Lyerin opened his eyes slowly, the pain in his forehead still fresh. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the leaves of the greenhouse filled with vegetables.
He took in the lush greenery around him, the scent of earth and growing plants mixing in the air. As he tried to push himself up, a sudden, sharp tugging sensation pulled at his mind, causing his eyes to narrow in that direction.
"What is this?" he muttered, trying to pinpoint the source of the sensation. His past life as a slave had honed his senses to a razor-sharp edge.
When given a possession by their master, slaves like him were bound to find it or know its location. Failure to do so often resulted in death at the hands of their master.
This necessity had sharpened his abilities to the point where he could sense a possession even if it was two cities away.
"Just like old times," Lyerin grumbled, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility back in a ruined magical world. "But why now?"
Lyerin's face turned grim.
"The zombies have probably become full-fledged black ink cannibals by now. I'm sure my intimidation wouldn't work anymore, like when they were newly awakened from the nightmare dream, but I feel like I need to check whatever that feeling was."
Then he remembered the girl Corora back in the ruined magical world. "If it was here, I hope I would be too late, so the leveled-up sense of ownership towards her would completely disappear," he mumbled.
He had an idea why it reached level thirty-six - it was because the shaman who cast the spell on him was probably of that rank. It was a unique way to understand the weakness of his level-up cheat.
Soon, his eyes would be laser-like focused, the direction of the tug led to a city. He knew this city all too well—it was the first city that would become uninhabitable within a week. Lyerin let out a frustrated sigh, calculating the distance. Several possible routes flashed in his mind, each fraught with peril.
"The forest," he thought, "is crawling with Black Ink Cannibals. They'd catch my scent long before I got close. Not an option."
"The mountain pass," he considered next, "is treacherous. Black Ink Cannibals and landslides everywhere, a death trap."
"The desert," he mused, "scorching heat, no water, and roaming cannibal bands. Each route would take weeks. I don't have that kind of time."
Each route was fraught with dangers from the Black Ink Cannibals that made them nearly impassable. Lyerin's mind raced, weighing his options and the urgency of his task. He couldn't afford to waste time.
"There has to be another way," he muttered, pacing. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. It was a special coin, one that could be used to locate the nearest C Sector. These sectors were military zones that were equipped with transport facilities, making travel much faster.
"Maybe this can save me some time," he said, focusing on the coin. He calculated the distance to the nearest C Sector. His mind worked quickly, piecing together the fastest route. The nearest C Sector was approximately three hours away, far quicker than the other routes he had considered.
"Three hours. I can do that," Lyerin said, determination in his voice.
With a plan in mind, Lyerin set off. He exited the greenhouse and started searching for a bike. As he walked through the abandoned streets, his senses were on high alert. He had to be careful; danger lurked around every corner.
"Focus, Lyerin. You can do this," he told himself. It wasn't long before he found an old, but functional, bike leaning against a wall. He hopped on, grateful for the speed it would provide. Pedaling hard, he made his way towards the C Sector.
The journey was not without its hazards. About half an hour into his ride, he sensed movement ahead. Slowing down, he spotted a group of Black Ink Cannibals lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce. His honed senses allowed him to take a detour through a narrow alley, avoiding them completely.
"That was close," he whispered, pushing forward.
An hour later, he encountered another danger. A pack of Black Ink Cannibals was roaming the streets, their blackened, ghastly forms grotesque and dangerous. Lyerin quickly changed course, riding through a series of back alleys to evade the creatures.
"Not today," he muttered, feeling the adrenaline surge.
Near the end of his journey, he felt a third danger—this time, it was a group of Black Ink Cannibals. They were patrolling the main road, searching for anyone foolish enough to travel alone. Lyerin carefully maneuvered his way through a series of side streets, avoiding them by mere seconds.
"Almost there," he panted, the C Sector gates finally coming into view. After three intense hours of riding and avoiding dangers, Lyerin finally saw the gates of C Sector 9, a military sector. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had made it.
"Damn, that was tough," he said, dismounting the bike and looking around to ensure there were no threats nearby.
The scene ended with Lyerin standing at the gates of C Sector 9, his mind already racing with the next steps he needed to take. He knew the challenges were far from over, but at least he had made it this far. The journey had been perilous, but his determination and honed senses had seen him through.
"Alright," he said to himself, taking a deep breath. "Time to talk to them."
Lyerin's eyes scanned the horizon from his rooftop perch. His gaze fixed on a helicopter stationed atop a nearby building, and he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. His instincts had been correct.
In his last life, as a slave within the small military base, he had overheard soldiers discussing the emergency helicopter stationed there for quick evacuations.
"This is exactly what I needed," he muttered to himself, his determination hardening.
With swift, silent movements, Lyerin made his way towards the building.
As he approached the entrance to C Sector 9, several military personnel stepped forward, blocking his path.
Their expressions were stern, and their weapons were raised, ready to fire if needed.
"Halt! State your business," one of the soldiers barked.
Lyerin stood tall, his eyes steady. "I am Lyerin Borgias. I need access to the helicopter on the roof."
The soldiers exchanged skeptical glances. "Proof?" another soldier demanded.
Lyerin reached into his pocket and produced a token, a small, intricately carved piece of metal with the Borgias family crest. He held it up for them to see. The soldier who had demanded proof stepped forward, taking the token from Lyerin's hand and examining it closely.
He shook his head. "I don't recognize this," he said, his voice laced with suspicion.
Lyerin's eyes narrowed. He knew the man was lying.
The C Sector was under the jurisdiction of the Borgias family, and the token was a legitimate identification piece. His patience wearing thin, he watched as the soldier radioed his superior.
"This is Alpha 3. We have an individual claiming to be Lyerin Borgias. He has a token, but it looks suspicious," the soldier reported.
There was a brief crackle of static before a voice responded, "We have no record of any Lyerin Borgias. Deny him access."
Lyerin's composure didn't waver. He had anticipated this reaction. With the speed and strength of a peak Apprentice Eldren Warrior, he knew they didn't stand a chance against him.
These men were only human, after all. Without a word, he sprang into action. In a blur of movement, he broke the necks of the soldiers, their modern weapons useless against his lightning-fast reflexes.
Weyooo!! Weyooo!!
Alarms blared as the remaining soldiers surrounded him, weapons drawn.
Lyerin's legs transformed, muscles bulging and bones shifting into the powerful limbs of a goat.
Swoosh!!
With a mighty kick, he shattered the gate, sending metal fragments flying.
The commotion attracted the attention of nearby Black Ink Cannibals, who began to swarm towards the sector.
"Graaa!!" "Ugugugarrrh!" "Grawwaa!!"
Lyerin didn't waste a second. He scaled the building using his transformed feet, his powerful legs propelling him upward in massive leaps.
Gunfire erupted from the soldiers below, but he evaded the bullets with ease.
As the cannibals breached the gate, the soldiers' attention was divided, giving Lyerin the distraction he needed.
Reaching the top floor, Lyerin vaulted over the edge and landed with a heavy thud. He straightened, ready to continue his ascent when he froze, his eyes widening in surprise.
Standing before him was another figure, exuding the same powerful aura of an Apprentice Eldren Warrior.
Soon, the two stood face to face, their breaths heavy from exertion, but neither made a move to attack.