked automatically to replenish the loss, this Void Heart remained a persistent inconvenience. ¡°Next.¡± Closing my eyes, I focused once more and began the second step ¡ª refining my bones. This time, I guided the Qi into my bones and allowed it to merge before commanding the attack. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] With this cheat at my disposal, there was no reason to take the safe yet time-consuming path of refining one bone at a time. The fastest method was to let Qi break down all my bones simultaneously while relying on the cheat to restore them. Whenever my Qi ran out, the cheat refilled it. It was brutal, but it worked. I had stumbled upon this reckless method back when I woke up in the middle of a malevolent spirit-infested cave. Those spirits fed on life force but, strangely enough, were repelled by Qi. A Qi Core alone wasn¡¯t enough to deter them, so I had to make myself utterly repulsive to them. After getting eaten alive more times than I cared to count, I did the only ¡°sensible¡± thing ¡ª risk everything. Once my flesh was refined, the weaker spirits avoided me, but escaping required getting past a much stronger one. To survive, I refined every part of myself, turning into something no spirit would dare approach. It was an unpleasant but undeniably effective experience. Now, as I pushed forward with bone refinement, my muscles constricted tightly to stabilize my skeleton and prevent my bones from breaking in the wrong direction. Unlike the constant, burning pain of muscle refinement, the pain from refining bones was erratic and crushing ¡ª like ten sledgehammers slamming into me at random, without rhythm or mercy. Abruptly, the agony stopped, and tar-like substance once again seeped from every pore on my body, adding to the vile pool beneath me. The smell was beyond horrific, but I paid it no mind. The second step was complete. I had no intention of cleaning up twice. Much like navigating a crowded shopping mall on a Sunday afternoon, I wasn¡¯t about to take two trips when everything could be done in one. Breathe in, breathe out. With every exhale, I felt my bones harden, becoming stronger than steel. Each time Qi coursed through them, they trembled with savage delight, as if relishing their newfound strength. Time for the final step ¡ª organ refinement. And if the first two steps had been excruciating, this was going to be worse. Much worse. I took my time, procrastinating the inevitable agony as long as I could. But the putrid stench of the tar-like substance pooling beneath me forced my hand. The faster I completed this, the sooner I could rid myself of the vile smell that seemed to claw its way into my lungs. With a resigned sigh, I directed Qi toward my organs, unleashing its destructive force. Pain exploded through my body, raw and merciless, as if a thousand knives were tearing through every inch of me from the inside. My heart, lungs, liver, and every organ felt like it was being shredded into pieces and reassembled over and over again. I doubled over, unable to suppress the wave of agony. A mouthful of fresh blood surged up my throat, and I spat it out. Its bright cherry-red color mixed with the black tar below, swirling into a dark, viscous crimson. The blood floated on the tar''s surface, glistening like oil on water. Each pulse of Qi felt like a hammer strike, breaking me down and rebuilding anew. My body was screaming for me to stop, but I couldn¡¯t. This was the final step. If I endured this, my body would be far more resilient ¡ª strong enough to face whatever came next. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, determined to see this through. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] The more Qi destroyed and reformed my organs, the more blood I spat out. At first, it was bright cherry-colored, pooling at my feet and mingling with the tar-like substance below. But as the process continued, the crimson hue deepened, darkening with each cycle of destruction and reconstruction. Eventually, the blood wasn''t blood anymore. It turned into a viscous black jelly, thick and slimy. Each time I spat out the jelly-like substance, my insides burned as though molten iron coursed through me. And as if the torment wasn¡¯t enough, the jelly occasionally got stuck in my throat, forcing me to cough and gag to clear it. It was the worst, far worse than refining my muscles or bones. The burning agony threatened to consume me, but I focused on the rhythm of my breathing, on the Qi flowing through my veins. If I could endure this, my organs would become a fortress, resilient against whatever horrors lay ahead. I wasn¡¯t some kind of pervert who enjoyed pain. And I¡¯ll deny any baseless allegations to the contrary. As a dignified modern citizen, I¡¯d never enjoy this. This way is just faster. More efficient. That¡¯s all. But efficiency came with a cost. *Ding [Your body has been fully refined. You have reached the peak physical condition of your body. You can now gather and circulate Qi more efficiently] The reward for my suffering was as sweet as honey. With my body fully refined, gathering Qi with every breath was now possible. I sat motionless, letting the calm after the storm settle within me, and assessed how much Qi was still leaking due to the Void Heart. Had I solved this problem completely? The answer was a disappointing no. Despite my newfound ability to subconsciously gather Qi 24/7, it still wasn¡¯t enough to offset the amount leaking from my Void Heart. This condition was an ever-present thorn in my side, an annoyance I would have to live with for this lifetime. I''ll manage. Just as I began to consider my next course of action, a pungent odor shoved its way into my nostrils like a rude intruder. My spine shivered as I looked down at the sticky black tar-like mess covering the floor. It was a horrifyingly grotesque reminder of the refinement process. I sighed and rose to my feet. The increase in Qi efficiency was a significant boon, but cleaning up this disgusting sludge was not. Sticky, icky, and downright revolting, it was the price I paid for power. Half an hour later, I stood triumphantly over a spotless wooden floor, wiping nonexistent sweat from my brow with a grin of satisfaction. With that done, I headed toward my bookshelf. There weren¡¯t many books ¡ª twenty or so at most ¡ª but I was searching for one in particular. The book on legends and myths. It might hold a clue as to why the so-called Guardians weren¡¯t doing anything about the Demonic Arts users. I scoured the shelf, checked the table, and even peeked under the bed, but I found nothing. Not a single word related to the Guardians. Great, I thought, rubbing my temples. If there was no written record, my next best bet was the elder. The oldest member of the village surely had some stories to tell. I stepped out of my room and headed toward the elder¡¯s house, my mind swirling with questions about the Guardians. On my way there, I took a moment to observe the bustling activity in the village. Parents were busy grinding herbs and brewing remedies for their children. Winemakers darted back and forth, working hard to complete the latest batch of mead, a crucial commodity for trade. With the expedition team from NorthStar present, tomorrow marked the day we would head toward the Frost Elf¡¯s village and participate in their small trading festival. A rare opportunity for us to secure valuable resources. For once, things seemed to be looking up for our little village. When I reached the elder¡¯s house, I knocked on the wooden door. Multiple voices murmured from within, raising my curiosity. The elder lived alone, so the presence of others could only mean one thing ¡ª members of the NorthStar expedition team. ¡°Coming,¡± the elder¡¯s voice called out from inside. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing his familiar warm smile. ¡°Karl, come in, my boy. We were just talking about you.¡± That simple statement confirmed my suspicion. The people inside weren¡¯t villagers ¡ª they were from NorthStar. I stepped inside. By the fireplace, Ragnar stood up from his chair, his every movement precise. His immaculate white shirt and dotted yellow bow tie added to his polished demeanor. A Recording Crystal sat on the table next to him, unmistakably one of mine. ¡°You made this, right?¡± Ragnar said, pointing at the crystal, his tone calm and measured. Then, with a smile as perfectly crafted as his appearance, he extended a hand toward me. ¡°Shall we discuss your future at NorthStar Academy?¡± Chapter 10: Possibilities ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± I shook his hand, maintaining a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m Karl. And yes, I am very interested in getting into the academy.¡± ¡°Ragnar,¡± he introduced himself with a courteous nod. ¡°Runes Crafting and Potion Brewing professor at NorthStar Academy.¡± His tone was polished, his demeanor that of a refined scholar. But the story his hands told was different. Numerous small scars lined his fingers and knuckles, betraying years of labor or conflict. When we shook hands, I felt a subtle yet sharp tingling sensation. His grip strength was absurd. Despite my refined body, his handshake carried a weight that wasn¡¯t just physical. ¡°Come in, my boy. You don¡¯t have to be shy,¡± the elder said warmly, gesturing for me to join them at the table. As he settled back into his chair, a strange thought struck me, I didn¡¯t even know the elder''s name. Like everyone else my age, I¡¯d simply called him ¡°elder¡± for as long as I could remember. Ragnar returned to his seat across from the elder, his composed demeanor unshaken. I followed their lead, shutting the door behind me. A wave of warmth washed over me. The difference in temperature between my house and this one was immediately noticeable, even though every fireplace in the village had the same basic design. ¡°Heat Rune?¡± I mumbled to myself, noticing faintly glowing circles etched on the wall. But as I focused on it, I corrected myself. ¡°No, it¡¯s Conservation Runes.¡± Ragnar¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp eye. I wasn¡¯t trying to hide it, but I¡¯m impressed nonetheless.¡± He turned to the elder. ¡°I understand why you were praising him so highly now. A rare talent indeed.¡± Rare talent, huh? If only he knew how much trial, error, and centuries of hard work went into this "talent." Runes existed in nearly every world I¡¯d been through, so studying them wasn¡¯t just useful ¡ª it was essential. Like martial arts, it was a skill I could rely on anywhere. ¡°Thank you, Professor,¡± I said with a politely. ¡°A compliment from an established scholar like you means a lot.¡± Let¡¯s see if flattery works on this guy. Ragnar raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly at the elder, who shrugged in response, before shifting his gaze back to me. ¡°You¡¯re much slyer than your father,¡± he remarked casually. I paused for a fraction of a second, maintaining my smile while I processed his words. Father? That was unexpected. Ok, that didn¡¯t work. But at least I got some new information. ¡°You know my father, professor?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes, I know your parents,¡± Ragnar replied, his voice soft. ¡°Xavi and Elena helped me a lot when I was young. I¡¯m truly¡­ in debt to them.¡± A fleeting emotion crossed his face ¡ª guilt. That wasn¡¯t suspicious at all and definitely didn¡¯t scream, ¡®I have something to do with your parents¡¯ death.¡¯ It didn¡¯t take a genius to piece together two possible scenarios: either Ragnar was the one who killed them, or they died protecting him. I had never met my parents. My only knowledge of them came from stories my elder sister told us. But now that the opportunity to learn more had presented itself, it was my duty to figure out what had truly happened to them. One more objective related to this guy. The elder sighed deeply. ¡°Their deaths weren¡¯t your fault, Ragnar. No one could have predicted a raid in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°But if I hadn¡¯t been wounded, they wouldn¡¯t have stayed behind to cover for me,¡± Ragnar said, his tone heavy with regret. His eyes closed briefly, and his hand clenched so tightly it turned pale. So the official story is that this guy and my parents fought together, and they died protecting him. The guilt looks real, but I¡¯ve been through too much to trust this at face value. Ragnar seemed reluctant to linger on this topic, so he changed it. Picking up my Recording Crystal, he held it up and examined it with a neutral expression. ¡°With this invention alone, I can recommend you to be my assistant. If the council agrees, you¡¯ll only have to pass a test to get accepted into the academy. How confident are you?¡± ¡°Very,¡± I answered quickly. ¡°Good.¡± Ragnar nodded before turning to the elder. ¡°Would you mind if I test him a bit right now?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± the elder replied with a dismissive wave. Ragnar looked back at me, his sharp eyes scrutinizing me for a moment. ¡°Then let¡¯s test your knowledge. First question: what are Runes?¡± Searching my brain for this world¡¯s definition of Runes, I answered, ¡°Runes are the core components of magic. We use Runes to communicate with the laws of the world. Through their composition, we create the magic we desire.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Ragnar nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. ¡°What is the relationship between Runes, Mana, and Skills?¡± I paused, considering the best analogy. Something like coding or using the internet would work in some worlds, but not here. Repeating what was written in books would be safe, but it wouldn¡¯t impress someone like Ragnar, especially since I was aiming to become an assistant professor. I needed something that would stand out, something relatable.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Forging came to mind, so I went with that. ¡°If a Skill is a sword, then Runes are the steel and Mana is the hammer. We gather Runes to form a basic ''shape¡¯ of the sword, then use Mana to hammer out the details. The better our control over Runes is, the better the purity of the steel. The better our control over Mana is, the higher the quality of the sword.¡± ¡°What about a Skill¡¯s level?¡± he asked, leaning forward with interest. ¡°It¡¯s just how good we are at swinging the sword,¡± I shrugged casually. ¡°Oh?¡± Ragnar raised an eyebrow. ¡°I won¡¯t understand if you don¡¯t explain it in detail.¡± ¡°We can still swing an incomplete sword, but it will break and cause undesirable consequences. With a well-crafted sword, the more we practice and improve, the more we understand both swordsmanship and the sword itself. Its weight, its length, its toughness, where¡¯s the best place to hold it, what¡¯s the best way to cut, and when¡¯s the best time to stab. Everything.¡± Ragnar clapped, a genuine smile on his face. ¡°Good, very good. You understand it well enough to make that kind of comparison. Most students I ask just repeat what¡¯s written in books.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident in my knowledge,¡± I said shamelessly, grinning as if I hadn¡¯t spent centuries refining it in countless worlds. "Confidence is good, just don¡¯t be too confident. That will turn into ignorance, arrogance, or recklessness quicker than you think," Ragnar reminded, his tone firm. ¡°I¡¯m well aware, professor,¡± I acknowledged his advice with sincerity. Ragnar seemed satisfied as he shifted the discussion. ¡°Do you plan on mass-producing these?¡± He tapped on the Recording Crystal resting on the table. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already crafted a few for the village. When the opportunity arises, I plan to collaborate with a workshop in NorthStar for larger-scale production,¡± I replied. The Recording Crystal was more than a simple invention. It was the cornerstone of solving our village¡¯s honey dilemma and, potentially, a cultural revolution. With improvements, this crystal could evolve into an MP3 player capable of storing and playing songs, starting with Sera¡¯s singing. The fact that her voice retained its effect even when played through the crystal was a game-changer. Something like that would undoubtedly sell. But this wasn¡¯t just about sales. The bigger vision was clearly creating an organization to streamline this process. An agency? A studio? How I call it didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was turning this idea into reality. To achieve this, I needed a significant amount of funding. My cheat-like [Full body restoration] was going to end soon, so exhausting myself day and night to produce crystals wasn¡¯t a sustainable option. Thankfully, the previous Karl had left me something ¡ª a prototype invention with the potential to generate massive wealth. It wasn¡¯t complete, but I knew it had the potential to reshape everything. Completing that invention was my next goal, the first crucial step in my master plan to fund my studio and spread culture far and wide through Recording Crystals. Afterward some more questions regarding the Recording Crystal, we chatted more about Runes, Skills, Classes, and their applications. It was fascinating to compare how different worlds utilized Runes. For instance, in this world, crafting Runes was considered a foundational step toward creating Skills. However, Ragnar lamented how the abundance of pre-made Skills available in NorthStar Academy had led the younger generation to neglect the fundamentals of Runes Crafting. This oversight often left them struggling when it came to creating their own Skills. ¡°That¡¯s something I never thought of,¡± Ragnar said, his eyes gleaming with interest after I suggested a different way to use Runes. ¡°Do you mind if I submit this as new research and add you as the co-author?¡± ¡°Not at all, professor. Please feel free to do so,¡± I replied with a polite smile. Operation: "Getting on Ragnar¡¯s good side to dig into his secrets" was officially a go. ¡°I¡¯ll submit my recommendation for you to the council once I return to the academy,¡± Ragnar said. ¡°If you need anything else, don¡¯t hesitate to contact me.¡± ¡°How can I contact you, professor? I can¡¯t exactly charge into the academy whenever I feel like it,¡± I said. ¡°Take this.¡± Ragnar handed me a silver whistle about the size of a pen. ¡°Once you arrive in NorthStar, blow this whistle when you need to reach me. An owl will come to you. Tie your letter to its leg. It will know where to go.¡± Using owls as a delivery service? It sounded oddly similar to a certain magic school story about a boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. I¡¯d never understood why they used owls in that world when they had teleportation. Freaking teleportation. But it seemed like using animals for letter delivery was a thing in this world too, as our village communicated with the Frost Elf through delivery huskies. I pocketed the whistle. ¡°Thank you for your generosity, professor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing compared to what your parents did for me,¡± Ragnar said, his voice tinged with a quiet sadness. With this, I bagged the backing of someone with influence in NorthStar. Though I still harbored doubts about Ragnar, refusing a potential ally would have been foolish. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Since the surprising development was done, it was time to return to my initial goal. I needed answers. ¡°This is rude of me to interrupt your conversation, but I have something I want to ask the elder,¡± I said. Sometimes, being thick-skinned was the only way to get what you wanted, and my skin was thicker than an elephant''s ¡ª quadruple, at least. ¡°I was about to wrap up our conversation when you arrived, so feel free,¡± Ragnar said, gesturing for me to proceed. ¡°What is it, my boy?¡± the elder asked. ¡°Do you have any stories about the Guardians? The more, the better.¡± The elder paused, scratching his chin as he thought. ¡°I have one.¡± He stood up and shuffled into one of the closed rooms. A few moments later, he returned with a small book no thicker than one-fifth of a pinky. Its cover was worn and dusty, the letters and colors faded almost beyond recognition. ¡°Here you go, legends about the Guardians,¡± he handled me the book. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll return it after I finish reading,¡± I said, taking it. ¡°Just keep it. My children are already too old for fairy tales, and I don¡¯t need it either. It¡¯ll be better used if it helps you with this crystal project or whatever you¡¯re working on.¡± The elder chuckled as he sat back down. His words struck me like lightning. He was right. Why was I limiting the concept of culture to just songs and movies? Reading was also culture. So were eating, drinking, dancing, and countless activities that shaped society. This wasn¡¯t just about the quest condition anymore. I needed to broaden my vision. Culture was the foundation of harmony, and that foundation was far more expansive than I had initially considered. The recorded songs in the Recording Crystals triggered Harmony. Wouldn''t that mean other cultural expressions like movies, food, drinks, card games, and maybe even a theme park could do the same? Hell, even streaming was a type of culture for netizens. Creating an internet infrastructure in this world... The difficulty would be off the charts, but it wasn¡¯t impossible. The possibilities were endless. Thinking about it in this way got me excited. I had been trying to brute force and cheat through obstacles for so long that I had forgotten what it felt like to enjoy something. ¡°Thank you, elder,¡± I said earnestly. Nothing more needed to be said. The only thing left was to take action. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± The elder waved me off with a warm smile. ¡°Do you want to stay for dinner?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still afternoon,¡± I pointed out with a squint. The elder let out a cheeky laugh. ¡°Someone needs to do the cooking. And I¡¯m feeling a bit lazy today. Can¡¯t you help a poor old man out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help a poor old man out when I see one,¡± I shot back with a grin. ¡°Goodbye, professor. Goodbye, elder.¡± The burning desire to plan my next moves was bubbling inside me, making it impossible to sit still. With that, I bid them farewell and went home. They waved at me and resumed their conversation as I left the house. Needless to say, it had been a good harvest of ideas and opportunities. My time in this world was going to be very interesting. Chapter 11: I spy with my little eyes, a clue and a path On the way back, my mind raced with plans to spread culture in this world through my studio. I hadn¡¯t forgotten my main objective, but I couldn''t ignore the importance of Harmony ¡ª the quest condition. The only way to eliminate Demonic Qi was to kill all users. And to do that, I needed to grow stronger. From what I had seen, the quickest way to level up was by contributing to Harmony. Killing wasn¡¯t enough. Even devouring a Bearowl 43 levels above me only got me one level. The sole benefit of leveling up through killing was the Qi I absorbed. One step at a time. Don¡¯t rush. When I got home, I prepared dinner while skimming through the fairy tale about the Guardians. The book narrated the beginning of this world, Eldoria. When Eldoria came into being, five Guardians were born to protect it. After them came the races. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Beastkin, each with their own distinct roles. Humans seeked knowledge and were tasked with progress and innovation. Elves were the regulators of balance, ensuring balance between the lands. Dwarves received blessings from the land, and were builders of fortresses and tools. Beastkin were stewards of coexistence and mediators among the myriad races. For a time, the four races lived in harmony. Then, everything changed when a dimensional gate opened above the Northen Sea. From it emerged the Abyss Crawlers ¡ª monstrous beings that brought destruction and death wherever their dark, twisted limbs reached. The Guardians united the four races and waged war against the Abyss Crawlers. But their enemies were not done. They summoned their allies, the Fiend Forgers, from another dimension. These beings invaded the Beastkin¡¯s land in the Southwest, forcing the Beastkin to stay and defend their home. Thus began the great two-front war ¡ª a war that froze the North Sea, sank a nation, and claimed countless lives. The heaviest loss of all was the death of a Guardian. In the end, the Abyss Crawlers were pushed back beyond The Great Barrier, while the Fiend Forgers'' threat diminished into a lingering ember. The people of Eldoria had won, but the threat remained. The fairy tale ended with a warning that stated the four races must remain united, for the enemies would one day return, bringing another great war. I set the book down, and a single thought crossed my mind. There was barely any useful information and far too many plot holes. Being labeled a fairy tale likely meant some truths were twisted or lost in translation over time. Pulling out a notebook from my drawer, I began jotting down a few hypotheses. First, this book was probably written by a human with modern knowledge. Words like "dimensional gate" and "two-front war" suggested that its author might have been a reincarnator. If that were true, what kind of knowledge had they passed down to their descendants? Second, after the great war, the Guardians seemingly vanished as peace returned to the world. Four of them disappeared, and it was claimed that one had died. But how reliable was that claim? The Abyss Crawlers were still trapped behind The Great Barrier, while the Fiend Forgers were beginning to resurface. What gave these invaders the confidence to act up again? Could the fractures between the races have become so severe that they now saw an opportunity? If that was true, it spelled bad news for my elder sister, the clan¡¯s leader. She was actively fighting the Fiend Forgers in the Beastkin¡¯s territory alongside the elites of our clan. At least the supplies she sent from their mercenary work still arrived monthly, so I could assume she was safe for now. Third, one of the invaders might be connected to the Demonic Arts users from my previous world ¡ª Shen Long, the Murim world ruled by martial artists. This wasn¡¯t speculation but a fact. The presence of Demonic Qi in this world confirmed it. The question was how. There was nothing in Shen Long that could help travel to another world. Could the Abyss Crawlers have been the ones to help them invade this world? What had happened after I died in Shen Long? Was my daughter safe? The System had deemed that quest a success, but something didn¡¯t add up. The Demonic Arts users were supposed to have been eradicated completely. Or were they? That faint error message I thought I heard back then... perhaps it hadn¡¯t been my imagination after all. ?