It is quite a sight, a sultry voice comnted to Zacs side, dragging him out of his reverie.
Drears living among our people. I didnt believe my master when he told , Zac said with a snort as he turned toward the source of the voice.
It was a Revenant, seemingly a human with a bit of demonic heritage. She didnt have any horns, but her hands were a bit clawed and her skin had a thin pattern reminiscent of that of the Torrid Demons. She wore a tightfitting dress that looked more like an evening gown than a cultivators attire, but she did emit the aura of soone at early E-Grade.
He couldnt tell whether she was a turned Revenant or if she was a natural-born undead of peak E-Grade warriors, but he guessed the latter was more common in an established place like this.
Is young master perchance an Imperial? the Revenant asked, and her eyes lit up when Zac slightly nodded.
He had already decided to go under the guise as a random scion of an imperial Draugr-clan after hearing the introduction from the Corpselord guard earlier. It felt like the safest bet, considering he still didn't know if there were actual pureblood Draugr native to a place like this.
May I ask if young master requires a guide? I am a native to Twilight Harbor and know all the outs and inns. I can make myself available for as long as master needs, and Im sure young Master will be satisfied by my services.
The Revenant was a professional guide, just as Zac assud. It was a pretty common way for cultivators to make so extra money, especially among the weaker cultivators who were afraid to risk their lives in Mystic Realms or hunting grounds. A glance around the square showed that there were over a thousand teleportation stations just like the one he arrived in, and there was a small group of cultivators waiting outside all of them.
The voluptuous Revenant wasnt the only one waiting outside the station where Zac appeared, there were actually six more undead guides. There were also 5 living ones; three humans, a treant, and a beastkin. However, none of the living had approached Zac when he appeared, and Zac guessed there were unspoken rules at play here.
Ah, Triskatal is a decent bedwarr, but her connections are lacking. Young master strikes as a man with great purpose who has better things to do than to waste with a re female. I have connections with two information houses, and I can provide far more detailed accounts of events and noteworthy persons in Twilight Harbor, a Corpselord said as he donned a terrifying smile, though Zac guessed he was trying to look amiable.
The Revenant threw the competition infuriated glance, but she didnt have ti to for a rebuttal before another guide spoke up, detailing the perks of hiring them. It almost turned into a brawl, leading Zac to believe there was a surplus of guides compared to visitors. However, Zacs curiosity was piqued as one of the guides stood silent.
It wasnt that she was above competing with the others, she just lacked presence. She tried to speak up a few tis, but she was quickly shot down, seemingly unable to shalessly boast with such gusto. Of course, that wasnt really why he was curious.
Ah, dont mind that lass. Shes a novice, and she was fired by her last employer, the Triskatal said when she noticed Zacs look. She actually has the nerve to charge 50 E-grade Nexus Coins a day as well, as though she is a senior guide.
You are Draugr? Zac asked, ignoring the comnt.
Zac couldnt stop so hesitation from seeping into his voice as he asked though, since she looked a bit different from himself or Catheya. Her eyes were black orbs just like his own, but they were matte and void of the abyssal feeling that Draugr eyes naturally possessed. She also had a few traits not normally associated with Draugr, such as slightly pointy ears and an odd vertical ridge in her forehead.
I wouldnt dare, the young girl said with a bow. There happens to be so divine blood in my ancestry. But I am not part of the Draugr-clans living in Twilight Harbor. You can consider a normal Revenant.
Hmm, Zac said.
He was quite relieved by her words. It had been a bit of a gamble to seal his Specialty Core in his undead state since he didnt know what kind of reactions his Draugr heritage would create in a place like this. But between how common it seed to be for Imperials to co here, and the fact that there was actual Draugr-clans present, it looked like his appearance wouldnt create any waves.
Part of him wanted to stay under the radar as he went about his businesses, but his experiences in Base Town and his subsequent experiences had imparted him with so valuable knowledge. Being too inconspicuous would only result in you getting discriminated against and losing out on important opportunities.
If anything, trying to lay low increased the odds of you getting in trouble with people with strong backgrounds, as no one would miss a dead wandering cultivator. anwhile, his Draugr appearance essentially made him a VIP by birthright, and people wouldnt randomly move against him out of fear of whatever clan backed him. In fact, even the local clans would speak up for him if it ca to it, as the nobility of the five races couldnt be impugned.
