A sharp cough broke the air.
Sett stiffened. He turned his head, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
Standing a few paces away, arms crossed and eyebrows raised, was Zainah.
She tapped her foot against the stone floor, the sound loud in the hush.
Sett sighed heavily but didn't move away. His body remained braced against Isra's, protective, possessive.
Isra tilted her head back against the wall, looking up at her grandson through half-lidded eyes.
How quickly the boy is growing up.
She did not like the passage of ti. She hated it. Especially when that lost ti was spend without her family around her. It felt like missed life.
She hated the way that relationships subtly changed due to age. It hurt her.
Every ti she t Sett, that was what relieved her the most. He never seed to really change—but there were changes now.
I missed his growing years again.
His adam's apple is sticking out now. His nose is sharper. His eyes have so pain in them. What happened? Who hurt him?
My boy is more mature.
I missed a lot, haven't I? All due to my stupid adventuring addiction. He beca 15. Then beca 16 just like that.
With his strength now, he would probably be able to beat A-tier Tombs as long as he has a good team.
The ti spend away that changed a person truly felt like losing sothing precious.
If the years of being in a Tomb hadn't hardened Isra, she might have teared up that mont.
"Sett, grandma, you two are disgraceful."
Sett looked at Zainah, sighed. "Just let us be, go away for a while."
"NO!" Zainah folded her arms, pushing up her perky assets. "We had plans, if you don't rember."
Isra pushed Sett's away, grinning. "I am not going anywhere anymore, brat. Go and enjoy your birthday—and yeah, I wouldn't have let you fondle anyway."
Sett rolled his eyes and gave a final peck on Isra's lips before moving back. Of course, the hand behind her waist did not go away before squeezing her butt.
Then, hesitating, he straightened.
She looked at him with lingering emotions from their separation.
"Grandma, I've experienced a lot the months you weren't here. I spent days training my abilities like my life depended on it. Next ti, there won't be a failure."
Zainah took his hand. She did not say what had happened.
"Looks like we need to go out once again."
Sett nodded. "Don't you dare go away from the capital without , though! I'll be back after I settle my plans."
"Sure."
Sett beca a bit anxious. "You won't leave, right?"
Isra chuckled, "Go brat."
Sett and Zainah walked out, both bickering.
"His death really affected you, huh?" Zainah whispered after they were far away.
"He was my only true male friend, Zainah. You haven't seen him much. But he died protecting . I could still feel the warmth of his blood slipping through my hand. It kind of terrifies ."
Assasination attempts, running away, getting kidnapped—fighting alongside his friends, then watching his sole real male friend die.
Zainah still rembered that Sett. The one whose face was full of bitter hatred and wrath. He had cald down now, but he still had changed—a tiny bit. Nowadays, he is no longer so carefree.
anwhile, Isra looked at a wine bottle in her hand and felt her own chest tighten.
Is adventuring more important, or is ti spend with my family more important?
It was clear.
She took a deep breath.
Sett's grown up.
…
In the Present.
The sun peeked over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the dawn-kissed desert. Sett and Zainah erged from their tent, stretching languidly as the crisp morning air filled their lungs, their breath visible in the cool dawn.
While Zainah went to wake her sister up, Sett looked at his transparent system.
I've already refined all the marked territory.
[Inner Tomb Size: 1756 Kiloters]
[Unrefined but Marked Territory: 0 Km]
Sett clenched his fist.
Strength. Power. Confidence.
[Approximate Strength: 1774 Tons.]
Why did I rember that mory all of a sudden?
That friend. How long had it been?
Now, Sett could not even really picture that friend's face. He was a blur in his mories. But he could still rember the emotions that guy had left behind for him.
I never want to see such a sight happen to my loved ones again.
Now that he was already quite strong, Sett decided to use a Tier 3 Tomb Heart to evolve. It was ti to get that 10x Boost.
Sett sat down on a boulder beside yesterday's bonfire and began breathing to calm down.
Faceless was still protecting the area and keeping an eye over the surroundings. He looked over at the sight of Sett's ditation.
After conquering so many C tier Tombs, Sett had gotten a lot of Tomb Hearts. Most of them were Tier 1 with many Tier 2s in the mix. He had never gotten any Tier 3 Tomb Hearts, but he knew where to get one.
Sett took out a necklace from his Inner Tomb.
This was the Dinsional Necklace where the Lightning User was sealed inside.
Ti for you to die.
Sett's gaze was indifferent and his heart was ruthless. He simply looked at Faceless, signalling to let the sealed man out.
A limp, powerless figure fell onto the sands.
Of couse, Sett smiled.
Having used the True Form while being sealed, it was only normal that the man ended up exhausting himself. Since he could not even turn his True Form off, he would just end up falling unconscious.
Sett's powerful fist caved the man's skull in with a single punch infused with debuffs.
I can still improve my foundation to get an even better boost upon becoming a Tier 3, but I need this boost to increase my power.
Then I can fuse with the Life Vessel to improve my potential by leaps and bounds.
That was much more important.
[Tomb Walker progress: 4 Tier 3 Tomb Hearts have been absorbed]
["Unholy" Tier 2 Tomb Walker evolution requirents have been t]
[Evolving to Low Tier 3]
Sett roared at the skies.
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