Smiling in mischief, Lisa had all sorts of ideas about why she should be considered evil—or terrible—but hearing it from Marthosh was funny if she considered her true feelings or David. She didn't even know this kid of his, who he must've found in the streets. So she wondered what else David was taking to his mouth while she was dead and gone.
Fortunately, at this point, Lisa had different thoughts and needs. She had no issue with their words, or what David thought of her. Back then or now, her mind was already old and experiences vast. Now, her priorities were vastly different than ever before. She took David for no stranger, of course, nor did he take her for soone who hadn't fixed his life all those years ago.
It wasn't so distant mory anymore; they both rembered it for their own needs. For one of them, it happened without stopping, acting as a distant echo. The other took it a little worse, oblivious to the aftermath and true aning of the word death.
Both cared for so mories and histories between them, which Murai observed from the side, sitting on top of Bagus's head.
Lisa coughed, uncaring about David's embarrassnt, and reminded him to go back to the business.
“You know, evil has a lot of forms, but that needs no attention right now. Focus, or do you want my reminders again to call evil? I can try a whole lot of things even with this body,” she cracked her palms, giving an evil smile. “Feel the fear of your head, mories, or go through you like a proper ghost. You na it, call it, I do it.”
David wasn't sure if he should agree or disagree with her ideas. He was half certain it wouldn't hurt to see either, or what her weird body could do or cause, so he most definitely didn't fear it. It would help him understand her better. While he could fix so of his mistakes, wasn't it too late?
He grew old, as most humans would in such a prolonged ti apart. He was more than seventy years old, which was considered elderly in most places in the Surface, though he didn't look like that at all. His wealth, money, and power were well spent. He spent more than half a century without her; Lisa wasn't with him for so years before eting her End, so his actual years weren't far from an elder.
David released his hands, clutching them and fearing Marthosh said that intentionally. “No need,” he said, nearly squashing the construct apart, but it was far too precious and well-made. “I am more than fine as I am.”
Not everyone was.
“Hello!?” Marthosh said, continuing to talk as if in a hurry. “My bad, but there is really bad timing to talk like this, boss. I don't think you, boss, realize how terrible it is for us. You! The company will go to shambles if you don't help! I can't... I an, I would never do it justice with the ss in the city or what that shithole did.”
David hesitated and loosened his grip. “Calm down. No. That isn't right. I said it enough, Marthosh. Just weather the storm and survive. You are out and we are gone. We will solve what will co while your reliance on survival and rumors is enough. Or... is it sothing else? Did soone target you even in the city?”
Lisa found this situation weirdly comforting that David rembered so of their ti. He took them with embarrassnt for so reason when they t again. She didn't know why. Was she that harsh on him, or was it wrong?
She didn't think so.
But many reasons weren't always flattering or good. She didn't care for a face back then, nor before, or... ever. So situations were sufficient for special occasions. So words were the sa.
Everything was a little bit different because her status was rather sensitive, caused, but not adhered to the little duck on top of Grifhart's head. She knew why acting with caution was best done gradually, so she took David for a lost treasure she found along the way, old but still useful. It might also hide so surprises, old-ti sakes, or lancholy.
She knew it was a worthy catch, albeit too old to think of it as fierce.
“Is he there then?” David said, still trying to ignore Lisa's gaze. “That ans problems and many answers. It took a lot longer. Good job! Marthosh, you little chap. What about information from the brokers?” David shouted and shed a tear at the construct. He quickly changed the topic for his good, unsure if he would et Marthosh ever again.
He doubted that which was why Marthosh took things seriously, even though it turned weird and dangerous. David couldn't help it; he gave him his whole company and everything he had built for decades. All for this sake called the Encounter, Lisa, and Murai.
