Vincent and Azhara burst out of Verdant Wilds, their feet pounding the earth as they ran. After several minutes of uninterrupted sprinting, they finally slowed to a stop, gasping for air. Vincent, still clasping Azhara’s hand, turned to her.
“Are you alright?” he asked between labored breaths.
Azhara remained silent, her gaze fixed on their joined hands. Noticing her stare, Vincent quickly released his grip.
‘Why do I keep grabbing her hand?’ he wondered, perplexed by his own actions.
Clearing his throat, he tried again. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” Azhara replied, her cheeks slightly puffed in a pout.
“That giant turtle was just being naughty! If Father were here, it would be turtle soup by now!”
Vincent raised an eyebrow at her words, increasingly certain that Azhara came from a powerful, influential background. The monster that had nearly scared him to death seemed inconsequential to her father.
As they approached the outskirts of No. 3 Novice Sanctuary, Vincent turned to Azhara.
“Our deal is complete. I’ll be on my way now. What about you?”
Azhara hesitated, seemingly reluctant to part ways.
“I suppose I should head home. Father must be worried by now.”
Vincent nodded, having no intention of prolonging their time together.
“And you?” Azhara asked.
“I’ll rest for a bit, then resume hunting,” he replied matter-of-factly.
They entered the Novice Sanctuary, and Vincent prepared to leave.
“Well, I’m off. Thanks for the deal!”
He waved as he walked away.
“Wait, Shroud…” Azhara’s voice trailed off, too late to stop him. She watched his figure fade into the distance, a hint of disappointment crossing her face.
Shaking her head, Azhara retrieved a white scroll from her storage ring. She tore it in half, and in a shimmer of digital lights, she vanished.
On Drakoth, the Drakoriis’ home planet, Azhara materialized in her opulent bedroom within the Drakota Clans Residence. She had barely opened her eyes when the door burst open, slamming against the wall.
A lean, muscular Drakorri man wearing blood-red and golden royal attire rushed in, arms outstretched.
“My princess! My baby!” he exclaimed, enveloping Azhara in a tight embrace.
“Father!” Azhara returned the hug with equal fervor.
Zhar Drakota held his daughter at arm’s length, scrutinizing her for injuries.
“Are you hurt? Did anyone bully you?”
Azhara smiled at her father’s concern.
“I’m fine, Father. No one hurt me.”
“Are you certain?”
She nodded, and Zhar exhaled in relief.
“That’s good, that’s good. Now, tell me about your time in Origin World.”
Azhara recounted her adventures, including her encounter with Shroud. At the mention of a human, Zhar’s brow furrowed.
“You met a human? And he assisted you?”
“Yes, his name is Shroud. He helped me capture this Flairmuse,” Azhara explained, producing the crystal ball. “Look, my first hunt!”
Zhar’s expression softened at his daughter’s pride. He gently patted her head.
“Well done. Father is proud of you.”
Azhara beamed at the praise.
“Now, about this human…” Zhar began.
“Shroud,” Azhara corrected.
Zhar’s lip twitched. “Yes, Shroud. Did he do anything else? Hurt you or try to deceive you?”
Azhara paused, recalling the events. “No, I don’t think so…”
Zhar nodded, “That’s a relief—”
“Except for grabbing my hand,” Azhara added. “Twice.”
“What?!” Zhar’s voice rose sharply. “He grabbed your hand? Twice?!”
“Is something wrong, Father?” Azhara asked, puzzled by his sudden anger.
“Where does this human live? He seems tired of living! I’ll bury him myself!” Zhar fumed, an illusory smoke rising from his head.
“No, Father! Stop!” Azhara protested. “If you don’t calm down, I’ll tell Mother you’re acting up again!”
At his daughter’s threat, Zhar reluctantly reined in his anger, though he continued to plot Shroud’s demise in his mind.
Meanwhile, in Origin World, Vincent sat on his bed in his rented room, marveling at the items and glowing orbs before him – his payment from Azhara.
“My word, I’m rich with just these!” he exclaimed, focusing on the valuable items.
He first examined the white scroll:
Name: Escape Scroll
Type: Special Item
Effect: Safely teleports the user out of Origin World three seconds after tearing the scroll.
“An Escape Scroll! Excellent,” Vincent chuckled. “Finally, a lifesaving item!” His laughter abruptly ceased as he remembered its origin.
“Damn it! If I’d known I had this earlier, I wouldn’t have run for my life from that tortoise.”
Shaking off the thought, he continued his inspection. Touching the green light, an emerald metallic mask materialized.
Name: Morphic Mask
Rarity: Uncommon
Effect: Assumes the appearance of any personally seen humanoid form, concealing the wearer’s true identity. The transformation is limited and cannot deceive higher-tier Origin Warriors.
“This is merely uncommon?” Vincent marveled at the mask’s utility despite its modest rarity. He donned it, and with a thought, his skin turned red, reptilian scales emerging on his arms. Glancing in the mirror, he saw his dark purple hair and eyes had transformed to crimson, mirroring Azhara’s Drakorri features.
“Incredible, it feels so real,” he murmured, practicing different racial appearances.
Next, he examined the blue orb, which transformed into a book:
Name: Way of the Flowing Waters
Rarity: Rare
Description: A sword cultivation technique focusing on water’s ebb and flow to guide the cultivator’s swordplay. It allows the practitioner to mimic flowing water, adapting attacks from swift and precise to slow and powerful as needed.
Stages:
Rippling Waves: Increases speed and agility by 10%, enhancing quick strikes and evasion.
Tidal Surge: Boosts attack damage by 20% with increased critical hit chance.
Torrential Cascade: Imbues the sword with rushing water’s strength, increasing damage by 30% and bypassing physical resistance.
“A cultivation manual!” Vincent exclaimed, understanding its immense value. He knew that Origin Warriors needed such techniques to advance beyond Tier 1-5 stars, refining experience points into Origin Essence. The manual’s rarity made it even more precious, something novice warriors from influential families would fight over. Vincent silently thanked Azhara for her generosity.
Finally, he touched the purple orb, revealing another book:
Name: Book of the Heaven’s Eye
Rarity: Special
Effects: Instantly discerns a cultivator’s power level, revealing their cultivation tier, stage, and technique nature. In combat, it grants temporary insight into the enemy’s fighting style and weaknesses.
“A Special Skill!” Vincent’s excitement was palpable. This skill would be invaluable for navigating dangers in Origin World. Without hesitation, he learned it immediately.
[You have successfully learned Heaven’s Eyes!]
After reviewing his newfound treasures, Vincent decided to use his accumulated experience points to level up to Tier 1 – 4 stars. The encounter with the giant tortoise had taught him the true dangers of Origin World.
With his experience points depleted, he opted to skip the Weekly Novice Battle and instead focus on farming more experience. Donning the Morphic Mask to appear as a Drakorri, he ventured to the southern part of No.3 Novice Sanctuary, another section of Verdant Wilds.
He spent the remainder of his time in Origin World hunting, until the familiar sensation of being pulled back to Astralis enveloped him. In a flash of digital light, he vanished from his rented room.
Back on Astralis, Vincent found himself in his living room. It was still dark, just 4 AM. His eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. The room was in shambles, as if a typhoon had torn through it. Walls were cracked, and furniture lay in pieces.
“What happened here?” he muttered, his composure slipping. “Marina! Sis Amara! Where are you?!”
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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