In the days leading up to our arrival at Mirkvale Forest, I spent most of my ti learning how to pull back my divinity. It proved difficult since it was like trying to move a muscle that atrophied, one that I never knew existed. At least, that was the best way I could put it. Trying to describe soul magic using words wasn't easy, since it was all so epheral.
However, despite the difficulty involved, I succeeded. Thanks in no small part due to Aurora's help. Her guidance proved invaluable, as she moved around inside my body and soul. Without her, it would've taken much longer to figure it out. Weeks rather than re days.
Pulling my divinity in felt strange. I found it stifling and suffocating, as if I were wearing a thick layer of wool over my entire being. I hated it. However, it was better than the alternative. Hiding my divinity ant that I no longer looked beautiful enough to start a war.
Of course, I was still more attractive than I was when I started cultivating the Wandering Soul Technique. However, it was still within mortal limits.
I spent the rest of my ti training and cultivating. We didn't know what we would find in Mirkvale Forest, and I wanted to prepare for every possible eventuality. Of course, that was impossible. However, I still gave it my best shot.
Thanks to the Wandering Soul Technique and my second mana core, my cultivation increased at a rapid rate. At this pace, it wouldn't take long to reach my previous height. A few years at most. Maybe by then, my friends back on Earth would've found a way to reach Lumina.
The others spent most of their ti training and cultivating as well, while Mother and Grandmother Sky advised us. While Anna, Cally, and myself already had a lot of knowledge and experience from our past lives, we still learned a lot from them.
Even so, the ones who benefited the most were Priest Jai, Priestess Natille, and Leroy. If nothing else, the sparring and combat practice honed their battle prowess. Thanks to their natural talent and aptitude, their skills increased at a fast pace.
My relationship with Priest Jai and Priestess Natille remained awkward, at least from my perspective. They treated with a deference that I found uncomfortable. Back on Earth, people treated like an idol. I an, high ranking hunters were essentially celebrities. However, this was my first ti being worshiped like an actual god.
I tried to get Priest Jai and Priestess Natille to stop and treat like before. Even though I was technically a demigod, that didn't an much. I was still pretty weak, relatively speaking. In fact, given my strength, being a demigod was a detrint. However, my efforts proved futile. In the end, I gave up.
After a few days, we arrived at Mirkvale Forest. Rather, we arrived at Mirktown. Mirkvale Forest was located within a massive valley that took up half the Mirkvale region. The Giant's Spine, a mountain range that ran for hundreds of miles, took up the other half. Mirktown was located at the entrance to this valley.
The plan was for us to search for the enemy base on foot, while also trying to lure them into attacking us. At so point, we considered searching for the base from the air. However, we decided against it.
If the enemy realized we were looking for them, they would put more effort into hiding. This would make finding them more difficult. Besides, if the enemy base was underground, searching from the air wouldn't help at all.
For this sa reason, we didn't bring the Vanguard of Vengeance into Mirktown. It was too big and conspicuous, too much of a threat. Instead, we took one of the smaller airships that ca with the Vanguard of Vengeance. It was a carrier, after all.
There were three types of airships to choose from. First, there were troop transports. Big, bulky, and ant to carry soldiers into battle, or to seize enemy airships. Second, there were fighters. These were fast and nimble one-person airships similar to the fighter jets back on Earth.
And then there was the third kind, the personal transports, ant to carry House scions. These were beautiful and luxurious crafts, similar to private jets back on Earth, created to show off House Sturm's wealth.
Of course, we chose one of these.
It was a beautiful autumn morning when we departed from the Vanguard of Vengeance and flew towards Mirktown in the personal transport. The carrier would remain behind at a distance, disguising itself as a cloud. Once we found the enemy base and assaulted it, we would bring the Vanguard of Vengeance in to help.
Grandmother Sky, Lord Dominic, and Kiki remained behind on the Vanguard of Vengeance. anwhile, the rest of us, including Mother, headed down to Mirktown.
"Are you sure this is the best plan, Lord Gabriel?" Priest Jai asked as we flew towards Mirktown.
I nodded.
