Silas snapped awake, his entire body tense, his senses sharp as he scanned the hollowed stump for any sign of movement. His hands instinctively reached for his staff as his mind raced through the possibilities. It wasn't until his eyes settled on Aberham, who was shifting in his corner, that he exhaled slightly, though his body remained taut.
Aberham paused, noticing Silas's reaction. "I used to do the same thing in prison," he said quietly. "Out here, though? It's definitely worse."
Silas sighed, leaning back against the wall as the tension drained from his body. "Hard to shut it off," he muttered, his voice rough from exhaustion. He winced slightly, his ribs still sore. He needed to focus on healing today. Between directly filling his amulet and absorbing what he could from the king beast meat, he hoped it would be enough to get him fully back in action. He couldn't eat too much of the potent meat at once—it was like trying to down an ocean in a single gulp.
Aberham shifted, settling himself more comfortably. "What do you think of the system and this whole cultivation thing?" he asked, his tone calm but curious.
Silas stayed silent for a moment, staring at the faintly glowing mushroom Aberham had cracked the night before. His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought about the system—what it had done for him and what it demanded. "It healed me," he said finally, his voice steady. "No matter where I find myself now, it's still better than where I was. Half a cup full beats no cup at all."
Aberham nodded, leaning his head back against the wall. "Fair enough. But it seems like a lot of this revolves around those pagodas and assistance," he said thoughtfully. "I don't know much about the grander universe out there, but where I came from? There was never a free lunch."
Silas let the words hang in the air for a moment, turning them over in his mind. He hadn't given much thought to the larger implications of the system. He had been too busy surviving, too busy taking what little it offered and squeezing every drop out of it.
After a few minutes, he finally spoke. "I don't know," he admitted. "But all we can do is move forward."
Aberham chuckled lightly, the sound dry and faintly amused. "That's pragmatic of you," he said, the corner of his mouth curling up in a grin.
The conversation faded, and the two men returned to their respective sides of the stump. They spent the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon cultivating. Silas pushed himself hard, the pain in his ribs and muscles fading as his technique worked to repair the damage. His amulet glowed faintly as it filled, though he knew it wasn't enough. He needed more energy, and he resolved to refill it as soon as he could hunt again. By the time they finished, he felt functional—still sore, but healed enough to move without wincing.
Silas held the fruit carefully, his eyes tracing every detail of its surface. Its pinkish hue glowed faintly in the dim light of the stump, streaks of shimmering gold running across its smooth, almost glass-like skin. The energy radiating from it was potent, pulsing gently in his hands like a living thing. The faint aroma, sweet and rich like the ripest melon, filled the small space and made his mouth water involuntarily.
Curious, he decided to ask the system. What do you recommend I do with the fruit?
The response came almost instantly, and its sarcastic tone was as familiar as it was frustrating. Ah, Silas, what a profound question! For the low, low price of 50,000 merits, I'll happily tell you the real answer.
Silas sighed audibly, his fingers tightening slightly on the fruit. "Why are you like this?" he muttered inwardly.
The system responded immediately, and Silas could practically hear the grin in its voice. Oh, don't blame me. I'm just a reflection of your delightful personality.
Shaking his head, Silas glanced over at Aberham, who was examining his own fruit with a calm, focused expression. "What did your system tell you about the fruit?" Silas asked aloud.
Aberham didn't look up. "Same thing yours probably did—pay 50,000 merits to find out what to do with it."
Silas groaned, resting his head briefly against the wall behind him. "Figures."
Aberham finally glanced up, curious. "Did it say anything else?"
Silas hesitated for a moment. "I asked if the information was personalized," he said, his tone flat. "It responded sarcastically. Like… dripping with sarcasm."
Aberham blinked, lowering the fruit slightly as he stared at Silas. "Your system… gets sarcastic?"
Silas nodded slowly, his expression blank. "Apparently."
Aberham tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "Mine doesn't. It's like a butler—formal, direct, and no funny business."
Silas stared at him for a long moment, unblinking. Why do I get the weird one? he thought bitterly.
Aberham raised an eyebrow as Silas's face twisted slightly in frustration. "What?" Aberham asked.
"Nothing," Silas muttered. Then, inwardly, he asked the system, Seriously, why do you act like this?
The system replied almost gleefully, Oh, Silas, it's not me—it's you.
Silas groaned again, dragging a hand down his face. Aberham smirked faintly and returned to inspecting his fruit, leaving Silas to stew in silence.
After a minute, Silas reluctantly paid the 50,000 merits, watching his balance drop from 411,000 to 361,000. The fight with the emperor beast and killing the men from the prison apparently netted him a few merits boosting his total from 389,000. He braced for the system's explanation, expecting its usual dry wit.
The system's voice chimed in: Ideally, Host should wait until reaching a Mini Pagoda to utilize the fruit. This will unlock its full potential and prevent any energy loss. However, considering Host's circumstances, two options are available:
1. Consume the fruit directly. You'll get a nice boost, sure—but let's not kid ourselves, you'll waste most of its energy. It's like cooking a gourmet meal and then eating it straight out of a dirty shoe.
2. Combine the fruit with two very specific herbs for maximum impact. This will dramatically enhance its benefits and ensure minimal waste—because who doesn't love efficiency? Cost for herb locations: 50,000 merits. Want a full prep guide to really impress yourself? That'll be 200,000 merits.