Of course, the goal was to strike a balance. Going too far in posturing would just make you a target, like the Eveningtide Asura or Yrial.
A- I, I have information connections as well! the half-blood Draugr hurriedly said when Zac didnt speak up again. My father is a fact-checker for a local intelligence rchant. I am up to date to all the latest events!
Why were you fired by your last employer? Vilari asked as she understood Zac was interested.
I dont provide those kinds of services, the girl said as her eyes darted toward the Revenant called Triskatal. The employer thought it was implied because of the price.
Good, Ill hire you. Lets start with one week and take it from there, Zac nodded as he took off his mask, his appearance creating so waves among the congregated guides.
Pureblood, one of the Revenants whispered with a mix of dejection and envy, and the other guides sighed and walked away.
They might have been willing to compete for the assignnt before, but they gave up when they saw Zacs abyssal eyes. The noble races tended to stay with their own, and a half-blood Draugr was obviously better than a normal Revenant.
Im Nala. Thank you for giving this opportunity. Where do young master wish to go? Nala asked, clearly having so trouble looking into Zacs eyes. Perhaps she felt a bit pressured by speaking with a proper pureblood Draugr.
Im in no hurry, take us to so interesting places, Zac said with a smile. Its not often I get to leave the clan.
Ah, if young master wishes to relieve stress during his stay, I am always available to accompany you. I also have connections with various Flower Houses. Soone with your grand heritage would be welcod with the utmost of service, Triskatal hurriedly said as Zac started walking away.
A communication crystal flew up from between her breasts the next mont, making its way toward Zac. However, the crystal disintegrated as Vilari sent a spiritual wave at it, making the Revenant grimace.
That wont be necessary, Zac said as he walked away with Vilari silently walking in tow.
Zac emitted the aura of a Peak-E Grade warrior, but he was still just in the middle stages and his body was still solely powered by the black ichor sitting in his veins. Of course, Triv had actually divulged that there were compounds that could temporarily awaken ones body, not only making amorous encounters but even pregnancy possible.
However, those kinds of zombie erection pills left behind quite a bit of pill poison, and indulging too much in them could even harm ones foundations.
If the young master wishes to take in the sights of Twilight Harbor, how about a boat ride between the plateaus? Nala ventured.
Sounds good, Zac shrugged.
The Twilight Harbor uses special vessels that are powered by the Twilight Clouds between the islands. I have a vessel, Nala said as she took out a decent-looking flying treasure. I borrowed my familys ship. It is a bit low-end, there are better ones for rent as well.
This one is fine, as long as it flies, Zac shrugged as he walked aboard.
Vilari gave the square a last look before she walked over and sat down next to Zac. Nala hurriedly jumped on as well, instructing the small vessel to lift off. The ship rose from the platform, and Zac realized it wasn't actually covered by a barrier. Even then, he definitely felt he was inside a proper atmosphere, making him believe the whole harbor was covered in a massive atmospheric bubble.
The mysterious clouds didn't seem to be able to reach the platforms though, but they rather ford what looked like rivers of stardust between the various islands. There were two separate types of rivers. One was the familiar cold aquamarine of Miasma, while the other was a much warr yellow river.
It was clear that the rivers stemd from the anomaly in the center of the Twilight Harbor, but Zac was interested to note that the anomaly was neither aquamarine nor yellow, nor a mix of them. It rather was rather a murky gold that rather leaned toward green, and it didn't change whether it emitted the feeling of life or death.
Nala steered the flying vessel to float on top of one of the miasmic rivers, Zac could feel that it actually helped the ship pick up speed. However, they only moved for a few thousand ters before the ship slowed down until it ca to a crawl.
Whats wrong? Zac asked.
I, ah, havent really given any tours so far, so I was trying to map out a good route, Nala said with embarrassnt.
Thats fine, thats partly was why I hired you, Zac laughed.
Zac wasnt lying. So things didnt change even when comparing pre-integration Earth and the Multiverse. The guides in tropolises like this were very much like the tourist guides back ho. They would take you to all kinds of stores where they had connections where their business partners waited to sell you low-quality items at a premium.
A greenhorn was more likely to bring him to proper establishnts since she hadnt had ti to build that kind of seedy network, and with her Fathers connections, Zac believed she should have a good understanding of the comings and goings of this place.
How about this, take to so place where I can sit down and enjoy so incense for an hour or two. I dont want any of those kinds of services, just a calm environnt for us to stabilize after a long teleportation, Zac said, noting that Vilaris aura was still a bit unstable.