"Searching the entirety of Mirkvale Forest will take too long," I said. "I an, we're still going to try. However, it's faster to try and bait our enemies into attacking us."
"Even so," Priestess Natille said, an uncertain expression on her face. "What if sothing happens to you?"
I shrugged.
"Sothing will happen," I said. "The key is to make sure I survive it."
Priest Jai opened his mouth to say sothing, but Cally beat him to it.
"Don't bother," she said in a resigned tone. "Gabriel is too stubborn. You won't convince him otherwise. He has an almost suicidal disregard for his own life. At best you'll get a promise from him, which he'll almost imdiately break."
"Hey!" I said. "I'm not that bad."
Anna, Leroy, and Cally all gave him flat looks.
The conversation fizzled out after that.
Soon the personal transport landed on the outskirts of Mirktown. The place reminded of Little Portland back on Earth. It was a small settlent located near a dangerous zone filled with monsters and precious resources. However, that was where the similarities ended.
Little Portland catered to hunters and soldiers from the US military. Despite being built from the ruins of Portland, it was a neat and organized place. More importantly, it was safe and secure. For the most part. No place was entirely safe.
Mirktown was the complete opposite of that.
It was a ramshackle shithole that catered to the adventurers who delved into Mirkvale Forest in search of fa and fortune. The streets, such as they were, were all made of dirt and mud. The buildings were mostly made of wood, though a few were built from stone. As far as I knew, they were laid out with no rhy or reason to them. People had built them wherever they felt like it.
There was no higher authority in charge of Mirktown. No House claid the area as their territory. No laws. No rules. It was a chaotic and anarchic ss full of danger and opportunity.
Needless to say, the luxurious personal transport stood out like a sore thumb.
For so reason, I found Mirktown familiar. I had never been here before, yet I felt as if I had. It was strange. However, I put that feeling aside for now. I had a mission to accomplish. Everything else could wait until later.
However, just before our group disembarked, Mother pulled to the side.
"I don't know when we'll see each other again," she said. "So I wanted to give you this before we separated."
Mother would scout Mirkvale Forest on her own, using an invisibility bracelet to remain hidden. As a Fifth Star martial artist, she stood far above the rest of us. We would only slow her down.
"Here," Mother said, before pulling sothing out of her inventory ring.
It was a beautiful black sword trimd with gold and embedded with blue crystals. It had intricate designs carved into it. A sky blue tassel hung from the poml. Even at a glance, I could tell that this was a powerful weapon. It didn't have any enchantnts, but it was forged from precious materials.
I took the sword and held it as if it were a holy artifact. After studying it for a while, I looked up at Mother. She wore a proud smile on her face.
"This is beautiful," I said with awe in my voice. "Where did you get sothing like this on such short notice?"
Mother's expression faltered and she gave an awkward smile.
"It's called Sky's Dream," she said. "It belonged to your great grandmother."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
I blinked at her.
"Grandmother Sky gave you this?"
Mother nodded.
"Yes, though I don't know the story behind the na. You would have to ask her for that."
I nodded, before I gazed down at Sky's Dream. This sword wasn't just a beautiful and powerful weapon. It was also a family heirloom.
"Thank you, Mother," I said, before placing it in my own inventory ring. "I will take good care of it."
Mother snorted.
"As long as it keeps you alive, that's all that matters." She paused. "That said, don't forget to thank your great grandmother."
I nodded.
With that, Mother put on the invisibility bracelet and disappeared from sight. At that, we all disembarked.
Most of the people in Mirktown were adventurers, a rough and tumble sort. Like the ones in the Icefall region, they dressed in tough, practical clothing. However, instead of the cold north, they dressed for Mirkvale Forest.
Most of my companions looked similar, though their clothing was of higher quality. However, I dressed like a typical House scion. I didn't have enough ti to get an entire new wardrobe tailored, so I adjusted my current clothes to fit my new size. I wore an expensive outfit that belonged in grand halls and ballrooms, not this place.
In other words, I strutted around like a peacock among wolves.
