A massive airship, 1,000 meters long and 100 meters wide, floated majestically in the sky. Its sleek black body was adorned with imposing cannons along its sides, and a transparent energy shield enveloped the entire vessel, offering protection from potential threats.
Onboard this formidable warship were various individuals—teleporters who had arrived in the Guandu Realm to aid the Cui race in their ongoing conflict with the Torvu race. Among the passengers were Essim and Aisha.
"Brother, how much longer until we arrive?" Aisha asked, slurping the curly noodles in front of her as they sat together in one of the ship's upscale restaurants, as luxurious as any found on major islands.
"Maybe another hour or so. No need to rush," Essim replied casually, taking a bite of the spicy crab dish he had ordered. Since moving to the Mystic Realm, Essim had developed a deep love for seafood.
Just then, Essim paused mid-bite as someone approached their table.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" a young man asked politely, standing beside the table with a young woman. Judging by their demeanor, they seemed to be a couple.
Their statuses appeared in Essim's view:
[Status]
Name: Grey Sol
Race: Sky Elf
Power Core: Faithwarden
Level: Blessed Initiate
[Status]
Name: Eliane
Race: Sky Elf
Power Core: Faithwarden
Level: Blessed Initiate
"A Tier-2 Faithwarden?" Essim thought to himself, slightly intrigued by the presence of the young couple.
"Yes, these seats are free," Essim said casually, gesturing toward the two empty chairs.
Given that the restaurant was nearly full, it was only natural that others were looking for seats.
"Thank you... sorry for the intrusion," Grey responded, taking a seat with a friendly nod. Despite his strength, he carried no air of arrogance. He was humble, and it caught Essim's attention.
"I'm Grey, and this is my friend Eliane," Grey introduced them both.
Essim and Aisha, who usually harbored a mild distrust of Faithwardens due to the tense history between Faithwardens and Players, were surprised by the couple's genuine and modest behavior. It subtly shifted their opinion.
The couple soon ordered their meals, and the conversation between the four of them began to warm up. They slowly delved into more personal topics, forming a budding camaraderie.
"So, where are you from?" Essim asked, his curiosity piqued.
"We come from the Natri Ulum Realm," Grey replied. "In our realm, the Faithwardens are the dominant sovereigns."
Essim listened with genuine interest. He had never heard of the Natri Ulum Realm before.
"And what brings you to the Guandu Realm?" Aisha asked, trying to understand their motivations.
"We're here to gain combat experience and explore new opportunities," Eliane replied with a smile. "The Guandu Realm is full of challenges and possibilities."
As the conversation continued, Essim and Aisha learned more about the nature of the Faithwardens' power. Faithwardens drew their strength from the belief and faith of others. The more beings who believed in them, the faster their power would grow.
"A strong Faithwarden can wield immense power through the collective faith of their followers," Grey explained. "In some cases, a powerful Faithwarden can achieve immortality—living on in the minds of their worshippers."
Essim and Aisha could feel the faint holy aura radiating from the couple. If they hadn't already had their system and been at their current level, they might have even been tempted to follow them.
"We're from the Mystic Realm," Essim said, revealing some information about their own origins. "In our realm, the primary power core is the Player. Players can grow incredibly fast—some have reached the Master level in just one year."
Grey and Eliane exchanged surprised glances, clearly impressed by Essim's words. Though Essim had told a half-truth to avoid revealing too much about the Mystic Realm, it was enough to satisfy their curiosity.
"Amazing!" Grey exclaimed. "Are there really beings with such rapid growth?"
"Indeed, Brother Essim," Eliane added. "My father once told me that Players possess boundless potential."
As the hours passed, the four of them grew increasingly comfortable with one another. What had started as a chance meeting on an airship had quickly turned into an unexpected friendship, forming bonds that would last beyond this journey.
The massive airship sailed through the skies for another hour and twenty minutes before finally reaching its destination—Fortress Island #13, a sprawling stronghold on the outskirts of the battlefield. The airship landed at one of the island's bustling ports, and the passengers disembarked in an orderly fashion.
From the murmured conversations around them, Essim gathered that Fortress Island #13 was located far from the front lines. Their mission here was a relatively simple one—a patrol to assess the situation.
"Brother Grey, are you also on a patrol mission?" Essim asked as they walked toward the disembarkation area.
"Yes, Brother Essim. This is our first mission for combat experience, so we're not ready to go straight to the front lines," Grey explained.
"How about we patrol together?" Essim suggested.
"Good idea," Grey said, nodding in agreement. "Safety in numbers, after all."
Eliane smiled beside him, also agreeing with the plan. The four of them wasted no time and headed toward the temporary combat post not far from the port.
The fortress, true to its name, had few comforts. Temporary tents and makeshift shelters dotted the landscape, offering little more than the basics.
"Team #17," the post officer called out, handing Essim a map. "Your patrol area is marked here. You can use ship number #76 to reach it."
"Thank you," Essim said as he took the map. The group then made their way toward the warship dock.
In just under five minutes, they arrived at the dock. It was a hive of activity, with many people preparing to board their assigned ships. The vessel assigned to their patrol, ship #76, was large enough to accommodate up to 100 people.
"Let's get moving," Essim said, signaling for the others to follow him aboard.
The vast expanse of the island stretched endlessly before them. As they sailed over it, they could see distant flashes of multicolored lights, almost constant now. The booms of explosions and the roars of battle echoed across the landscape. Dragons bellowed and lions howled as two powerful armies clashed violently, each striving to annihilate the other.
Near a range of jagged mountains, two groups were locked in fierce combat. One group was led by an elderly man with a black book floating in front of him, its pages shimmering with magic. The opposing force was commanded by a woman with long silver hair, whose icy demeanor matched the deadly grace of her warriors.
"Haha... Just a lowly Player, still only Tier-2, yet you dare step onto the main battlefield?" the silver-haired woman sneered from a distance, her eyes gleaming with disdain.
"Talk less," the old man retorted, his tone calm and unwavering. "Show me the strength of the Beast Masters."
Though his words were casual, the fierce gleam in his eyes betrayed his thirst for combat. There was no fear—only anticipation.
The old man was none other than Old Man Haikal, a core member of the World Trade Alliance. Essim had once sent him a Silver Badge as part of a promotion, and now, he stood at the forefront of a new and dangerous conflict.