* Raon POV *
The sword appeared to glow for a second, and I used my appraisal skill to gain more information about it. While I was now recognized as its master I still wasn't able to see all the information on the sword. This just confirms my guess that this sword is explementary. The information I was able to see are as follows:
[ Nova
Rank: Unranked
After being named by Raon White, the sword began undergoing subtle changes. With a name and a master, it started revealing some of its abilities to its new wielder.
Abilities:
Clean and Pristine:
Proficiency: 100%
Type: Passive
Maintains the blade and sheath in a clean and pristine state.
Magic Freeze
Proficiency: 50%
Type: Passive / Active
Passive: The blade passively attracts and freezes mana near it.
Active: Attracts all mana within a 3-mile radius and freezes it. The frozen mana can be channeled into the blade for an attack. No magic can be used for 10 minutes afterward.
Suppress Aura
Proficiency: 100%
Type: Passive
The sheath possesses an ethereal aura that conceals the blade's presence, including certain passive effects.
Locked *
This ability cannot be used until the requirements are met.
Locked *
This ability cannot be used until the requirements are met.]
It seemed that I could use most of the abilities. However, considering the materials used and the blessing of the concept of time, I had expected more abilities. The locked abilities might be the cause of this, or perhaps the sword would gain stronger abilities as it ranked up. After examining the sword, I decided it was time to return to the Mortal Realm and make my way back to the Ancient Village. Reactivating the Multi-Realm Space-Time Stabilizer, I left the Astral Realm. I found myself back in the inn room, my clothes torn. I changed into modern-looking black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, and black hunting shoes. I stored Nova in my storage ring to avoid drawing attention to myself, then left the inn, quickly making my way out of the city under the cover of night. It appeared that a guard had noticed the entryway in the sewer and sealed it off. The number of guards on duty had tripled during the few hours I was asleep, turning the city into a fortified fortress and my temporary prison.
I knew that I couldn't leave the city without being discovered by the guards, so I realized a distraction was necessary. Heading west, I reached the East wall and used my holy fire ability to set the wall and nearby houses on fire.
As I gazed at the burning east side of the city, I noticed all the guards rushing to that area. Taking advantage of the chaos, I made my way to the West side of the wall. Running through the city, I observed how much more active and bustling it had become. Although it had been quiet earlier, I decided to push those thoughts to the back of my mind and continued on my path toward the Ancient Village. I managed to leave the city relatively easily and continued heading west toward the village.
While looking back at the burning city, I couldn't help but feel disturbed. I had been a normal teenager in a modern, lawful world. But now, I could set a city ablaze and potentially harm innocent people without feeling anything. I felt absolutely nothing about the destruction of the city or the impact it had on its inhabitants. The same went for killing animals or people, or even witnessing the death of someone I knew. I felt absolutely nothing.
"I need to reach the village first, then I can deal with it," I thought to myself.
I began heading east toward the village, aware that the journey would be long and challenging, but my instincts urged me to return. They told me that answers awaited me once I arrived. Additionally, the Ancient Village might not remain safe for much longer, so finding those answers was crucial. According to Adam's broadcast, which was likely heard worldwide, something in the Ancient Village could help stabilize the impending situation. Most of the powers had taken a neutral stance due to the village's strength and close ties with the empire. However, now that the village chief had been killed and ties severed, it was the village against the world. Before the village was completely destroyed, I needed to discover whatever it was my instincts were guiding me toward. While I didn't have a strong relationship with the Ancient Village and didn't truly care about its fate, I remained grateful to them and the village chief. But my gratitude wasn't enough to risk my life for them. At this point, I didn't even know if they would allow me to enter the village. However, something about the village compelled me to go there. When Ruby, the others, and I lost consciousness, they all arrived in this world together, while I arrived alone and already dead. It made no sense. Something must have influenced my destination, and I believed I would find those answers in the village. There were only a few terrains left to traverse before reaching the village: a forest mostly inhabited by tier 2 monsters and one tier 3 monster, and a grass plain mainly populated by tier 3 monsters. As the day neared its end, I finally entered the forest. It would take approximately 2-3 days to clear the entire forest. Before venturing in, I retrieved Nova from my storage ring and secured it to my hip. I didn't have enough time to learn how to use a katana properly or fully absorb all the knowledge I had gained from the books I had bought. I was entering the forest ill-prepared for combat, but I simply didn't have the luxury of sitting down and comprehending everything fully. I didn't know when the worlds would merge, or when the forces in the world would team up and destroy the Ancient Village. I needed time, time was the thing I needed most at the moment.
Time was of the greatest importance at the moment, and it was slipping away from me.