*Ding [World Walker¡¯s Comprehension Level up: Level 3 ¨C> 4] I paused, staring at the pages as my fingers drummed against the desk. One step at a time. One thing at a time. If I make a mistake, then I will fix it. That¡¯s all there is to it. The plan for now was simple. Before setting up my studio in NorthStar to spread culture and gain levels, it was best to check out The Great Barrier mentioned in the book. It was the first solid clue since arriving in this world, making it worth investigating. Beyond the barrier lay the Abyss Crawlers¡¯ domain ¡ª a dangerous place, yes, but not inaccessible. Expedition teams regularly ventured there to investigate, which meant it wasn¡¯t a death sentence. If I could find another clue, or better yet, a lead, then my chances of figuring out what the hell was happening would improve significantly.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A world being invaded by two different extraterrestrial enemies simultaneously like this? That was a first, even for me. Most of the time, the threat leading to a world¡¯s collapse stemmed from the world itself. A deadly virus, a madman bent on annihilation, or even malfunctioning defense mechanisms that turned against all life. The list went on. Encounters with true world invaders were rare. And then there was this world¡¯s Harmony. What kind of cultural thing could evoke it? Songs worked, that much was certain. But what about the other things I planned like movies? Well, there was only one way to find out. Testing it. Having made up my mind, I walked over to the shelf and pulled out two incomplete inventions left behind by the previous Karl, the Image Keeping Tool and the Image Conjuring Tool. In simpler terms, a camera and a projector. The Image Keeping Tool looked like a portable telescope with a square glass lens and a small frame. A spheroid purple crystal was lodged on top, acting as its primary component. The Image Conjuring Tool was a wooden box with a large square glass at the front and two circular holes on top. One hole was empty, while the other contained a diamond-shaped crystal that seemed to function as a power source, judging by the decent amount of Mana stored inside. To test whether movies could trigger Harmony like songs did through the Recording Crystal, I decided to complete the tools. First, I¡¯d finish the Image Ke... Image Keeping Tool was a terrible name. It was long, clunky, and just plain bad. I changed their names to Image Keeper & Image Caster for the camera and projector respectively. Simple, clean, and far less annoying to say. The Frost Elf¡¯s village festival would be the perfect moment to debut a short video and test my hypothesis. I got to work inspecting the Image Keeper. Its Runes were far more intricate than those in the Recording Crystal. They weren¡¯t just designed to capture sound but also images. The same applied to the Image Caster, whose Runes were equally complex. After a thorough review, I realized both tools were already fully functional. There was no need for modifications. The just needed testing. Excited, I poured my Qi into the Image Keeper and recorded a simple five-second video. Once done, I removed the small spheroid purple crystal from the Image Keeper and placed it into the Image Caster. The moment the video projected onto my wall, my excitement turned to disappointment. The image was riddled with distortions and dark spots. Shapes and colors were faintly recognizable ¡ª enough to vaguely identify objects in my room ¡ª but it was a far cry from anything usable. I sighed, turned the Image Caster off, removed the circular crystal, and searched for the problem. It didn¡¯t take long. It was so glaringly obvious I slapped my forehead. It wasn¡¯t a magic-related issue at all. Using square-shaped lenses wasn¡¯t the best way to focus light and create an image. The solution was simple ¡ª replace the square lenses with circular ones. I disassembled both the Image Keeper and the Image Caster to fix the issue. As I held the clay-like glass in my hand, the playful child inside me couldn¡¯t resist having some fun. ¡°Bam! A dinosaur attacking tiny humans! Bam! A giant ape suplexing an atomic sea monster! Bam! A team of adventurers taking down the demon king!¡± After all the horrors I¡¯d witnessed in other worlds, moments of peace like this were truly a blessing. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sera¡¯s voice cut through my daydreams from the doorway. I turned to look at her. Her gaze was questioning whether I had completely lost my mind. ¡°Just messing around while finishing these tools,¡± I replied, shaping the lenses into circles and reassembling the devices. I held up the Image Keeper toward her. ¡°Stay sharp, sis. This thing is capturing you.¡± Sera tilted her head, clearly confused by my words. She looked down at her feet, then her hands, and even behind her, trying to figure out what I meant. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her antics. Once I finished recording, I placed the purple crystal into the Image Caster and turned it on. Sera¡¯s expression shifted to pure bewilderment as the image projected onto the wall. At first, she stared at a chaotic mess of light and color, trying to make sense of it. But as the chaos passed, her own image appeared on the wall. The projection wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was a significant improvement from the first attempt. Her eyes widened as she pointed at the image. ¡°Is that me?¡± ¡°It is,¡± I said with a grin. ¡°Not bad, huh?¡± I still needed to figure out how to edit the footage, improve the resolution, and add sound, but this was a solid starting point. ¡°This is amazing!¡± Sera¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, a look of pure joy radiating from her face. ¡°Wait till you see what I have planned for this.¡± A smile tugged at my lips as I matched her enthusiasm. The next step was to create a video to showcase at the Frost Elf¡¯s mini-festival. But as the thought crossed my mind, a somber weight crept into my chest. I glanced at Sera and asked, ¡°Have you heard about what happened to Elfina yet?¡± Sera¡¯s expression faltered, her excitement dimming like a candle in the wind. A shadow clouded her face as she nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to use this to do something for Elfina,¡± I said, tapping on the Image Keeper. ¡°It¡¯ll also help with my own goals. Once it¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll show it at the festival. Can you help me?¡± Sera met my gaze, her lips curving into a gentle smile. ¡°You¡¯ve always been kind.¡± I didn¡¯t respond. The previous Karl was kind, not me. "I" was the kind of monster who had sacrificed an entire nation and all its people just to delay the enemy¡¯s advance for one single day. The things I had done weren¡¯t acts of kindness, they were acts of necessity. She didn¡¯t know that. To her, I was her brother, the same Karl who had been with her all along. Not an imposter who had taken over completely, so completely that even she didn¡¯t notice the changes. A brief tightness gripped my chest before I pushed it aside, simply like shooing away a stray thought. I used to dwell on these feelings, questioning the morality of my existence. But now? They were just passing breezes. ¡°I¡¯ll help, starting tomorrow,¡± Sera said with a stretch, her smile returning. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner and call it a day.¡± ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner is your favorite, Honeyed Hare,¡± I replied, standing up. ¡°My brother knows me best,¡± she beamed. ***** On the morning of the next day, Sera and I used the excuse of escorting Elfina back to the Frost Elf village to join the expedition team. The elder watched us with warm eyes as we departed, seemingly pleased with our decision. Lucy didn¡¯t accompany us; she still had responsibilities left to her by my elder sister. Elfina pulled the sled carrying Abby¡¯s body while Sera and I walked beside her, trying to offer some comfort. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± I asked softly, trying to gauge her state of mind. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied with a weak smile. She was definitely not fine. Grief hung over her like a storm cloud, and I couldn¡¯t blame her. Moments like these always felt tricky. Even with my experiences, I still didn''t know how to comfort someone who had just lost a loved one. All I could do was offer a silent shoulder to lean on. Sera, thankfully, came to the rescue. ¡°Can you tell me more about Abby?¡± she asked gently. Elfina¡¯s dull eyes regained a flicker of light, as if the simple question had reached into her heart and pulled out a memory she cherished. ¡°On my fifth birthday, my parents brought Abby into our lives,¡± she began, her voice soft but steady. ¡°Back then, he was so small I could fit him in my palms.¡± A gentle smile spread across her face as she recounted the story, her tone carrying warmth. As we continued chatting, Sera and I tried our best to keep the conversation going, giving Elfina a chance to remember happier times. Suddenly, I felt something I hadn''t since I arrived in this world. Murderous intent. Chapter 12: Quick lesson and camera testing I glanced back, searching for the source of that faint, almost negligible murderous intent. Unsurprisingly, it came from someone I¡¯d never met before ¡ª a scholar. He wore a tattered, plain brown cloak adorned with poorly embroidered flowers, likely an attempt by small, unskilled hands to patch up tears. His unkempt brown hair, sunken eyes with dark circles, and hollow cheeks painted a picture of exhaustion. Thick, round glasses, cracked at the top left corner of the lens, framed his skeletal face, adding to his disheveled appearance despite the full beard attempting to hide it. When my gaze met his, he quickly averted his eyes. I had been mistaken. Those weren¡¯t the eyes of someone driven by hatred or bloodlust. The "murderous intent" I sensed wasn¡¯t truly intent to kill. It was resentment laced with hopelessness and desperation. It would take a full day to reach the Frost Elf village at this pace. Plenty of time to do what needed to be done. Two things to be exact. Finishing the Image Keeper and unraveling the mystery behind why that scholar looked at me like that. But for now, my priority was Elfina. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Huskil could do that!¡± Sera exclaimed. Elfina chuckled softly, the sound lighter than before. ¡°Neither did I, until Abby sniffed out some wild fruit, ate it, and then dug a hole to bury the seed. I think he might¡¯ve been imitating the hunters. He saw them planting seeds after gathering fruit during their trips.¡± Sera smiled and leaned into the story, her enthusiasm pulling Elfina further away from her grief. The stories of Abby continued, one after another, and with each one, the shadow looming over Elfina seemed to lift, even if only slightly. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a start. Sera had a way of making people feel lighter, and in moments like this, it was exactly what Elfina needed. As we pulled the sled, something curious caught my eye. The expedition team from NorthStar was also using sleds to move their equipment, but unlike us, they weren¡¯t pulling them themselves. Instead, they had some kind of spectral creature doing the heavy lifting ¡ª a ghostly goat-like being made of transparent glass. Its eyes glowed with floating white fire, giving it an eerie, otherworldly appearance. The ropes tying it to the sled didn¡¯t sink into its ethereal body but instead appeared to float, as if glued to it by some unseen force. ¡°Never seen a phantom conjure before?¡± Ragnar asked from my right. ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing I¡¯ve noticed, professor,¡± I replied flatly. ¡°Just ignore it.¡± Ragnar¡¯s voice softened, but a nearly imperceptible edge of bitterness bled through. ¡°We¡¯re treated like this almost everywhere. It¡¯s not uncommon.¡± Ridiculous. That was the only word that came to mind as I glanced at the rest of the group. The hired guards, supposedly there to protect the expedition team, had positioned themselves behind us. Their excuse was that it was a better vantage point to defend the group. But the truth was that they were using us as scapegoats should anything happen. They were leaving a professor, two young girls, and me to face any potential danger head-on. It was all because we were from the Xanderson Clan. The guards didn¡¯t see us as people. They saw us as monsters capable of stealing life force. That irrational fear masked by disdain and disgust burned in their eyes, fueling their cowardice. I tightened my grip on the sled rope as indignation simmered within me. The logical part of me knew most of the members treated us like anyone else. But it only took a few bad apples to spoil the bunch, and these hired guards were particularly rotten. I¡¯d heard of clansmen who had died on expeditions like these, not because of monsters but because these so-called bodyguards refused to help when they were under attack. Stories of Bearowls tearing through our people while the guards turned a blind eye came to mind. The previous Karl hadn¡¯t just wanted to help Sera. He¡¯d wanted to change the way the world viewed our clan. The same goal I now share. Ragnar¡¯s tap on my shoulder pulled me from my irritation, redirecting me back to our conversation. He glanced at me briefly, signaling with his expression that now wasn¡¯t the time to act out. Then, as if to diffuse the tension, he returned to the previous subject. ¡°Anyway, you seem to be interested in that Phantom Beast,¡± he said. ¡°I am,¡± I nodded. ¡°Those are phantoms conjured by a [Beastcaller],¡± Ragnar explained. ¡°You can gain that Class by completing the 2nd Ascension for the [Archer] Class.¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, each Class has two potential Ascension paths, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ragnar confirmed, slipping into his teaching mode. ¡°At the 1st Ascension, you can choose one of the two evolution paths. But once you make your choice, there¡¯s no going back. The only flexibility comes from using Subclass. However, Subclass comes with a drawback: your Experience Point are split between the two, effectively doubling the amount you need to Level Up. And the Ascension Challenge for those with Subclass is significantly harder. Some people spend their whole lives stuck at the 1st Ascension because of it.¡± ¡°Interesting. Is the Ascension Challenge the same for everyone?¡± I asked, intrigued. ¡°No,¡± Ragnar shook his head. ¡°Each person¡¯s challenge is unique. Even if two people share the same Class, path, and Skill list, their challenges will still be different.¡± That comparison caught my attention, sparking a follow-up question. ¡°So, the challenge is different for each person, but two people can still have the same Skills?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Ragnar replied, studying me carefully. ¡°Why do you think that is?¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I already had the answer. Skills weren¡¯t just tools, they were deeply tied to the user''s intent, comprehension, and understanding of Runes. However, answering too confidently risked drawing unnecessary attention to myself. On the flip side, staying silent or giving an incomplete answer could make me seem incompetent, not exactly the impression I could afford to give if I wanted Ragnar¡¯s support. The best choice was a middle ground. To show that I knew the right answer but not why it was the right answer. After pretending to think about it for a moment, I answered, ¡°Since you¡¯re a Rune Craft Professor, I assume the answer relates to Runes.¡± Ragnar chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°What a smartass. That¡¯s right. But why are Runes the answer?¡± ¡°I was hoping you could explain why, Professor,¡± I replied, ensuring my voice and expression held as much curiosity as I could muster. Ragnar¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You see, Runes are the foundation of magic. They¡¯re also the foundation of Skills since Skills are essentially sequences of Runes placed in a specific order. With the right arrangement, you can create almost anything. Provided it adheres to the rules of Enhancing and Conjuring.¡± Now that was new. It seemed this world¡¯s magic system was confined to those two core principles. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why we need to follow the rules,¡± I commented. ¡°It¡¯s to keep the Harmony in balance, Karl,¡± Ragnar explained, his voice heavy with solemnity. ¡°Without the Harmony, people will repeat the same mistakes they made in the past, and another great war will come.¡± He sighed, as though burdened by the weight of that possibility. But in that fleeting moment, I caught a cold glint in his eyes ¡ª sharp, calculating, and entirely out of place with the sadness in his tone. Strange. His words didn¡¯t align with the legends I¡¯d read. Even if the book was just a collection of myths, wouldn¡¯t it have mentioned something as critical as these mistakes to warn future generations? Why were such vital pieces of the past hidden? I was certain Ragnar knew something most people didn¡¯t. He held a fragment of this world¡¯s true history, one obscured from public knowledge. And it was something I needed to uncover. ¡°What do you¡­¡± I began, intending to press Ragnar further, but my attempt was cut short as Sera interrupted me. ¡°Brother, what do you want to give big sis Elfina again?¡± Her voice brimming with curiosity. I turned to look at the two girls, their wide eyes gleaming with anticipation. Sera¡¯s ability to lift Elfina¡¯s spirits was impressive, but her timing couldn¡¯t have been worse. Ragnar chuckled, an almost knowing smile on his face. ¡°I have something to do over here,¡± he said, calling over a scholar before walking off to discuss something in hushed tones. Just like that, the chance to learn more about the true threat to this world slipped through my fingers. Suppressing a sigh, I turned back to answer Sera. ¡°It won¡¯t be a surprise if you know about it beforehand, will it?¡± I teased. Sera pouted, puffing her cheeks dramatically, while Elfina let out a soft chuckle. With the heavy atmosphere somewhat dispelled, we began to share snippets of our lives as we walked. When the sun receded and the moon took its place in the sky, the expedition team decided it was time to set up camp for the night. Leaning against a tree, I watched the group gather around the campfire. The scholar who had glared at me earlier was nowhere to be found. Even though I actively searched for him while helping with the tents and cooking, he was conspicuously absent. The unease left in my chest was like a pebble stuck in my shoe ¡ª small but irritating. Instead of dwelling on it, I turned my attention to something more productive. Setting up Runes-based alarms around the tent shared by Sera and Elfina was a better use of my time. The layered alarms would ensure no one could sneak up on us without warning. Once the alarms were in place, I retrieved the Image Keeper from my Inventory and resumed tinkering with it. The tool still needed significant upgrades like an editing function, improved image quality, and added sound. Adding sound was the simplest task. I simply copied the Runes used in the Recording Crystal. Improving image quality, however, was trickier. I brainstormed various Runes that enhanced or altered vision and searched for ones that could refine the captured images. I sifted through the mental library of Runes, analyzing each one for the task at hand. Illumination Runes that shone in the darkest night? No, not that one. Purity Runes that cleared impurities from water, restoring clarity? Still not it. Distort View Runes, which affected depth perception? Useful in the right circumstances, but not this time. Finally, I found what I needed. Clarity Runes. These Runes were prized by [Archers] and [Rogues] for creating scouting Skills. Their purpose was simple yet vital ¡ª enhancing fine details and sharpening focus. The Rune¡¯s design was peculiar with thin, sharp lines radiating outward from a central dot, like the space-warping effect in a sci-fi movie. I set to work. Adding the Clarity Runes required inserting them between the Image Runes and Conjuring Runes already in the Image Keeper. The next step was connecting the motes of light into bridges, forming a seamless pathway for their functions to interact. It took me about five minutes to connect everything properly. Once the modifications were complete, I picked up the Image Keeper and recorded a fresh three-second video for testing. The improvement was immediate and remarkable. The edges of objects in the video were now sharp and defined, while textures stood out. The upgrade was akin to jumping from 480p to 720p resolution. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was more than enough for what I planned to showcase at the Frost Elf¡¯s festival. Satisfied, I allowed myself a small smile. Progress was steady, and soon, this world would get a taste of something entirely new. *Ding [Rune Crafting Level up: Level 2 ¨C> 3] Now, onto the editing part. To edit a video, I needed basic functions such as copy, paste, cut, delete, restore, replace, merge, and zoom. Each function sounded like it aligned with Enhancing rather than Conjuring. With that thought in mind, I categorized existing Runes into either Enhancing or Conjuring types. From there, I identified the Runes I needed for the editing process. Conservation Runes for copy and restore, Clarity Runes for zoom, Transference Runes for paste, Severance Runes for cut, Scattering Runes for delete, Altering Runes for replace, and Unity Runes for merge. The list was completed, and I felt confident in its accuracy. As I prepared to implement the Runes into the Image Keeper, a movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. My instincts flared, and I snapped my head toward the hand reaching for me, prepared for a fight. But it wasn¡¯t the scholar. Elfina froze, her hand jolting back as if she¡¯d touched fire. Her shawl fluttered slightly with her movement, the gentle fabric offering her a feeble shield against the cold. We stared at each other in awkward silence before she broke it with a hesitant question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Her voice was soft, but it carried a hint of concern. I glanced around the camp. The fire had dwindled, casting faint shadows, and everyone else was fast asleep in their tents. Only Elfina and I were still awake. "Thanks for reminding me." I stood up, pretending to put the Image Keeper back into my bag, but in reality, I returned it to my Inventory. "Goodnight, Elfina." "Goodnight, Karl," she replied softly before walking toward a patch of forest bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. I watched her solitary figure until it disappeared beyond the trees, then turned and entered my tent to get some sleep. The night passed peacefully, with no interruptions or attacks. ***** During breakfast the next morning, I kept a vigilant eye on our surroundings, scanning for any potential threats, like poison in the team¡¯s food or sudden movements from the shadows. At the edge of my vision, the scholar with the resentful gaze was crouched by his tent, meticulously preparing his equipment. He worked with an unassuming calmness, as if the hostility he¡¯d directed toward me the previous day had never existed. It made his behavior even stranger. After packing up, we resumed our journey. For the next three hours, we traversed the snowy forest in relative silence, save for the occasional crunch of snow beneath our boots and the distant rustle of the wind. Finally, we arrived at our destination ¨C the Frost Elf¡¯s village. Chapter 13: Frost Elf’s village I had been curious about what the Frost Elf village looked like, and sure enough, it didn¡¯t disappoint. The Frost Elf lived in igloos, not wooden cabins like in my village. These igloos were small, simple structures at least two stories high, standing tall and proud. The houses were arranged in perfectly straight rows, like disciplined guards standing in formation to protect their king. At the heart of the village was a large open square, spacious enough to hold at least three hundred people. The square, designed like a boxed observatory, bustled with activity as Frost Elves prepared for the upcoming festival. What caught my eye next was unexpected, especially considering we were so far north, where the harsh climate should have made such things impossible. On the right side of the square was a verdant garden, lush and vibrant, filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The plants thrived in abundance despite the unforgiving northern weather. Frost Elves with bluish hair streaked with yellow, green, or red highlights rushed around the garden, harvesting fruits and herbs as quickly as they could. My gaze shifted beyond the village, to the towering ice mountain that loomed over everything like a frozen tidal wave poised to crash down. No, it wasn¡¯t a mountain. It was a frozen tsunami, at least eighty stories high, casting an enormous shadow over the land behind the Frost Elf village. The sheer size of it was overwhelming, its crest seemingly frozen mid-motion. Inside the wave, dark shadows ¡ª blacker than the deepest night ¡ª dotted the pure blue ice, writhing like vermin competing to see which would get the first bite. Deep, jagged cracks spread throughout the wave, as though some massive beast had clawed at it in an attempt to release the horrors trapped within. ¡°So, that¡¯s The Great Barrier,¡± I mumbled, awestruck at the Guardian-made marvel. Yet, it wasn¡¯t the only sight worth noticing. Standing proud and tall like a protector of the world, a massive golden tree rose before the frozen tsunami, its presence commanding awe and reverence. Its branches stretched outward like intricate spiderwebs weaving the sky, their delicate patterns seemingly holding the heavens in place. Its leaves shimmered and danced like countless fireflies in the night, casting a warm, ethereal glow. The roots, thick and gnarled like wooden anacondas, protruded from the ground. The sheer volume and size of the tree should have exuded vigor and life. Yet, there was something melancholic about it, as though the tree was silently weeping. ¡°The Great Tree graces us with its blessing,¡± Elfina said softly, her voice a blend of grace and reverence as she gazed up at the towering marvel. ¡°It¡¯s only thanks to The Great Tree that we are able to have such abundance.