The weary legs of the young travelers found respite after a lengthy and arduous journey. The extended distance served as their safeguard from potential pursuers. Biding their time until their potential enemies departed, the operational team, consisting of four members, waited patiently.
Reclining beneath the hill, the quartet observed the border-like serpents patiently fixating on their prey. One of them radiated excitement, grinning widely due to the anticipation. The other two wore smiles that seemed almost innate, a reflection of their nature.
On the other hand, the final member displayed no emotion on his face, his gaze fixed on the air as his thoughts wandered elsewhere.
'I couldn't break through to Level 2. If I were, the system would have informed me. Sigh... Whatever. Let's do one last check.'
'Status.'
[Name: Leon Rastia]
[Race: Human]
[Universal Energy Arts: Level 1]
[Chaos: 1]
[STR: 6 (+12) STA: 0 (+13)]
[AGL: 0 (+14) INT: 0 (+15)]
[Unassigned Stat Points: 4]
[Magic: ----]
Leon surveyed the fruits of his nine days of training. If the stats he initially received from the system were akin to that of an egg, today's results resembled a hatchling to Leon.
Indeed, it was a remarkable evolution he had undergone in such a brief period. Yet, he couldn't shake off the reminder of what people had been stating...
'Seems like it's really true that getting stronger during the first few days is easy. And now, my INT stat has been sitting like that for the past three days at least.'
It's easy to experience a surge in strength shortly after breaking through to another level. A sudden power surge is more likely to occur in the higher levels. This is the rightful achievement of the strong, something that the weaker Level 1 individuals have yet to earn.
Nevertheless, this didn't imply the absence of common points or gains between levels.
Each level brought about a distinct kind of power surge with every breakthrough. This hidden power surge had to be gradually brought into the light by the energy user through meticulous training. This was also the underlying factor behind all the significant stat improvements he had been experiencing for a while now.
Upon focusing on the INT stat, a thought crossed his mind, transforming his neutral expression into one of excited anticipation.
'Will putting stats into INT speed up my leveling progress!?'
Although momentary, the smiling face reverted back to neutrality, then transformed into a grumpy expression.
'But, if it won't work, I'll waste my stats... I mean, it's obvious that at some point I will raise it. It must be related to magical attacks, after all. But I can't afford to waste my stats on it right now since I'm counting on my physical power...'
Pat!
Lost in his thoughts, Leon was abruptly jolted awake by the sudden slap of a small hand.
"Let's go, Leon."
"Alright."
The time for infiltrating Neaire had arrived, though the term infiltrating was more of a formality. In reality, they strolled inside as if entering their own room. Their steps were nonchalant, even the anxious one shed her nervousness, replacing it with amazement in her eyes.
Neaire, the pearl of the Rehtolar country, stood out as one of the most beautiful cities on the Norlanta continent—a magnet for tourists from around the world.
During the summer, Neaire was a must-visit destination, especially for those residing in Rehtolar. A cozy city adorned in a myriad of colors, from its buildings to the very paths they traversed, such as the blue one beneath their feet.
Buildings reminiscent of medieval architecture, adorned with brick-like exteriors, were not actually constructed of brick. Instead, they were crafted to evoke that classic aesthetic.
Her eyes widened to their fullest extent, mirroring the astonishment in her pair of eyes, "Wow!" exclaimed Triss aloud.
"Is it your first time here?" Laima.
"Yes!" Triss nodded firmly, on the verge of getting lost in her amazement at any moment.
"Keep your voice low," Leon kindly warned her.
"Fine, fine."
"Leon, it seems like it isn't your first time here," Laima remarked.
"Yes, I've come here a few times."
"Hmph. Good for you."
"Thanks. It was quite good."
Harshly turning her face, "Are you mocking me right now?"
"I don't. You don't have to worry about that."
"You're mocking me, aren't you?"
"Seems like you can't understand me. I've said, I don't."
"But you are—"
"Alright, alright," Laima, accustomed to their ceaseless and boundless quarreling, chose to intervene for obvious reasons.
"But he—"
"We don't have time for that. You can deal with it at the hotel."
"What hotel?" It was Leon's turn to be surprised.
"You'll see," for the first time, a huge grin appeared on her face.
---
A few hours prior, somewhere in the world.
Seated on a chair, the massive man exuded power. Lacking the distinctive tail of an Aqrabian, he belonged to one of the races not inherently large. The slash injury across his right eye was enough to strike fear even into the heart of a crying baby.