Certainly! There is a highly reputable Incencary run by the SharvaZi Clan not far from here. It provides a great view of the Twilight Ocean as well. I believe it would be up to young masters requirents,
The SharvaZi family?! Zac blurted with surprise, but he quickly reigned in himself. Do you know if anyone of them are here?
That is beyond . Perhaps so have co for the Twilight Ascent, but the imperial clans usually only have a few branch mbers stationed here to run their businesses, Nala said, clearly trying to avoid reading into Zac's reaction. Most of those who work there are natives.
Zac finally understood what had brought Catheya here while traveling with her master. It sounded like she had stopped by to look into their interests before moving on. eting Catheya was not sothing he had planned, but he also was a bit curious if she was here. He guessed it depended on whether her master had erged from his seclusion back in the Zecia sector.
He had a completely different aura while undead and a new appearance with the help of [Million Faces] to make him look more like a natural Draugr, and Catheya shouldnt be able to recognize him even if they ca face to face. He also had one simple thing working for him; the fact that it was so ludicrous that soone could be both a Draugr and a Human that no one would even think of such a possibility.
But even then, there was no point in playing with fire.
I am here incognito under my masters orders, and I dont want to make my presence known. I think its best if we visit another establishnt, Zac slowly said.
Certainly, I know of many more such establishnts, Nala quickly nodded. Millions of people have co here for the Twilight Ascent, and many are using temporary identities. After all, when there are benefits there will be competition, and no one wants to bring grudges back to their clans.
Good, Zac nodded.
The boat moved slowly toward a plateau two disks over, and it was clearly controlled by the undead. Occasionally, Nala would have the flying vessel fly over to another river heading in the right direction, and she rarely flew through the void itself. Zac first felt they were moving quite slowly along the energy rivers, but he soon realized that the speed was deceptive.
They passed a whole disk in just thirty minutes, and even the smallest disks were dozens of tis larger than his island back ho. The one they had passed was large as well, and he had seen whole mountain ranges flash by in minutes. That ant Nala's dingy flying treasure was actually flying more than ten tis as fast as his own leaf, sothing that was hard to believe considering the guide's apparent economic situation along with her strength.
The leading clans have installed special arrays in Twilight Harbor, Nala explained as she looked down on her flying treasure with so embarrassnt. This treasure is just average as young master guessed, but space is shrunk a hundred tis along these Twilight rivers, allowing for easier travel between world disks. There are teleporters as well, but outsiders cannot use them.
Im surprised to see these kinds of arrangents in a frontier sector, Vilari said to hide Zacs ignorance.
It is because a lot of the factions here have powerful backings from elsewhere. Their economic background cant be compared to normal local factions in a frontier sector. The Twilight Ocean is what truly makes it possible though since it unceasingly expels energy into the area, Nala said and pointed to a glowing object beneath them.
How about you introduce this place to ? My master simply handed a Teleportation Token and told there would be opportunities in a place called Twilight Harbor, but he didnt say much else, Zac said. Whats the Twilight Ocean?
Ah, so its like that, Nala said with surprise. The sphere down there is the Twilight Ocean, or rather the entrance to it. Its closed right now, but it is still discharging enormous amounts of Miasma and Cosmic Energy. Thats the whole basis of Twilight Harbor.
Zac humd in understanding, a bit surprised to hear that the star itself was the ocean. He had just assud it was the nebulous clouds and the Twilight Rivers were the oceans, and the platforms the harbor.
Is that star why this place holds mixed races?
Yes, Nala said. The Twilight Ocean expels both life- and death-attuned energies, and unless both sides are present to absorb it, then the atmosphere will slowly beco imbalanced.
What is the Twilight Ocean? Zac asked curiously. "A mystic realm? Or an aberrant star?"
It is a supre grade Mystic Realm from what I have heard, and the place where the Twilight Ascent is being held. The Twilight Lord founded this place, and his descendant is still officially in charge of the ocean, Nala said before she lowered her voice. Of course, many of the ancient clans have great influence in this place, with the current generation Twilight Lord mainly focusing on his cultivation. He hasnt actually been seen for almost a thirty thousand years now, and many think he is preparing to assault Peak C-Grade.
Zac was about to ask so more questions, but they had almost reached their destination by that point - one of the world disks that had to be the ho of billions of cultivators.
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