How? How is he so weak?
My mind spun with thought, striving to determine how such a thing was possible. Sure not all men or women are created equal. Some are born with a quick mind and a sharp tongue, others with inhuman strength and a powerful heart. But the difference between this man and me was monstrous. All my stats were around ten and higher.
On earth, while I was not as strong as a trained male, it was my skill with a blade or martial arts that made me one of the most dangerous warriors in the world. I knew precisely where to strike, to take down a man twice my size.
Crowe was faster and stronger but less skilled, making sparring with him enjoyable. All it took was one distraction, and the battle would be over.
My lips curled downwards, "Lily, why is he so much weaker?"
"You have seen all the sealed shit in your stats. You are not human. The moment you stepped into The Badlands, your bloodline awoke," Lily said, and I could feel her roll her eyes.
"So what about Crowe? Would he be the same?"
"I don't know." She replied
Koz swam towards the shore and pulled himself from the oasis, a childlike smile upon his face as he stretched his muscles, surveying his surroundings. He took a seat over the shores and crossed his legs.
"I should have eaten this morning." He said gloomily, hanging his head low. "I could kill for a glass of wine." His body sank to the ground, and he stared upwards, " Gods, I'm hungry."
My legs tensed, and just as I rose to approach, the sounds of rustling bushes caught my ear. I sunk back down, allowing my breath to go shallow, and controlled.
"Aye, boss! It seems we found another one!" A short, roguish man whose clothing mirrored a bandit I had seen in some movies spoke. His face was dirty, but the scars around his face and sleeveless gown told me he had seen his fair share of battle.
At the forefront, my brow creased as I saw another dressed in similar attire.
He had appeared a little cleaner and bulkier, carrying a scimitar at his waist. To his rear, my eyes counted seven others following. They had appeared to be speaking Basic. A common language most people on earth would call English.
My heart sank, but to my surprise, Koz slowly came to his feet and patted his soaked clothing. "Finally! I had been waiting for a guide. Where the hell am I? I wasn't sure if I had made it in time." He crossed his arms and stared brightly at the eight rogues. "Is this still the Serpents Shrout, near the Dead Sea and Blackpool?"
The Bandit's eyes widened, as did mine. Koz seemed to frown, and impatience twisted between his brow.
"Well?" He'd said after silence fell.
The large rogue's arm shifted to the cold hilt of his Scimitar. " Who are you?"
"Koz Silzel, a seeker."
"A Seeker!" They murmured, the disbelief evident.
What the hell is a Seeker?
[Ding]
[New Skill Acquired: Shroud Lv 1]
[Rank: F]
[Description: Mask your aura to blend into the world around you.]
My eyes rolled into annoyance. At least show me something I can use. Show me their stats. You showed me Koz's stats, but what of the bandits? Show me that!
[Ding]
[Shroud Lv 1→2]
[Ding]
[Shroud Lv 2→3]
[Ding]
[Shroud Lv 3→4]
My shallow presence slowly began to slip even from my enhanced senses. I grew a bit startled, but before I could dive deeper into this change, my attention shifted to Lily.
'Lily,' I screamed mentally
"Sup! Have you decided to down one of them?"
Down?
'No idea what that means. Can't you show me the stats of those people? I feel like I can take a few down, but I'm not too sure.'
"Boring," Lily groaned. " You can't see them probably because you haven't even started cultivating. You have no Abyssal Qi. Ordinary people, you can see, but cultivators like those bandits most likely are, will be difficult. If you manage to kill one, then you will see their stats.
"By the Hells!" The Bandit Leader murmured, but his hand did not leave his Scimitar. He was still on guard. "Show us! he demanded sternly, "Show us your Insignia."
"When did bandits become so cautious?" Koz lazily moaned, rolling his eyes, and he dug his hand into his left pocket, pulling out a small piece of metal, a medallion with a strange Insignia of a golden eight-pointed star.
"Good enough?" he added.
"Mithra's light!" The bandits muttered, and a spoon of laughter began to ring through the forest. The Bandit Leader's lips curled into a deep smile, one that made my skin crawl.
"What's our cut?"
"A pound of Gold," Koz replied, stepping close to their leader. "Assuming you can return me without harm to see a Magister or some nobleman."
Talks of discussion slowly began to reach my ear before an agreement was formed, and within minutes they were gone, and I was alone once more.
Rising, I slowly made my way towards the oasis, staring in the direction Koz had scurried off.
Seekers. What were they?
For Koz to be in my world and know about the Badlands meant either his parents were like mine and were from the Exalted Wheel or—
My heart shuttered. Or Koz had invaded our realm.
Uncle Zariel had said all of creation was split into twelve realms, known as the Exalted Wheel. According to him, each domain had its own rules and was infinitely large. And at its center stood the core of reality, Iluthath. A land said to encompass all manner of beings from each of the Twelve Planes.
Trailing my fingers over the cool black hilt of Laevatein, its comforting iciness cooled my thoughts.
Father and the other were sure to be safe. He had known of that bolt of lightning that had split the skies. So whatever these Seekers wished wasn't going to affect them. At least, that's what I'd like to think. I didn't want to assume, not until all the facts were laid bare. First that murder, then the rapture, now Seekers. If I hadn't seen Koz dressed in my school uniform, I might have missed the connection.
Could Koz have killed Talen Grove?
Breaking my gaze away, I peered down at my reflection, at the amethyst eyes mirroring my mother's. My once cheery lips were pale and chapped, while my clothing seemed filthy, stained with blood.
I knelt, pressing my knees against the mud, and took a sip of the water. Not a large one. I wasn't sure if it was poison. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the icy coolness running down my throat, cooling the twin sun's blazing heat. Filling me with life, I smiled and took a large mouthful of water.
I was now ready to hunt.