“A man shouting about Encounter is enough of a confirmation, isn't it?” Marthosh said, sounding a little calr this ti around. His breathing stabilized, and his voice softened. “I saw him myself. Tall guy, crazy, eyes almost red, round, and unblinking. On two, he cut issues in half and in the way. Nurous ones, I should add. He also added more ss to the current tides. He is unhinged much more without Order in place but the weird thing is... the military does nothing! Everyone wanted a piece of him when he wore his Token on his chest. Many sought him out even without Hunt in sight, a small skirmish broke, and duels went head to toe. Or not... I am not sure what to trust. Of course, it ended up in many Ends, while his current location is unknown. He is gone from the city.... going deeper.” In the end, panic struck his voice.
David contemplated this problem. It seems everything went as Lisa predicted. If Razmund truly unhinged his voice and openly proclaid his Encounter, things wouldn't fare well for a lot of people. Not for him or them or anyone. Depending on how one would handle it better will make losers and winners clear.
“That would explain our little visitors in the past hours,” Lisa added. “And how his act could turn everything down. Him stating it is like a proclamation to go at us. What else? Many will correlate us to him, and many will want an easier pie to grasp. Thus, the Encounter is here and open to everyone. To every little problem.”
Lisa was right. Razmund's act wasn't good or bad. It was just bold. Very bold. It was also very confident for soone who didn't even know that his little prey got massive Helpers without a single hitch. But in that case, Lisa bet it was no longer the case. Razmund should know by now that Murai had vastly different protection from ever before.
“Well, if that's the case, the source of problems is here, but that isn't enough to crash us, isn't it?” David asked, turning his face to Lisa who nodded in confirmation.
“He could. I don't know everything about his choice, but since the ssages from the last Gate about him are narrow or biased, you've told enough. He could crash us still. It could be worse than anticipated, but not unexpected. He is doing this for a reason. He must know it isn't good or terrible. Got a pair of successful rides in this Hellscape too, so he must have his plans and confidence to do it. Or, he might not know about us yet. When did it happen, boy?” Lisa asked Marthosh.
“So hours ago, I fear. I had so problems. That, and...well, it is late. He proclaid the Encounter the mont he got out of the Helltrim Castle and his following steps went quite... like I said.”
“That answers it,” Lisa said.
David sighed, knowing that she was right. “I can't even guess what many gangs and companies will do with that sort of idea. They sent scouts at us before the Hunt, so what happens after everything is revealed?”
“Infighting?” Bagus added his idea. “That seems reasonable. This place is never calm and many fools fight against one another all the ti. The sa could be around us or that human who just arrived.”
Lisa agreed with him too, similar to David who knew this place wasn't so simple, which was why he kept most things about Murai, Lisa, and everything between them.
“It seems the Hunt is starting, Murai Hisagi,” Lisa said to Bagus' head. “A real one. How to call it? We got one in the Seventh Death Forest before, while escaping to this temple temporarily put it down. Now, it is back.”
“Clash of Titans!?” Bagus suggested a better na, nodding and nearly stumbling Murai out of his head.
“Hunt is enough,” Itrosh mumbled, feeling left out.
Lisa didn't care for nas. She just spoke freely like she wanted.
Murai slapped Bagus's head with his wing as he climbed back up. “Give a break with that, would you? What does real even an?” He quacked. “Na or not, this hunt of ours is not mine. I just have to escape, so what is even so Encoutner or ans of this Encounter? You expressed so weird things recently. Parts, Sides, Origin, and Reason.”
“Escaping is your Part. Razmund has his own. They might compel each other, or not. It is subject to the underlying origin. He is coming for your head, I reckon,” Lisa pointed to the truth she long guessed. “He is looking for you. no longer stalled behind by bridges, web of complicated lengths, and Islands. Here? He can find us quickly if he is insane enough.”
“He nearly killed once!” Murai shouted. “I don't want to see him ever again. Almost. No. He did kill ...well, anyway. I took that in by the nearest End I've felt in a long ti. What about the rest? Since it has been hours since that asshole ca here, we shouldn't dally around.” He said and nearly panicked about what to do, which surprised Lisa a little bit.
She asked Marthosh for specifics.
“It has been... around four hours since he walked out of the castle,” Marthosh replied again, “so don't expect specifics. There was so fight, or so so reports say. That is . I've seen so of them. I had trouble getting so right ideas across afterward, as getting clarity is part of Lost Brothers. David always says it. Better full ssage than a bunch of excuses.”
