On the return trip, Lorian was filled with anticipation. How were things back in Rosewood? How was everybody else doing, He wondered.
This small adventure turned out quite fruitful to him. His power level shot up to all the way to the peak of the mortal realm.
After hunting beasts along the way, he finally reached the bottleneck. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure which monster was suitable for him for his first ascension. He needed more information to choose a target, which would reward him with the most suitable skill, complementing his abilities.
Killing normal beasts at his current level was walk in the park for him, but these beasts also awarded him with much fewer experience points. Improving at later stages required more effort, he guessed.
Lorian didn't forget to seek out the snow wolves. After hunting and eating their eyeballs, the frostbite leveled up to 2. Though the whole process was unpleasant, the results were worth it.
There was a noticeable change in the skill operation. The skill took less toll on him and casting was smoother. Its effect was also somewhat strengthened. However, the next level's requirements shot up from 20 to 400. This meant he required to kill 200 snow wolves, which wasn't something he could do on this trip.
The day before, he had also already defeated nightmare mode of the first floor. The rewards were more generous than last time.
[ Snow wolf bloodline (F) ]
[ Ice Fang (Middle-grade artifact)
+2 Physical attack power
+3 Dexterity
Property: Ice poison ]
Lorian was not sure about the bloodline. It looked like a drop of blood, which maintained its form on its own. Since it was ranked F, he guessed its rank was pretty low, so he wasn't sure whether to merge with it or not.
As for the dagger, Ice Fang, it would be wasted in his hands as he was not proficient in daggers and daggers were usually much harder to master than swords. One couldn't just practice with daggers at dummies. They needed to be honed in hand to hand combat.
So the rewards weren't that satisfactory for him, but they were things that countless people would covet, nonetheless.
There were also the rewards from the bronze chest, the quest reward.
[ Arcane burst scroll (★★) (Consumable)
Description: Scroll inscribed with the second circle spell - Arcane burst.
Spell range: 10 diameters
Damage output: 2-star ]
[ Minor Rune of Brutality (Consumable)
Description: Runic symbol, containing brutal physical power
Effect: Covers host's body with runes and brings out the body's physical potential. +20% physical attack power for 5 minutes.
Backlash: Exhaustion lasting for 30 minutes ]
These were already considered Lorian's trump cards, so he was more at ease, but he didn't become overconfident. After all, these were just consumables. The only real dependable thing was his own, raw ability, which wasn't that great for now.
* * *
The sky was almost falling as heavy rain poured down, making the ground muddy. However, this didn't deter others from doing their business. A big line of merchant carriages was waiting behind the city gates. They moved at turtle pace as the guards did their job to check their identities and goods so no mishaps would occur.
- Make way!
Somebody yelled in high pitched voice.
The merchants were angry, but seeing the exquisite noble carriage moving their way, they didn't dare let out a fart and unwillingly moved out of the way.
The deadpan faced city gate guards also seemingly stiffened, donned a flattering smile and did their best not to deserve the nobleman's ire. The carriage didn't even stop as it went past the gates.
The guards silently wiped the cold sweat and continued with the procedure.
- Halt!
Finally, it came Lorian's turn. He had donned normal robes to look less high profile. His appearance suggested he was beaten by the weather.
- Papers, please.
Another guard unceremoniously stretched out his hand, demanding the identity card.
Fortunately, Loki helped him with getting one much earlier.
After checking the card, the guards nodded their heads, allowing him to pass.
As the rain was pouring, the fewer people could be seen out on the streets. Lorian had to dismount as per rules. This rather sturdy horse was the gift from the villagers. Having nowhere to place it, Lorian could only have it follow him.
Soon, the outline of Genos' inn appeared in the vicinity. Lorian was also excited, but the closer he got, the more he realized something wasn't right.
A few minutes later he stood right outside the inn with an ashen face.
- What happened here?
The inn was broken down, almost fully demolished and charred. It seems the place was burned down.
Lorian was taken by anxiety. There were no strangers on the street for him to ask.
Lorian's heart was telling him, that this was not the result of the simple accident. This thought made him more bitter. The memory of everyone dining and joking carefreely flashed in his mind. For a lone transmigrator like him, this place was his home.
The cold light flashed past his eyes as he silently left under the deafening voice of a heavy downpour.
- I'll get to the bottom of this.
* * *
Lorian stationed the horse outside the barracks gates and entered himself.
The barracks was full of people, like always.
His mind was full of grief and chaos and didn't manage to notice secret disdainful glances other people were giving him.
Lorian banged on the counter and asked hoarsely.
- I'm here to report.
The robust receptionist frowned but still allowed him to talk freely.
After listening to the whole story, the receptionist shot him a disdainful glance and mocked.
- Couldn't even complete a single task, what a useless fellow. And now you have the guts to demand the monthly pay?
Lorian frowned as he finally noticed the strange atmosphere.
His mood wasn't good in the first place, so now he flared up.
- The task failure has nothing to do with the monthly payments, doesn't it? Everyone is getting their basic salary even if they do nothing, so why can't I?
The receptionist's face turned sinister as he received the indirect berating.
- Alright, show me your soldier token.
Lorian felt something was wrong with receptionist's response but still handed over the token.
The receptionist crushed the token in his huge hand, then grinned at him.
- You no longer qualify as a soldier.
Lorian finally snapped.
- What do you mean by this?!
*Bang
Before he knew it, an unexpected fist had struck his chest and caused him to fly out of the door, rolling in the mud.
- Cough, cough...
Lorian sprouted mouthful of blood as he tried to support his body with trembling hands.
- Why...why...
Then it downed to him.
This world respected the strong but disdained the weak. Especially in such a place.
The problem was not his lack of power, but the fact...that he was limping. These seasoned soldiers easily realized it was not a simple wound, which was easy to heal.
What did this mean? This meant his potential was nill in their eyes. No matter how strong he got, he would always be a cripple. And with a leg like that, could he even advance and get stronger? If it was a normal person, it would be almost impossible, but Lorian had a system, which others didn't.
- Damn it, cough, cough...
Lorian didn't say a word more. He left the barracks like a beaten dog under the mocking gazes of others.
Lorian's eyes radiated an unprecedented amount of coldness.
The place he considered home, his sanctuary was burned down.
The kingdom he wanted to serve threw him out like a useless garbage.
What was left for him? Where could he go?
The world was a cruel place. If you fell down, you shouldn't expect others to help you up, instead, you should be grateful if they don't beat you down instead.
Now after he's seen the true colors of the world, Lorian's mindset also drastically changed.
Lorian was a petty person, but he was bound to become even more extreme after this humiliation. Even the smallest of grievances would mark the offender with a death sentence.
Lorian barely mounted himself after several failures and disappeared in the horizon under the mocking laughter of others.
However, Lorian's ears didn't register the mocking laughter. The only thing he heard was crying of the dead.