The locals, already crowding around to stare at the personal transport, gawked at and my companions. I put on a haughty expression on my face, trying to co across as a pompous ass. I wanted to give the impression of an ignorant House scion who didn't belong, with my companions serving as my retainers.
Earlier, when I practiced in front of my companions, they said I was a natural. I flipped them off.
As soon as I disembarked, I looked around at the surrounding crowd.
"I'm looking for the local Adventurers Guild," I called out in an arrogant tone. "Two gold sols for anyone willing to guide us there."
The crowd of adventurers glanced at one another in confusion, before one of them shrugged and stepped forward. A young woman with a few scars here and there. She looked experienced. Not quite a veteran, but not a newbie either. I sensed that she was a Third Ranked Awakened.
"I can guide you," she said.
I nodded, before I took out a gold sol and tossed it to her.
"You'll get the other one when we arrive," I said.
While I wanted to co across as an idiot, I had my limits. Getting scamd would only waste ti.
"Thank you, my lord," the adventurer said with a grin.
With that, she led us towards the local Adventurers Guild. A few other adventurers tagged along, no doubt looking for an entertaining show.
As we followed her, I looked around. Mirktown was even more chaotic and ssy than it appeared from the personal transport. It slled like mud, human waste, and rot. If it weren't for Water magic and Healing magic, this place would've been a hotbed of disease.
While I disliked the stench, I had slled worse so it didn't bother too much. However, that would've gone against my spoiled House scion persona.
I took out a handkerchief and used it to cover my nose and mouth. One of the adventurers that tagged along snickered.
When we neared what looked like a tavern, I heard a woman moaning. A mont later, we passed by an alleyway and the woman ca into view. She dressed like a barmaid. A man dressed like an adventurer pushed her against a wall and fucked her from behind.
"Vulgar," I said in a disgusted tone, before looking away.
Anna, who walked next to , leaned closer and whispered in my ear.
"We should try that so ti."
"Like hell we are," I whispered back.
"Co on," Anna cajoled. "It'll be like that thing you told about… What did you call it? Role play?"
I resisted the urge to sigh. At night, often before we slept together, I talked with Anna about Earth's culture. More often than not, this included Earth's various sexual practices.
"Will you two stop?" Cally grumbled under her breath. "We're on a mission."
"We'll talk about this later," I whispered to Anna.
She chuckled, before she stepped away.
Our guide led us to a massive stone building. It stood at three stories tall, with thick walls and small windows. A tall outer wall surrounded the building, reinforced with several defensive enchantnts, turning the place into an impregnable fortress. It looked like it was built to withstand a sustained assault from a Tier Five monster. A pair of armored adventurers stood guard at the entrance.
"Here you are, my lord," our guide said. "As promised. The Mirkvale Adventurers Guild."
I nodded, before I tossed the second gold sol her way.
"A pleasure doing business with you," she said with a smile. "If you ever need soone to guide you again, I'm your woman. Roxie's the na."
I made a noncommittal noise, before I headed towards the front entrance of the adventurers guild. The guards eyed in astonishnt, but made no move to stop .
Past the front entrance, a dirt courtyard took up the space in front of the guild building itself. A training area occupied most of the courtyard, which included a few marked off sparring arenas.
Several adventurers made use of the training area. Most of them looked like martial artists, disguising themselves as internal magic users, while the rest were wizards.
When we entered the dirt courtyard, silence fell over the area as almost every single adventurer stopped to stare at us. I paid them no heed and headed towards the guild building. However, before our group took more than a few steps, soone called out to us.
"I think you're in the wrong place, my lord. The ballroom is that way."
I stopped and looked over to find a pale-skinned man with short brown hair standing next to so training equipnt. He was topless and shoeless, only wearing a pair of pants. He smirked at us while pointing in a random direction. Several of the nearby adventurers snickered.
I looked the man up and down, before letting out a derisive snort. Afterwards, I resud walking. My companions followed suit.
"Oh? Look at this lordling. Too good to speak to a re commoner like myself?"
I resisted the urge to sigh. I hadn't wanted to cause trouble within the first hour of our arrival, but it looked like I had little choice. While the pompous ass that I pretended to be might've ignored one disrespectful remark, there was no way I could ignore two.
