"Urgh,"
Athelei groaned as he woke up.
His body was incredibly sore, and his muscles would scream with every action he made. His bones felt brittle, and his joints did not have the feeling of being connected.
But his heart. His human heart.
It was pumping blood like never before.
Athelei blinked. Feeling the weird rush his body was in, he recalled a certain item he had first encountered some time ago. A fruit, to be exact. It was something he had come across in the first hours that he and Irene spent exploring the [First Kingdom].
Using his wisps, he accessed Shop and transported a gleaming red item into his hands.
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Ruby-Essence Apple
- Exceptionally beneficial for the attribute, [Defence].
- Contains genes of the Crystalline. When consumed, heightens the essence of human blood or if for the purpose of [Evolution], grants respective traits.
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"Mmm..." Athelei tossed the fruit between his small hands before taking a bite.
Crunch.
Under the force of Athelei's jaws, the crystalline fruit shattered and dissolved into his mouth like cotton candy getting wet. He had to hurry and gulp down the juices to avoid spilling anything.
Thus, in the blink of an eye, the Ruby-Essence Apple was gone.
But wait... There's more.
Feeling the instant reaction of his body to the fruit, Athelei took out three more Ruby-Essence Apples from his stash.
"Looting items from right under Hilvar's nose was truly a wonderful idea," Athelei smiled as he said a silent prayer for the High Orc's soul.
—Which made Athelei feel weird, as for the first time in his life, his prayer felt... useless. He felt as if no one had heard his voice.
It was a lonely feeling.
"To be without a god..." Athelei sighed as he tossed the rest of the fruits into his mouth.
Whoosh!
A pulsation of energy coursed out of him after the fruits settled in his stomach. It caused his hair to dance with the soft breeze, and his clothes to flutter.
Things were happening within his body.
His blood was experiencing a change.
Thus, Athelei began his observations. The sound of writing echoed out within his mental library as Inspect was being executed in rapid bursts.
"I see..." Athelei's mumbles could be heard in the room for a few minutes.
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Defense: 8 -> 18
Energy: 11/11 -> 14/14
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When it was all over, and the angel felt his human blood finally settle down, a voice rang in his ear.
"Are you finished?"
"Wah!"
Athelei's heart jumped in surprise. But then he recalled where he was and whose bed he had been sleeping on. Klike was there staring at him with a pensive look on his face.
"Blood Fruit, right?" He asked.
"Er... yes. Blood Fruit might another one of its names..." Athelei replied, still quite flustered. "Now that I think about it, I did find them in Greater Goblin kingdom-cities. Do these fruits signify something to your race?"
"They do... That's what I was going to ask you next. Just how did you get that many fruits?" Klike's eyes flashed in worried suspicion. "Usually, the Shaman can only nurture the tree to bear only a single fruit once a year."
"I stole mine from the High Orcs," Athelei answered instantly. "I'm great at stealth, you see..."
He then told Klike of a few of his exploits in his time following Hilvar. With a light in his eyes, Athelei spoke of the warring Orcs and their evolution, and he even hinted at the presence of the Ogre Magi.
With a silvery tongue, he told his story in an attempt to ease the suspicions within Klike.
It was only when the Greater Goblin's brows softened did Athelei know that Sway and his efforts were effective.
Inwardly, he sighed in relief while Klike did so in actuality. With a deep breath and a small spark in his eyes, he nodded.
"I see... I heard that human children aren't the strongest so it would be impossible for you to have taken it by force. I'm actually amazed you were able to take it from the High Orcs instead."
Klike paused,
"Could you show me how?"
Hearing this question, Athelei giggled.
"Watch carefully,"
Deftly, he raised his finger into the air and drew the sign for Doppelganger. Secretly paired with a good chunk of his wings to make up for his lacking mass, he assumed the form of an Orc, right before Klike's very eyes.
"So?" Athelei growled in a very Orc-like manner. "Do you think I could sneak around and steal things with this?"
The Greater Goblin was stunned silent at the sight of Athelei's transformation. Surprise was written all over Klike's face as if he was saying "Is this what humans can do? That's so cool!"
Various thoughts crossed Klike's mind at that moment— It was clear on his face, making Athelei's giggles a lot more mischievous.
"What? Is there something you want me to... You know... Steal?"
Klike blinked, "No, no! Never... Never... We would be chased out of Beleyal if we are caught. We can't."
"Hm? Chased out? By whom? I can transform you too. No one will know our true faces. As long as it's not Beleyal's security system, there is nothing in this city we can't take."
The devil was whispering in Klike's ear right now. It took the form of an innocent child, gently prodding, gently suggesting.
Klike bit his lip.
His expression loudly told Athelei that his conviction was wavering.
"I also have the ability to teleport items across a distance," Athelei said as Mind Splitter instantly appeared in his hands.
Followed by the Needle of Motionlessness. Then the Tidal Tome.
"As long as we get our hands on that item you are thinking of, I can whisk it away." Athelei brandished his many artefacts with flamboyance. He watched as Klike's pupils followed each and every move he made.
"So... What will it be, partner?"
.
.
.
"This is a bad idea, Orien. This is a very bad idea." Klike nearly choked on the potion he was drinking. His hand was visibly shaking as he donned the face of a Greater Goblin he had beef with.
"What do you mean?" Athelei laughed, "It's a great idea!"
Standing side-by-side were two Greater Goblins who were looking up a seemingly normal tower within Beleyal. They were simply there, inconspicuous and drawing not a single care in the world.
Fwooosh!
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew throughout the area, making the rags and robes of different Enlightened flutter. The earthen beasts in the area also snarled in response.
An Ogre appeared out of nowhere, flaunting its tusks and scars. The face on this Ogre's head was one that perhaps only a few beings knew— It was the face of the robed Ogre Magus that Athelei had once encountered.
Milky white light flashed, as Athelei willed his Tangible Will to draw Mystic Patterns for him.
Mind-based patterns appeared one after the other, coupled with Area to lead them all.
Vwhooommmmmmm...
A silent pressure suddenly emanated from the Ogre and Greater Goblin duo. It was a pressure composed of emotions and emotions alone.
Fear, intimidation, and wariness was the main course.
They had a few spices sprinkled on top as well, like anxiety and dread. All of which made the crowd wish to bow down and beg.
Like this, Athelei donned the flowing robe he had bought from Shop and made his way forward without fear or force. The huge doorway of the tower before him opened up while somehow expressing generosity and joy due to his arrival.
"See?" Athelei bellowed for only Klike to hear, "It's a great idea."
The duo walked through the towering doorways and arrived before a wide reception room that could not be emptier. The only thing in Athelei's sight was an old Ogre, hunched over a staff in his hands.
The Ogre had three heads, fully grown and still shining with wisdom.
It was Beleyal's resident Ogre Magus. A famous existence in Enlightened society. One that Klike feared.
In fact, every single Enlightened knew of and feared this Ogre Magus. And ironically, other Ogres feared him the most.
Those extra heads had to come from somewhere, no?
"It is time for you to do the speaking." Athelei pushed Klike forward. An aloof and indifferent light shone in his eyes as he scanned the reception room.
Klike fumbled forward, ready to read out the lines he and Athelei reversed beforehand. He opened his mouth as resolution appeared on his face—
But before he could speak,
"It has been a long, long time."
Three heads with three deep voices boomed, seemingly creating a small tremor in the earth.
"What brings you home, Valkus?"