“That is all cheery like a sunset,” Lisa said patiently. “But tell about the aftermath.”
“Well, what is there to tell? I was a bit hesitant when he butchered so gangs along the way out of the Helltrim City and arranged so infighting, but that is to be expected. Many people got a rush of adrenaline and insanity. Excuses, or so David would say. That was so ti ago. Then, so fools waited outside of the Helltrim City. He gained a couple of followers, but they betrayed him in earnest, almost killing him but he cut them back. It was forceful, or so I've heard. Maybe it was false since I couldn't get to them. Wasn't there myself, so...”
“So an hour,” David said, scratching his head and couldn't wrap his head around what will happen next. If the other Side of the Encounter was this unhinged, the unexpected might happen. Lisa and he knew what to expect from the Blessed of Razmund's caliber. He wasn't one bit weak. “Direction?”
“Where?” Marthosh chuckled. “His goals are planned or they are far from it. You have changed too, boss. According to the map Evil Lisa planned, way ahead from the starting Sectors is clear and rather unchanging. I don't know the details but he went forward and most scouts or trust are unruly, so his direction might be off or go straight towards you.” Marthosh said everything without exaggerating or hiding a thing.
“Is that so? Maybe he knows where we are,” Lisa said, half certain it was the case because of all the previous notes from Gates. Razmund had always followed them behind in the past Gate. That much Lisa recognized with herself or Lorry. How? She didn't know the details, but David had so guesses. The Dice. It was a bit odd, but rumors were rumors.
In any case, thinking of how wrong could things be was a bad idea. Lisa was sure that things could change and beco worse. It was no Law, sure, but it carried so truths. Nothing crazy was following them behind right now. Nothing like Razmund at least. No spies were close, though so doubts were free. They would be outside of their senses, which might be dangerous like creeping Razmund behind their necks.
So far, they killed every problem that had arrived too closely. But in the middle of the jungle, soone could easily hide. There could be even so hidden constructs, tad beasts, or soone masterful in stealth hiding. There was almost no way to guarantee the safety of their position, unless their power was supre, or they had more secrecy in their travels.
That was impossible. Privacy wasn't possible right now, and won't be.
“Well, boss, knowing where you are is one thing, but why wouldn't it be the case? Hellscape is simple in premise, isn't it? Uhm.. I've never been part of the Challenger Party, so don't take my word for granted. Long, narrow, and mostly straight, Hellscape doesn't hide too many things. That is my take. Now, Hunters gather. Hunts usually sound straightforward so you better be careful,” Marthosh said apologetically, knowing that his information gathering was lacking.
“That is fine, boy,” David said. “Any further rumors about that guy? Our purchases about him could do only so much justice after we left the city. Since he is killing already, that ans the situation is worse yet better. For him, it might be worse or good like for us, or worse is yet to start. Well, the fools we've t so far were weak. Perhaps the stronger ones are waiting.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Marthosh cleared his throat and gave him his take. “Razmund fears no repercussions, nor fear. Others will be the sa. They hunt him because they see his third-ti status, deep pouches, while his Token might be worth a fortune. More than yours, probably.”
David needed no confirmations. A simple look at his group answered it enough.
Everyone here was for blood and hope.
“Other than that, boss, so rumors are lurking around, but nothing crazier than what you've got before our departure. So much can change in hours. If sothing, there is a rumor about a Divine Artifact around his hand. It is nearly impossible to warrant it as a fact. Prices in most brokers have risen exponentially since you departed and their trust isn't right. The whole Hellscape is churning in delight and Chaos and Network is... vague. Mindarch already started to influence so flow. It will happen soon. So skirmishes. The Hunt!! Infighting already goes around in so places, and Wars are on the Surface. I...”
“Shut up about the Surface,” Lisa grunted; she had an utmost desire to not think about that place right now.
Bagus laughed, causing Murai to nearly fall off again.