Resembling a military general's uniform, his attire was a deep blue. A meticulously woven pyramid adorned the front, crafted with golden threads.
The uniform's sleeves hung down towards the ground, lacking an owner to hold them up above the surface. Every aspect of this short-haired man with a military cut accentuated his appearance, radiating a veteran aura that seemed to span the entire universe.
The room was filled with the intense smoke of a Puro cigar.
"Do you want me to recap the mission?" His voice and appearance displayed perfect harmony.
The man facing him also bore the resemblance of a seasoned veteran. His eyes and face carried the weight of someone who had experienced much. The scars on his face were silent testimonies to that aspect of his life.
He spoke cautiously, not due to any intense pressure, but rather in response to the atmosphere set by the man who distinctly appeared to be his superior.
"No need, sir. I remember every word," determination etched across the face of the white-haired man.
"Then, do tell me."
He cleared his throat briefly, "Sir mentioned that, given the insignificant amount of Black Metal, there's no need to deploy any Sting. In fact, just 20 Sand and 4 Feather would be more than enough," he relayed.
An immediate nod of agreement came from the superior, prompting him to continue speaking.
"Rebellious wouldn't take the risk and attack for anything under 20 kilograms. There's a slim chance of them making a move for 10 kilograms, but that has yet to occur. That's why attempting to snatch a mere 3 kilograms would be deemed too insignificant for them," he explained.
"Indeed, that's correct. There would be nothing to gain from such a small amount. It's not worth the risk."
"Yes, sir. I believe that's why we've been keeping the shipments around the minimum."
"True."
"It was a brilliant strategy. All of their operations halted, and some people even began to forget their existence," he commented, letting out a brief laugh of satisfaction.
"Ensure there are no hybrids among the operation team."
"Absolutely, sir. They are valuable assets not to be wasted on this type of operation. It's better for them to train at the station."
"Allow 10 to 20 cadets to experience an operation."
"Even though it will be like taking a vacation?" He laughed again, this time more robustly.
However, there was no response from the superior. He continued to stare at the laughing face for a few seconds. Those moments of doom manifested on his face as droplets of sweat. Unbeknownst to him, a shiver ran through his body.
With a swiftness reminiscent of lightning, "As you wish, sir!" Bowed deferentially and promptly exited the room.
"Sigh," was the sole sound the upper emitted as he gradually rose from his seat.
Through the window behind, a colossal city sprawled while its residents slumbered. Its vastness surpassed even that of the Harbinger and Stone City combined. In fact, one could argue that it eclipsed their entirety in size.
He slowly parted his lips, whispering, "Truth will one day ascend to its rightful throne..."
The man, adorned with an 'S' character emblazoned boldly akin to the grandeur of the pyramid on his chest, spoke. Positioned diametrically opposite to the emblem on his attire, the character, meticulously woven amidst a blend of crimson and golden yellow hues, sent shivers through the hearts of those who dared to be enemies of the Gods.
---
Strolling nonchalantly through the deserted streets, bereft of any other soul, they, the self-proclaimed proprietors of the city, claimed dominion.
The alleys served as their peculiar tourist attraction until a structure, akin to the multitude it mingled with, yet slightly elevated above the city's other apartments, materialized on the horizon.
"That is the hotel," Laima her gaze fixed on the children, scrutinizing their reactions.
"It looks beautiful."
Only Triss offered a comment, while the other child remained engrossed in scanning their surroundings. Evidently, they were attempting to locate something specific, perhaps hidden in some obscure corner of the building or beneath it, reminiscent of their previous experience with the tree's roots.
Laima, with her keen black eyes, didn't let this behavior escape her notice, "Are you trying to find the sign?"
"Yes."
"You won't find it like that," stepping away from their side, "Come over here and focus on the road."
This area could aptly be labeled as the hotel district, and for this distinctive reason, the road was crafted to resemble bricks, mirroring the aesthetic of the entire city.
Yet, its unique characteristic lies in its vibrant array of colors. While other roads were monochromatic, each of these bricks exhibited a distinct hue, as if possessing individual personalities.
"If you look from here, you can see the 'R' word."
"Understood."
"Let me take a look too."
Seconds elapsed until the count reached the thirties.
"And? Are you kids still on the hunt for it?"
"It's too hard to find."
"Yes, nicely made."
"Hahaha, right? But we should get inside now. And later in the day, we will go and take a look at the sea."
Belenus chimed in, "More like inspecting our operational grounds," his expression adorned with a broad smile.