The nation of Silver Vale was bustling with activity. The shamans were deep in their studies, trying to master the powerful concealment and teleportation spells that Johnatan had given them. Their brows furrowed in concentration as they absorbed the complex magic from the guide. Meanwhile, Lemes and the warriors were hard at work, improvising and fortifying the ships for Johnatan's future voyage, their strength and skills turning raw materials into vessels ready to brave the unknown seas.
Lebuna, now comfortable in her role, oversaw the progress with a keen eye, ensuring the shamans had what they needed while also organizing the women of the tribe into efficient farming teams. The fields were slowly coming to life, as crops began to sprout under the careful hands of the tribeswomen.
In the heart of all this activity, Johnatan and Laron sat together, talking quietly. Their conversation turned from the present to the past, as Johnatan grew curious about the tribe's history.
Laron, usually reserved, opened up more than usual.
"Our tribe has suffered much,"
he began, his voice tinged with old pain.
"We were once prisoners, slaves under the rule of Alevion's tyrant, Edward Stans."
Johnatan listened intently, his analytical mind piecing together the story as Laron continued.
"Edward Stans,"
Laron spat the name as if it were poison.
"He ruled Alevion with an iron fist, and his hatred for Primevals knew no bounds. His cruelty was beyond comprehension. He didn't just discriminate against us; he relished in violence,rape,torture. Many of our people were thrown into the frozen wastelands of Hailzards as a form of twisted entertainment."
Johnatan's expression darkened. He had heard of tyrants in his past life, but this story struck a deeper chord. Laron wasn't just recounting history; he was reliving it.
"I was born during our captivity,"
Laron said, his voice softer now. "But even in that dark time, I learned that not all Primevals were captured. Some escaped, found safe havens, and continued to fight against Alevion's oppression. They are still out there, resisting the rule of Edward Stans."
Laron's voice carrying the weight of years gone by.
"Lemes and Lebuna,"
he said, a soft smile breaking the sadness in his expression,
"they were both born here in Hailzard, after the escape from Alevion. They were the direct children of our High Chief, a man whose strength was legendary."
Johnatan listened carefully, his mind racing with thoughts about the tribe's history. In the chaos of all that had happened, he had forgotten to ask about the name of this revered High Chief.
"What was the High Chief's name?"
Johnatan asked, his tone curious and respectful.
"Landoraxx,"
Laron answered with reverence.
"He was once a proud warrior, unmatched in battle. His strength was legendary, just like Lemes. But his greatest battle was against the Insect King, Kabushi."
Laron paused, his expression darkening as he recalled the harrowing story.
"Kabushi was a fearsome creature, and their battle was one for the ages. Landoraxx managed to sever one of Kabushi's arms, a feat no one thought possible. But the Insect King was too powerful. Kabushi's claws found their mark, tearing through Landoraxx's eyes."
Johnatan felt a pang of empathy as he imagined the scene.
"He was blinded?"
he asked, already knowing the answer but feeling the need to hear it from Laron.
Laron nodded.
"Yes, permanently. But Landoraxx didn't let blindness defeat him. Thanks to his shaman abilities, he learned to see in different ways—through the eyes of spirits. He may have lost his sight, but he never lost his vision for our people."
Johnatan's expression softened, and his eccentric and childlike nature shone through as he spoke gently to Laron.
"You don't need to worry anymore, Laron. No one will harm you or your people again. Silver Vale will be your new home, a safe place where you can thrive."
Laron's eyes welled with tears at Johnatan's words. Overcome with emotion, he knelt before Johnatan, his voice filled with gratitude and determination.
"I, Laron, pledge my loyalty to you, Master. I will serve you for the rest of my life."
Johnatan blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed by the formal gesture.
"Hey, come on now,"
he said, his voice tinged with his usual playful tone.
"There's no need for all that formality. We're in this together, okay?"
A warrior named Visla sprinted towards Johnatan, his face pale with urgency.