Rumors often carried good anings, so David accepted this ssage, but not Lisa. She kept her silence, thinking that Razmund was crazy to go out in such a fashion out of that castle and city. She wondered what happened beforehand, or how his stakes in Gate 2 or... afterward, ended up. She was curious how he handled the loss of his Voice and what he was planning at this Gate.
After all, with this group, they might pose so threat to him.
Lisa still believed that the lack of Boosts was important. Her idea of why Encounter took care of Murai's Helpers was rooted in the already established rules, or... it might be a sham. She wasn't sure about anything anymore. Boosts were too mighty, yet they stopped, whereas Helpers worked even in the current landscape for one specific reason: to get a balance going, or work for sothing else. For sothing that might be already set into motion before the Voice lost its reasons. Gods might be involved, making their Encounter much more important than she had assud.
Reasons were a possibility or guesses that Lisa couldn't refute or know. And their Pledge was comparable. It should have been more individualistic, but they got accepted, while Razmund gained nothing from Gate 2. Timings seed right, which was what? Good or doubtful?
Probably everything.
Silver Room got Razmund enough materials to continue onward regardless of any stops. With already established training, Boost would've given him a surplus of bonuses and helpful guidance. Martial artists held Boosts in extra regard, so he would've grown, but at his level, unless he crashed the Wall called Level 70, nothing crazy would've happened. Especially the ones around that Level needed a lot of things, and ti and accumulation of incredible rits were one such thing.
At most, Boost would've healed him, while the most significant thing remained in Sword Intent. Since he got it working, the Boost and his Voice would've guided him and pulled it together instead of his own trials and failures. Razmund wanted it so much since he got it going if he really tried. With guidance, turning sothing barely grasped into sothing firm in his hand, it was a change that gifted a steadier Path.
It was a similar situation to Murai's Fla Affinity. It was effortlessly gathered after he let his mana spark. Then, he had it in his Beast Core soon enough without any need for training or fusing a Fla to his core by so breathing technique or specific fla essences. That usually took weeks according to his mory. For his species, it could take months if he considered his unfamiliarity, and no major troubles in his learning. That went out of the picture with the way of Boosts, so he itched to try so more ways to implent Affinites to his Beast Core. He had his Universal on in his flesh, so it was possible.
But too many Affinities weren't a good thing. They could bloat him and cause issues, so perhaps that was why Anatidaes were considered wild and odd. It seed their magic and Universal Affinity was unnatural, making magic, possibilities, or their psyche strange. Right. Murai figured he should've asked Mindarch more about it, or their overall history.
Weeks ago and with little to no restraints, Fla Affinity happened on its own. Because of that single reason, most beings in this world relied on this guidance, yet was it so easy? What Murai had done was unique.
And with countless Laws and major Affinities, knowledge was a mighty power and tool.
Fully fledged Sword Intent was an exquisite power. It would an a tool that was significant enough as so basic Laws, and it could be attained to those in line with swords like enlightennt or Resonance.
Well, in a sense of so observations, Sword Intent was closing on so of the sword-related Laws. Its full strength was entirely dependent on the user, implentations, or quality. Depending on schools and so teachings or Paths, most swordsn wished to carry Sword Intent like so Laws. It was no surprise. It was intangible like most Laws, often carrying complex ideas and weird directions. And it moved with, by, or inside the sword, signifying a powerful swordsman. If not a Law, most regarded it as a guiding tool that would ease everything that had yet to co, even if it was weak.
Lisa knew that Razmund was dangerous in every form, thanks to the readings David had told her before their departure. So of his possibilities were confidential across the board, or very expensive, yet David purchased what he could from the Surface and told them to Lisa. So were kept between them. Not even Ultium knew about them, let alone Murai.
“Anything about his new readings, or further interest? How many fools did he kill and how strong were they?” Lisa asked Marthosh.
“Readings? His? No way. As I've said. Out of reach, out of mind. Can't see anything but stare at him from afar. He killed Level 60 gangsters in teams, however. You see, rumors of that fight with Marshal Luno were right. He cut him down. Not killed him. Most of the stuff about Gate 2 is still pending. With Mindarch in... I an. He is still busy, I bet. Things aren't stable with information and many places are tense. Everyone is waiting for Levandis's statent first. You included. I... can't really tell more. I am barely glad to be alive.”
