"What is this...?" Gray asked, a cold sweat flowing down his face.
Together, they stood on top of the naval fleets and watched the sight unfold before them.
Inhuman screeches echoed throughout the city in ruins, flashes of lights could be seen going off everywhere.
Creatures which resembled beasts and monsters could be seen roaming around leaping from building to building and striking the humans which were busy fighting back.
'What the hell is happening?!' He questioned.
A flaming reptilian creature which had caught sight of their ship suddenly hurled a giant flaming ball at them.
*BOOM!*
.
.
.
*WHAM!* *WHAM!*
Punch after punch was hurled at Gray by his self-image, one after another as they fought in the middle of the darkness.
[Immovable Fortress.]
Gray lowered his arms leaving himself wide open before freezing in place.
*Wham!*
As the final punch connected with his face the self-image froze up, making it unable to move.
Immovable Fortress was a move which Gray realised he hadn't given enough credit to. It paused him and made any physical contact done to him also pause in reflex.
It was incredibly useful for hand-to-hand fights as long as the blow he could take wouldn't be too extreme.
[Unpause.]
Gray's head cocked to the side as the blow resumed itself.
With a bit of blood dripping down the side of his mouth, he glared at his self-image who had been completely suspended.
"One for one." He said
*WHAM!*
He kicked it and it's figure dispersed into thin air.
[Training ended.]
Gray took in a deep breath before looking around. Complete darkness surrounded him.
At first it was unsettling but he had gotten used to it by this point.
"Open the shop." He said.
[Shop]
[... Shop is open.
Select your choice...
1. Consumables
2. Items
3. Masteries..
4. Weapons <Locked>
...]
'Any new masteries?' He asked.
[Number 3, Masteries]
[Adept Sword Weapon Mastery: 300 Coins]
[Adept Dagger Weapon Mastery: 300 Coins]
[Pause Martial Arts Mastery Progression: 1000 Coins]
[Beginners Mixed Martial Arts Mastery: 300 Coins.]
[Coins Available: 300]
Gray winced before letting out a sigh.
"Things have been too peaceful... I haven't made any progress." He muttered as he glanced to the right.
[Possessor: Gray Caliber
Race: Chronos
State: Normal.
Level 5
XP Required to Level up: 990/1000
HP: 30/30
Strength: 38
Agility: 39
Stamina: 35
Sense: 27
Points available to distribute: 15]
[Skills]
[Pause: Level 3]
[Fast Forward: Level 1]
[Mark Of The King: 2nd Stage]
Gray winced.
"When did I get 100 XP points?"
A tab appeared in front of him.
[Main Quest: Take over the continent claimed by the invaders.]
[Reward:]
[???]
[+1000 Coins]
[+1000 XP]
[Quest Condition: Partly Succeeded.]
[Reward Given:]
[+100 XP]
[+5 Status Points.]
The light orb above Gray known as the system then spoke.
[Quest failed as the continent was not fully taken over.]
[However part of the continent which belonged to the Invaders has in a way been taken over.]
[Therefore 100 XP was given out.]
Gray crossed his arms.
"I assumed I was meant to deal with things in a peaceful manner since I received the quest after Ruby asked me for help... Are you trying to tell me I didn't have to go through the peace talk all along?"
[That is correct.]
[The most efficient method to complete the quest would have been to kill them all.]
Gray placed his palm on his face and sighed.
He thought that the only way to complete the quest would have been to suggest peace.
Still it wasn't a complete loss, at least he gained 100 XP from it.
And he wasn't sure whether or not he'd be able to kill the innocent mercilessly. Regardless, what was done was done.
"System, next time give an actual explanation to these things."
[Understood.]
Gray opened his eyes and found himself lt down on the deck with his legs crossed. Beside him were Violet and Aurora fast asleep while leaning on his shoulder.
They had stayed up all night enjoying the festival so it was only natural for them to be tired.
The sun was out and the sky was blue.
Gray found it interesting how much this world resembled his, it was a shame he wouldn't get to properly explore it.
"Is everyone ready!?" A feminine voice echoed throughout the sea.
The others were all resting on the inside of the deck, they too were tired either from drinking or playing all night.
Gray looked over at the top of the deck and found Ruby standing there will a glowing green stone on her hand.
The stone had a voice amplifying ability allowing her to broadcast her speech loud and clear.
The horned ones cheered as they raised their hands.
The commoners and the nobles were each in their own respective ship.
It was time.
"Then my people! Remember! We go in peace! Let's return!" Said Ruby.
The moment she said so, a bright yellow portal appeared before each and every ship as the golden stone within them resonated with each other's.
The portals were open, the ships sailed forth and entered them.
Right before he left, a notification echoed inside of his head.
[Create a world link?]
'World Link? What is that?'
[Creates a link to this world, allowing it to become available for passage if requirements are met.]
[Three seconds left to decide.]
[Two.]
"Create it!"
[One – Confirmed.]
The ship entered the rift. They set off on their journey once more.
The inside of the portal was much calmer this time, there wasn't any rumbling of the sort, nor any signs of anything going wrong.
Despite that, Gray was on alert. If there was one thing he had learnt in this Journey so far, it was that everything could go wrong.
"*Yawn*
Violet's eyelids slowly opened as she woke from her slumber.
She looked around before sitting up straight and stretching.
"We're on the Journey already?" She asked.
"Yeah, we departed just now." Gray replied.
She glanced over at Gray with narrowed eyes and humphed.
"I still don't believe you about that smell, you know..." She muttered.
Gray instantly recalled what happened on the previous night.
.
.
.
"What's that smell?" Violet asked.
Gray laughed nervously and said. "Some guy walking around spilled some bleach on me. I wasn't able to wash it off fully."
He had indeed taken another shower before coming back, looks like it wasn't very helpful.
"Is that really true..?" Aurora asked with a slight frown.
Violet narrowed her eyes slightly, she wasn't buying it.
"Y-Yeah, it's true..."
Gray didn't know why he lied, but they didn't ask about it after so he left it at that.
He still felt bad for doing so.
Violet stared at him waiting for him to confirm whether or not it was the case.
He was starting to feel guilty for lying.
'Why am I hiding it...?' He wondered. 'I might as well go out and say it.'
Gray stared Violet in the eyes and said. "Well actually-"
"We're here!" Said Ruby.
"Already?" The two simultaneously questioned.
A bright light flashed, and the scenery around them changed.
Their eyes widened as they glanced around. The fresh air which they had been acquainted with awhile ago had been completed replaced with a dense and thick one which was harder to breathe in.
Dark clouds roamed above them and sirens filled their ears.
"What is this...?" Gray asked with a cold sweat flowing down his face.
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