[Blythe POV]
She moved like a sharp arrow piercing through the skies. Her speed began to accelerate as she refused to look back.
The journey she chose had no leeway. Either she finishes as a hero and returns with riches and well-fought authority or she'll become another cold corpse.
However, the danger would not stop her. The surrounding land changed and in a blink of an eye.
The smell of salt assaulted her nose. Over the horizon, like the ever so mysterious rainbow, the barrier ended.
She took out her spirit and a small badge. With a quick swing, it flew into the barrier before it opened up just enough for her to pass.
The spirit passed through the barrier without any problems, picking up the badge along the way.
She took it back and continued. The more she flew, the greater the change to the peaceful environment.
Clear and sunny beaches turned into small islands separated by contaminated water.
Sometimes, she saw pieces of debris. Washed up torn clothes and bones all around.
The Sun long blocked out and the ocean singing a quiet prayer to all the dead. After another 10 minutes of travel.
She found herself on a majestic island. Hundreds of people kept leaving and joining the island from all the directions.
Some with heavy injuries. Each time they got close to the island, a transparent barrier appeared before they got absorbed in it.
Following others. She approached the barrier as her small badge glowed once again.
Then her entire body froze. A powerful being glanced at her and seemingly learned everything there was to learn about her.
Afterwards, the barrier absorbed her like everyone else. Almost no one took a notice of the newcomer.
Either the newcomer gets absorbed by their respective faction or families or they are solo.
Before her appeared a grandiose city. Buildings rivalling that of the so-called capital of the world.
Some even dared to overshadow them. Compared to the sights she saw before, this could become an immortal memory of its own.
After losing herself in the surroundings, she gathered up her attention and took out her badge again.
With a bit of mana. A map appeared with general locations. Nothing too specific, except for church-owned establishments.
One of them called the Inn of Dreams. Famous landmark known to even the most common man.
The so-called place where the darkest fears got swept away and one of the examples why humanity could stand tall to this very day.
Without it, a lot of veterans would break. Not to mention veterans. The gruesome war could bring a man to the point of insanity in mere weeks.
Toughness? Not when the sight of your comrades being blown up, decapitated, and torn into shreds.
Just to see a small airship, pick it up with a light as their remains slowly travel into the hands of the enemy.
All the while, no one can't do anything. Unless a powerhouse of an awakened realm appears.
Such tragic sight might happen thousands of times every month. This place alone saved many desperate souls.
It is also the only and the largest accommodation on the island. No matter who, they would find themselves at this doorstep once they entered the frontlines.
Along the roads, she found shops. People talking and sharing stories of their conquests.
Her imagined depressing sight didn't appear at all. This time she didn't fly, a form of respect for the veterans.
Although not a rule. When a newcomer comes and can fly, it would be an insult to do so.
Form of superiority because some elements cannot fly unless they attain the awakened realm.
Sometimes, a genius pulls of such a trick. Nevertheless, their fates oftentimes didn't end well.
This silent unofficial rule became a form of test for any new visitor. If they do not show up right after they arrive.
The odds of their arrogance bringing doom to their comrades are much lower. Quite a lot of people lack unity.
And without unity, there would be no humanity.
Simply put, a genius that willingly listens to veterans is much more valuable than a genius who thinks just for himself because, no matter how high, he grows.
There would be a point and time where they would seek pleasure. Not glory for humanity.
No longer would they see a noble goal and pursue it. Instead, they would corrupt the foundations of humanity.
Such is one of the great sins. Many great heroes turned into demons.
If they could cooperate with the vines, then there would be no humanity to this day.
Ever since then. Unity preceded talent, effort, and raw power.
The high end power controlled the god spirits anyway, so no matter how talented a genius, they would never accept a traitor.
During her walk. Blythe heard many gossips going around. Recent upcoming talents.
Unfortunate deaths, including falls of great awakened elders. A few minutes later, she arrived.
A simple-looking inn stood before her. Nothing grandiose, but it held an incredible secret.
Despite the size of the inn. Dozens of thousands of people rested in it every day, and overcrowding never became an issue.
Inside, a modest receptionist welcomed her. With her badge out, he confirmed everything and then assigned her a room.
98 898 823 777 a peculiar number if not for its use. A direct comparison of every single human ever to exist.
This inn existed for many years and it would assign every person who stepped through the door a number.
It represented one simple thing. Pure, raw power. It discriminates against softer elements and yet everyone uses it.
Because it doesn't matter if an element does more direct damage or less. Results, always results.
To break into hundreds of millions would give one relative fame. Around the two hundred million mark.
A new bottleneck appears. The awakened realm. Representation of the past and its glory.
Blythe didn't have the direct numbers. However, she estimated that there shouldn't be more than one hundred thousand actively awakened elders.
A hundred thousand, a small speck incomparable to the two hundred million that represented the entire human race.
For a supposed to be realm where people live long. How many have fallen to obscurity.
Their only recognition remained in the number they represented, the very number they fought for the entire time.
Over the years, history got erased many times. A lot of facts became myths and legends.
Many who thought they would become immortal through their descendants became nameless figures in tales.
Yet, no human who came to the frontlines cowered. Their vision always pointed to humanity.
They craved recognition. Wanted fame and immortality in different ways.
Even so, many chose the greater purpose. Blythe trembled upon the thoughts that came flooding in.
Generations of heroes, probably her ancestors, as well stepped through the very same doors and they all shed blood and tears for humanity.
Noble goals, nameless spirits deserving recognition. Yet, her purpose here was as pure as a bowl of ink.
Black filled with filth. She shook off her guilty thoughts and entered her room to rest.
The following days would be very exhausting after all...
...
Unbeknownst to her knowledge. Certain spirit eyes watched as she went into her lodge to rest.
"Another, gold to be remolded or a rotten apple? Time will tell." Said a voice as it left.
The room disintegrated into the void. If one were to look carefully, they would be able to see layers.
Billions of layers, with each holding a different number. Perhaps no one knew the real secret behind the door.
The eyes left Blythe and looked at others. Eyes which appeared in almost every occupied place inside the inn.
Their vision always watching with a mysterious glow.
Purpose, goal be it sinister or noble, no weakling had the right to know.
...
Blythe left right at the sunrise. The fresh stench of the sea assaulted her once again, and the Sun paved the way.
She walked for a couple of minutes before stopping before a certain institution.
The words flashed before her eyes before she went in.
Bastion of the warriors.
Inside, the sea had long left its mark. Experienced people always smelled one putrid thing, a stench of blood-thirst.
People that came from the missions huddled together around various tables and unlike the Inn of Dreams.
This place dwarfed anything she ever saw. People everywhere with power to squish her like a bug.
To her right, lights kept flashing in various colours as a large board appeared larger than a family building.
There, words and pictures kept flowing by.
Sector A3 - Requests assistance (Blue)
Sector A9 - Total annihilation, requesting scouting (Red)
Sector G3 - Requests assistance (Green)
Before she managed to read further, the list changed, with it being filled in an instant.
People bursted through various other exits to enter the battlefield.
Her eyes widened as she looked around for one more time. People as young or just a few decades older than her.
Amongst the crowd, she saw a few men and women with some white strands.
Right then, the board flashed again. Five sectors faced annihilation and requested immediate information and scouts.
For the second time since she came, she doubted... Doubted her choice and the goal which fuelled it.