“That is true.” Lisa acknowledged.
“Very well, Marthosh,” David said. “Keep observing and don't hesitate to spend so money in the Old Fools either. They owe us. That is all. Take care.” David ordered and ended the communication after Marthosh's begrudging confirmation.
Lisa was still hoping for sothing new, but he stopped it quicker than her words.
“What? You wanted sothing else from him?” David asked her shalessly.
“Nothing but more confirmations. Razmund was there for him to see, wasn't he? He saw and t his aura, his sword, his steps, his... everything?”
“Who do you think Marthosh is? He is my boy. No way you will influence him. Also, nothing about it would change a thing. I've told you enough rits. More would crush our morale. The best of all ideas are under your head already. That ans we have things to do and consider, don't we?” David asked, sizing Lisa and Murai.
“Getting information is clearly worth it,” Murai muttered to Lisa. “But we have a way ahead, don't we? Even with Razmund, what changes us? Forcing things to et him is stupid. Do we run or fight? What is our purpose?”
Lisa waved a hand at them and shrugged. “Fine then. Back on track. I was overthinking it anyway.”
Then she turned to Murai, giving him words to his soul. “I've told you what is right. Getting ideas about Razmund isn't bad. What is possible now is different than before. We have this group, so why not use them? How about going to an offense?”
Murai eyed her. “Again with this? No.”
“Battleworld can't think much right now,” Lisa insisted. “It's the sa thing I think he also has, but for so reason, Razmund is all alone here, acting stupid like a hunter in gas of others. He might be overconfident. It isn't anything surprising. Centralis Kingdom fools are all like that.”
“Speaking from experience?”
Lisa grunted. “I am trying to think of it further. It is feasible. Yes.”
“Suspicious indeed, but you are wrong. I don't think he is a generous type of guy. Oh, that is just my experience speaking. Don't mind . He would butcher at a mont's notice, and cause permanent damage without regard for anything. He is an extremist, willing to clasp my legs and twist my wings.”
“Wished I could do it myself... and I agree with you. What more do you want? Train all that you want but you won't beat that shithead. I bet on that.”
“Bet?” Murai frowned in a challenge.
“Don't tell you feel a change?”
“Well, you said it. The Encounter has its Sides and story. Balance as well, so what to think of it besides having so chance?”
“You? I don't believe there is even a shred of Order between the lines of this ss. Don't try anymore. What else is there besides hitting him back by using this group? Perhaps we... can hunt him back? Ultium is strong. We could try that.” Lisa urged.
“Keep going is the only answer that makes sense,” Murai insisted. “You have your plan and head. Stick to it. Not your heart. I don't feel too good about being hunted by that asshole again, but this group has its stakes too. Their purpose. Don't give them sothing else. That is to help out of nothing but their wants and hopes. What is my task?”
“Getting away, I know,” Lisa said. “It stops nothing about us or my idea. Dealing with Razmund might be a better to call it. Think about it.”
“Ask David if he wants to go against him and then ask yourself. He won't laugh at you, but I would bet he would love to do that. They don't have to hunt him. They don't need it. Ask them! They will stick to what they want; to their worth. That is good. It is the basis of trust. There is also too much we don't know about Razmund, and I bet our party is already known to the public like my status. Like him, we could get chased and he might even know about us already. Perhaps that kid knew it too, but David snatched that call away.”
“We are known, so Razmund probably knows us too, yet still continues onward. David confird apparent news the mont you set foot onto the streets. With Itrosh and Bagus with us, we established a party of high interest. Any Hunt would have this sort of idea, as everyone would want to see and know the Hunted. For us, we have the Encounter and lots of Helpers, so it is an even more complex clash of interests. We can't swap between them. This whole Hellscape is our enemy, though that depends on its rules. That is why we t many scouts. There are curious folks who are yet to crash us. Everything and our group could pose as a bargaining chip. Weaklings won't bother us, which is good for us and terrible for you.”
