On a jagged pathway leading straight to a colossal mountain in the far distance, two figures could be seen.
They were Seven and Rolanda.
"You are insane, Seven. How could you come up with such an idea?" Rolanda asked with a slight glare.
Seven only stared at her and chuckled.
Despite the deep darkness that shrouded the vast mountain forest, these two freely walked as if it were their territory.
Seven was actually ready to make this move since the very moment he knew that they were heading to Sagemount.
He wanted to enter the inner territories!
Wasn't it crazy for a mere Primal-tier Vanquisher to confront a Star-6 or Star-7 Vessel?
"Honestly, I wasn't prepared for this, Seven. I just had to come with you," Rolanda complained as they walked.
"You could go back now... We aren't far off the camp," Seven replied friendly.
However, Rolanda only rolled her eyes and continued walking.
"If you are to die in this, then we will die together."
This statement hit Seven in his heart, causing him a strange feeling... What feeling? He couldn't just explain. Whatever that it could be, he believed that his heart must be acknowledging Rolanda for what she had just said.
They had equipped themselves with masks, headbands, and small torches that could help them see in the darkness.
"They are Aether-powered torches, and they wouldn't run down as far as Aether flows abundantly," Seven tried to create some hope for Rolanda.
"I know," she simply replied and continued walking as they observed all areas.
Aether was the cause of the usage of magic and the source of power to several mechanical, electrical, and electronic devices in Terraverde today. After the apocalypse, they noticed that this divine energy had enveloped their world, and couldn't only be used for magic.
Although there were devices that weren't powered by Aether, many would prefer to use Aether-powered ones as it doesn't run out or get spoilt until a negation is made.
Only those who can channel Aether create devices that aren't Aether-powered.
"What exactly are we up to?" Rolanda asked again. They had been walking deeper into Sagemount without a stop.
"To confront that Kong. I want to vanquish it," Seven said.
"But we aren't allowed to vanquish another Vessel until we become Advanced-tier Vanquishers," Rolanda couldn't help but protest.
"Well... What are the consequences for that?" Seven asked casually as if he didn't care about the orders.
At that time, Rolanda seemed to be calm and had stopped talking. She stayed quiet for a moment and hesitated, a look of confusion on her face.
"Well, I don't know," she replied.
"You see? I'm not sure they will punish us for that. After all, we are Vanquishers," Seven smirked. He was gradually invoking the urge to vanquish another Vessel in Rolanda.
"Trust me, they won't know as far as we keep them in our Vanquishing Space until the moment we become Advanced-tier Vanquishers," Seven added. "You can vanquish one too."
"No, thanks. I'm okay with Zara for now," Rolanda declined.
"Zara? That's her name?" Seven looked past her rejection.
"Yes, Zara... I decided to give her the name of my best friend, who died in a Vessel attack in her town."
"Ohh... So sorry for that," Seven had to say.
"It's okay... It's already three years since the incident," Rolanda smiled.
Seven decided to accept her disapproval to vanquish a new Vessel. Now he was the only one in that aim!
To slay the Kong who had roared earlier when they were entering the mountain range.
Seven began to wonder why Rolanda was willing to risk her life just to go with him. If it were some people, they would have called him an idiot for coming up with such a life-threatening idea.
He was visibly courting death!
However, Rolanda seemed to be jovial and nice towards him. Even though his mission seemed impossible, she didn't attack or advise him to back off. Instead, she was going with him.
'I thought they said children from prestigious families are always arrogant and disrespectful? Why is Rolanda so different?' Seven couldn't help but wonder.
In the next moment, they suddenly halted their walk.
"What... Happened?" Rolanda suddenly asked. She had been forced to stop walking after noticing that Seven had.
"Look," Seven pointed to Whisky's whiskers.
They had already let their Vessels out of the Vanquishing Space after evading the camp and let them walk with them as they entered Sagemount. At least it was a bit safe...
Rolanda quickly glanced at Whisky, directly on his whiskers.
"They are glowing red?! What's up with that?" Rolanda questioned.
"I noticed that my Vessel could sense danger from a distance, so the glowing whiskers are a sign," Seven explained. Although he didn't tell her directly that it was one of Whisky's skills.
Sure, Rolanda wasn't an exception to the list of those who wouldn't know that his Vessel had three skills. No one, including his mother, would know this.
"Is that a skill?"
However, Rolanda was suspicious enough to ask this question. Of course, Seven expected it. He knew that this would be anyone's first thought after hearing his explanation.
"No, I didn't receive any message of gaining a skill other than the Clawplay," Seven lied.
Rolanda had no idea if it was true or not, she only nodded in agreement and looked away.
MEOW!
"Danger! Some enemies are incoming! They are a few distance away!"
The moment Seven heard that from Whisky, he quickly notified Rolanda as they ran to hide on a huge rocky stone at the side of the pathway.
"Did you see anything?"
Rolanda gasped softly.
"No, I sensed the approach of some Vessels. We should stay here and watch," Seven notified.
Rolanda nodded again.
Seven knew that they might have been in trouble if not for the Luminous Whiskers Skill. It was the first time he was seeing its importance.
*THUD! THUD! THUD!*
A few moments later, less than twenty seconds, storming footsteps of seemingly Vessels could be heard progressing through the pathway.
Seven quickly threw a glance and observed. Rolanda did the same.
"Two-headed Buffalos?" He muttered with widened eyes.
"There are two of them, what do we do? Let them pass by?" Rolanda asked.
"No, we will have to slay them. If we let them go, they would head to the camp and cause chaos. I'm not sure the other students and the lecturers are done with the wolves by now."
Rolanda nodded with an indifferent look. They actually knew that some Iron-toothed Wolves attacked the camp.
After allowing the Two-headed Buffalos to progress a little further, Seven and Rolanda rushed out of their hiding place and sneaked from behind toward the Vessels. Whisky and Zara were present alongside their companions as well.
"Wait, are you gonna fight a Buffalo? Seven muttered.
"I don't know. There is no music, I'd just try," Rolanda muttered back. It was true that her skill required music to activate...
"I have a plan," she added.
That instant, Rolanda dragged out a sword from the side of her belt.
"Okay?" She asked in a mumble.
"Yeah," Seven replied almost silently.
"Now let's strike."
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[A/N: The book will appreciate your Golden Tickets and Power Stones! Thanks in advance.]