Silas sighed audibly. He felt like the system was siphoning his resources with every decision, but there wasn't much choice. He paid the 200,000 merits without further argument, dropping his balance to 161,000.
The system responded promptly, its tone neutral but precise:
The two herbs required are as follows:
Inferno Bloom
A crimson flower with flame-shaped petals, radiating heat. It generates an intense surge of fire-based spiritual energy and amplifies the fruit's effects during cultivation. Inferno Blooms thrive in rocky, geothermal regions, often near volcanic activity or fissures underground. Host will find it near the Main Pagoda, which flattened the mountain during its emergence revealing many underground entrances.
Azure Stabilia
A soft, pale blue herb with wide, glowing leaves. It acts as a stabilizer, harmonizing the energies of the fruit and the Inferno Bloom, preventing Host's body from being overwhelmed. Typically found near lakes or still water sources, it thrives in cooler, shaded areas. This herb is likely to be located en route to the Main Pagoda.
Silas clenched his jaw. "So both in completely different spots," he muttered, staring at the fruit in his hands.
Turning to Aberham, he asked, "What did your system tell you about the fruit?"
Aberham leaned back, holding his own fruit. "Same thing—pay 50,000 merits to figure out what to do with it. I caved and paid. Turns out I need some rare ore and a specific creature to get the most out of it."
"Let me guess," Silas said, his voice flat. "They're in opposite directions?"
Aberham nodded. "Yeah. I need to head toward the mines east of here for the ore and track down a beast that lives in caves closer to the plains."
Silas sighed, leaning back against the wall of the hollowed stump realizing they needed to go different directions.
Neither of them said anything for a moment. Finally, Aberham spoke up. "Neither of us is stopping. We're going to keep getting stronger. That's just how it is."
Silas nodded. "Agreed."
Aberham grinned faintly. "Well, kid, how about this? We stock up on supplies, hunt, and cultivate for a bit before we go our separate ways."
Silas thought it over and nodded again. "Sounds like a plan."
Over the next few days, Silas and Aberham worked tirelessly, hunting and preparing for their respective journeys. Silas, as always, focused on absorbing beasts into his amulet for cultivation energy, while Aberham took a more deliberate approach. Silas initially thought nothing of it—until Aberham spoke up after a hunt.
"You know you're leaving a lot behind, right?" Aberham said, crouched over the carcass of a wolf they had taken down together.
Silas raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? I'm getting the energy I need."
Aberham shook his head, the bracelets on his wrists clinking softly as he worked. "You're leaving the pelts, kid. They're worth more than you think. Durable, valuable in trade, and you barely lose any energy when you skin the beast first."
Silas paused, watching as Aberham deftly cut into the wolf's hide, removing the pelt in a clean motion. He folded it neatly and stored it in his ring before looking back at Silas.
"I've been keeping pelts since my second day out here," Aberham continued. "The system didn't exactly spell it out, but it nudged me in the right direction. It's not all about energy—you need resources. You don't know when you'll need something to trade, patch up your gear, or even make something useful."
Silas frowned, his staff resting across his knees. "I'm not exactly worried about making clothes right now."
Aberham chuckled, adjusting his bracelets. "Neither am I. But think about it—this isn't just about today. You're throwing away almost nothing by taking the pelts. The energy you lose is barely noticeable, and you gain something you might actually need down the road."
The next beast they hunted was a wild boar—not a king beast, but sturdy enough to yield plenty of resources. Silas hesitated before kneeling beside the carcass, glancing at Aberham for confirmation. Aberham gave him a short nod, demonstrating the process once more. Silas followed along, awkward at first but improving quickly. The pelt came free in one piece, and Silas slid it into his storage ring before absorbing the rest of the boar into his amulet.
When the amulet glowed faintly to confirm the energy absorption, Silas paused. Aberham was right—the difference in energy was negligible.
"Huh," Silas muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Aberham grinned faintly as he folded another pelt. "Told you. Now you're thinking ahead."
From then on, Silas incorporated skinning into his routine, keeping the pelts alongside the energy he stored in his amulet. The only meat he continued to eat was from the king boar, which had proven to be incredibly potent for his cultivation and recovery. With so much left from their kill, he ate sparingly, knowing the boar meat was too valuable to waste. The amulet absorbed everything else, steadily refilling with energy as he hunted.
Aberham worked with the same steady efficiency, his bracelets clinking faintly whenever he moved. Silas noticed how the heavy bands seemed to press against Aberham's wrists constantly, a subtle but relentless source of resistance. It was part of his cultivation—an ever-present challenge to push his body further. Silas couldn't help but compare it to his own amulet and how it aided his progress, though in a different way.
Between hunts, they cultivated deeply. Silas focused on solidifying his foundation, the system reminding him to strengthen his base rather than chase rapid gains. Aberham, though quieter about his own progress, was equally diligent.
The forest remained eerily calm—no king or emperor beasts crossed their paths, and no humans appeared to disrupt their work. The days passed in a quiet rhythm of preparation. Silas's ring grew heavier with pelts, and his amulet steadily filled with energy. Aberham, always methodical, added to his stockpile, his movements precise and deliberate.
The time to part ways was drawing near, but for now, they worked side by side, each preparing for the next stage of their journey.