“Like a give a feather about it! What is right then? When did you intend to tell about the Hunt and its rules?”
“Soday, Murai Hisagi,” Lisa smiled, “or now. Also, you are busy in your head and training. That is a situation that affects us all. A new Anatidae is enough to give you an idea. The knowledge that you are here is another thing.”
Murai sighed, figuring out where she was going with this.
“Another thing is information about you in broader detailed terms.” Lisa suddenly frowned, still hoping he would change his mind. “David didn't find coherent information about you. No matter the price, there is nothing... how to call it... succulent? You? Well, this ans Mindarch can't handle you, or he picked nothing static, or you are confidential and unclear to anyone. This idea might be caused by David's uncertainty or lack of gathering, but he went through most brokers who would kill for knowing you and they hadn't found shit. That might be good or inconsequential because this party is already here and your power is feeble.”
“So you are practically calling weak.”
“Yes. How clever of you.” Lisa smiled. “For example, we can go and do sothing unique. Sothing that no one would expect. Can't you see so possibilities?”
Murai saw straight through her ulterior motives. She didn't speak sense. It wasn't fine to go back against Razmund while this Gate was intense. It wasn't part of the plan he wanted from the start, though he wished to solve Razmund at so point. The timing was wrong.
It wasn't about a chance; he might've stated so wistful ideas about the Encounter, but power was absolute, and his questionable reality might not be ready for him.
Now, he felt like she was testing him, he believed.
“Bulshit after the other,” Murai said and refused her ideas, “that is what this is. Our party is known in public, yet Razmund still chose to go after . Call suspicious, but he sure is confident to catch even with all of us combined. He is either desperate or confident to deal with us.”
“Is that your choice?” Lisa eyed him.
“Yes. Let's keep going and see so chance when it cos. Not now. Everyone has that idea, can't you see?” He glanced at the rest of the party. Each took Marthosh's ssage with ease. No one apart from him and Lisa felt the roughness of this situation because they were experienced and knew they should keep their lives if worse arrived.
Itrosh, Ultium, and Bagus took this journey for an adventure filled with opportunity and reward. That was their benefit and loyalty. It was easy to rely on that.
After this small discussion and added transparency, Lisa decided to let things go as Murai wanted. They reached a satisfactory awareness, and it was true that Razmund's act were kind of absurd, so they returned to their journey with the sa vigor.
Going across Sector 14, which was part of Province 1, they still had a long journey ahead towards Sector 45 in Province 4.
This whole cave had systematic terms for land, mines, locations, and other various interests. Villages, military bases, farming plains, and cities acted as key points, right around, inside, or beside various danger zones. Each Sector had various political landscapes because of everything, giving gangs purpose, living places so chances, creating facilities, or touching military between everything. It was nothing abnormal. In so sense, this Gate resembled so places in the Surface. People lived in groups and places that mattered, and so dangerous zones or worthwhile places were crucial.
Sectors were following a steady idea from the very start. Helltrim City was the start of Province 1, consisting of two dozen Sectors. Province 2 was more than a hundred kiloters ahead of that castle, consisting of more plains, fewer forests, and more rocky places. All of that stretched for even longer ahead for another Province, giving Hellscape regions or purpose.
Most Sectors were beside each other, stacked onto one another through various political warfare, or straight-up skirmishes for recourses. They resembled districts or small countries, looking incoherently adjacent to one another because they had very little governance. By power and mastery, Sectors could change, fuse, or beco smaller. In that sense, it was similar to war and the act of expansion in the Surface.
All of that was sothing Levandis encouraged and liked, as worth in land was worth so power for people and her alike. She let her subjects grow and establish what they wanted. Be it in the Surface or here, control over people, places, and worth followed such constant principles.
Far extending lands of this cave were enormous, full of a variety of natural or unnatural resources. Through many millennia, this place changed many tis, but never to a worsened state. It was always increasing in volu, mana, and people, growing under many shadows, caves, and earth.