¡± She turned to me with a small smile. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you all settled before the festival tomorrow.¡± The Frost Elf had no markets of their own, nor did they need one. Each Elven race worshiped and was blessed by a World Tree, ensuring they never lacked food. Sharing what they had within their small, close-knit communities was second nature to them. This tradition, according to legend, predated even the first human. It wasn¡¯t surprising that the concept of trade only emerged when the Elf first encountered the Dwarf. Shortly after, they learned about the idea of markets from humans. Unlike the Elf of most worlds, the Elf in this one were omnivores. They harvested fruits and plants but also hunted animals and monsters for meat. I was particularly intrigued to learn that the Frost Elf was making fruit wine. It explained why the Dwarves from the expedition team seemed so eager to strike up conversations with any Elf carrying a basket of fruit. I had also discovered an intriguing fact. This world had multiple World Trees, each one guarded and worshiped by a different Elven race. But it raised more questions than answers. What exactly was the relationship between the Elf and their World Tree? What abilities and blessings did these trees bestow? Were the abilities unique to each tree, or did they share common traits? From what I learned so far, the Elf never experienced hunger under the protection of a World Tree. The Frost Elf¡¯s verdant garden, thriving despite the harsh environment, suggested that one of the blessings was the ability to help flora and fauna grow healthily regardless of conditions. But what other abilities did the World Trees possess? And perhaps more importantly, could the World Trees serve as a countermeasure to Demonic Qi? The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered. But for now, I had something else to focus on. ¡°Thank you for bringing our children home,¡± a young-looking Elven man said as we arrived at Elfina¡¯s igloo. He had shoulder-length hair with the same yellow highlights as Elfina¡¯s, and from his words, it was clear this was her father. Standing beside him was a woman with twin tails streaked with red highlights, her warm smile making it obvious she was Elfina¡¯s mother.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°We¡¯re her friends,¡± I replied simply. ¡°It¡¯s the least we could do.¡± Elfina¡¯s father nodded at us, then pulled her into a tight hug. His voice, though warm, carried a subtle tremor, like someone who had stayed up all night worrying. ¡°Thank the Guardians. Thank the World Trees,¡± he murmured, his relief palpable. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired, Dad. I¡¯ll go inside first,¡± Elfina said, her voice listless. Her mother gently tapped her father¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let our girl rest, dear. She¡¯s had a long day.¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± He quickly released her and helped carry the sled into the igloo. ¡°Please come in, don¡¯t be shy,¡± Elfina¡¯s mother said, smiling warmly as she beckoned us inside. To my surprise, her grip was stronger than I expected when she gently pulled us along. My curiosity piqued, and I couldn¡¯t resist the urge to check her level. [Level ???]. Elfina¡¯s mother let go of my hand and flicked my forehead with surprising speed. Her movements were a blur, and the force of the flick was strong enough to push my head back slightly. ¡°Peeking at a lady¡¯s level is rude, you know,¡± she said with a gentle smile that didn¡¯t quite match the sharp reprimand in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t do that unless you¡¯ve reached at least the 2nd Ascension.¡± High-level individuals can sense when someone inspects them. Another useful piece of information. The unique design of the Frost Elf igloo caught my attention. While it was still made from blocks of ice, there was a small space dug beneath the floor. The floor itself was a single wooden slab with numerous tiny holes drilled into it, allowing cold air to sink through and settle in the space below. There was no fireplace or chimney, yet the house felt warm. The reason became apparent as I examined the walls, which were etched with intricate Conservation Runes that kept the heat contained inside the house. At first, I didn¡¯t notice any obvious heat source until my eyes landed on a perfectly cut basalt cube positioned in the corner. Every inch of its surface was meticulously engraved with Heat Runes. Placed beneath a five-tier shelving unit filled with baskets of herbs, the cube appeared to serve as both a stove and a heat source. Elfina¡¯s mother guided us to the table in their living room and gestured for us to sit. ¡°Would you two like some fruit wine?¡± she asked with a warm smile, placing two cups of purple wine in front of us. ¡°Thank you,¡± we both said, accepting the cups graciously. I took a sip of the wine and immediately understood why the Dwarves were so mesmerized by it. Heavy yet fresh, spicy yet light. Each sip left a tingling and numbing sensation on the tip of my tongue, a sensation that only intensified the desire for another sip. But the real kicker came after pausing for a few seconds. A mix of sweetness and saltiness wrapped around my esophagus, marching slowly toward my brain, bringing a chilling sensation with every step. ¡°Great wine,¡± I said, genuinely impressed. ¡°This¡­ hic¡­ is amazing. So¡­ tasty,¡± Sera slurred, clearly drunk out of her mind. She had barely taken a mouthful, and her face was already flushed red. I¡¯d never realized my sister was so weak to alcohol. It was definitely something to keep in mind when we went to NorthStar. ¡°Oh my, sorry about that. Let me get you some fruit juice instead,¡± Elfina¡¯s mother said with an amused chuckle as she got up to fetch a different drink for Sera. I sighed internally. I still needed Sera to help me make a video, and letting her pass out now wasn¡¯t exactly ideal. Time to detox her. Reaching over, I took Sera¡¯s hand and channeled my Qi into her. My Demonic Qi greedily devoured the alcohol content in her bloodstream as it coursed through her body. But the moment it reached her throat, a strong repelling force flared up, pushing back against my Qi and attempting to devour it. Ah, right. Almost forgot about that. I shook my head at my own oversight, amused by how I kept forgetting small yet crucial details. Was I getting old, or just distracted? The murky lump of Demonic Qi still sat stubbornly in my sister¡¯s throat. Narrowing my eyes, I funneled more of my Qi to attack it directly. Unlike my own Demonic Qi, which was easier to control, the Qi inside Sera was chaotic and unruly, much like the energy I had encountered in the Bearowl I killed. It was parasitic, full of an insatiable desire to devour life force rather than acting as a supportive energy created from it. As I pressed harder, beads of sweat appeared on Sera¡¯s face, and her rosy cheeks heated up. Then, the Demonic Qi inside her made a desperate attempt to resist. It flared into a crimson haze, lashing out as though it were alive, trying to infect anyone nearby. Sera¡¯s body arched, her eyelids fluttering uncontrollably as the blood rushed to her head, turning her face an unsettling shade of red like an overripe tomato. This reaction caught me off guard. I¡¯d never seen Demonic Qi behave so aggressively before. But no matter. The moment it revealed itself outside of Sera¡¯s body, it had sealed its fate. ¡°Hold on, Sera. This will be over in a second,¡± I said, my voice firm but comforting, though I wasn¡¯t sure if she could hear me through her struggle. I reached out and grabbed the crimson haze with my hand, activating [Plundering Qi]. A navy-blue vortex formed in my palm, greedily devouring the unruly energy. Within moments, the Demonic Qi was ripped out of Sera, scattering the crimson energy that had surrounded her. The vortex consumed it all, leaving no trace of the parasitic force behind. *Ding [World Walker¡¯s Comprehension Level up: Level 4 ¨C> 5] [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 2 ¨C> 3] My mind raced as I processed the implications of this new type of Demonic Qi. As I had suspected, this wasn¡¯t the same variant I had fought against before. Members of the Demonic Cult required physical contact to spread Demonic Qi or to steal Qi from others. But this new strain was different. It was coded with Runes to act independently. It stayed dormant within the host for as long as possible, slowly siphoning away their life force. When the time came, it would surge through the host¡¯s body and explode, spreading Demonic Qi everywhere and infecting anyone nearby. Turning infected people into living time bombs while draining their life force? I thought the Demonic Cult was bad, but this... This was a whole new level of insidiousness. A sinking feeling settled in my gut. Discovering the origin of this new Demonic Qi wasn¡¯t just a priority anymore. It was something I had to do. ¡°What was that?¡± Sera asked suddenly, snapping her eyes open. ¡°Just getting rid of the thing that was hurting your throat,¡± I replied, releasing her calloused, scarred hand. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She touched her throat gingerly and closed her eyes as if checking for any lingering discomfort. After a moment, her eyes flew open in surprise. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore,¡± she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore! Does that mean...¡± Before she could finish, Elfina¡¯s parents rushed toward me. Her father grabbed my shoulders, his grip tight with desperation. ¡°Child, please, help us get rid of that crimson fog!¡± he shouted, his voice urgent and trembling. Their eyes bore into me as if I were their last lifeline. ¡°Who is infected?¡± I asked grimly, my mind already calculating the potential fallout. This new type of Demonic Qi was like carrying time bombs inside people, and having multiple bombs ready to go off was a nightmare scenario. ¡°Our great tree,¡± Elfina¡¯s mother replied. And just like that, the situation went from bad to worse. Chapter 14: Everyone has their own agenda ¡°Zenth, you can¡¯t seriously believe that a human child can solve a problem even we couldn¡¯t handle.¡± A Frost Elf elder directed his sharp criticism at Elfina¡¯s father, his tone laced with skepticism. The urgent assembly of the elders clearly irked some of the more egotistical members. Their pale skin wrinkled in displeasure, and their long, bluish hair failed to conceal the irritation etched into their expressions. Zenth, Elfina¡¯s father, was one of the eight Frost Elf elders. That made sense. Elfina was their priestess after all. But it did raise an interesting question. Was she chosen as the priestess because her father was an elder, or did Zenth become an elder because his daughter was the priestess? The age-old chicken-or-egg dilemma. Well, not that it mattered, I suppose. ¡°Yes, I saw it with my own eyes,¡± Zenth declared, his voice unwavering despite the scornful stare. ¡°This boy¡¯s sister was infected with the same crimson fog that plagues our great tree. Not only did he fight back against the fog, but he also destroyed it completely.¡± Zenth¡¯s conviction painted me as some kind of savior. I wasn¡¯t. And technically, I didn¡¯t destroy the Demonic Qi, I devoured it. But that was a detail best left unspoken. The less these people knew about what I could do, the better. The critical elder, clearly unimpressed, shot me a look dripping with disdain before addressing the other elders. Placing a hand on his chest as though speaking from the goodness of his heart. ¡°Elders, the World Tree is our mission, our lives, and our dignity,¡± the elder began with a dramatic shake of his head. ¡°We cannot let a random child walk into our sanctuary and claim that he can cure our great tree. What if he can¡¯t do it? What if he makes it worse? There is more at stake than just us here. The Great Tree has protected all of us since The Great War. We cannot allow such reckless action to jeopardize our survival.¡± He paused, letting his words hang in the air before turning a scornful glance at Zenth. ¡°We cannot believe Zenth¡¯s word blindly and take such a risk.¡± His little speech stirred murmurs among the other elders. Well, damn. Who died and made you a politician? I hadn¡¯t expected to meet an Elf willing to put their own benefit above all else while simultaneously dragging down a peer. Yet, here we were. Longevity didn¡¯t necessarily breed wisdom, it seemed. Still, his theatrics weren¡¯t entirely useless. I picked up some valuable information. From his words, combined with what I already knew and observed, The Great Barrier was a tsunami frozen over a sea during The Great War long ago. Afterward, this World Tree was planted to create some kind of magical barrier, either to prevent the Abyss Crawlers from awakening within the wave or to stop more of them from coming through from beyond it. The power source for this barrier was the Frost Elf¡¯s World Tree. And now, with Demonic Qi targeting the tree, it was safe to assume that at least one goal of the Demonic Arts users was to destroy The Great Barrier and unleash the Abyss Crawlers. ¡°This is no time for your petty games, Aaron,¡± Zenth said, his voice steady, his expression calm yet firm. There was a dignity in his tone that subtly dismissed Aaron¡¯s theatrics. ¡°You!¡± Aaron pointed a shaky finger at Zenth, his face flushed with indignation. ¡°See? He¡¯s trying to...¡± ¡°Enough,¡± an older Elf interrupted with a voice so deep it was almost a growl. The wrinkles on his face and the weight of his words silenced Aaron and the murmuring crowd instantly. Aaron lowered his hand, his mouth snapping shut as if physically compelled to obey. The elder, clearly a figure of authority, opened his eyes and fixed his piercing gaze on me. His stare wasn¡¯t one of hostility, but it was heavy, like he was peeling back layers to uncover my secrets. I had nothing to hide, nothing harmful to them at least, so I met his gaze directly. The silence between us was intense, like a battle fought without words. ¡°Can you truly destroy the crimson fog?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Lead me to the infected, and I''ll show you,¡± I replied without hesitation. There was no need for explanations when actions could prove everything. Trying to convince them with words would only be a waste of time. The older Elf rose from his seat. The room shifted with him as everyone else followed suit. He glanced at me once more, his gaze steady, before turning toward the door. ¡°Come with me,¡± he commanded. We followed him through the village, arriving at an igloo far larger than the others. Its size alone made it stand out, but the double-leaf door carved from a single block of ice instead of wood cemented its importance. Elves hurried around the structure, carrying baskets brimming with Bleeding Berries and a variety of other herbs inside. ¡°Elder Thnari!¡± an Elf exclaimed, her hand pressed over her heart in a gesture of respect as we approached. ¡°How are those affected by the fog?¡± Thnari asked. The woman¡¯s face fell, and she shook her head. ¡°We can only slow down the symptoms. At this rate, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Her voice faltered, trailing off. It was clear what she meant. Without a cure, their only option would be to end the suffering of the infected before they became a danger to others. This new variant of Demonic Qi was as cruel as it was insidious. ¡°Show me,¡± Thnari said, striding forward with steady steps. The rest of us followed him inside.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As I stepped through the doors, a faint but perceptible pressure pushed against me. My ears buzzed momentarily. An isolation barrier. Once inside, a thick, overwhelming herbal aroma filled the air. The scent clung to my senses, creating a drowsy effect that almost felt like a sedative. The spicy, tingling smell of Bleeding Berries being ground into powder was unmistakable, lingering in the air. The interior was exactly what one would expect from a simple clinic. An open central space lined with rows of beds, smaller rooms on the left for preparing medicine and storing materials, and a few rooms on the right for the healers to rest. I hadn¡¯t sensed it as clearly from the outside, but now it was obvious that all those lying on the beds were infected with Demonic Qi. Disheveled hair, spasming muscles, bloodshot eyes, veins bulging beneath pale skin, frothing at the mouth, incoherent ramblings, guttural howls that barely sounded human, and most telling of all, the faint crimson mist clinging to their bodies. Thnari led us to the first bed in the third row from the left. There, a young Elf lay writhing. His features bore a striking resemblance to Thnari with his red highlights, golden eyes, and a slightly crooked nose. The young Elf¡¯s face was twisted in agony, his body spasming with every breath. Though Thnari stood tall and composed like a sturdy pillar, his tightly clenched hands betrayed his emotions, veins popping along his knuckles. ¡°Your son?¡± I asked. Thnari turned to face me, and for the first time, his unwavering gaze faltered. The weight of desperation in his eyes was impossible to ignore. He was grasping at straws just like everyone else here. ¡°Please,¡± he said, his voice wasn''t that of an elder, but of a father. I nodded. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t possibly...¡± Aaron started, but whatever he was about to say died in his throat as Thnari shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. The threat in the elder¡¯s eyes was unmistakable, making Aaron hold his tongue. That, however, wasn¡¯t my concern. My focus was on the task of purging Demonic Qi from these Elves. I stood beside Thnari¡¯s son and gently grabbed his hand. Focusing my Qi, I poured it into his body, just as I had done with Sera. Closing my eyes, I recalled the teachings of the Tang Clan woman who had created the technique to dispel Demonic Qi in the first place. According to her, Demonic Qi was like a sweet yet insidious poison, one that slowly drove its host to madness. Once inside the body, it consumed the host¡¯s life force, converting it into an immense amount of Qi that enhanced both body and mind. This transformation created a euphoric rush, a feeling of overwhelming power that dulled the mind and burned through the host''s remaining life force. The danger lay in what happened when the Demonic Qi was depleted. To sustain that intoxicating power, the host would often resort to using Demonic Arts, injecting their negative emotions into their Qi. This act corrupted their normal Qi into more Demonic Qi, perpetuating a vicious cycle. The more they indulged, the more crazed they became. Until they inevitably succumbed to the Demonic Cult, or death. A sweet poison, but a poison nonetheless. The Tang Clan woman approached this poison as she would any other. Her clan were renowned poison experts, and she had been their genius. Her method was deceptively simple. She would first use her Qi to strengthen her own life force until it outmatched the host¡¯s deteriorating one, provoking the Demonic Qi into revealing itself. Then, she would flood the host¡¯s body with her Qi, redirecting and isolating all the Demonic Qi into a single point. Once contained within a cocoon of her Qi, she would pull it out of the host entirely. The process was similar to how Peak Realm martial artists handled poison extraction. However, this method had a significant flaw. Not everyone could control their Qi with such precision. Without her unparalleled skill, the fatality rate for the procedure skyrocketed to a staggering sixty percent. And that was for the original form of Demonic Qi, not this parasitic, mutated type. However, the first step of the process remained the same. Plus, I had a cheat. As I poured my Qi into Thnari¡¯s son, I used myself as bait, forcing the dormant Demonic Qi to reveal itself. Once I pinpointed the parasitic entity, I controlled my Qi to attack and agitate it. Unlike the original method, I didn¡¯t need to redirect the Demonic Qi. With my unique abilities, I could devour it directly. As expected, the Parasitic Demonic Qi ¡ª aptly named ¡ª reacted violently. Similar to what had happened with Sera, it surged out of the host¡¯s body, seeking to spread and infect others. ¡°Stay back!¡± I shouted, my voice cutting through the murmurs of the onlookers. Right after that, crimson fog erupted from Thnari¡¯s son¡¯s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and every pore. The thick, malevolent mist rushed outward, trying to latch onto anyone nearby. But before it could spread, I activated [Plundering Qi], pulling the crimson fog back inside the host and forcing it toward the navy-blue vortex forming on my palm. I couldn¡¯t absorb it all, doing so might raise suspicion about how I eradicated Demonic Qi. If they didn¡¯t understand it, they would question me. Since that was the case, I decided to put on a little show. Once only five percent of the Parasitic Demonic Qi remained, I stopped. I compressed the remaining Qi into a small, glowing crimson ball that hovered above my palm. Letting go of Thnari¡¯s son¡¯s hand, I spread my arms theatrically, as though preparing for an embrace. With a sharp clap, I crushed the crimson ball between my palms, shattering it like fragile glass. Slowly, I opened my hands, letting the crimson shards fall like grains of sand. ¡°Done,¡± I said, turning toward the Frost Elf elders. Every jaw in the room had dropped, especially Aaron and his supporters. Zenth, on the other hand, wore an expression of smug satisfaction for some reason. Snapping out of his stupor, Thnari shouted toward the group of Elves watching from a distance. ¡°Healers! Where are the healers? Check my son¡¯s condition!¡± One of the Elves, dressed in a white coat, rushed forward and began a thorough examination. When the healer finally finished, his voice trembled with awe. ¡°There¡¯s no sign of the crimson fog,¡± he said, as though struggling to believe his own words. ¡°The fog¡­ it¡¯s completely gone.¡± His declaration sent the room into an uproar. Elves swarmed toward me, their voices overlapping in a clamor, each pleading desperately for me to save their loved ones. ¡°Enough!¡± Thnari¡¯s roar silenced the crowd instantly. The Elves stepped back, though their anxious eyes remained locked on me. Thnari turned to me, placing a trembling hand on my shoulder. His grip was weak, but his golden eyes brimmed with a jumble of emotions ¡ª gratitude, relief, and something deeper. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°Truly¡­ thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too soon for thanks.¡± I gestured toward the rows of other patients still writhing in pain. ¡°There¡¯s still much to do.¡± ***** *Ding [You have plundered Qi from multiple living beings. Level up: Level 11 ¨C> 12] [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 3 ¨C> 4] [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 4 ¨C> 5] After hours of dispelling the Parasitic Demonic Qi and using it to further refine my Qi Core, I finally plopped down in one of the chairs in a break room. I took a deep breath, trying to collect myself, when the door swung open. Thnari entered, leading a group of Frost Elves. ¡°Thank you.¡± They all bowed deeply. ¡°Without your help, we would have lost too many of our youth. Truly, thank you.¡± ¡°THANK YOU,¡± they said in unison, their voices reverberating. Thnari stepped forward as I rose to my feet. His expression was solemn but filled with relief. ¡°From now on, you are our greatest benefactor. You and your descendants will always have our unwavering support, no matter what.¡± He held out a golden leaf, its vibrant hue unmistakable ¡ª a gift from their World Tree, a symbol of eternal friendship. ¡°Thanks.¡± I accepted the leaf, discreetly sending it to my Inventory. ¡°But,¡± I said, my tone firm as I met Thnari¡¯s gaze, ¡°we still have the biggest challenge ahead of us.¡± His eyes hardened, understanding the weight of my words. I continued, ¡°Show me your World Tree.¡± Chapter 15: Well, shit… fantasy Wi-fi ¡°How did your World Tree get infected?¡± I asked Thnari. ¡°Eleven years ago, a group of Fiend Forgers attacked us out of nowhere. We weren¡¯t prepared and suffered heavy losses. Many of our people were affected by the crimson fog, but we managed to repel them. At least we thought so.¡± He sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the towering golden tree. ¡°It wasn¡¯t until much later that we noticed The Great Tree¡¯s blessing had weakened. When we investigated, we discovered the crimson fog had already penetrated the tree.