"Master Johnatan!"
he called out, breathless.
"There's a creature attacking us!"
Johnatan's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he and Laron rushed towards the commotion. As they approached the shoreline, they saw Lemes engaged in a fierce battle with a massive creature in the open waters. The waves surged and splashed violently around them, but Lemes was holding his ground, matching the creature's speed and power.
Laron, wide-eyed, stared at the beast in awe.
"I've never seen a creature like that before,"
he murmured.
Johnatan, however, recognized the creature immediately.
"It's a dragon,"
he said, his voice filled with a mix of wonder and concern.
Laron's eyes widened even more.
"A dragon? A race from Veldaria?"
he asked, astonished.
"You know about them?"
Johnatan replied, his curiosity piqued.
Laron nodded.
"I've heard stories and read about them in books when I was a child. But… this dragon is different. It has no wings and is moving swiftly through the water. That's not something I've read about."
Johnatan nodded in understanding.
"This kind of dragon is different from those in your books. In my past life, I read about creatures like this in fictional comic books. They're called serpent dragons, or water dragons. They're mythical creatures that lurk in the waters, unlike the traditional fire-breathing dragons you might know of."
As they spoke, the battle between Lemes and the dragon raged on. The creature, agile and powerful, was proving to be a formidable opponent. But Lemes, with his newfound strength and skills, was holding his own, even gaining the upper hand.
"Don't kill it!"
Johnatan suddenly shouted, his voice carrying over the crashing waves.
Lemes, mid-strike, managed to adjust his attack in response to Johnatan's command. He unleashed a powerful move—his new active skill,
*The Great Bash.*
Using the back edge of his machete, Lemes smashed it into the dragon's head with precise force, stunning the creature and rendering it unconscious without causing lethal harm.
With a great heave, Lemes dragged the unconscious dragon onto the shore. As the water receded from its scaled body, something astonishing happened—the dragon began to transform. Before their eyes, the massive creature's form shrank and shifted, reverting to a humanoid shape.
Laron gasped in disbelief as the transformation completed. There, lying unconscious on the sand, was not a fearsome dragon, but a small, child-like girl with draconic features. Her appearance was both innocent and otherworldly, her scaled skin shimmering faintly in the fading sunlight.
The warriors and Johnatan carefully brought the unconscious girl to the newly built medical center in Silver Vale. Once inside, Lebuna took charge, tending to the girl's minor injuries. She explained to the gathered group,
"She's just stunned from the impact of Lemes' attack. She should wake up soon."
While they waited, Johnatan turned to Laron, still curious about the girl's origins.
"Laron, you mentioned Veldaria earlier. Can you tell us more about it?"
Laron nodded and began to explain,
"Veldaria is a mythical continent described in ancient books. It's said to be home to incredibly powerful beings whose sole purpose is to protect the world. However, due to countless wars and conflicts, they decided to close off their land from the rest of the world to avoid further destruction."
"Then how did this girl end up outside Veldaria?"
Johnatan wondered aloud, his mind racing with possibilities.
Laron shrugged, equally puzzled.
"I don't know. The books never mentioned any Veldarians leaving their homeland. But if she's here, something must have changed."
The girl slowly woke up, and everyone in the room noticed her stirring. With a sudden burst of energy, she jumped up from the bed and declared,
"Kneel, you lowlife creatures!"
Her voice was filled with arrogance, but her tone was childish, betraying her youth.
Everyone burst into laughter, finding the girl's naivety and cuteness more amusing than threatening. Her face turned red with frustration, and she stomped her foot.
"I will destroy this place if you don't kneel down!" she insisted, puffing out her cheeks in anger.
Lebuna, unimpressed, gave the girl a gentle but firm smack on the head.
"You're not even fully healed yet,"
she scolded.
"Get back to bed."
The girl's fierce expression crumbled instantly, and she looked like she was about to cry. With a defeated sigh, she climbed back into bed, her demeanor now more like that of an adorable, pouting child.
