A sharp beeping jolted me awake. Blue light flickered against my eyelids, the system's way of ensuring I couldn't ignore it. I groaned, rubbing my eyes as I forced myself upright.
[Time's up. Wake up!.]
I stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and turned toward the door.
The door beside the other door that led into the room was labeled as a restroom. At least, that's what the sign above it claimed.
This was not the first time of me noticing it, but just as I was about to use it, I noticed something strange. What should be outside my room should be a passage connecting other rooms.
Cautiously, I reached out with space manipulation, expecting to sense another room, but instead, the outside passage greeted me.
This door led somewhere beyond normal space. A space that should not exist.
Hesitation lingered, but curiosity won. I stepped inside.
I found a modern restroom— sleek white tiles, warm lighting, a refreshing scent of citrus. It felt too familiar.
This wasn't a generic facility; it was tailored. The tower had likely generated it to fit my subconscious preferences rather than creating a standardized one.
'Sigh', I sighed while stepping under the running water.
It was refreshingly cold, washing away the weight of everything. Fresh clothes replaced my battle-worn attire, seeing the clothes made my next step was clear—finding gear that could withstand my energy.
The system Store-bought armor was an option, but the costs were absurd for how long they will last. Worse, they were cumbersome. And were not exactly made to fit my preferences.
Some of them were made to withstand other forms of energy like Mana and aura. But it was weak and getting easily destroyed by cosmic energy.
The mask I bought was still okay because it was high in grade, but I knew it would not last long the more violent my attacks continue to be since it was not made to withstand cosmic energy.
I need to find a permanent or a better temporary solution to my problem of clothing. Hence I considered going to find a blacksmith.
When we came to Luminaris, I had seen a blacksmith hammering at a sword. Back then I had thought the sword was glowing with impossible colors but it probably just a magic weapon and it was also probably a low grade item too since this is a newbie district.
"I should visit that shop, he might have something that can help me" if I could not find anything to help me, I will consider leaving the newbie district for now and visiting other districts.
"System how much time do I have left before the 10th floor event?"
[60:15:46 hours left]
"There is still time" the remaining time was more than 2 days and would be enough for me to find a solution and put an end to the "Earth-King" tyranny.
Avoiding suspicion was key as I did not know the people who are under the influence of the "Earth-king" so I would not go through the conventional method of walking.
The limit to my teleportation was still short distance teleportation and I must see the space I was about to teleport too or else it won't work. Long distance teleportation was completely unusable.
So opening portals was the best choice.
There was the limit of being unable to open portals to places I have not seen before but since I had ruled out that factor by seeing it physically. It would be easier.
The portal I was about to open was the one that will earn the record to be the portal with the longest distance I have crossed so far.
Portal teleportation was an unconventional method and could not be used just by anyone except mages or exceptions like me.
There are items on the system store that claim to be open portals for teleportation or could teleport people directly but their price tag will deter any low level explorer.
I stood, flexing my fingers, feeling the energy coursing through me. I reached out, drawing energy from my heart, before expanding my spatial senses.
My goal was clear—open a portal from my room, which will lead outside the guild building, preferably to a quieter area with fewer eyes.
As my awareness stretched, something caught my attention in the passage of the 2nd floor that connected my room to the rest of the building.
Five presences. I focused on them to get more information.
Two running. Three chasing.
I focused again.
The two escaping were young—girls. Their pursuers were… men?
I clenched my jaw. My plans could wait.
This required immediate attention.
The urgency in the girls' movements was palpable, even through the spatial sensing. Their fear was a tangible force, and the men chasing them radiated malice. I couldn't ignore this.
Though I was not going to immediately take sides and align with the girls, I was going to be making my decision when I got to hear more information.
"Space Freeze" I immediately wielded my power to increase the viscosity of space beginning from my room and letting it spread into the passage. I trapped both the girls and men inside while ending the space freeze with a space isolation barrier to prevent it spread. "Can't drag innocent bystanders into this"
The air crackled as my space isolation barrier stabilized, trapping the five figures in a frozen standstill.
The two girls, caught mid-sprint, their expressions locked in terror, and the three men behind them—hard-faced, predatory, and utterly still.
I stepped forward, surveying the scene.
Their attire confirmed my suspicions—newbie explorers from Earth. The girls wore simple, fitted tunics, their fabric standard issue for those still struggling to earn enough DC to afford better. It was the standard free light armor available on the system store as free for everyone.
The men, however, were slightly better equipped—cheap armor reinforced with patches of dull metal, likely scavenged or bought from the lowest tier of the system store. Their weapons were crude but functional—short swords strapped to their sides, and one held a dagger frozen mid-swing.
I extended my fingers, channeling my energy as I focused on the girls. Slowly, the space around them loosened, the stasis lifting only to their necks, allowing them to breathe and speak.
They gasped, coughing at the sudden return of motion. Their eyes flickered to me—wariness, hope, and fear blending in their expressions.