¡± It was the first time I had heard of Demonic Qi infecting plants, let alone a World Tree. I didn¡¯t know how much help I could offer, but doing nothing wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°Do you know why the Fiend Forgers attacked you?¡± I asked, wanting to confirm my hypothesis. Thnari¡¯s eyes drifted toward the frozen tsunami. ¡°I don¡¯t have proof, but I believe it was to shatter The Great Barrier.¡± It seemed we had the same opinion. The next question was why do they want to break the barrier? ¡°Do you know why they¡¯re aiming for that?¡± Thnari didn¡¯t respond, but his silence spoke volumes. I glanced at the other elders following us. Most avoided my gaze. Only Zenth met my eyes and shook his head. They¡¯re hiding something. Something important. ¡°Thank you again for helping our people,¡± Thnari said, trying to change the subject. It was clear they didn¡¯t want to share their secrets. I had helped them, yes, but some secrets were too critical to reveal. ¡°Your World Tree looks fine to me,¡± I commented as we approached the restricted zone ¡ª their sanctuary. Even from five blocks away, the tree towered over everything, its massive trunk dominating half my vision. Its size was awe-inspiring, yet the frozen tsunami behind it matched its height, a stark reminder of the catastrophe that had once engulfed this land and sunk a nation. Thnari smiled sadly in response, then led us deeper into the heart of the sanctuary through a stair as wide as a six-lane highway, woven from the tree''s roots. Something felt off. As we walked up the stairs, my eyes narrowed as I studied the trunk. Tiny distortions flickered across its surface, barely noticeable. But to me, they were unmistakable signs. ¡°Why are there so many subspaces on the trunk?¡± I asked in a low voice. Thnari¡¯s eyes widened briefly before his expression turned serious. ¡°What do you mean there are subspaces on the trunk?¡± he asked, raising his voice deliberately, loud enough for everyone behind us to hear. Most of the elders exchanged confused glances, their faces betraying nothing but puzzlement, except for one. One elder¡¯s eyes widened in alarm for the briefest of moments before he masked his expression with feigned confusion, blending in with the others. Thnari and I turned back toward the path, faking a private discussion. But I caught the cold glint in his eyes. He hadn¡¯t missed that elder¡¯s reaction. Still, suspicion alone wasn¡¯t enough. Among the Frost Elf, kinship bonds ran deep, and casting blame without proof was unthinkable. We would need solid evidence before pointing fingers at anyone. Throwing the thought to the back of my mind, I focused on the task at hand. Once inside the sanctuary''s core, I was¡­ disappointed. The core of the World Tree was a marvel in itself, a cathedral-sized hollow space within the trunk formed by the tree splitting open. But the space was barren save for a single austere altar, just large enough for one person to kneel in prayer. At least being inside the World Tree itself was intriguing. The ground was layered with thousands of tree rings, a testament to the tree¡¯s age. The wooden walls stood firm like a monolith, supporting a massive, unadorned dome. Hanging from the center of the dome was a golden vine, draped with hundreds of purple fruits, each the size of a basketball. When I saw the fruits, I instinctively turned toward Zenth. He responded with a thumbs-up and a beaming smile. Frost Elf''s local delicacy, that purple fruit wine, was made from the World Tree¡¯s fruits¡­ They sure know how to enjoy life. ¡°Please show us the truth, oh great tree,¡± Thnari intoned solemnly, kneeling along with the other elders as they clasped their hands in prayer. As if to answer them, the dome above us shook. A piece of wood, as large as my head, broke loose and fell, landing about ten steps away. The presence of Parasitic Demonic Qi on it was unmistakable.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As we approached the fallen wood, I used [Plundering Qi] to absorb most of it, crushed what remained, then crouched to pick it up. But the moment it touched my hand, the piece crumbled into dust. I looked up at the dome, an uneasy feeling creeping over me. ¡°The entire trunk is like this, isn¡¯t it?¡± Thnari released a long, heavy sigh before answering, ¡°Yes.¡± This was a huge problem. I had never dealt with anything infected with such a massive amount of Demonic Qi, let alone something as unique as a World Tree. My usual method of devouring the Qi wasn¡¯t feasible here since it would take an eternity to clear it all. Expelling it wasn¡¯t an option either since the sheer amount of Qi embedded in the tree was overwhelming. Staying here to cleanse it slowly wasn¡¯t part of my plan. I needed to find a way for the Frost Elf to dispel the Demonic Qi on their own. My time here was limited, and I would be leaving soon. And then there were the subspaces scattered across the trunk. What purpose did they serve? Were they related to Demonic Qi somehow? From Thnari''s reaction, I was sure he didn''t know about it. And that was a bad sign. This wasn¡¯t just a tricky case, it was a challenge on an entirely different level. *Ding [You have received a subquest] =============== Subquest: Infected tree | Description: The Isolation World Tree has been infected by a new form of Demonic Qi. After successfully curing the Frost Elves afflicted by Demonic Qi, they have entrusted you with the task of saving their sacred tree. Without intervention, the Isolation World Tree will wither and die, unleashing untold chaos. | Objective: Eliminate Demonic Qi infecting the Isolation World Tree. | Reward: ¨C Experience Point ¨C A new clue about the Guardians ¨C Eternal gratitude from the Frost Elf and the opportunity to learn their secrets | Failure: ¨C The Abyss Crawlers will flood south through a newly created breach in The Great Barrier. =============== What the fuck! I¡¯ve never had a subquest before¡­ And what do you mean Abyss Crawlers will flood south? I sighed. Bloody hell, this is driving me nuts. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I reread the System¡¯s notification. On the bright side, at least there was no countdown to failure. ¡°Can you help us?¡± Thnari¡¯s gaze bored into me, waiting for an answer. I cracked my neck, letting my brain shift into overdrive. What¡¯s something not just I, but the people of this world, can do to expel Demonic Qi? I needed a method they could replicate. Destroying the tree was off the table. If destruction wasn¡¯t the answer, then maybe dispersal was. I crossed my arms and drummed my fingers against my bicep. This type of Demonic Qi is hungry for life force. Could I lure it into a single spot using concentrated life force? Maybe then it could be isolated. ¡°World Tree, give me another piece,¡± I said, looking up toward the golden branches. ¡°How can you be so rude, and you can''t...¡± blah blah blah. I ignored the indignant voices of some dumbasses behind me. The dome above shook once more, and another chunk of wood riddled with Demonic Qi dropped in front of me. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said simply, picking up the piece and sitting down to test the method I¡¯d just thought of. Exclamations filled the air as the elders stared in disbelief. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± ¡°What the¡ª?¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± Why were they so shocked? The tree understood them, so it clearly understood me too. It was just simple logic. Ignoring the chatter around me, I focused on the task at hand. Using Conservation Runes, I stored a small amount of life force in my palm. Then I searched for Dimensional Runes. Fortunately, I found the necessary ones to create subspace. I had planned to craft my own subspace Runes, but luck saved me the trouble. Continuing the experiment, I created a small subspace resembling a test tube and infused it with the life force stored in my palm. After ten seconds, there was no explosion, no dimension collapse, everything was stable. The first step was a success. Next, I hovered the subspace above the piece of infected wood to observe how the Parasitic Demonic Qi would react. Sadly, there was no response. Taking a more aggressive approach, I shoved the subspace directly at the infected wood. Unsurprisingly, the barely stable subspace collapsed, and the life force inside was promptly devoured by the Demonic Qi. Undeterred, I repeated the test six more times, increasing the amount of life force with each attempt. The results remained the same ¡ª the Demonic Qi consumed the life force effortlessly without being lured out. It wasn''t surprising since there was no reason for Demonic Qi to latch onto a human''s life force when it was already latching onto the tree''s life force. It was akin to giving up a free buffet to eat a loaf of white bread. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zenth¡¯s voice broke my concentration as he poked his head out from behind me. ¡°Trying to solve this difficult problem,¡± I replied. Difficult, but not impossible. The System wouldn¡¯t assign me a subquest without a reason. Having this subquest meant I was capable of solving it. I just had to figure out how. ¡°Is there anything we can do to help?¡± Thnari asked. ¡°Yes.¡± I turned to him and grinned. ¡°Give me your life force.¡± ***** After several more rounds of testing using life force generously "donated" by the Frost Elves ¡ª thanks to Thnari¡¯s "persuasive efforts" ¡ª I concluded it was impossible to lure the Parasitic Demonic Qi out with life force alone. I decided to change my approach. This time, I designed a set of Runes within a subspace that mimicked my [Plundering Qi] Skill. Using reverse engineering, I broke down my Skill into a sequence of Runes and replicated it. By placing a small amount of life force into an ordinary leaf¡ª a less-than-ideal physical stabilizer for a subspace ¡ª I created an anchor point to draw the Demonic Qi toward. The first test was a partial success. The mechanism successfully pulled out the Demonic Qi, but the subspace collapsed almost immediately, forcing me to destroy the Qi before it latched onto anyone nearby. Still, I had a clear direction. I began tweaking the design to increase the pulling force and stabilize the subspace. Increasing the pulling force was simple. More Mana output resulted in a stronger ¡°grip¡±, like reinforcing a hand to seize the Parasitic Qi. Stabilizing the subspace, however, was a nightmare. None of the items I tested could maintain the subspace long enough. I experimented with everything: a leaf, a coin, a shirt, a coat, a pair of pants, a cane, a headband, a ring, and more. Every attempt ended in failure. Just as I began doubting this approach, Thnari handed me something ¡ª a leaf from the World Tree. Golden and radiant, it shimmered in my palm like a gift from the heavens. As I inspected its structure, I couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. ¡°This is a Wi-fi router.¡± Chapter 16: Save the Wi-fi ¡°What¡¯s a wife five roader?¡± Zenth asked, equally confused as Thnari and the other elders. ¡°Never mind that. Let me do some more testing.¡± I dodged the question. As I examined the World Tree¡¯s leaf, I was genuinely amazed. Inside it was an interconnected network of Runes, communicating with each other in real-time. The tree used these leaves as its eyes and ears, perceiving the world in ways far beyond my understanding. There were countless Runes I had never seen before, their purpose and usage were equally mysterious. I mentally added ¡°analyze World Tree Runes¡± to my ever-growing to-do list. What truly caught my attention, though, was the Conservation Runes within the leaf. They didn¡¯t just store energy, they stored faith. They freaking stored faith. The power of faith looked like a swirling amalgamation of every shape imaginable ¡ª chaotic yet symmetrical ¡ª shimmering with all seven rainbow colors. That was when it hit me. These leaves weren¡¯t just the tree¡¯s sensory tools. They were also its arms. The tree channeled this faith-based power through the leaves to the Elf, granting them blessings. I had never had the chance to study a World Tree''s leaf like this before. The tree''s network was such an interesting way of communication. Then, the realization hit me. If the tree acted as the central hub for the power of faith ¡ª basically, the main server ¡ª then its leaves were like wireless routers, distributing that power to its people. And if the leaves could distribute faith, then theoretically, they could also deliver Runes. Runes containing sound, images¡­ even more complex data. Suddenly, my dream of spreading culture through songs and movies across this world didn¡¯t seem so insane. These leaves could act as the perfect medium for culture. The challenge would be convincing the Elves. and the World Tree itself, to part with these invaluable leaves willingly. But that was a problem for another day. For now, I had to focus on finishing this Qi-siphoning method. Using the same method, I stored a small amount of life force inside the golden leaf, then carefully pushed it toward the infected piece of wood. The elders behind me were getting a bit too close for comfort. I could feel their breath hitting my back. It was distracting. Standing up, I moved ten steps forward, turned back, sat down again, and resumed my test. This way, the elders could still see what was happening without breathing down my neck. When the leaf made contact with the wood, I activated the Runes to pull the Parasitic Demonic Qi into the subspace. To my surprise, the leaf stabilized the subspace, holding the Demonic Qi in place until the life force stored within it was depleted. Once the process was complete, I carefully set the now cleansed piece of wood to my left and the golden leaf to my right. The piece of wood showed no signs of crumbling. It seemed I succeeded in drawing out only Demonic Qi, and not the tree''s life force. The leaf, however, began to shake violently. It trembled as though it might explode, quivering under the strain of containing the malicious energy. Yet, against all odds, it didn¡¯t burst. After about a minute, the leaf stopped moving and became still. I picked it up, inspecting it closely to understand what just happened. *Ding [Rune Crafting Level up: Level 3 ¨C> 4] ¡°It¡¯s a success,¡± I mumbled. Without any life force to feed on, the Parasitic Demonic Qi, isolated within the subspace, withered and dispersed. Looking up at the elders, I smiled. ¡°Lucky for you, there¡¯s a way to get rid of the fog in your Wolrd Tree now.¡± For a moment, the elders stood frozen like statues, then erupted into cheers. Thnari walked up to me and extended his hand to help me stand. ¡°What do we need to do?¡± His expression was so serious it seemed like his eyebrows were ready to spell out ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°Gather as many people skilled in crafting subspace Runes and as many World Tree leaves as possible. I¡¯ll teach you the method.¡± The room fell silent. Sensing something off, I asked, ¡°What¡¯s the problem this time?¡± Instead of answering, Zenth questioned me. ¡°How big does this subspace need to be?¡± ¡°At least half the size of your World Tree. To pull out all the crimson fog, we¡¯ll need a subspace of that scale, a significant amount of life force, Mana, and a lot of World Tree leaves.¡± Their faces collectively twisted as if I¡¯d just delivered a gut punch. ¡°Hah,¡± Aaron scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. ¡°Your so-called solution is just as impossible as anything we¡¯ve come up with. And here I thought our little savior had all the answers.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. This guy''s worthless remarks are seriously unproductive. They added nothing to solving the problem. In the Murim world, someone as insufferable as him would have had their head ripped off by now for spewing such useless nonsense. However, this world wasn¡¯t as violent, and Frost Elf valued kinship deeply. Silencing him permanently without anyone noticing would be... challenging. Wait, no. That line of thought is no good. A bit too murderhobo. As a civilized modern citizen, I cherished peace and tranquility. Yep. Definitely. No ripping heads today. ¡°Aaron, shut up.¡± This time, it wasn¡¯t Thnari. It was the ever-calm Zenth who growled. Aaron opened his mouth to retort, but Thnari raised a hand, silencing him. The oldest elder turned to me and said, ¡°We won¡¯t be able to do that.¡± ¡°Which part of it is impossible?¡± I asked. ¡°The subspace, the life force, or the leaves?¡± ¡°The subspace and the life force,¡± he replied, pausing briefly before continuing. ¡°We can ask The Great Tree for its leaves, but¡­ you must know it¡¯s impossible to create a subspace that large since you¡¯re a [Transmuter] yourself.¡± No, I didn¡¯t know that. Also, I¡¯m not a [Transmuter]. You should probably get your facts straight first, buddy. I didn''t correct him, though. I simply shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m new, so.¡± His misunderstanding wasn¡¯t entirely bad. It provided some good information. It seemed that even high-level individuals could only see my level, not my Class. Similarly, I was only able to see others¡¯ levels. So, seeing just levels must be a constant in this world. Interesting. Thnari let out a heavy sigh. ¡°We only have fourteen [Crafters] and [Transmuters]. Among them, the largest subspace we can create is barely the size of a person¡¯s head. And five of them are still recovering from the fog. Even if we somehow managed to craft a subspace large enough, how would we gather enough life force and Mana to sustain it? The Great Tree is simply too great. Even if our entire village offered our life force and Mana, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to cleanse the fog in one go.¡± He shook his head. Interesting. It seemed that only two of the six support Classes could craft subspace Runes. This suggested the people of this world had failed to fully utilize the potential of every Rune, focusing only on those related to their Class. What a waste of potential. But it was a good thing for me. My understanding and usage of Runes gave me an unfair advantage. Maybe I should teach them and expand the knowledge of Runes to boost this world''s overall fighting power. But that would be for later. ¡°We don¡¯t need to get rid of it all in one go,¡± I pointed out, stating the obvious. ¡°Huh?¡± The elders all looked at me, confused. I pointed toward the dome above our heads. ¡°Your World Tree has been fighting this whole time. Slowly getting rid of the crimson fog won¡¯t be a problem. Just use as much life force and Mana as you can each time you pull the fog out, then rest. When you¡¯ve recovered, do it again. Rinse and repeat until all the fog is gone.¡± ¡°That could work,¡± Thnari said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Wait¡­ then why do we need such a big subspace?¡± ¡°To throw the leaves in and turn it into a giant tank for the fog,¡± I replied, rolling my eyes. Zenth spoke up next. ¡°Can¡¯t we just put small subspaces into individual leaves instead of trying to do something impossible like creating a giant subspace?¡± ¡­And now I was the oblivious one. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a great idea. Let¡¯s do that,¡± I said, smiling as I gave him a thumbs-up. Zenth laughed, returning the gesture with equal enthusiasm. Around us, the elders began chatting excitedly, their tones lighter and their faces brighter with hope that I hadn¡¯t seen on them until now. ¡°Good,¡± Thnari said with a decisive nod before turning back to the group. ¡°Elders, let¡¯s start right away. I¡¯ll convince the expedition team from NorthStar to join us every day until they leave. The more people we have, the better.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s. For the great tree.¡± I raised my fist. For my Wi-fi, I thought. ¡°For The Great Tree!¡± the elders echoed in unison. Aaron¡¯s death glare bored into me, but I ignored him and walked out of the sanctuary¡¯s core. When we reached the base of the stairs, Thnari suddenly paused and turned to me. ¡°You¡¯ve shown us the path to saving The Great Tree. Thank you,¡± he said, bowing. I quickly stopped him. ¡°We haven¡¯t even started yet. Don¡¯t get too emotional. You can save the gratitude for when everything¡¯s over.¡± He didn¡¯t respond immediately, but the contented smile on his face said everything. Thnari suddenly said, ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want in the village, just tell me, and I¡¯ll make sure you get it.¡± ¡°Are you still holding the festival?¡± I asked. There was something I had in mind. ¡°Yes,¡± he nodded. ¡°The festival this time will be the second biggest in our village¡¯s history. It has merely been eleven years, yet that crimson fog has caused us so much grief. We need to celebrate a future without it.¡± ¡°Why the second biggest?¡± I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. Thnari laughed heartily, while Zenth stepped in to answer. ¡°The biggest will be when the great tree recovers.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait for that day,¡± Thnari said, his laughter growing even louder. This time, the elders joined in, their chorus of joy echoing through the wind and snow, carrying a sense of newfound hope. Thnari extended his hand again, his expression earnest. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, just tell me.¡± I shook his hand firmly and, while glancing at Zenth, said, ¡°Actually, there is something.¡± ***** The following day, I worked alongside the [Crafters] and [Transmuters], carving subspace Runes onto countless World Tree leaves. Each time we finished a sack¡¯s worth, an Elf would take it away for storage. While I was stuck doing what felt like endless chores, Sera was helping with the festival and working on something I had asked her to assist with one of the few things we could do for Elfina. ¡°I came here to go on an expedition beyond The Great Barrier, not to sit here carving Runes onto leaves. Dammit,¡± a human grumbled nearby. ¡°Suck it up. We all have to do our part. Plus, if ya don¡¯t do this, ya won¡¯t be allowed to go anyway,¡± a Dwarf retorted, his tone half-joking. I chuckled, recalling how heavy-handed Thnari had been during the meeting between the Frost Elves and the expedition team. ¡°Sir Silvanus, you can¡¯t force us to do this. That wasn¡¯t our agreement,¡± a scholar protested. ¡°I promised your father; I didn¡¯t promise you, brat,¡± Thnari replied bluntly, his tone was that of a seasoned thug. Standing up, he slammed his hand on the table with enough force to make the wood creak. ¡°Do you think you can sit this out and avoid helping? If our Great Tree falls, The Great Barrier will break. When that happens, not only will our village be overrun by Abyss Crawlers, but your precious NorthStar will face their fangs and claws. Their tendrils will drag each and every one of you out and devour you alive.¡± Sitting back down, he had folded his arms. ¡°So, tell me, are you willing to help us, or not?¡± It had been hilarious watching the expedition team grumble but ultimately comply. Not only were they forced to carve Runes, but they were also roped into preparing for the festival. ¡°Finally,¡± an Elf muttered as he stood and stretched. ¡°That¡¯s the last batch.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say it better myself.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Others followed suit, stretching out their stiff limbs. Their reactions were understandable. We had been at it since morning and only finished when night fell. When I stepped outside, the stars sparkled brilliantly in the clear night sky. The twin moons hang high on the black canvas, appearing to share a warm embrace against the cold backdrop of the freezing night. I was on my way to Elfina¡¯s house to check on Sera¡¯s progress when an energetic, silky-smooth voice called out behind me. ¡°Excuse me, are you the gentleman who came up with the method to remove the crimson fog from a patient¡¯s body?¡± Chapter 17: Unexpected encounter Two suspicious hooded figures stood before me. Their pure white cloaks concealed their faces and most of their features, draping them in an air of mystery. The fabric acted like a thin veil, shrouding them from perception and making it difficult for anyone to discern their identities. Despite their efforts, I could still make out an expensive-looking sword poking out from under the taller figure¡¯s cloak. The scabbard was adorned with an intricate lion head carving, a sign of wealth and status. Judging by the clean, high-quality fabric of their clothes and the ornate weapon, I guessed they were either a high-ranking noble or a wealthy merchant, accompanied by their bodyguard. Given where we were, I leaned toward the latter since there was little reason for a noble to be here. ¡°Isn¡¯t it rude to speak to someone while concealing your appearance like that?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes? Ah, my sincere apologies. You are right, it was rude of me,¡± the shorter figure replied, holding the hem of their cloak and bowing elegantly. ¡°However, I must ask for your forgiveness, as we have our own circumstances.¡± That¡¯s suspicious. ¡°We all have our own circumstances,¡± I said with a nod. ¡°How may I address you, and what brings you to me, miss?¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding. Please, call me Ari.¡± Her voice was light and pleasant, carrying a hint of a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve come to ask if I may purchase your method for expelling the crimson fog. I assure you, you will be compensated handsomely.¡± She glanced at her companion, who promptly produced a pouch filled with coins. Judging by the weight and the way it clinked, it was no small amount. I hadn¡¯t left Xanderson Village since I was born, so I couldn¡¯t gauge its exact value, but it was clear this was no casual offering. Even so, there was something I needed to address first. ¡°And what do you intend to do with my method?