Johnatan, intrigued by the girl's sudden change in behavior, asked,
"What's your name?"
"Myra,"
the girl replied, a hint of pride returning to her voice.
"I am the third daughter of the great dragon king of Veldaria."
Lebuna, still curious, asked,
"What are you doing outside your continent?"
Myra pouted again but answered,
"I wanted to see the outside world for myself, so I snuck out and traveled across the seas. I encountered lots of pirates and had to hide and escape from them. Then I found this island—Silver Vale."
"Pirates? What are those?"
Myra, still clutching the blanket around her, shook her head.
"I don't really know. But they match the descriptions from my father's stories. They're men with scruffy beards, wearing odd hats, some with hooks for hands, eyepatches, and even iron legs."
She continued, explaining how she had barely managed to escape from them, using her water abilities to swim away as fast as she could.
"They were relentless, but I was quicker in the water,"
she said, her voice still tinged with fear.
Myra then lowered her head, her earlier arrogance fading.
"I... I apologize for how I treated you all earlier. I was scared and thought someone might help me if I acted tough."
Johnatan sighed in relief, his eccentric and somewhat childish nature showing through as he spoke.
"You know, Myra, that's not really the best way to ask for help. A simple 'please' would've worked just fine."
A few days passed, and the ship was finally complete. The warriors and shamans stood around, admiring the sturdy, iron-hulled vessel, a testament to their newfound skills and the power of their unity. The ship gleamed under the sunlight, its design a perfect blend of strength and elegance.
Lemes, standing beside Johnatan, asked with a hint of anticipation,
"So, what shall we name this ship?"
Johnatan paused for a moment, thinking.
"How about 'Armada'?"
he suggested.
Lebuna, who was nearby, couldn't help but laugh gently.
"Johnatan, you're so random,"
she teased, her smile warm.
Johnatan shrugged, grinning back at her.
"I'm not exactly the most creative person when it comes to names,"
he admitted.
Lemes, still focused on the task at hand, asked,
"Who will accompany you on this voyage? It'll be difficult to manage with just you and Laron."
Johnatan thought for a moment before answering,
"I'll take three warriors and one strong woman."
Nodding, Lemes introduced the warriors he believed to be the best fit for the journey: Lyron, Lot, and Albyn. They were strong, skilled, and loyal. Lebuna, joining the conversation, suggested Lirina, the strongest among the women.
"She's not only strong but also very clever. She'll survive alongside you in the harshest of seas,"
Lebuna added.
Before Johnatan could respond, Myra, the young dragon girl, rushed up to him, her eyes wide with determination.
"I want to come with you!"
she begged, practically bouncing on her toes.
Johnatan chuckled, shaking his head.
"I don't think so, Myra. You're still too young for such a dangerous journey."
Myra puffed up her cheeks in protest.
"I'm a hundred years old!" she declared, her voice filled with indignation.
Johnatan laughed even harder, refusing to believe it.
"Maybe, but you still look like a kid to me."
As Johnatan and the others prepared for departure, the atmosphere around Silver Vale buzzed with activity. Warriors moved in and out of the ship, carrying barrels filled with water, essential for their long voyage. Chest boxes packed with food, carefully prepared by Lebuna, were loaded onto the ship, along with iron chests filled with the necessary tools for the journey.
Johnatan stood slightly apart from the others, his attention focused on his system interface, checking his status.
- **Level**: 1
- **Title**: God Amateur
- **HP**: 10,000
- **MP**: 0 (no mana detected)
- **Hybrid Defense**: 2000
- **Damage**: 10.9 chaos damage
- **Strength**: 1000
- **Intelligence**: 1000
- **Agility**: 1000
- **Flow State**: The moment the battle starts, the user will automatically enter flow state.
- **Adrenaline**: Enters adrenaline mode when HP is below 50%, increasing strength by 30%.