"Speak," I said, my voice steady but cold. "Who are you, and why are you being chased?"
One of them—a girl with short, dark hair and sharp, intelligent eyes—was the first to recover. "Please," she rasped, her throat dry. "They're trying to kill us!"
I raised an eyebrow. "That much is obvious. Why?"
The other girl, slightly younger, swallowed hard before responding. "We... we refused to join them."
I studied them. "Join them for what?"
The first girl bit her lip. "The Earth-King. They're his men."
That name again. I had no confirmation yet, but it was enough to pique my interest. I leaned slightly forward. "And why would he care about you two? Did you do something to get his attention?"
The younger girl hesitated, glancing at her companion, but the older one spoke with growing confidence. "NO!. The Earth-King wants control over this Newbie District. He's been forcing people to join his faction or suffer the consequences. We didn't want to be part of it. We tried to escape, but—"
"They hunted you down," I finished for her.
She nodded, her eyes pleading. "We don't want to die here. You are also from earth right? Please save us!"
I said nothing for a moment. Then, with a flick of my fingers, space around them thickened once more, freezing them in place. Their muffled protests were cut off as the energy solidified around them.
As much as I want to believe them immediately, I had to listen to both sides before I made a conclusion.
Now, it was the men's turn.
I released the three pursuers from the space freeze.
They stumbled as motion returned to them, their weapons instinctively raised, and eyes darting wildly before landing on me.
The leader—a stocky man with a scar running down his cheek—glared. "Who the hell are you?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us, watching them squirm under my gaze.
One of them shifted uneasily. "You with them?" He gestured toward the frozen girls.
I ignored the question. "You work for the Earth-King?"
The leader's eyes darkened, but his lips curled into a smirk. "And what if we do?" he answered my question back with a question.
I tilted my head. "Then you have one chance to explain why I shouldn't be crushing you right now."
I knew the criteria to hurt someone on the safe zone, as long as I did not harbor murderous intent and don't use a powerful attack. I could get away with some tricks.
That wiped the smirk off his face.
The second man, thinner and more nervous, spoke up. "We—we were just following orders. The Earth-King doesn't like loose ends."
I looked back at the girls. "Loose ends? They're just newbies like everyone else. They are weak and won't do much for your course"
The leader scoffed. "Everyone starts as a newbie. That doesn't mean they're useless. If their abilities aren't solid enough. Their bodies will do" His smirk returned but now dirty with lust reflecting. "And neither are you, stranger. If you're strong enough to freeze us like this, the boss would want to meet you."
I took a step forward. The air thickened, pressing down on them slightly, enough to make them uncomfortable. "Not interested."
He tensed, sensing the shift in energy. "You're making a mistake."
I exhaled, unimpressed. "No, you made a mistake the moment you joined the "Earth-King" and started hunting people. Your time for punishment will come soon. Enjoy your momentary pleasure while it lasts"
With a flick of my wrist, space solidified around them once more, cutting off their protests. If I left them this way, they would eventually be able to move as space will return back to its normal viscosity at due time.
But it will be enough to pass a message of fear across to them and the girls and I would be long gone.
I turned back to the frozen girls. A brief hesitation lingered, but I ultimately released them.
The older one gasped, clutching her sister's arm. "You're letting us go?"
I inclined my head slightly. "I don't trust you. But for now, you're not my enemies and we have something in common."
Relief flooded their faces, but I had no time to linger.
With a swift motion, I extended my energy outward, opening a portal. Unlike the portals created by the system, this one was transparent. The swirling void shimmered, revealing an empty alleyway just outside the guild.
"Go," I ordered.
They hesitated for only a second before darting through the portal.
With one last glance at the frozen men, I stepped through as well.
The moment we emerged from the alleyway, the sheer brilliance of Luminaris washed over us. The glory of the city could not be hidden.
The city below the floating island of the newbie district stretched beyond what the eye could see—crystalline towers spiraling into the sky, streets paved with glowing runes, and bridges of pure light connecting to other floating islands.
The air hummed with energy, vibrant and alive, as explorers bustled through the streets, some dressed in armor, others in enchanted robes and some other items I couldn't recognize.
Despite its beauty, Luminaris was a battlefield in its own right.
I barely took a step forward before I heard hurried footsteps behind me.
"Wait!" the girls called out.
I sighed, turning slightly as they caught up. "What now?"
The older one hesitated, then squared her shoulders. "We never got your name."
I glanced at her before looking ahead. "Seun."
She nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "I'm Elira. This is my sister, Rin."
I didn't respond, already walking toward my next destination.
"The blacksmith," I murmured. I needed gear upgrade and modifications and it was enough to be a problem for me. And I didn't need any more distractions.
But Elira and Rin hurried after me, determined to keep up.
"At least let us repay you!" Rin insisted.
I exhaled. This was going to be a long walk.