¡± I inquired. I didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions, but I¡¯d seen enough people in past lives who pretended to be saints, only to exploit a crisis for personal gain. Beasts in human clothing who thought only of profit. I refused to accept money without first understanding the consequences of sharing my knowledge. ¡°The life of someone dear to me is in danger because of the crimson fog. Please, I only want to cure her.¡± Ari clasped her hands in front of her waist, her left hand tightening over her right in a gesture of desperation. Why does this sound so familiar? Oh, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s the exact same story I¡¯d heard thousands of times before. My dearest is dying, please have mercy. My family is waiting for me, please help. My town is in danger, everyone will die. Same old stories, recycled endlessly. ¡°Not interested,¡± I said flatly, turning on my heel to walk away. ¡°Please wait!¡± She reached out, trying to grab my sleeve, but I sidestepped her attempt. ¡°My mother is dying. I can¡¯t wait any longer. This is my last chance!¡± ¡°Can you stop with the sob story already?¡± I sighed, causing her to freeze mid-motion. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want what I¡¯ve created falling into the wrong hands. The consequences of that are beyond me. If you truly want my method, then convince me you won¡¯t use it to profit from the weak and desperate. If all you can offer is money, save your breath and leave.¡± With that, I turned and resumed walking. ¡°Well said, young man,¡± came a voice from behind. ¡°But that was a bit too rude, don¡¯t you think?¡± The bodyguard¡¯s voice carried a distinct edge, Mana subtly embedded within it. My instincts screamed at me, and I reflexively leaped forward to create distance, my body shifting into combat mode. I glanced at her level, my heart beat faster as the System displayed [Level ???]. Shit. Her level was far above mine, meaning she not only had more Skills but also a significantly larger Mana reserve. Engaging in a direct confrontation would be foolish. The chances of winning were slim at best. Avoiding a fight was my top priority. Still, the fact that they approached me with an offer first suggested they weren¡¯t entirely unreasonable. Drawing attention or escalating the situation probably wasn¡¯t their goal either. There was a good chance they wanted to avoid combat just as much as I did. Time to probe their intentions. As I took a deep breath and pretended to shout, the bodyguard quickly dropped her money pouch and raised both hands in a surrendering pose. ¡°Wait. I mean no harm,¡± she said, her voice calm. Then she pulled down her hood. Short, curly brown hair with a single streak of white on the right side framed her youthful but weathered face. Her emerald eyes gleamed like polished gems under the moonlight, drawing attention away from her lean but muscular frame. Her arms were well-toned and rugged, with calluses covering her palms ¡ª evidence of rigorous training. She reminded me of Sera. Except for the fact that she had squirrel ears twitching atop her head and a massive, fluffy squirrel tail swaying gently behind her. Her white knightly uniform bore a golden lion emblem on the right side of her chest. The fitted, functional slacks she wore hinted at a design made for speed and agility.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I stopped a safe distance from her ¡ª close enough to catch even the smallest movement, yet far enough to dodge if necessary. Her hands might have been raised, but her longsword remained at her waist. And I wasn¡¯t going to take any chances. I had made the mistake of underestimating a swordsman because of distance once. One swing, and he looped off my head. I wasn¡¯t about to repeat that lesson. ¡°I¡¯m impressed,¡± she said, lowering her hands and picking up the coin pouch to stow it away. ¡°There aren¡¯t many who can sense Mana in my voice and react before it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°Is this really okay? Should we be revealing ourselves like this?¡± Ari asked anxiously. ¡°I believe so, Your Highness.¡± The bodyguard turned to her with a refreshing laugh. ¡°From what I¡¯ve observed, this young man has his own principles ¡ª protecting the weak. And he upholds them well, even in the face of great temptation. A spirit worthy of being a Blazing Blade.¡± Your Highness? I froze for a moment. That revelation was more unexpected than anything else so far. ¡°I see,¡± Ari said softly, pulling down her hood as well. I didn¡¯t expect to meet someone who looked like they had stepped straight out of a painting. Long, silky black hair cascaded over her petite shoulders like a dark waterfall, perfectly contrasting her rosy, flawless skin. Her vibrant violet eyes glimmered like lilac blossoms blooming on a green hill at dawn, each petal kissed by a single drop of dew. A golden butterfly hairpin perched delicately on the left side of her head, adding a charming touch, especially when paired with her twitching white lion ears and a long tail that ended in a fluffy white furball instead of a tuft. Just like her knight, Aria¡¯s hands bore calluses. Faint motes of light, remnants of crafting Runes, still lingered on her fingers. She carried no visible weapon, suggesting either complete trust in her knight or having a Class that didn¡¯t rely on using weapons. Her outfit was a loose, white shift dress trimmed with simple blue lace at the hem. Sequins dotted the fabric, giving it a whimsical and cozy appearance. It was practical for movement, but clearly inadequate for this cold weather. I supposed magic made up for that flaw. ¡°Please, allow me to properly introduce myself.¡± She held the hem of her dress and dipped into an elegant bow. ¡°I am Aria Leonheart, daughter of Tkarion¡¯s Protector.¡± Aria? And your alias is Ari? I thought to myself. ¡°And I¡¯m Hilda, her personal knight. Impressed yet, young man?¡± the knight said with a hearty laugh. Their demeanor carried no malice or murderous intent, so I decided to hear them out. ¡°I¡¯m Karl Xanderson. Nice to meet you.¡± With introductions done, the two pulled their hoods back up. The cloaks¡¯ enchantments must have included some kind of vision-obscuring ability, as their ears and tails disappeared from view the moment the hoods were in place. ¡°Now that you know who we are, are you willing to negotiate?¡± Hilda asked, stepping behind Aria to stand guard once again. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s talk somewhere else,¡± I replied. ***** As I suspected, they were staying at the guest house alongside the other members of the expedition team to avoid unnecessary suspicion. Unlike the igloos the Frost Elf lived in, the guest house resembled a standard two-story inn constructed from wood. It didn¡¯t bear a sign above its two-panel door to mark it as an inn. Being the only wooden structure in the entire village made it obvious enough. From their demeanor, it was clear they hadn¡¯t snuck in as we entered through the front door naturally. Inside, we bypassed an open resting area with an indoor fire pit and went upstairs. The design was plain and functional, with no decorative touches. Just a simple wooden building. ¡°Finished your business already, little lady?¡± a middle-aged human scholar asked Aria as he stepped out of his room. ¡°Yes, thank you for your help earlier, sir,¡± she replied with a slight bow. The man glanced at me, his expression hardening as he narrowed his eyes. As he walked past, he tapped my shoulder and muttered, ¡°You¡¯d better not let us catch you doing anything indecent to this little lady, you hear? Or we¡¯ll mess you up.¡± He stared at me with a protective intensity, like a father intimidating his daughter¡¯s new boyfriend, then continued on his way without waiting for a response. ¡°Quite beloved, aren¡¯t you?¡± I commented. It seemed she had won the team over in just the few days they¡¯d been together, which hinted that she wasn¡¯t as bad as I¡¯d initially assumed. There was just one more test I needed to conduct to be sure. ¡°This way.¡± Hilda opened the third room on the left and stepped inside. The room was spacious enough to accommodate five people, as evidenced by the four beds lined up ¡ª two on each side ¡ª and an open area near the window that could fit a sleeping bag. Between each pair of beds was a small nightstand crafted from basalt rock. Atop each nightstand rested a small orb of dark orange light powered by Light Runes. The simple yet functional arrangement was a promising sign. They might truly be who they claimed to be. Hilda moved around the room, placing four pieces of paper in the corners. Once she finished, she tore the last piece in her hands, conjuring a translucent dome that shimmered briefly before settling into place around us. ¡°Now we can talk freely.¡± She dusted her hands off and resumed her position behind Aria. Before I could say anything, Hilda preemptively answered a question that had popped into my mind. ¡°Ragna knows who we are, so we get slightly better accommodations,¡± she explained. They had money to spare and were casually using a high-level item ¡ª something that only someone at 3rd Ascension or higher could create ¡ª as though it were an everyday tool. Another promising sign. Aria pulled down her hood. ¡°Once again, please forgive me for dragging you all the way here,¡± she began, her violet eyes steady. ¡°But as I mentioned before, I want to purchase your method of dispelling the crimson fog.¡± Her voice carried a resolute undertone, her gaze unwavering as if she were prepared to stake something significant on this request. ¡°Sure,¡± I agreed immediately. Both of them stared at me, wide-eyed, letting their guard down. ¡°¡­Eh?¡± Aria let out a small, bewildered sound, as though the simplicity of my reply had short-circuited her expectations. Her body trembled slightly, and tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes, though she quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief. Her reaction seemed genuine enough. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly, sounding relief. Hilda, still composed, retrieved the money pouch and extended it toward me, but I raised my hand to stop her. ¡°Before we proceed with this trade, you need to know something. I haven¡¯t tested this method on a person. It was created specifically for¡­ let¡¯s call it a special purpose for the Frost Elf. The process I used on their infected patients required me to act personally. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not something anyone else can replicate.¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll come to Tkarion with us to help my mother?¡± Aria asked, her voice tinged with hope. ¡°No,¡± I said, shaking my head firmly. ¡°This might sound rude, but there are things I need to do. Things that might seem insane to everyone else, but are necessary nonetheless.¡± Aria¡¯s face fell. Hilda¡¯s sharp eyes settled on me, unreadable, as she interjected. ¡°Then what do you suggest, young man?¡± Calm and steadfast. This knight was clearly more capable than she appeared. I smiled slightly. ¡°I propose teaching you a new method. One that anyone can use, but it may carry some risks. Because it¡¯s untested and risky, I won¡¯t accept any payment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good enough,¡± Hilda said, shaking her head. ¡°Her Majesty¡¯s life isn¡¯t something to gamble with¡­¡± She stopped mid-sentence when Aria turned back and looked at her. For a moment, the two exchanged a silent conversation with their eyes. Then, with a sigh, Hilda stepped back and let Aria speak. ¡°I¡¯ll take any chance,¡± Aria said firmly. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her, and her hands clenched tightly in her lap. ¡°As long as it can heal my mother.¡± One final question, then. ¡°Before I share the method, there¡¯s something I need to know.¡± I looked directly at Aria. ¡°Do you know Marcie Xanderson?¡± Chapter 18: Let the festival begin ¡°Marcie Xanderson? Leader of the mercenary group my father hired to fight the war against the Fiend Forgers?¡± Aria asked. Her expression shifted to confusion for a moment before realization dawned. ¡°Is she related to you?¡± ¡°Ahem, Your Highness,¡± Hilda coughed gently. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Hilda.¡± Aria waved her off. ¡°I¡¯m sure he already knows. And since we¡¯re working together, trust is important.¡± That confirmed it. She was indeed Tkarion¡¯s princess and her knight. Only the Protector and his close aides knew who my elder sister¡¯s true client was. Publicly, the story was that a wealthy merchant had hired Marcie to support the war. The real reason? I didn''t know. But I had my guesses. Politics is a headache in any world. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my elder sister,¡± I said with a nod. ¡°So, before I give you the method, I need you to make an oath. No matter the outcome, you will not punish my family if the method fails. I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re saying your life is as important as Her Majesty¡¯s?¡± Hilda¡¯s eyes narrowed. I didn¡¯t back down. I met her gaze steadily. ¡°A life is a life.¡± I braced myself for the negotiation to fall apart. In my experience, there were always people who valued resources such as reputation above all else. But instead of anger, Hilda threw her head back and laughed. Pulling out a wine bottle from seemingly nowhere, she took a big gulp. ¡°Young man,¡± she said with a grin, ¡°why don¡¯t you join the Blazing Blade Brigade?¡± I replied flatly. ¡°No thanks. I have my own things to do.¡± Hilda chuckled, swirling the bottle in her hand. ¡°You want collateral to guarantee we won¡¯t harm your sister, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± I nodded. ¡°How do you plan on doing that?¡± she asked, raising a curious brow. ¡°With a contract crafted using Runes." Hilda eyed me intently, then burst into laughter, slapping her thigh. ¡°Well, call me a dummy and hit me with a training sword. A [Level 12] can make a Soul Bound Contract.¡± So the Restriction Deal is called a Soul Bound Contract in this world. Noted. ¡°Do we have a deal?¡± I extended my hand, allowing them to misunderstand the mechanics on their own. ¡°It¡¯s a dea...¡± Aria stepped forward but was abruptly interrupted. Hilda grabbed her from behind, lifted her effortlessly, and tossed her onto the nearby bed. ¡°You got yourself a deal, young man.¡± Hilda clasped my hand firmly, shaking it in Aria¡¯s stead. For a moment, nothing happened. Hilda¡¯s eyes darted down at our hands, then back to my face. ¡°Is that Soul Bound Contract thing just a lie to see our rea...¡± Before she could finish, a runic symbol appeared on the backs of our hands, glowing with golden light. Since I hadn¡¯t prepared a contract beforehand, I asked the Frost Elf¡¯s World Tree to do it through the golden leaf it gave me. Turns out, communicating with the tree through its leaves was quite convenient. It was like a mobile phone. But the only speed dial in the list was toward the tree. Focusing on the newly-formed Runes, I allowed my consciousness to dive into the Rune Space. The contract¡¯s structure emerged before me ¡ª a circular design like other Runes in this world. Its rim was composed of words stacked in layers, forming cryptic, incomprehensible sentences. Inside the circle, countless runic symbols detailed the contract¡¯s content, with two empty spots glowing at the bottom. Those must be where our Mana signatures go to seal the deal. Following that realization, I placed my navy blue, smoke-like Qi into the right spot while Hilda infused her Mana on the left. Her Mana glowed in vibrant shades of orange, red, and yellow, burning brightly like a raging flame. Once the contract was sealed, the runic symbols on our hands sank into our skin and disappeared. An electric sensation shot down my spine, digging into my very soul. I clenched my fist instinctively as the energy settled. The burning words etched into my mind appeared to stem from various types of Runes. Some seemed connected to the soul, while logged into the mind. My hypothesis was that the soul-bound Runes served as an ¡°execution blade¡± of sorts, while the mental Runes functioned as a monitoring system to ensure we followed our part of the deal. *Ding [Runes Crafting Level up: Level 4 ¨C> 5] Interesting. Crafting Runes wasn¡¯t the only way to deepen my understanding of them. ¡°Impressive.¡± Hilda held up her hand, turning it as though inspecting the now-absent symbol. ¡°You actually did it.¡± ¡°All I can say is that I didn¡¯t create this Soul Bound Contract myself. So, I wouldn¡¯t overestimate me too much if I were you.¡± Drawing attention was good for building rapport, but too much of it usually brought unwanted trouble.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Hilda, what did you agree to?¡± Aria grabbed the knight¡¯s hand, her voice edged with concern. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Your Highness. He¡¯ll teach us his method to dispel the crimson fog. If it works, we¡¯ll protect his elder sister to the best of our ability. If it doesn¡¯t, and we harm his family in retaliation, I¡¯ll simply die for breaking the contract.¡± Hilda shrugged like she¡¯d agreed to go out to buy bread. ¡°What?¡± The little princess snapped her head toward me, her expression fierce. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too overbearing? We of the Leonheart bloodline never break our promises. How could you impose such a condition on our Champion?¡± Her words were heavy with indignation. ¡°Previous Champion, Your Highness,¡± Hilda corrected with a playful smirk, pulling gently at Aria¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I retired. Remember?¡± ¡°Whose side are you on, Grandma Hilda?¡± Aria grumbled, rubbing her reddening cheeks. Copying the knight¡¯s earlier nonchalant shrug, I watched as Hilda burst into hearty laughter. She really seemed to enjoy laughing from the bottom of her heart. I liked that. Before Aria could continue her rant, I interjected with a smile. ¡°Shall we proceed?¡± ***** After teaching Aria and Hilda the method I had shared with the Frost Elf, I handed them three World Tree leaves and left. As I closed the door, Sera''s voice caught my attention. "I''ve been looking everywhere for you," she said, puffing her cheeks. "Who would have thought you were off doing something indecent while I was running around doing all sorts of work." ¡°What do you mean by ¡®indecent¡¯? I was helping out our elder sister.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Helping out by making connections?¡± Sera waggled her eyebrows playfully, wearing a smug grin. She made a perverted gesture with her fingers ¡ª forming a circle with her left hand and repeatedly poking her right index finger through it. ¡­I forgot my sister is a pervert. Well, I suppose it¡¯s better to be lively than to end up withered like me. ¡°No,¡± I said flatly. ¡°It was a straightforward deal where both sides benefit. Nothing like what you¡¯re imagining, pervert. Did you finish what I asked?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sera replied, handing me the Image Keeper. Then, with a slightly hesitant tone, she added, ¡°¡­Do you really think this will help big sis Elfina? It¡¯s¡­ kind of sad.¡± Her expression turned complicated. I understood what she meant. This wasn¡¯t something to celebrate, but it was something that needed to be done. ¡°It¡¯s not about making her happy,¡± I said, tapping her arm. ¡°It¡¯s about preserving the memories of our loved ones.¡± Sera nodded. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s finish this before tomorrow.¡± ***** The next day, the small trading festival began. In the square, people displayed their modest collections of items for trade. The Frost Elf primarily offered fruits and herbs, while my clansmen brought mead. Members of the expedition team contributed everyday necessities like clothes, hides, leather, knives, hammers, and iron ore. Seemingly mundane items but invaluable in the north, where such items were scarce. The festival itself had minimal decoration. A few vines hung from the surrounding igloos, and at the center of the square stood a massive log cabin-style bonfire, towering twice the height of a man. Its warmth radiated through the chilly air. Around the fire, Elves had placed flower crowns, adding a touch of charm to the scene. Those not selling goods roamed the square, eating fruits or sipping on purple wine made from the World Tree¡¯s fruits. Just as Thnari had said, they truly knew how to celebrate, especially with their willingness to offer their special wine freely. It wasn¡¯t elaborate enough to be called a festival by most standards, but it was perfect for us. Smiles filled the square, laughter echoed through the air, and people were simply enjoying themselves. That was all that mattered. After setting up the Image Keeper and Image Caster, I headed toward the place I was most curious about ¡ª the Huskil breeding ground. Tucked away in a corner to the left of the Frost Elf¡¯s garden, adult Huskils lounged lazily while their pups darted around, nipping at one another in playful bouts. The Huskils resembled enormous huskies, with glowing yellow wolf-like eyes that gave them an otherworldly aura. Despite their fur appearing coarse and sandy, it was surprisingly smooth and soft to the touch. They were happily munching on fruits from the garden and meat from animals hunted during trips with the hunters. As the baby Huskil I was looking for ran up to me and bit my shoe, I picked him up and rubbed his belly. He let out an adorable yipping sound, his little body squirming with delight. For a moment, I let myself relax, enjoying the playful energy of the dogs. Who knew if I would ever have the free time to do this again? ¡°Are you here to check on him?¡± the garden caretaker asked, peeking out from behind a tree. ¡°No, he¡¯s already in good hands,¡± I replied, shaking my head. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± I wanted to confirm things one last time. She smiled warmly and nodded. ¡°Everything¡¯s set.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go finish things on my end.¡± Putting the pup down, I gave him a gentle pat on the head before heading back. By the time I returned, the festival was winding down, and the mood had shifted. It was time for the closing ceremony. Around the central campfire, twenty Elves sat with flower crowns resting on their heads. The atmosphere grew solemn as they held leaves from the World Tree and began singing their sacred song. The gentle harmony of their voices reverberated through the square, carrying a sense of reverence and unity that even the cold northern wind couldn¡¯t touch. ¡°? I call upon your light tonight, Guardians of land and sky, Watch over all we¡¯ve sown beneath the stars. Let the fields forever grow, rivers gently flow, Keep the winds that blow soft and slow, Close your eyes and grant us all your grace, Shelter this place. When does, the seed become the harvest? When does, the rain become the song? When will the sky protect the weary? When does the shield hold when, the nights are long? When does, the earth find calm in sorrow? When will the day bring us tomo-o-orrow? ?¡± When the golden leaves floated upward, glowing as if imbued with life, I realized this song was also in tune with Harmony ¡ª just like Sera¡¯s singing. *Ding [You have experienced Eldoria¡¯s native Harmony. Level up: Level 12 ¨C> 13] I raised an eyebrow and commented, ¡°Well, that was random. Thirteen, huh? Hope I¡¯m not jinxing myself here.¡± ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Sera asked, standing beside me. ¡°Ready as it¡¯ll ever be.¡± I turned to see Elfina talking with her parents. She was smiling, but her eyes betrayed her true emotions. Are the people of this world born strong, or do they simply have no choice but to become so? As the closing ceremony song came to an end and the singing Elves quietly departed, Thnari stepped forward, standing before the giant log cabin fire. He glanced at me, then at the elders gathered behind him, giving a silent signal to begin. It was time for Eldoria¡¯s first video. Chapter 19: The world’s first video ?Thnari¡¯s voice boomed across the square. ¡°My kin and guests from afar, thank you for joining us. Today, we celebrate the freedom of our kin from the crimson shackles those vile Fiend Forgers forced upon us. Today, we look back to honor those who have fallen and those who are still fighting.¡± He paused, scanning the small crowd gathered before him. ¡°Our lifelong friends from the Xanderson Clan have helped us create something remarkable. Records. Records that will forever remind us of our kin, our home, and our duty.¡± He signaled to the elders behind him, who conjured a floating ice block to act as a movie screen. The ice block hovered before the campfire, the orange flames casting a warm glow that highlighted its frame. Though the fire¡¯s flickering light slightly distorted the image quality, it was the best setup we could manage for now. Thnari turned to me, nodding. ¡°My friend.¡± I nodded back and inserted the Image Keeper¡¯s crystal into the Image Caster. As the Caster whirred to life, the crystal lit up, and the first images were projected onto the ice screen. Gasps rippled through the audience as the images appeared. Many whispered in awe, murmuring, ¡°Ohh,¡± or ¡°Ahh,¡± while someone said, ¡°It¡¯s like a play without actors!¡± Two members of the expedition team went wide-eyed, furiously jotting notes in their notebooks. The video began with an Elven couple welcoming their firstborn into the world. ¡°Look, look, that¡¯s us!¡± The husband in the crowd beamed, pointing at the screen. He turned to his wife, who held their infant in her arms. ¡°That¡¯s us, little one,¡± he said, smiling down at their child with a goofy grin only a proud father could muster. ¡°To think we can relive this moment. Even after our child grows up, it will not be lost,¡± the wife said, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away, her smile warm. The people around them all smiled with the couple as the video continued, showing a nervous husband pacing outside a closed door. ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Sera¡¯s voice came from the video, eliciting laughter from the crowd. Onscreen, the husband scratched his cheek with a sheepish smile, drawing more laughter and heartfelt comments from those watching. ¡°You might not understand this yet since you¡¯re still young, but I¡¯m already three hundred and forty-two years old. My wife and I have been married for over two hundred and fifty years.¡± The man fiddled with the obsidian ring on his finger, his voice as soft as jelly. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and yet the Guardians only blessed us with a child now. How can I not be nervous?¡± ¡°Is there any message you¡¯d like to share with your child for the future?¡± Sera asked. ¡°A message for my child in the future?¡± The man pinched his chin, his gaze drifting downward as he fell into thought. After about ten seconds, he looked back up with a bright smile. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I want my little sun to remember, it¡¯s¡­¡± Before he could finish, the cry of a newborn echoed from behind the closed door. The man¡¯s head snapped back, and without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he bolted into the room. The screen went black. ¡°What the?¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Is something broken?¡± murmurs rippled through the crowd. ¡°Why did the play stop halfway?¡± someone from the expedition team commented, clearly confused. The screen lit up again, and this time it showed an Elf hunting alongside his Huskil companion. The video followed them as they traversed snowy terrain, tracked Snow Hares, hunted three down, and returned with their games. ¡°Is this all you needed from me, little miss?¡± the hunter asked, looking toward the camera. ¡°Yes, this is perfect. Now, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?¡± Sera¡¯s voice responded. ¡°Please. I owe your brother my life. Answering a few questions is the least I can do.¡± The hunter rubbed his Huskil¡¯s thick fur, earning a contented purr from the good boy, or girl. ¡°What did you feel when you were infected by the crimson fog?¡± ¡°Dreadful,¡± the hunter replied without hesitation. ¡°In my eyes, my kin turned into monsters, and my loved ones turned into ghosts. The rage I felt toward my helpless self ate away at me day by day. It was like living in a never-ending nightmare where I wanted nothing more than to destroy everything. I thought I¡¯d never wake up from it.¡± ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Sera continued her questioning. ¡°Never better.¡± The hunter slapped his chest with a bright smile. ¡°I can breathe the fresh air without feeling like I¡¯m inhaling flames. I can run on my own two feet through the chilling snow. I can feel the warm sun on my skin while fishing on the frozen river.¡± He hopped off his Huskil companion, reaching up to pluck a brown fruit from a low-hanging tree branch.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°It¡¯s the smallest things that bring me the most joy. Things I never noticed before. Things I took for granted.¡± The camera bobbed up and down slightly as if Sera were nodding in agreement. ¡°Last question. If you could send one message to the people who will watch this record in the future, what would you say?¡± The hunter paused, his face thoughtful. Then he grinned and said, ¡°You only live once, so live as hard as you can. That¡¯s coming from an Elf.¡± He laughed like he had just delivered the punchline to the world''s greatest joke. From the crowd, his friend slapped him on the back. ¡°Look at you, you scoundrel, trying to be all cool.¡± The hunter laughed. ¡°Yeah, I guess I¡¯m pretty cool,¡± he replied, and the two of them erupted into refreshing laughter. The video continued to play similar scenes of people who had recovered from the crimson fog. Afterward, it shifted to the families of those who had lost loved ones to the fog. Their sadness was evident, but so was their resilience. Each message left behind carried a sense of hope and determination. Finally, the screen showed Elfina¡¯s father, Zenth, and her mother, Surin, sitting beside the quilt that covered Abby. Elfina stared at the screen unblinkingly, her hands clenched so tightly they had turned pale. Her expression hardened with every passing second. ¡°May you return to the Guardians¡¯ embrace,¡± Surin prayed softly. Following her prayer, Elfina¡¯s parents began to sing their people¡¯s song while carrying Abby to his final resting place ¡ª a tree inside the Frost Elf¡¯s garden. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Elfina turned to her parents, her voice trembling. She almost choked on the words as she struggled to speak. ¡°I had the right to be there when we returned him to the Guardians¡¯ embrace.¡± As if in response to her anguish, the Surin in the video turned toward the camera and spoke, using the nickname only those closest to Elfina knew. ¡°Ina, look toward the garden.¡± As the screen faded to black, the crowd instinctively turned their eyes toward the garden. From the garden¡¯s edge, the caretaker emerged, holding the little pup I had played with earlier. She walked slowly toward Elfina, her steps deliberate and careful. ¡°This is your companion¡¯s child,¡± the caretaker said softly, handing the pup to Elfina. ¡°Please raise him well.¡± Elfina reached out with trembling hands toward the pup. When the small Huskil looked up at her, she froze for a moment. Sensing her hesitation, the pup leaned forward and licked her fingers. Her eyes quivered as she slowly took the little Huskil into her arms. Tears streamed down her face as she sank to her knees, crying loudly while hugging Abby¡¯s son. The people around her joined in a group hug, wrapping her in their shared warmth and compassion. I smiled softly. At least she didn¡¯t have to act strong anymore. The screen flickered back on, transitioning to the final scene. Or rather, the continuation of the first scene. The video returned to the husband and wife who had just welcomed their newest family member. After the baby let out his first cry, the husband burst into the room. The camera didn¡¯t follow him inside. The video cut ahead, skipping a few seconds to show the couple stepping out of the room with their newborn. They gazed lovingly at their baby, a wide smile stretching across their faces. ¡°You asked me what I want to say to my little sun in the future, right? It¡¯s simple.¡± The husband looked up at the camera as the baby grabbed his index finger. ¡°Son, greet the world with open arms. Things might be painful now, but it¡¯s only temporary. Every storm will pass eventually." He smiled, choosing his words carefully. "And remember, unless you decide otherwise, tomorrow is always a better day.¡± The screen faded to black as I turned off the Image Caster. My work here was done. *Ding [You have created a new way to experience Harmony and share it. Level up: Level 13 ¨C> 16] [You have introduced new ways to experience Harmony for more than 100 people. You will now gain Experience Points based on the number of individuals who engage with the Harmony you¡¯ve created] Sweet. Passive Experience Point. Amidst the tearful yet warm and joyous atmosphere, I allowed myself a quiet celebration. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. My instincts flared, and I found myself scanning the surroundings for the source of the unease. Then it hit me. Elder Aaron and that haggard scholar were nowhere to be found. ***** ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Aaron stopped in front of the altar, oblivious to the faint gleam of light reflecting off the crystal surface above him. ¡°Time to fulfill your role.¡± The haggard scholar clutched the lily-embroidered patch on his chest with trembling hands. He took a deep breath, his voice shaking as he asked, ¡°Elder Aaron, will you people truly leave my family alone once I do this?¡± Aaron didn¡¯t bother answering. Instead, his voice dripped with disdain as he retorted, ¡°What choice do you have?¡± He sneered before turning to leave. ¡°They won¡¯t die, and we won¡¯t harm them. You have my word.¡± Left alone, the scholar looked up at the dome above him. Tears streamed down his face as memories of fleeting happiness replayed in his mind, a life now out of reach. ¡°Please forgive this worthless father of yours, Lincy. I couldn¡¯t give you a peaceful childhood. And Nina¡­ please forgive this failure of a husband. I failed to provide for you and made you endure so much hardship.¡± He collapsed to his knees, his body wracked with sobs as he repeated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Moments passed before he rose, his expression hardening. ¡°At least with my death, you won¡¯t suffer from the debt anymore.¡± His voice carried a bitter resolve. Then, with a venomous hiss, he spat, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that Xanderson bastard¡­ it¡¯s all because of him.¡± The scholar removed his outer clothing, revealing skin marked by layers of subspaces, each stuffed with Demonic Qi. With trembling fingers, he activated a Rune, shattering every subspace. ¡°Aaaaagh!¡± He screamed in agony as Demonic Qi erupted from his body, surging upward and slamming into the wooden dome above. The reaction was instantaneous. The Demonic Qi triggered a catastrophic chain reaction, causing the subspaces embedded in the Isolation World Tree¡¯s trunk to burst one after another. Crimson fog spilled out in waves, spreading rapidly until it enveloped the entire tree, painting it in a sinister red haze. ***** The deafening sound of shattering glass erupted in the air, forcing everyone to cover their ears. It reverberated like a violent symphony, leaving no corner untouched. ¡°What is happening?¡± someone screamed, their voice barely cutting through the chaos. ¡°The¡­ the great tree!¡± a woman cried, pointing a trembling finger toward the sky. All eyes followed her gesture to see a dense column of crimson fog spiraling upward, piercing the heavens like a jagged wound in the sky. Commands were barked in an attempt to restore order amidst the chaos. But for me, amidst the deafening noise and the growing despair, my focus was on the notification that appeared in my mind. *Ding [Subquest updated] =============== Sub quest: Infected tree | Status: FAIL | Consequences: ¨C The Isolation World Tree has been contaminated. The Great Barrier is breached. Abyss Crawler will now flood south. =============== ¡°Fuck!¡± I cursed and dashed toward the Frost¡¯s Elf World Tree. Chapter 20: What we fight for (1) ¡°Elder Kuva, gather half of our warriors into formation and prepare for combat. Go to The Great Barrier and protect our village. If there¡¯s any unexpected situation, report back to me immediately!¡± Thnari barked out orders with the urgency of a man preparing for war. ¡°The rest, come with me to The Great Tree.¡± ¡°YES, ELDER!¡± The Elves moved swiftly as if they had trained for this exact moment all their lives. Thnari and Zenth ran alongside me, our steps pounding against the frozen ground as we raced toward their World Tree. My breath came in short bursts as I asked the question weighing on my mind. ¡°What happened? Do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± The two exchanged grim looks before Thnari answered, his tone heavy. ¡°It¡¯s as we feared. The Great Tree could no longer hold back the crimson fog. It¡¯s spreading.¡± His eyes darted toward the towering World Tree, now ablaze with an unnatural crimson, then shifted to the crack that had appeared on The Great Barrier. ¡°May the Guardians have mercy on us all.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it too soon to give up?¡± I clenched my fists, holding back harsher words. ¡°We are Frost Elf elders, Karl,¡± Zenth said, his voice calm but resolute. ¡°We have two sacred duties: to protect The Great Tree and to protect our people. But¡­¡± His voice faltered slightly before hardening. ¡°To me, our people come first.¡± I turned to Thnari, his silence spoke volumes. They had made their choice. The lives of their people over the life of their tree ¡ª a decision that went against everything the Elf was meant to stand for. I smiled faintly, the bitter kind that carried the weight of too much experience. Something never changes, no matter what world. ¡°We haven¡¯t crossed that bridge yet,¡± I said, then pushed myself to run faster. When we reached the base of the enormous stairs, a collective gasp erupted from the Elves around us. The sight before us was worse than I had imagined. The World Tree, once majestic and full of life, now burned with the malevolent crimson of Parasitic Demonic Qi. Its leaves had withered into nothing but ash, and its bark fell away in chunks, crumbling like brittle paper to the ground below. The tree looked as if it were engulfed in a living inferno ¡ª a fire that consumed not just wood but the essence of life itself. All the Frost Elves present wore expressions of rage or bitterness, their emotions etched deeply into their faces. Not a single one was untouched by the sight. ¡°We were too late,¡± one of the Elves muttered. No, we weren¡¯t too late. There was still a chance. We had arrived too late to preserve the tree as it once was, but not too late to salvage what remained. ¡°How does a World Tree reproduce?¡± I turned sharply and asked. ¡°What?¡± Thnari, Zenth, and every Elf who heard me looked at me like I had lost my mind. Their confusion was palpable, their stares accusing me of madness. ¡°If you want to save your World Tree, tell me how it reproduces,¡± I shouted, my patience wearing thin. This was a tree sustained by faith itself. Surely, its reproduction process was as unique as its nature ¡ª one that didn¡¯t rely on mere fruits and seeds. ¡°When a World Tree nears the end of its life, it grants the priestess of the Elven race that worships it a sapling, condensed from its remaining power. That sapling will become a new World Tree,¡± Zenth explained rapidly. I nodded in understanding and turned to Thnari. From the look on his face, I could see he grasped the direction I was taking. ¡°My kin!¡± Thnari¡¯s voice roared, carrying over the growing tension, commanding attention from every Frost Elf present. ¡°The great tree faces the greatest danger it has ever known. Our best hope now is to help The Great Tree condense a new sapling and leave behind its old self. DO YOU HEAR ME?¡± ¡°Elder, we can¡¯t abandon The Great Tree like this. Without it, we have no home!¡± a man protested, his voice trembling. ¡°That¡¯s right, Elder! And what if the great tree can¡¯t produce a sapling in this state? Does it even have enough blessings left to do so?¡± a woman added, her words striking a chord with several others. More voices joined, speaking their opinions ¡ª some in support of Thnari, others hesitant, unwilling to let go. ¡°Do any of you have a better idea?¡± Thnari bellowed, his roar silencing every protest and quashing the murmurs of doubt. A man turned to me and asked, ¡°Young friend, you were the one who removed the crimson fog from us and came up with a way to dispel it from The Great Tree. What do you think we should do?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. At his words, all eyes fell on me. Seriously, though, we didn¡¯t have time for this shit. I made sure to make that abundantly clear. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this shit,¡± I snapped, my scowl making some of them drop their jaws. ¡°Either stand here and watch your World Tree die, or try to condense a sapling for even a slim chance of saving it. Choose.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± the man began, his voice faltering. ¡°Choose.¡± I mimicked Thnari¡¯s commanding tone. Many of them still hesitated. Until a woman shouted, ¡°I want to save The Great Tree!¡± Her words were like a spark igniting a flame. One by one, others echoed her sentiment, their collective voices declaring their intent. ¡°Good,¡± I nodded. ¡°Elder Zenth, how can we help the World Tree condense a sapling?¡± ¡°We need Elfina,¡± Zenth explained quickly. ¡°She must perform the ritual by praying inside the sanctuary''s core while we offer our own prayers from outside. But with The Great Tree covered in fog, anyone who gets too close will die.¡± His explanation jogged my memory of the bonfire scene earlier, where their singing had caused the World Tree¡¯s leaves to float and glow. That might have been a form of prayer in tune with Harmony. I glanced toward the sanctuary''s core at the top of the giant stairway. The Parasitic Demonic Qi had formed a dense gate, barring entry. That wasn¡¯t something mindless Qi should be capable of doing. Someone was inside. Then it hit me. I still hadn¡¯t retrieved the Recording Crystal I left in the sanctuary. If Aaron or that scholar had done something reckless¡­ Oh... They already had. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan,¡± I said loudly, pointing at the sanctuary¡¯s core. ¡°I¡¯ll head in there and clear out the fog, preventing it from harming anyone else. Meanwhile, all of you will fetch Elfina and set up the ritual so we can start as soon as I finish.¡± I paused, making my next point crystal clear. ¡°Do not. I repeat, DO NOT, let anyone enter the sanctuary¡¯s core until I say so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s insa...¡± Zenth said, but he stopped mid-sentence when he met my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can do it,¡± I said firmly, leaving no room for argument. ¡°¡­We¡¯re counting on you, friend.¡± Thnari stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it two firm taps before turning to the others. ¡°Zenth, go get your daughter.¡± Zenth hesitated, his expression conflicted, before surprising me with a brief, tight hug. He stepped back, his voice unsteady with emotion as he said. ¡°Don¡¯t die, son-in-law.¡± ¡°What?¡± I blurted out, stunned by his choice of words. But before I could demand an explanation, he was already hurrying away. There was no time to dwell on that, so I tossed the comment to the back of my mind and focused. My priority was to clear enough of the Parasitic Demonic Qi for the ritual to proceed. And do it fast. As I sprinted up the stairs, a booming noise echoed across the square, silencing the chaotic clamor below. A bad feeling gnawed at my gut as I glanced toward The Great Barrier. Sure enough, another massive crack had appeared on the frozen tsunami. From the widening fracture, black dots spilled out, falling to the ground. They writhed briefly before rising, dragging themselves toward the Frost Elf''s and a few of the expedition members'' hastily assembled defense line. My gaze shifted to the opposite side, where chaos reigned. Some members of the expedition stayed to fight alongside the Elf, but others fled, abandoning the battlefield in favor of their own survival. I didn¡¯t blame them. It was a choice I¡¯d seen made countless times before when they put saving strangers and saving yourself on a scale. When I reached the crimson gate, the Parasitic Demonic Qi roared in delight, shooting tendrils toward me. ¡°Meager thing.¡± I activated [Plundering Qi], grabbing the tendrils and devouring them with full force. This was a perfect opportunity to test how much Qi my core could handle before it reached its limit. To my surprise, my core wasn¡¯t even close to full after I absorbed the entire gate. A thought struck me suddenly. If my core can hold this much Qi, how the hell did it get drained so quickly when I fought that Bearowl? The answer came sooner than expected. As I used White Tiger to dodge a fireball hurled at me, I felt the familiar sensation of Qi spilling from my core. That was it. My core had an impressive capacity, but the leakage caused by Void Heart whenever I used martial arts was staggering. Under normal conditions, it only leaked a drop of Qi every second. But when I used martial techniques, it gushed out like scooping up buckets of water inside a flooded bathroom then threw it all out the window. Hardship stacking on hardship, eh? No wonder the previous Karl died while crafting the Recording Crystal. The sheer Mana expenditure must have been overwhelming. He didn¡¯t have my technique for reducing the leakage or my cheat ability to refill Qi quickly. I clicked my tongue, frustrated at the cruel fate that had been forced upon him. For such a kind young man to meet such an end. It was fucking ridiculous. But there was no time to dwell on it. I shifted my focus to the source of the fireball. Standing before me was the haggard scholar, but he didn¡¯t look like the man I¡¯d seen earlier. Crimson Qi wrapped around him like a malevolent shroud, and his eyes glowed blood red. His body was grotesquely warped, a stark contrast to the Bearowl I¡¯d faced before. The Bearowl, at least, had a strong enough body to handle the small amount of Demonic Qi within it. This man, however, didn¡¯t. Without a suitable host body, the Demonic Qi had invaded his life force, breaking it down and reshaping it into something more fitting for its purpose. The result was a twisted, corrupted form. A mockery of the man he once was. Thus stood the man before me, his flesh grotesquely swollen and distorted beyond recognition. His bald head was webbed with throbbing black veins, each pulsing at a different rhythm, as if a chaotic orchestra played beneath his skin. Cracks formed across his body, revealing spasming muscles beneath. Blood seeped from ruptured veins, dark red streaks coating his warped figure. Jagged bones jutted out from his flesh, only to stab back into his body, reconnecting in a grotesque mockery of their natural form. His nose, nails, and toenails had rotted and fallen away, leaving gaping, raw patches. Saliva oozed uncontrollably from his mouth, making him look like a rabid animal. His right hand was still outstretched after conjuring the fireball he had hurled at me earlier. His left hand clutched tightly at the tattered remains of his cloak. From the gaps between his bloodied fingers, I caught a glimpse of that same embroidered lily flower. His empty and lost eyes searched me over, moving from head to toe. At first, his expression wavered, a flicker of recognition sparking within the chaos of his shattered mind. For a moment, I thought he might regain his reasoning, transforming into a far more dangerous foe. But he didn¡¯t. Instead, he screamed, his shrill voice cracked. It was the wail of a man broken beyond repair. ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± he shrieked, his tone laced with blame and desperation. ¡°It¡¯s your fault. This was supposed to be just a scouting mission. But he forced me to do this.¡± His massive, misshapen right hand, now grotesquely swollen to the size of a dining table, swung downward in a blind, chaotic smash, shaking the ground beneath us. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten that order. I wouldn¡¯t have been forced into this!¡± he cried, his voice rising to a maddening pitch. ¡°My home, my wife, my daughter¡­¡± Each word he screamed carried more anguish, his tone spiraling into a crescendo of fury and despair. He turned toward me, his hollow eyes filled with searing hatred, and charged. Conjuring another fireball ¡ª this one as massive as his grotesque hand ¡ª he hurled it toward me with all the rage and madness of a man consumed by despair. ¡°IT¡¯S ALL YOUR FAULT!¡± Despite his outburst, my attention was on the System¡¯s message. Chapter 21: What we fight for (2) *Ding [You have received a subquest] =============== Subquest: The Great Barrier | Description: The Frost Elf faces their second greatest calamity ¡ª the fall of the Isolation World Tree. Without intervention, both the Isolation World Tree and the Frost Elf will face complete annihilation. | Objective: Support a fated one and prevent the destruction of The Great Barrier. | Reward: ¨C Experience Point ¨C A new clue about the Guardians and the truth of this world ¨C Eternal gratitude from the Frost Elf and the chance to learn their secrets | Failure: ¨C The destruction of The Great Barrier ¨C The countdown to the world¡¯s end will begin =============== Count down to the end!? Shit! Read later, enemy first. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] I focused Qi into my legs and flickered away from my original spot. The fireball streaked past, slamming into the gate¡¯s frame with a deafening explosion. Flames erupted, scorching part of the frame and creating a burning fence in its wake. The heat radiating against my back made it clear that taking a direct hit from that thing would have turned me into a roasted Karl. He had shouted that his scouting mission was forcibly turned into this catastrophe, and the fact that he was inside the Frost Elf¡¯s sanctuary''s core confirmed a traitor among their ranks. More troublingly, he claimed he was following orders against his will. Was it the traitorous Elf who forced him? Or someone higher up the chain? Setting those thoughts aside, I narrowed my eyes and focused on the threat before me. His level. [Level 57]. I¡¯m sorry you can¡¯t go back to your wife and daughter, but I must kill you now. He had reached 1st Ascension and likely had time to adjust to his new Class. From the fireball he had launched, I deduced he had taken the [Elementalist] branch of the [Mage] Class. That meant he could wield Fire, Water, Earth, Air, or Wood ¡ª your typical, overused elements across too many worlds. Since he seemed to be a low-ranking member and a scapegoat, it was unlikely he was an exceptionally skilled mage. That suggested he¡¯d mastered a maximum of two elements. Fire was already confirmed. I only needed to watch out for the second. Who would¡¯ve thought that the conversation I had with Ragna about Runes, Skills, and Class would come in handy at a time like this? The scholar swung his massive right hand down at me, but I had already leaped out of the way long before his attack landed. Unlike when I fought against the Bearowl with a weak, unrefined body, my current body ¡ª refined to its peak ¡ª combined with years of combat experience, made his clumsy movements more an annoyance than a threat. The quickest and most painless way is to destroy his brain or his heart. As my gaze shifted toward his chest, I noticed something odd. His left hand was still tightly clutching the flower embroidery on his chest. He hadn¡¯t released it once, even amidst his blind rage. He¡¯d mentioned going home to his daughter and wife earlier, too. ¡°Go home to your daughter and wife, huh?