Worlds and planets brewed and grew through ti and prosperity, or even vie utter destruction. Lives at their stakes were evolving and power ruled so weaklings would be left behind. It was a common concept. Hellscape was no different, even if it was a cave. There were a dozen Provinces in total, each having either a single artificial sun or more in the ceiling. So were small or large, but each shined over many Sectors.
Each Province went for an individual Overlord under Levandis, who never handled them herself. At first, she did. Not anymore. Even most Overlords hardly cared for them, but so were personally here, overseeing it as their ho, or request set by their Lady.
Most worth and opportunities went for military personnel and various hopeful figures living in this place. Many fought for their Sectors via various thods or duels, eventually hoping to be rulers of the whole Provinces. So Sectors even had public affairs, or even public votes, but Levandis didn't care who or what was in charge of every Sector.
Provinces were different matters as far as powerful people went. Even so rough gangs owned so Sectors, thanks to the free nature that so powerhouses held away from the military. However, it wasn't as if they held utter freedom. There was so job and work in owing things, but Levandis was like an overbearing mountain to everyone. Thus, no matter if so haughty gang leaders hoped for more, they always had to follow so regulations, lest they piss off soone they shouldn't piss off.
Mindarch always guaranteed safety in rules, with or without the Will of the Battleworld.
In certain Provinces, the cave changed drastically, turning into hot blazing mountains, stretching lakes, cold mountains, deserts, or unfathomable plains. The further it went, the tougher the conditions beca, and the harder it was to keep going. That was why the conditions for Challengers were rough and their luck was important. Nobody wanted to get their portals set in those last Sectors. Not only it was far away, but its luck was threatening. Because of that, the rules were loose and Challengers didn't have to fight if they wanted. They might focus on getting out as quickly as possible if they get an unlucky location.
Further back, vulcanic properties fueled so suns, giving so special valleys and mountains a nice touch. Dangers too. So were also cold, forming icy plates and icebergs that looked like mountains. Those were at the edge of the Hellscape, as the underground wasn't that keen on the ice. Humidity and warmth worked against the cold since this place held no sky, yet the atmosphere was rich in mana. Ventilation existed via so holes, but it wasn't set up very well because this place itself functioned just fine by itself.
One could wonder how such ice mountains even appeared there. Perhaps it was for temperature regulation.
Murai learned quite quickly about his target and Gate as a whole. Province 4 was just a desert, thanks to many bright clustered crystals and a wide and big sun on the ceiling. It held many mountains, mines, dunes, and valleys, and everything was hot there. It was kind of harsh in comparison to what was Death Valley about, but for Murai, that was his target.
He rembered Death Valley, so he didn't look forward to yet another desert. He didn't like them. He bet this duckling body with a hoodie on would find it better than before, which was about the only positive thing he ca up with.
Further Provinces held a higher number of Sectors, reaching close to four hundred in total before the end of this cave. Weirdly, Murai quite liked how this place looked and adhered to certain principles. It was familiar because he had seen plenty of words with similar logic.
In so areas, there were even so underground facilities, or cave systems, which sounded like great fun. For a cave to have further caves wasn't anything surprising, yet from the sounds of it, there were societies, secrets, and sothing great about them. Murai got a brief note of that, but nothing clearer.
David was talking a lot about Hellscape instead of Lisa, hoping to give Murai clarity as he figured his voice carried so power or questions, unlike Lisa who was the sa as he rembered. Sotis, she wasn't willing to talk for various reasons. She preferred actions instead, which might be heavy and botherso for her current body, or was there sothing else about her that he had yet to notice?
In a way, he was finding Murai's and her relationship odd, while Lisa was the strangest.
David wasn't aware of what exactly Murai was, or what Lisa was thinking, but he was willing to give him the knowledge that Lisa didn't give. David knew all about this Gate, so he gave Murai what he deserved, even when Murai wasn't the one asking questions; David simply talked to him as if he was a newbie to this whole Gate, which wasn't wrong.
Murai appreciated it for what it could be, even though David was never further than Sector 302. At least he knew what to talk about and caused the journey to pass by faster.
Not like it was good or bad; Murai kept on practicing on top of Bagus's head and could listen and train at the sa ti.
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