- **Nordraline**: Enters nordraline when the user's HP drops to 10%, doubling all stats.
**Gifts:**
- **Chaos Collector**: Gives chaos damage growth of 0.1 chaos damage per level.
- **Economic Mastery Athena**: Enables the user to learn and master any field of knowledge as long as the user has basic knowledge of it.
- **Lord of Selflessness Alldon**: The user can bestow any field mastery gained from the gift **Economic Mastery Athena** to anyone they choose.
Despite the impressive stats and new abilities, Johnatan was confused. He wondered where his experience points were since he was supposed to have a level.
As if on cue, Adolin, his mysterious guide, appeared once again.
"Where are my experience points?"
Johnatan asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"I'm supposed to have a level, so shouldn't I be gaining experience?"
Adolin smiled calmly, his presence reassuring.
"The experience points will start to accumulate once you begin your journey and engage in battles. When you level up, an emblem will appear."
Johnatan frowned.
"What exactly are these emblems?"
Adolin's expression turned serious.
"In the world of Avelon, mana is the lifeblood of all existence, fueling powers, magic, abilities, talents, knowledge, and skills. However, only selected individuals possess emblems—special marks that signify their control over these powers and their readiness to engage in battle. These emblems come in various colors and designs, each indicating different skill sets and talents."
Johnatan nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"But I don't have mana,"
he pointed out.
"Does that mean I can't acquire emblems?"
Adolin shook his head.
"Even though you don't possess mana, it doesn't mean you can't acquire emblems. Your unique gifts and the abilities you gain will allow you to unlock them in your own way."
"How do I level up?"
Johnatan pressed further.
Adolin chuckled softly.
"You'll find out soon enough. For now, enjoy the moment and focus on your journey. The answers will come when you're ready."
With that, Adolin faded away, leaving Johnatan with more questions than answers.
The day before their planned departure, the shamans gathered to explain the completion of the spells they had been working on so diligently. They had successfully set up a powerful concealment spell that rendered the entire island of Silver Vale invisible to outsiders. The island now appeared as nothing more than open sea to anyone who wasn't an inhabitant. Those who tried to approach would simply phase through the area, unaware of the island's existence.
Johnatan listened to their explanations, his face showing clear admiration.
"You've truly surpassed my expectations,"
he said, genuinely impressed. The shamans had taken the potential he had seen in them and elevated it to new heights. Their work had ensured the safety of Silver Vale, a crucial step before his voyage.
The shamans also handed him a stone inscribed with glowing glyphs.
"This is the key to the teleportation spell,"
one of the shamans explained.
"It will allow you to teleport back to Silver Vale or any discovered point. Simply rub the stone on the ground of the desired location. The spell can be used once every 24 hours due to its high tier and the amount of mana required."
Johnatan nodded, appreciating the detail and thoughtfulness behind the spell's limitations. He bowed his head in gratitude.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'm deeply grateful."
The shamans, embarrassed by the praise, hastily insisted that it was they who were in Johnatan's debt. Despite their protests, Johnatan remained resolute, and in the end, they all bowed to each other in mutual respect.
On the day of the departure, Lyron, Lot, Albyn, Lirina, and Laron boarded the ship, ready to embark on the voyage. Lemes stood by the shore, watching the preparations with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
"I'll keep the people safe and protect the island," he promised Johnatan.
Johnatan smiled, placing his fist against his chest in a gesture of solidarity.
"I know you will."
The gesture moved Lemes, who teared up slightly as he bowed to Johnatan in farewell.
As the ship finally set sail, the shores of Silver Vale were filled with people waving goodbye. Johnatan stood at the ship's edge, gazing out at the vast expanse of the sea, Laron standing beside him. The others busied themselves with hoisting the sails and making preparations for the journey ahead.
But then, something caught Johnatan's attention—a barrel on deck was moving. Before anyone could react, the barrel burst open, revealing Myra, who had been hiding inside. Her sudden appearance left everyone stunned.