¡± I muttered. His legs twitched, a clear sign he was about to jump. As expected, he lunged forward, slamming his right hand down in an effort to crush me. I sidestepped the attack with ease. Going back is impossible. You''ve mutated too much. Would his family mourn his corpse in sorrow, or would they recoil in terror and disgust at the grotesque thing he had become for their sakes? The question lingered in my mind as I dodged again, this time evading a wide, clumsy swing from his right arm after he twisted his waist 180 degrees. I sighed as I looked at the man who had truly lost everything.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. At least his face hasn¡¯t mutated. The others might still be able to identify him from that. It was unlikely that a disposable pawn like him carried any useful intelligence about the Demonic Arts users. Killing him and investigating his family might yield more clues. But still, there was no need to obliterate his face, just in case he had used a fake identity. His wife and daughter might be a fail-safe to confirm who he really was. The brain is a no-go. Too much risk of collateral damage. My gaze settled on his heart ¡ª right where his left hand protectively clutched the flower embroidery. I made my decision. Gathering Qi into my palm and legs, I shot forward, aiming for the heart of the monstrosity that had long since lost every trace of humanity. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] Qi surged through my legs as I launched a side thrust kick into the scholar''s right shoulder, shoving his massive arm away and exposing his chest. Using the momentum, I anchored myself to the ground and channeled almost all of my Qi into my palm. My strike landed squarely on his heart, drilling his left hand. Madness twisted his face as his neck muscles spasmed and stretched unnaturally. His neck extended, jaws snapping as he tried to bite me, but I had already flickered away using White Tiger, staying well out of his range. I wasn¡¯t about to repeat the same mistake I made with the Bearowl. Focusing on his chest, I analyzed the damage. Disappointingly, the fortifications from his Demonic Qi-empowered body had blunted my attack. The strike left a gory hole in the back of his hand, exposing the bone beneath, but it wasn¡¯t enough to pierce his palm, let alone his chest. That was my strongest attack, too. Worse still, the wound was already healing. Rapidly. Unlike the Bearowl, this scholar knew how to use Demonic Qi to heal. One of the reasons Demonic Arts users were so notoriously difficult to kill was precisely this. They could burn their own life force to recover from injuries, a trait unique to Demonic Qi. ¡°Burn life force to heal,¡± I muttered, my gaze narrowing as an idea took shape. This scholar wasn¡¯t a seasoned Demonic Arts user. He lacked the technique to refine or enhance his life force, and he had no opportunity to steal life force to sustain himself. There was no one else here for him to drain. If I kept forcing him to heal, it would exhaust his life force completely. When he had nothing left to burn, he would die. The strategy was simple. Inflict wounds and force him to heal, letting his own Demonic Qi burn him out. I didn¡¯t need to risk a counterattack while trying to pierce his empowered body. With a plan in mind, I smashed the wall behind me, devouring the Qi in the broken bark that fell, then grabbed several pieces to use as throwing weapons. To keep my Qi reserves up, I broke my arm again. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] I used Blue Dragon to empower the broken barks, making them into deathly, piercing throwing weapons. *Ding [Four Directional Protectors Arts Level up: Level 2 ¨C> 3] The scholar charged at me again, still favoring his grotesque right arm for attacks while keeping his left hand protectively over his chest. He swung his massive arm down, attempting to crush me. I sidestepped and hurled a piece of tree bark at him. Qi spun the bark into a high-speed drill, honing it into a homing projectile aimed straight at his eyes. Before it could connect, he conjured a cluster of baseball-sized fireballs and incinerated the bark midair, reducing it to ash. Interesting. Expending Mana to use his Skills seemed to burn through his life force just as effectively as forcing him to heal. Either way, it worked in my favor. I widened the distance between us and kept up the barrage, throwing more pieces of tree bark while dodging the fireballs he hurled in retaliation. Each time he got too close, I used White Tiger, keeping me well out of his reach. When I ran out of bark, I smashed more pieces from the wall to restock. Fighting someone who had lost their mind was always straightforward. Like a rabid beast, he only knew how to charge forward and lash out. All I had to do was maintain the same rhythm: dodge, attack, repeat. Unlike with the Bearowl, I kept my distance at all times, never giving him the chance to land a blow. Each failed chase, every Skill he conjured, only drained more Mana and burned through his dwindling life force. Victory was simply a matter of time. After four minutes or so, the scholar was visibly deteriorating. His body showed clear signs of exhaustion as no more fireballs were hurled, his movements became sluggish, and parts of his grotesquely mutated body began to wither, taking on a mummified appearance. His bloated muscles could no longer support his swollen frame, forcing him to rely solely on his right arm to attack whenever I entered his range. Even so, I didn¡¯t let my guard down. One reason I maintained my distance was that the scholar hadn¡¯t used his second element yet. Either he didn¡¯t have one, or he instinctively reserved it as his trump card. As long as I kept my distance, I was safe. ¡°Sir Karl, reinforcements from Elder Aaron are here!¡± a stranger¡¯s voice called out, cutting through the tension like a knife and catching me off guard. FUCK. I cursed loudly in my mind, frustrated by the sudden intrusion. Turning my head for a split second, I spotted an Elf drawing his sword. His face was drenched in sweat, his breath came in short bursts, and his trembling hands betrayed his terror at the abomination before him. ¡°Get out of here and stop the others from coming, now!¡± I shouted. The scholar, on the brink of collapse, seemed to sense the fresh source of life force. Ignoring me completely, he roared and lunged at the newcomer with savage intent. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] I bolted forward, passing the scholar, and stopped in front of the Elf. Dodging wasn¡¯t an option. If I let the scholar reach this guy, he would consume the Elf life force and heal, undoing all the progress I¡¯d made. I needed this fool to run and stop any more ''reinforcements'' from coming. Facing him head-on was my only choice now. There was no room for hesitation. Risking an arm or a leg to land the final blow wasn¡¯t ideal. I¡¯d already shown too much to Sera, Lucy, and Elfina. The last thing I needed was for strangers to start having funny ideas. Being an immortal test subject for a second time? Not appealing in the slightest. The scholar¡¯s massive right arm twitched, signaling an incoming horizontal sweep. I braced myself, ready to shove the Elf behind me out of harm¡¯s way and dodge the attack. But the Elf suddenly spoke. ¡°Ever the hero. I always hated no-ears like you.¡± Before his words could fully register, a sharp pain erupted in my chest. I glanced down to see a sword piercing through my heart. My mind raced as I turned to look behind me. The Elf¡¯s appearance flickered like a hologram before dissolving into motes of light. Aaron¡¯s face replaced the illusion, a twisted grin spreading across his lips. Before I could seize the opportunity to kill him, the scholar¡¯s massive arm slammed into me with devastating force. Pain exploded across my body as the left side of my torso crumpled under the impact. The blow sent me hurtling toward the wall like a ragdoll, smashing into it. Chapter 22: What we fight for (3) ¡°What are you doing, you worthless no-ear?¡± Aaron spat, his voice dripping with disdain as he glared at the scholar. ¡°Do what you were told and burn this prison down.¡± Prison, you say? That¡¯s quite an extreme opinion about your own World Tree. I thought, my vision flickering as pain coursed through my body. The scholar stood motionless, black blood oozing from his eyes, nose, and mouth like a grotesque fountain. ¡°Tch,¡± Aaron clicked his tongue, irritation painted on his face. ¡°To think I¡¯d have to rely on a no-ear like you, only to end up cleaning up your damn mess.¡± His gaze dropped to the scholar¡¯s left hand, and a sneer twisted his lips. ¡°What a joke.¡± Without hesitation, Aaron drove his blade into the scholar¡¯s chest. But it couldn''t pierce through the scholar''s left hand. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just die and finish your role already?¡± *Ding [Full body restoration activated] ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡± Standing up as my bones mended and my flesh regenerated felt as pleasant as an unreachable itch. Simplely horrible. ¡°What?¡± Aaron spun toward me, his eyes wide. ¡°How are you still alive?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d explain anything to an enemy?¡± I sighed, cracking my neck slightly. ¡°Boy, you¡¯re dumber than I gave you credit for.¡± His glare turned venomous as I continued. ¡°But to think you have a Skill that lets you change your appearance. Well, color me surprised.¡± Curiosity got the better of me, and I inspected him. [Level ???]. Of course. ¡°Wow,¡± I sneered, meeting his hate-filled gaze. ¡°Your level is much higher than mine. This is going to be fun.¡± Aaron¡¯s stance shifted instantly. He pulled back his blade and took a defensive posture, his eyes narrowing as he likely checked my level in turn. When his focus locked back on me, his expression hardened, and he barked a command to the mutated scholar. ¡°Pawn, attack him!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s so damn funny?¡± Aaron snarled. ¡°You.¡± The word barely left my mouth before the scholar¡¯s massive hand shot out, grabbing Aaron and locking him in a cage of flesh and bone. I had successfully distracted him long enough for the scholar''s hunger to kick in. ¡°What the? The hell are you doing, you lowly no-ear? Unhand me at once!¡± Aaron thrashed against the scholar¡¯s grip, his voice rising in anger. The scholar¡¯s cracked and swollen jaw began to stretch unnaturally wide, his intent clear. Aaron¡¯s panic escalated as he conjured a flurry of glowing Mana knives and drove them into the scholar¡¯s body. The blades slashed and stabbed relentlessly, but the scholar didn¡¯t even flinch. His sole focus remained on his prey, his mouth opening wider and wider. It was almost funny, in a way. Aaron was panicking so much that he ignored the most basic rule of combat: always aim for the vital points. Sure, knives flying everywhere looked dramatic and kind of cool, but they were utterly useless against a monster like this. Despite being higher-leveled than both of us, Aaron should have been able to kill us with ease. But he didn¡¯t. He hadn¡¯t cut my head off when he had the chance, nor was he aiming for the scholar¡¯s vital points. It was an odd choice. One he was going to pay dearly for. The scholar¡¯s jaw stretched to a grotesque degree, almost like an anaconda preparing to devour its prey. In a sickening moment, he chomped down on Aaron¡¯s head. The wet sound of chewing flesh and crushing bone echoed through the sanctuary''s core. I stood back, watching silently. My hypothesis seemed to hold true. Leveling up in this world didn¡¯t inherently enhance physical endurance or toughness. The fact that the scholar could bite through Aaron with ease, whose level was significantly higher, made that crystal clear. I weighed the options quickly when I smashed into the wall. Saving Aaron, thus preventing the scholar from healing, had its merits. But letting Aaron die offered far more. It removed the threat of a shapeshifter and granted me a weapon ¡ª his sword. The downside? Losing a potential lead on the Demonic Arts users. But considering their ways of doing things, combined with the System¡¯s subquest promising a clue as a reward, it seemed far wiser to let Aaron die here. Eliminating a future threat outweighed any short-term gain. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] I dashed forward, seizing the sword while the scholar was preoccupied with his feast. It seemed he lacked the knowledge, or perhaps the capacity, to use Demonic Qi to absorb life force directly. That small blessing granted me a few precious seconds to prepare. Without hesitation, I used White Tiger and darted away, putting distance between us. As the scholar twisted around, now aware of my movement, I snapped my arm. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] Using Qi alone wasn¡¯t enough to pierce through the scholar¡¯s mutated body. But when combined with a well-crafted weapon, Qi became a force multiplier. Qi was like doping for anything it touched. If Qi alone had a power level of two, adding a weapon into the equation increased it to six ¡ª tripling the output.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Theoretically, with an indestructible item and unlimited Qi, its power could climb to infinity. Lucky for me, I already had half of the equation in my grasp. I channeled Qi into the blade relentlessly. The navy-blue energy surged through the weapon, making it hum faintly. As the Qi reserve in my core dwindled, I drove the sword into my own arm, forcing a fresh supply to flow into my core as my body healed. I repeated the cycle, pouring Qi into the weapon until cracks began to form along its surface. By now, the scholar had devoured every last piece of Aaron. His grotesque form turned toward me with renewed vigor. Every wound I had inflicted earlier was gone, and there were no longer any signs of his life force running out. He roared with the same feral intensity as when this battle had begun. This ends now. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Movement technique ¨C Tail of the White Tiger] I stomped heavily, driving all my momentum into a single, unrelenting charge. No skating across the snow to prevent slipping, no holding back to control my movement. Just raw, unfiltered power, propelling me forward like a supersonic jet. Before the scholar could react, I had already reached him. Gripping the sword with both hands, I thrust it forward. A simple thrust. A technique honed through countless repetitions, failures, and victories. [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Piercing technique ¨C Breathe of the Blue Dragon] In a split second, the sword in my hands became an unstoppable force, piercing through the scholar¡¯s chest with devastating destruction. Rampant Qi surged from the blade, erupting inside him and obliterating every organ. I released the crumbling sword and stepped back, watching as the attack mercilessly tore through his hands and the fragile flower embroidery he had protected so fiercely. A gaping hole, the size of a soccer ball, now marred his chest. Two lines of blood trailed down from his eyes like tears as he murmured the names of his loved ones for one final time, his voice cracking under the weight of his sorrow. ¡°Lin...cy¡­N...i¡­N...a¡­¡± The scholar collapsed, leaving behind the cold, lifeless remains of a man who had once been a devoted husband and father. In the end, he never had a second element. That left hand, the only part of him that remained unmutated, had been solely for protecting a fragile flower. ¡°May you rest in peace.¡± I knelt beside him and closed his eyes. There was more to this man than being a discarded pawn, but I had no time to linger on that thought. The World Tree was still under threat, and saving it was my priority now. I sprinted out of the sanctuary and down the stairs, shouting, ¡°It¡¯s all clear now. We can begin the ritual!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Elfina called back, racing up the stairs. Behind her, Thnari, Zenth, and the other Elves hurriedly prepared the ritual. As I watched their movements, a troubling thought crept into my mind. How did Aaron get past all these people to stab me in the back? Were they all in on it? No, that didn¡¯t make sense. If the Elf wanted their World Tree to die, they wouldn¡¯t have asked for my help in the first place. None of them even seemed to realize Aaron had been up there. Which meant one thing. Someone else helped him get to me unnoticed. I recalled the scholar¡¯s desperate screams at the start of our fight. He had said he was ordered to sacrifice himself. The lingering question was how he had received that order and, more importantly, from whom. In this world, where people still relied on messaging animals like dogs or owls for communication, so it was likely the scholar had been informed directly. The chances of a discarded pawn possessing a long-range communication device ¡ª something even a professor didn¡¯t have ¡ª were incredibly slim. The conclusion was clear. Another enemy was still out there, lurking in the shadows. Two key clues stood out, narrowing the possibilities. First, there was no logical reason to assign two people to manage the same task in a village like this ¡ª it would only complicate matters. Second, the third party would have needed a plausible reason to interact with Aaron without raising suspicion. Considering those points, the most probable conclusion was that this enemy was a member of the expedition team. Then there was the timing. Aaron had arrived mere moments before the scholar¡¯s death. This suggested the third enemy had been close enough to sense the scholar¡¯s condition but far enough away to avoid attention when they sent Aaron to intervene. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Elfina¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling my focus back to the present. She stood before me, her posture firm and unwavering. Her eyes burned with resolve, and though her hands still clutched her staff tightly, the trembling hesitation from earlier was gone. I couldn¡¯t help but smile. She¡¯d shaken off her earlier despair, her inner strength shining through once more. ¡°Hold on tight,¡± I said, scooping her up and slinging her over my shoulder in one swift motion. ¡°It¡¯s faster and safer this way.¡± That wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Demonic Qi had already flooded the stairwell behind us, turning it into a death trap. ¡°Not again,¡± she grumbled, though she didn¡¯t put up a fight as I carried her. Without wasting another moment, I dashed forward, racing toward the sanctuary¡¯s core as fast as possible. Tendrils made from Demonic Qi shot at us, each one dissolving into nothingness as I devoured them with brutal efficiency. Within seconds, we burst through the crimson wall ahead, landing under the dying dome once again. Elfina ran toward the altar the moment I put her down. She only stopped when she reached the scholar¡¯s lifeless body. Her gaze lingered over the fallen figure. ¡°¡­Is this the Fiend Forger you fought?¡± she asked, her tone tinged with unease. Her question gave me a glimpse of what the Fiend Forgers were. ¡°No,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°Just another victim.¡± Her eyes rested on the scholar¡¯s corpse for a moment longer before she clasped her hands together in prayer. Her voice was soft but steady as she spoke, ¡°May your soul return to The Great Tree and find peace in the Guardians¡¯ embrace.¡± Once she finished her prayer, she wasted no time sitting down before the altar. The altar itself was simple yet solemn. Two candles flickered gently on either side, their light casting elongated shadows. A handheld bronze bell rested in the center, and next to it was a small clay bowl filled with rich, dark soil. Elfina reached for the bell. With a steady hand, she began ringing it in a rhythmic pattern, the soft chime echoing through the sanctuary. Then she began to sing. Her voice carried the same melody I¡¯d heard the Frost Elves sing at the festival¡¯s conclusion ¡ª a hauntingly beautiful song steeped in tradition. As if her singing was a signal, the Elves outside joined in, their voices rising together in a harmonious chorus. The combined sound swelled, resonating through the sanctuary¡¯s core with a power that felt almost tangible. *Ding [Harmony tuned] The dome above us responded in kind, lighting up with an ethereal glow. Strange runes, unlike anything I had ever seen before, appeared on its surface. They shifted and moved in intricate patterns, forming an ever-changing formation that defied comprehension. The runes danced, each transformation flowing seamlessly into the next, as though the dome itself were alive. I focused intently on the formation, unwilling to let such a rare opportunity slip by. Blood trickled from my nose, my eyes burned like fire, and my head throbbed as if it were being smashed by a sledgehammer. But I refused to blink, pushing past the pain as I analyzed and deciphered the Runes dancing across the dome. When the song reached its final notes, the spinning formation above came to an abrupt halt. Taking this as her cue, Elfina carefully placed the bronze bell back onto the altar and reached for the clay bowl. ¡°Oh, Great Tree,¡± she intoned, lifting the bowl high above her head, ¡°leave your withered flesh behind and be reborn anew.¡± At the center of the intricate Rune formation, golden light began to condense. It shimmered and swirled, shrinking into a single droplet of radiance. The droplet descended with grace, as though guided by an unseen hand, and fell into the clay bowl as if it belonged there. But it wasn¡¯t a mere droplet. No. It was a seed. A World Tree seed. The bowl itself began to shine faintly, the rich soil within cradling the seed as it settled. The light from the seed and the bowl intertwined, creating a moment of serenity. Yet, from what I had deciphered of the Runes, I knew this was far from over. Suddenly, Elfina¡¯s expression changed. Her face paled, her lips parting in a silent gasp as she listened. The World Tree had spoken to her ¡ª something only she could understand. Distress flickered across her face as she looked up at the glowing dome. ¡°Great Tree, please don¡¯t give up,¡± her voice trembling. ¡°You must live for the world.¡± Pressing her hands together, she closed her eyes and began to pray. *Ding [World Walker¡¯s Comprehension Level up: Level 5 ¨C> 6] ¡°Elfina, I''ve found the problem,¡± I wasted not even a second and quickly called out to her. Chapter 23: What we fight for (4) I turned toward Elfina and began explaining what had gone wrong. The Rune formation was designed to gather the essence of this World Tree, which was composed of two parts: the body seed and the blessing seed. ¡°The body seed landed successfully in the clay bowl,¡± I said, gesturing toward the glowing vessel in her hands. ¡°With this seed, the tree will have a vessel to take root. But the blessing seed is more important. It¡¯s responsible for gathering prayers and beliefs, transforming them into blessings.¡± Elfina listened intently, her grip tightening around the bowl as I continued. ¡°But all of the tree¡¯s uncorrupted life force has already been expended. Without life force carrying traces of its essence, the formation failed to create the blessing seed.¡± ¡°Use mine,¡± Elfina said. ¡°Oh, Great Tree. Please use my life force.¡± I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. ¡°Are you insane? How does that make any sense?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason I¡¯m the priestess, Karl.¡± Her voice remained steady, though her eyes betrayed the storm brewing within. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can hear the great tree¡¯s voice.¡± She clutched the clay bowl tightly, her knuckles whitening. ¡°I carry a part of The Great Tree¡¯s essence.¡± The implications of her words made my insides churn. ¡°¡­You¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a small price to pay.¡± Her expression remained firm, her resolve unshaken. I squinted at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. ¡°You knew this was a possibility, didn¡¯t you?¡± She avoided my gaze, her silence screamed louder than any answer. The crackling of the clay bowl in her hands was the only sound between us. ¡°¡­What about Abby¡¯s son?¡± My words made her fragile frame tremble. ¡°What about your friends? What about your parents?¡± Each name, each question, hit her like a physical blow, and her body quivered more with every word. ¡°What about you?¡± Still, she said nothing, her head lowering further, face hidden from view. Time was slipping through our fingers like grains of sand, but there was something I had to confirm. ¡°No one else knows, do they?¡± I asked, my voice cold. ¡°They have no idea you might have to sacrifice yourself to save this tree.