Atlas found himself standing in front of a tough decision. While he knew that his safest and most convenient choice was to use the token given to him by Rose's father, he couldn't help but feel drawn to Deus's more intriguing plan.
Atlas's thirst for adventure remained dormant, awaiting an excellent resurfacing opportunity. Indeed, he felt compelled to ask for more information: "Assuming I decide to go with your plan, will we be able to cross the desert unscathed?"
"Completely sure..."
Atlas was questioning Deus, but the answer didn't come from the latter but from the old turtle.
"I will safely bring you to the other side if you promise me one of those fruits!"
Looking at the old turtle's eager countenance, Atlas could not help but be taken aback and thought: 'I can't believe that even a strong creature like Kurmanus is reacting like this for a single fruit...'
After all, it was only a promise, and who knows when those fruits would reap?
He didn't need to overthink this small matter, but he had to make things clear to avoid this old monster's wrath in the future: "Well... you should know that it is still a tiny sprout. I don't know how long it would take to produce its first fruits..."
"No problem... I can wait even hundreds of years." Kurmanus said, looking relatively calm and unperturbed by his words: "Anyway... with this greedy glutton at your side, I don't think it will take all this time."
The old turtle was talking about Deus, making Atlas understand that he had slightly underestimated this lazy little dragon's greediness and abilities.
At this point, Atlas couldn't help but get lost in thought.
The world beyond the Primordial Endless Desert wasn't a complete mystery for those on this side. In fact, there were a lot of records and news coming from there from time to time.
The other side was filled with wonders and perils, just like the part where he lived, yet the record reported that there were even more strange races than here, completely different from humans, dwarfs, elves, or similar beings to the ones known on this side.
In ancient times, human kingdoms were even erected following the desire of the past emperors, yet connections with those places were lost over time, making their fate unknown.
Building a direct bridge with a single Teleportation Portal was impossible because there was something in the Forbidden Region blocking the fluctuations of space power. So, to avoid such a problem, they had to build a series of formations across the ocean.
It was just that the cost to activate them was enormous, and for that reason, they were rarely used. Indeed, they were primarily used every time a great event between the two sides took place.
Since the safest route was somehow hindered, those who sought adventures chose the other two roads available, even if extremely dangerous, which were still feasible for the bravest martial cultivators.
Indeed, reaching that place was possible for individuals at the Sage Realm because they could cross the ocean and fight against the unknown dangers filling those waters.
Instead, crossing this forbidden zone was pure madness, so almost nobody dared to take that step and choose the less risky but long route.
Thinking about the mysteries and perils hidden inside this dreadful zone was scary but also enticing, especially for Atlas, a youth filled with desire and expectancy.
Atlas's heart skipped a bit thinking about this possibility, and in a brief moment of, probably, madness, his lips moved, giving his response: "Let's do it..."
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"Hmm... so you choose this path... but are you ready for what awaits you?"
Nihilir had nothing else to do in his small world, so all his attention was on Atlas' daily life.
In the past year, he had meddled too much in his choices, causing minor turbulence in the balance of this small world and his fate, so after saving Scarlet Scalis, he kept his distance and let his little chosen delve into the world with his feet and hands.
Atlas and Falerra's meeting was all due to his machination, even if indirectly. In fact, everything started with a simple young woman named Rose. He was even surprised by Rose's luck, and he was granted an excellent opportunity to pave the path for him.
"A simple push can change everything..." Nihilir sighed, looking at the image reflected on the pond: "It took me only a brief portion of my energy for this simple action, yet who knows if the results would be so easy to handle."
Breaking the Void for two little creatures was a small matter, yet even his incredible eyes, blessed by this heaven cage, couldn't pierce the mysteries of such a distant future. He hoped with all his heart that his actions were right, but nothing could grant the best result.
With the deadly hands corrupted by Nekrium's paws, the ancient world slowly but inexorably reached the point of complete chaos, a conclusion that even he and older existences were similar to him dreaded.
"Nekrium..." Nihilir sighed sadly, looking at the dense darkness reflected on the pond: "Was this intentional or... did he slip away from your grasp? If it's you who is behind this, why did you decide to corrupt even this small and peaceful domain? Those damnable creatures are our greatest treat yet, you... you chose this route. A path with only a single endpoint... doomsday."
The sadness was clearly discernible in his voice, but who knows if he was sad because of the tragic future slowly forming or for other reasons?
Nobody but him knew the answer, yet it was undoubtedly that the truth would come out sooner or later.
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The tranquil and lively desert gradually faded behind the young man's shoulders. Still, Atlas overlooked that scene because his gaze was entirely concentrated on the vast expanse of dark red sand before them.
The front view was kept the same as the other one. In fact, that dense veil shrouded above the Primordial Endless Desert gave the road below a more dreadful but fascinating aspect.
Standing with his feet firmly rooted on Kurmanus' head, the effective threshold for the forbidden zone was only half a mile away. The young man's heart was in a panic, yet the thought of stepping back never crossed his mind because only the fear of the unknown remained protected by the ancient creature's immense power, which wasn't enough to drive him that far.
"Don't freak… Take it as a simple stroll…" Deus commented with a tinge of arrogance, feeling the young man's apprehension.
"A stroll..."