"Leroy," I said. "If that lout speaks up again, break his legs."
"Yes, my lord."
The man in question was a Third Ranked Awakened. In a fair fight, there was no way Leroy could lose to him. And that wasn't even taking into account Leroy's Holy magic.
The atmosphere in the dirt courtyard turned sour as the tension in the air thickened. Several of the adventurers threw hostile looks our way, including the man who called out to us earlier.
"Excuse ?" he asked in a heated tone. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
This ti, we didn't stop walking.
"Leroy," I said.
Leroy nodded and broke away from our group, marching towards the man. The latter blanched and backed away. Once again, Leroy's size ca in handy.
"Hey! There's no need for that. I was just joking!"
Leroy kept marching towards the man while the rest of us continued walking towards the guild building. However, several adventurers moved to block our path, forcing us to stop.
"I suggest you call off your attack dog," one of them said. "Before things get ugly."
By this point, Leroy was chasing the man around the dirt courtyard. I found it amusing that the adventurers moved to stop us, but no one tried to stop Leroy. I an, he wasn't that scary. My bodyguard was a big sweetheart.
"I have important business to attend to," I said in a haughty tone. "I have no ti for riffraff. Get out of my way."
The remaining adventurers in the courtyard moved to surround us. While the situation looked bad, it really wasn't. All the adventurers were Third Ranked Awakened. While they had the numbers, each mber of our group could punch well above their weight class. If it ca down to a fight, we'd mop the floor with them.
"You think you can co here and attack our people and get away with it?" another adventurer asked.
I sneered.
"Move or be moved," I said. "I won't say it again."
The tension in the air reached a breaking point. However, before things devolved into violence, a grizzled man with tanned leathery skin walked out of the guild building. He was tall and brawny, with short black hair and an unkempt beard. The man wore simple, but sturdy, clothing. From the confident way he carried himself, I guessed he was the local guildmaster.
That, and the fact that he was a Fifth Rank Awakened, on par with my parents.
"What the hell is going on out here?" The grizzled man looked over at Leroy chasing after the disrespectful man from earlier. "Why is there a giant chasing Eric?"
"Guildmaster, this little lordling told that giant to break Eric's legs!"
The guildmaster looked in my direction and narrowed his eyes at .
"Is this true?" he asked, or growled rather.
"I'm rely teaching him that his actions have consequences," I said, pretending to study my nails. "The consequence of mouthing off to is getting his legs broken."
The guildmaster looked at one of the adventurers. With so reluctance, she nodded. The guildmaster heaved out a sigh.
"Listen, Lord…" He gave a questioning look.
"Sturm," I said in a bored tone. "Gabriel Sturm."
The guildmaster's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, before he glanced in Anna's direction. A mont later, he looked back at .
"Listen, Lord Gabriel," the guildmaster said. "Eric is an ass, but he's not that bad of a guy. Why don't we settle things with an apology and leave it at that?"
After a mont's consideration, I nodded. While I wanted to play up my pompous ass persona, I also didn't want to alienate the guildmaster. I was here to ask him for help, after all. No need to make unnecessary enemies.
"Very well." I turned to call out towards my bodyguard. "Leroy! You can stop now."
Leroy stopped chasing after Eric and returned to my side. The latter stopped as well.
"Oh thanks the gods," Eric said, panting with his hands on his knees.
"Eric, you idiot!" the guildmaster said. "Apologize to Lord Gabriel!"
Eric looked at him in disbelief. However, he blanched when the guildmaster glared at him.
"I-I'm sorry, Lord Gabriel!" Eric stuttered.
I snorted, before shaking my head.
"Unsatisfactory, but it will have to do."
The guildmaster crossed his arms. It was clear that he wasn't happy with us.
"Now, what can I do for you, Lord Gabriel?" he asked.
"I have so business to discuss with you, guildmaster," I said. "Is there soplace private we can go?"
The guildmaster studied for several monts, before he nodded.
"Co with to my office."
With that, my companions and I followed the guildmaster into the building. The surrounding adventurers moved aside for us, glaring the entire ti.
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