¡± Once again, Elfina offered no response, only lowering her head further. I exhaled and focused on the subquest panel that I hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to examine carefully. =============== Subquest: The Great Barrier | Description: The Frost Elves face their second greatest calamity¡ªthe fall of the Isolation World Tree. Without intervention, both the Isolation World Tree and the Frost Elves will face complete annihilation. | Objective: Support a fated individual and prevent the destruction of The Great Barrier. | Reward: ¨C Experience Point ¨C A new clue about the Guardians and the truth of this world ¨C Eternal gratitude from the Frost Elf and the chance to learn their secrets | Failure: ¨C The destruction of The Great Barrier ¨C The countdown to the world¡¯s end will begin =============== There were two objectives outlined in the subquest panel: (1) Support a fated one, and (2) Prevent the barrier from being destroyed. Since the Fiend Forger had consistently targeted this tree, it was safe to assume the tree was the source of the barrier¡¯s power. Saving it wasn¡¯t listed explicitly but was clearly a critical, unspoken condition. I looked again at the consequences of failure. If we failed here, it would trigger the beginning of the end. That must not happen. Ruthlessly, I placed Elfina¡¯s life onto a mental scale, measuring it against the weight of failure. The life of one girl versus the life of every living being. It wasn¡¯t even a contest. It wasn¡¯t even close... It was fucking bullshit. ...But sometimes, sacrifices had to be made. I closed my eyes, steeling myself to be the monster once more, to do what needed to be done. To convince her that this was her duty, that it was the right thing to do. For everything and everyone she had ever cared about. ¡°I¡­¡± Elfina¡¯s trembling voice entered my ears. I opened my eyes to see tears streaming down her face. She looked at me, her gaze filled not with despair, anger, or hopelessness. But with pure, unfiltered sadness. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die,¡± she said, her voice cracking as she clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears soaked into my shirt as I stared up at the Rune formation above us, its glow fading with each passing second. The symbols dimmed and faltered, teetering on the edge of collapse.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. In that moment, two questions burned in my mind. When does a man become a monster? And. How can someone hope to save the world if they can¡¯t even save one girl? My choice was clear. Either let this girl die, or let the world die. But. I fucking refuse to make such a bullshit choice. There was always another way. I just had to find it. Hugging the crying girl tightly, I promised her, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die.¡± Her sobs grew louder, and her grip on me tightened. She must have thought I was only comforting her in her final moments, offering empty words to soothe the inevitable. But I wasn¡¯t. There was always another way. I focused on the subquest panel again, scanning every word. This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d been in a situation like this. Back then, I¡¯d cursed the System, convinced it was a cruel bastard that handed out impossible ultimatums. But I knew better now. The System never gave anything for free, but it also never left me without a chance. Hidden in its words were clues ¡ª fragments of insight that could make the impossible possible. It had never spoken to me directly, but its intention was always clear. Find it. I reread the panel again and again. The answer could be buried in a single word, a subtle phrase, or a detail so small it was almost unnoticeable. Somewhere in that text lay the key to saving both Elfina and this World Tree. I roared silently in frustration as the seconds ticked by. Ten seconds became twenty. Twenty became thirty. Thirty became sixty. Seconds bled into minutes as I pushed my mind into overdrive, searching desperately for the clue. ¡°Thank you, Karl.¡± Elfina¡¯s gentle voice broke through my concentration. She pushed herself away from me lightly, her smile weak but sincere, her tears now dry. Resolve burned in her eyes once more. ¡°I¡¯m okay now. I¡¯m ready.¡± I watched as she stood, turning toward the altar. She picked up the cracked clay bowl, her hands no longer trembling. My mind continued racing, piecing fragments of possibilities together even as my eyes followed her every move. ¡°Oh, Great Tree,¡± she intoned, her voice steady, yet heavy. ¡°Please use my life force as fuel to condense your blessings.¡± She raised the clay bowl high, and the air around us seemed to hold its breath. From the dimming Rune formation above, a small golden branch began to descend. It moved slowly, deliberately, inching closer to her like the cold, inevitable hand of death. Blessing seed. Life force. Condense. Harmony. Support. Fated one. The dots finally connected. Got it. I shot forward and grabbed the descending branch, stopping it inches before it could touch her. ¡°Karl, please. Don¡¯t do this.¡± Her voice cracked slightly, and her lips trembled as she spoke. ¡°The tree needs to use your life force, right? It will extract your life force to create a vessel for the blessing seed, right?¡± I pressed. ¡°Karl, please¡­¡± she murmured, her brave mask beginning to crumble as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Please answer me. This is important,¡± I urged, ignoring the cracks in her voice and pushing for a response. Elfina hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. ¡°¡­Yes. The Great Tree will extract my life force and use it as a vessel ¡ª a cocoon, of sorts ¡ª to protect and carry the blessing seed until it blooms and merges with the body seed.¡± Her confirmation was all I needed to move forward with the ridiculous idea forming in my mind. ¡°There¡¯s a way,¡± I said, locking my gaze with hers. The intensity of my stare made her flinch. ¡°Ina, do you trust me?¡± She froze, her expression shifted between confusion and disbelief. My use of that old, familiar name clearly took her off guard. Even the golden branch seemed to hesitate mid-air, as though it, too, was waiting for her response. But then, like an orchid blooming in spring, a soft, radiant smile spread across her face. ¡°With my life,¡± she whispered. I nodded with newfound resolve. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± Releasing the golden branch, I allowed it to touch her. The moment it made contact, the branch dissolved into a glowing golden sphere that enveloped Elfina completely. The sphere radiated a gentle yet powerful light, pushing me back three steps. I tapped on the sphere, testing its durability. Each knock echoed with a dense, unyielding resistance. Breaking it would be nearly impossible without a weapon. ¡°I know you can hear me and understand me, World Tree,¡± I said. ¡°Don¡¯t intervene while I¡¯m modifying this Rune formation. I know you¡¯re taking a gamble here. So, cooperate with me.¡± Placing my hand against the sphere, I spoke directly to the girl who had chosen to entrust her life to me. ¡°When I say so, start the ritual to condense the blessing seed, ok?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± She nodded, her resolve once again shining through the fear. All three of us were taking a gamble here. The tree was entrusting its life to us, Elfina was entrusting hers to me, and I was gambling that Elfina was a fated one. If she truly was, she wouldn¡¯t die before completing her mission. But that also meant her path was one fated to her ¡ª a road laid out by forces she might not even realize were guiding her steps. From everything that had happened to her and Abby, combined with the subquest¡¯s objectives, I believed she had to be a fated one. She had to be. To think I have to bet on something I despise. ¡°Ina,¡± I called out to her, ¡°we¡¯re going to transfer the World Tree¡¯s blessing seed into you and merge it with your life force instead of using your method. I don¡¯t know exactly what will happen after that, but I promise you this. You won¡¯t die.¡± Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she nodded. I took out a Recording Crystal and placed it on the ground. Then, I let my consciousness dive into the Rune Space within the golden sphere to begin the modifications. Before me, the same Rune formation from the dome materialized in vivid detail, every line and symbol pulsing with energy. I recognized the patterns. They were identical to the Runes I had analyzed within the World Tree¡¯s leaves. These were Runes designed to enhance the usage of faith. Relying on my knowledge, I started to shift the Runes, searching for the elements responsible for stabilizing the blessing seed through life force imbued with the power of faith. As I worked, a cluster of Runes radiating seven colors appeared. Their intricate forms seemed like a chaotic mash-up of every shape imaginable. I followed the shimmering motes of light connecting these Runes and soon found what I was looking for. A series of Runes shaped like round shields with scales etched into their surfaces. I reached out, touching them lightly, and my mind surged with understanding. These Runes were responsible for protecting and stabilizing the blessing seed during the ritual. They functioned by creating a thin barrier around the seed, drawing energy from life force and faith to keep it intact. If that was their process, then I needed to reverse it. Reverse engineering is my specialty. I began altering the structure, redirecting the Protection Runes to safeguard Elfina¡¯s life force instead. And instead of siphoning energy from her, they would now pull energy and faith from the blessing seed and channel it into her. I quickly broke down the existing process and reassembled it, using Elfina''s life force as the new centerpiece instead of the blessing seed. However, when I tried to force the Runes to siphon energy from the blessing seed, an unidentified force erupted from within, repelling me violently. The shockwave was so powerful it threw me out of the Rune Space entirely, leaving my mind reeling. ¡°World Tree,¡± I said sharply, addressing the ancient being, ¡°reduce or remove your protection on the seed. We won¡¯t succeed if you¡¯re still scared.¡± The entire tree trembled in response. Moments later, another golden branch shot down from the dome above, piercing the sphere surrounding Elfina. But this time, it wasn¡¯t just light descending. The malevolent tendrils of Demonic Qi followed closely behind, snaking down the branch toward the sphere. We¡¯re running out of time. There was no room left for hesitation or error. Testing was no longer an option. It was do or die. I dove back into the Rune Space, urgency sharpening my focus. I reversed the process¡¯s order, methodically altering the bridges of light motes connected to the blessing seed. Each adjustment caused the seed to shudder violently, its energy resisting my interference. The same unidentified force flared up repeatedly, trying to push me out again, but the new golden branch acted as a stabilizer, keeping the seed¡¯s defenses in check. The Demonic Qi crept closer, halfway to the sphere now, its presence pressing on my nerves. Faster. FASTER. With a final adjustment, I completed the modifications, rerouting the energy flow entirely. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Now, start the ritual!¡± I shouted. At my words, Elfina closed her eyes and began to sing the Frost Elf¡¯s song. Her voice, pure and unwavering, filled the space. The melody resonated with ancient power, intertwining with the pulsating light of the Runes as the ritual commenced. *Ding [Harmony has been triggered] A warm spring wind washed over me, swirling around as if a vortex had formed within the space. While the sensation was soothing, I quickly noticed a disturbing effect. The life force within the golden tree branch had also been enhanced. This agitated the Demonic Qi, causing it to surge toward us at an alarming speed. Chapter 24: What we fight for (5) As the Parasitic Demonic Qi sped toward us, I grabbed the golden branch tightly and shouted. ¡°Elfina, focus only on merging the blessing seed with your life force, and no matter what you hear, don¡¯t get distracted!¡± ¡°Karl, what are you...¡± she raised her voice as she tried to open her eyes. But I cut her off, my voice firm. ¡°This is a gamble with the world on the line. More than just us are at risk here. Focus! NO MATTER WHAT.¡± Her lips quivered as she bit down hard enough to draw blood. With a pained expression, she shut her eyes again and concentrated on her duty. I looked up at the encroaching Demonic Qi, its tendrils writhing hungrily. ¡°World Tree, please assist her.¡± The branch I held trembled faintly in response, as though acknowledging my words. With one hand, I snatched the Recording Crystal from the ground, while my other hand activated [Plundering Qi]. Crimson waves of Qi crashed toward us like a relentless tide, but they were halted by a single, swirling navy-blue vortex in my palm. As the Qi poured into me, power surged through my veins, invigorating every fiber of my being. My muscles, my bones, and even my Qi Core screamed in euphoric delight. But that euphoria was nothing more than a cruel illusion. A delusion spun by the sweet poison I was consuming. Using Qi in this way was like doping ¡ª effective, but devastating. Too much would lead to collapse. The sword I¡¯d used to kill the scholar was proof. One powerful attack, and it had crumbled into dust. Now, as the vast amount of Qi flooded my body, it granted me more strength than this body had ever experienced. But it was killing me. My muscles began to tear apart, rupturing under the strain. My bones cracked and imploded one by one, and my Qi Core fractured, spiderweb fissures spreading through its surface. Like the sword, my body was becoming a vessel unable to contain the rampaging Qi, each moment drawing me closer to destruction. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] It was only thanks to this cheat that I was still alive. Yet, to me, it was nothing but endless torture as my body burst. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] Then got restored. Then burst. *Ding [Full body restoration activated] Then got restored. Burst. And restored. Burst and restored. Burst and restored. Burst and restored. Again and again in an endless torturous circle. *Ding [You have plundered a vast amount of Qi. Level up: Level 16 ¨C> 18] [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 5 ¨C> 6] Yet, that was just half of the problem. I endured the soul-shattering pain, the unbearable sensation of my body breaking down piece by piece. I endured the euphoric rush of power that assaulted my brain, tempting me with its false promises of strength. But Demonic Qi wasn¡¯t just energy ¡ª it was something far more sinister. Created by pouring selfish desires and negative emotions into Qi through the practice of Demonic Arts, it twisted what should have been a pure, positive force into a ravenous, destructive tool with a single purpose. To devour everything. The more Demonic Qi I consumed, the more my mind became flooded with thoughts I had buried long ago. Bitterness, rage, and despair clawed their way to the surface of their grave, dragging me back to memories I chose to throw away. I was forced to relive the first time I arrived in another world. When I woke up, I was lying next to a campfire in the middle of a forest. Nearby, I saw three figures ¡ª a human, a Cat Beastkin, and an Orc. At first glance, they looked like a typical fantasy adventurer¡¯s party, dressed in linen clothes and leather armor. For a brief, naive moment, I thought I was safe. Without knowing anything, I tried to speak to the human who was lying closest to me, but the moment I turned to him, I froze in horror. His face had been eaten. Instinctively, I scrambled backward, only to knock into the Cat Beastkin. She toppled over, and her half-eaten guts spilled out onto the ground in front of me. I vomited, but all that came out was bile, the acrid taste burning my throat. The sound I made caught the attention of the Orc. Slowly, he turned toward me. Like the others, he was dressed as an adventurer, a bronze tag dangling from his neck. But his eyes were pitch black, like bottomless pits. Blood dripped from his mouth, and in his hand, he held the sagging, ruined remains of a human face. Then, with an unnatural snap, his neck twisted ninety degrees, a grotesque motion straight out of a horror movie. As his neck split open, something worm-like began to emerge. It wriggled free, its slimy, black body growing larger and larger until it reached the size of a bull. Yet the part still connected to the Orc¡¯s neck remained as thin as a needle, an eerie tether between the two. Then, out of nowhere, countless red eyes appeared across the creature¡¯s grotesque form. Each eye was bizarrely symmetrical, with three irises staring out from their centers. And all of them were locked onto me.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. I wanted to run, to flee as far as I could, but fear shackled my legs to the ground, locking them in place. I couldn¡¯t move a single step. Distress pounded in my chest, each beat hammering like it was trying to rip my heart out. Part of me wished it would, for that would have been better than what happened next. The black thing crept closer, its grotesque form twisting and expanding. Jagged teeth sprouted from the irises of its countless red eyes, each set of fangs gnashing hungrily. Before my mind could even process the impossibility of what I was seeing, my body took over. I turned and ran. But it was futile. I barely managed to take one step before something clamped onto my leg. A hot, searing pain, sharper and more intense than anything I¡¯d ever felt, shot up through my body. My scream tore out of my throat as I stumbled and fell. Desperately, I twisted around, hoping to see what had grabbed me. And maybe, just maybe, kick it away. But what I saw froze the air in my lungs. The black thing was gnawing on my severed foot like a dog playing with its favorite chew toy. My mind went blank as the sickening sounds of flesh tearing and bones crunching filled my ears. Each noise drilled into my skull, more unbearable than the last. ¡°No, no, noooooooooo!¡± I screamed, my voice hoarse with terror. Turning away, I crawled with everything I had, dragging myself across the ground. ¡°Please!¡± I cried, tears streaming down my face. ¡°Somebody help me! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± But no god, no deity, no merciful force answered my desperate prayer. A sharp tug on my legs brought me back to the nightmare. The black thing had grabbed hold of me again, its teeth sinking deep. And then it chewed. Screaming did nothing to stop it. It devoured me slowly, agonizingly, piece by piece. The pain was beyond anything words could describe. It consumed my legs, working its way upward, while I writhed helplessly, begging for it to stop. That was the first of many times I was eaten alive. I thought death would bring an end to the torment. But I was wrong. My soul, untethered and weightless, hovered above the body I had inhabited moments before. The lifeless body of a Dwarf ¡ª ¡®my¡¯ body. As a wandering soul, I was forced to watch. I watched that black thing continue to devour ''me'', its grotesque form twitching and writhing with satisfaction. I watched as the same nightmare unfolded across the world. The black things spread like a plague, devouring everything in their path. They ate, then multiplied in an endless, unbroken cycle of destruction. Until nothing remained. Everything ¡ª every creature, every plant, every structure ¡ª was consumed. The entire world became those black things. And even then, they didn¡¯t stop. Once everything had turned into those black things, they began devouring each other. But eating each other didn¡¯t let them multiply. Their numbers dwindled, their forms withering, collapsing one by one until the last one starved to death. In the end, nothing remained of that world except crumbled dust and half-eaten corpses, scattered like the remnants of a cruel joke. And when that world finally died, I was pulled back to the white room. I jolted awake, the suddenness of it sending the chair I had been sitting on crashing to the ground. My chest heaved as I hyperventilated, struggling to breathe. Sweat drenched my back, cold and clammy against my skin. My head spun. My limbs trembled uncontrollably. I had to grab the edge of the table next to me just to keep myself from collapsing. ¡°Look at you. Pathetic.¡± The voice came from directly in front of me. I lifted my head to see another ¡®me¡¯ standing there. This version of myself was made of swirling blue fog, with a crimson core embedded in its chest, radiating a pulsating light. ¡°Don¡¯t you hate it?¡± it sneered, its voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Don¡¯t you want it to stop?¡± I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could utter a word, that damned black door opened again. And once more, it sent me hurtling toward another world. The second. Then the third. Then the fourth. Then the fifth. Each time, I lived. Each time, I died. And every time I died, I became a wandering ghost, doomed to watch a world die after me. Over and over. Endlessly. It wasn¡¯t until the ninth world that I learned how to survive for more than a single day. By the twelfth world, The System gave me [Full Body Restoration.] From the sixteenth world onward, the starting situation when I first woke up began to improve. But it wasn¡¯t until the thirty-first world that I woke up to a situation where there was no immediate danger. Between the sixteenth and the thirty-first worlds, I helped save two worlds. The others? I watched them die, helpless to stop their collapse. I hated it. I hated how powerless I was. I hated this damned white room for stealing my life and throwing me into endless suffering. But more than anything, I hated how the innocent suffered for no reason. No matter what world I found myself in. ¡°Take my hand,¡± the fog version of me said, his voice smooth, lacing with honey and poison. He extended his hand toward me, his crimson core pulsing with a tempting light. ¡°We can destroy it all and save the innocent.¡± I almost laughed at the irony. The powerless were always the easiest to corrupt. They were offered a delusion of power. Power that was never theirs to begin with. A sick joke, really. When I thought of that, I actually laughed, loud and mocking. ¡°You think this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered something that tries to corrupt the mind?¡± The illusion wavered, as though my words struck its core. Cracks spread across the white walls of the room, webbing outward like shattered glass. The ''fog-me¡¯s form trembled, its once-confident hand faltering as I stood taller. I wasn¡¯t that powerless man anymore. "If I want something, I will take it myself." [Four Directional Protectors Arts ¨C Smashing technique ¨C Head of the Black Turtle] I stomped hard, the impact reverberating through the space, shattering both the ground and the sky. Chunks of the white void splintered and fell around me like shards of broken glass, cascading in chaotic, glittering fragments. The ¡®me¡¯ made from fog flickered, its form wavering like a dying candle in the wind. ¡°Get the fuck out of my head.¡± With another stomp, I brought my heel down with finality. The force shattered everything ¡ª every fragment, every illusion ¡ª obliterating it all into nothingness. *Ding [Plundering Qi Level up: Level 6 ¨C> 7] [You can now resist mental corruption from the Demonic Qi you plunder] ¡°How unpleasant,¡± I muttered, shaking my head as my body continued its relentless cycle of breaking down and restoring itself. My right hand continued to devour the Parasitic Demonic Qi to prevent it from corrupting the golden sphere. Meanwhile, my left hand clutched the Recording Crystal. As the ritual progressed, the golden light emanating from the sphere began to flicker, its brilliance waning as though it were running out of energy. At the same time, Elfina¡¯s complexion grew paler, her life force visibly draining with each passing second. I kept [Plundering Qi] active, drawing in the volatile energy to keep the corruption at bay, while my mind once again dived into the Rune Space for answers. Scanning the motes and bridges connecting the seed to the Runes, I quickly concluded that tampering with the formation at such a critical juncture would only destabilize the process further. The risk of failure was far too great. But I wasn¡¯t out of options. I had prepared for this. The idea had come to me earlier, sparked by a memory of Sera¡¯s singing. I remembered how her voice had helped soothe and reduce the symptoms of a sick child in our village. Her Harmony seemed especially attuned to healing and empowerment. Clutching the Recording Crystal, I poured Qi into it, activating the stored recording of Sera¡¯s singing. Her voice filled the space, bright and velvety as always, carrying the same ethereal quality that had worked wonders before. The melody reverberated through the air, blending with the flickering light of the golden sphere, its harmony reaching toward Elfina as though it were a lifeline. *Ding [Harmony has been enhanced] Both Elfina¡¯s and Sera¡¯s voices intertwined, creating a heavenly resonance that filled the space. The melody seemed to breathe life into the flickering light of the sphere, strengthening it. The golden glow grew brighter, and I noticed a change in Elfina. Her pale complexion gave way to warmth, her cheeks rosy once more. At the crescendo of the Frost Elf¡¯s song, the sphere blazed with radiance, growing brighter and brighter until the light became blinding. I instinctively shielded my eyes, unable to see what was happening. When the brilliance finally subsided, I opened my eyes to find the sphere had vanished. Only Elfina remained, standing next to me. The golden branch I had been holding crumbled into dust, and the Demonic Qi that had threatened us was now retreating, sucked back into the dome above. I grabbed Elfina¡¯s shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. ¡°Ina, Ina. Wake up. We need to get out of here.¡± Her eyes fluttered open, foggy and unfocused. She looked at me and whispered. ¡°Did we succeed?¡± ¡°You tell me.¡± I pointed at her palm, where something was now shining. Confused, she brought her hand up for a better look. The moment she saw it, the shock jolted her fully awake. ¡°W-wh-aaaat is happening?!¡± she shrieked, flailing wildly as a golden sapling¡¯s projection grew from her palm. She swung her arms around as if sheer force would detach the ethereal sapling from her hand. Unable to suppress a grin, I reached out¡­ and pinched her cheek. She yipped in surprise, then glared at me, rubbing her reddened cheek. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°To bring you back to reality,¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°So, Ina, how does it feel to be the host of a World Tree?¡±