As dawn broke, the team began gathering their belongings, preparing to return to the city of Karios. The cool morning air made the journey through the desert less grueling after the previous day's battle.
---
The return journey was uneventful. The desert seemed to leave them in peace, as if acknowledging their strength in surviving its challenges.
---
The team arrived safely in the city, exhausted but satisfied with their successful mission.
---
They went straight to the Adventurers' Guild to deliver the rare camel liver, the centerpiece of their mission. The guild officials welcomed them warmly and handed over the promised reward.
---
Orion insisted on giving Zoser a third of the reward. Zoser vehemently refused, believing his role had been minor. However, he was taken aback by Orion and Lina's insistence.
Lina said with a smile, "Without you, we wouldn't have survived the desert. This is your share."
Zoser eventually accepted and thanked them for their appreciation.
--
Afterward, they decided to have breakfast at a local tavern. They chatted and laughed before parting ways at noon.
Orion and Lina headed to the market to sell the camel's hide, replenish their supplies, and repair their weapons in preparation for future missions.
Zoser made his way to "Onar's" house, where she was anxiously waiting for him.
---
When Zoser knocked on the door, Onar greeted him with a warm smile.
"Welcome back, Zoser. Why didn't you tell me you were going on such a dangerous mission?"
Zoser replied with his head lowered, "It was unexpected, and I didn't want to worry you."
She understood but didn't hide her concern for him.
---
Onar sat with Zoser, asking him to recount everything that happened in the desert. She listened attentively as he detailed the events, from the mirage encounter to the battle with the camel.
After finishing his story, Zoser asked about the Eye of Horus and the abilities that had suddenly manifested.
Onar sighed and said, "I was planning to start training you in combat soon, but it seems the time has come to answer your questions first."
"I'll start by teaching you about the monsters," she added.
Onar Explains about the Monster While Zoser Listens Attentively.
Onar explained:
"We can classify monsters based on their strength and abilities into five main grades, with each grade divided into early, middle, and peak stages. A monster's strength depends on its grade; the higher the grade, the more dangerous it becomes."
Grade 1:
Weak or non-threatening creatures.
Easily handled by ordinary humans.
Examples: small reptiles or domesticated wild animals.
Grade 2:
Medium-strength creatures.
Require basic skills to defeat.
Examples: enhanced wild wolves or early-stage strong camels.
Grade 3:
Strong creatures posing a serious challenge to beginner adventurers.
Require training and experience to handle.
Examples: the desert camel you encountered, which was at the early stage of Grade 3.
Grade 4:
Rare creatures with special abilities.
Need a team of experienced warriors to defeat.
Examples: beasts prized as noble mounts, such as camels capable of spatial movement.
Grade 5 and Above:
Legendary or near-mythical creatures.
A threat even to powerful warriors.
Extremely rare, often with unknown abilities.
---
2. Applying It to the Desert Camel:
"Let's take the desert camel as an example:"
Grade 1: An ordinary camel used for transport.
Grade 2: Begins developing thick fur and rapid healing abilities.
Grade 3: Like the one you faced. Gains environmental camouflage in deserts and increased endurance.
Grade 4: Becomes faster, stronger, and gains spatial movement skills, making it a prized noble mount.
Grade 5: Its abilities are largely unknown, but it's said to possess near-legendary strength.
Onar explained that every monster has its own energy core, similar to humans, but its location varies. A monster's strength can often be gauged by the amount of energy it exhibits, which corresponds to its grade.
High-ranked humans can face monsters of higher grades.
Beginners need a strong team to defeat monsters above their level.
"Some monsters can shift between grades depending on their state. For example, a monster might display Grade 3 abilities defensively but transform into a Grade 4 creature under extreme threat, doubling its strength."
"There are also monsters that grow stronger when sensing high spiritual energy from nearby humans. This complicates fights, as some see humans as a source of power."
"Can monsters ever cooperate with humans?"
Onar smiled and said, "That's rare. Some monsters might form bonds with humans if they sense loyalty or mutual benefit. But it requires special skills to handle such creatures."
As Onar finished her explanation, Zoser realized the monster world was far more complex than he had imagined. He then asked, "What about the Eye of Horus?"
"The Eye of Horus isn't just an ordinary ability; it's a sacred gift linked to the god Horus, the Sky God. It represents his greatest power, bestowed upon chosen individuals through his priests. However, know that this power is under his absolute control, and none dare use it in his presence—not even his priests. You'll understand this someday when you face him."
She continued:
Grade 1: Insight Eye (Novice Eye):
Description: Grants the user perception beyond ordinary senses, allowing them to see energy auras around living beings and trace their tracks.
Abilities:
Sense nearby energy.
Detect hidden paths or trails left by creatures.
Uncover magical traps or concealed objects.
Limitations:
Short range (10 meters).
Prolonged use causes exhaustion.
Grade 2: Eye of Revelation (Apprentice Eye):
Description: Enhances the user's ability to interpret what they see, providing meaningful insights into energies and beings.
Abilities:
Read and analyze surrounding energies.
Track individuals or creatures through their energy signature.
Sense vague emotions or intentions.
Limitations:
Requires intense focus; distractions break the connection and lead to mental fatigue.
Grade 3: Eye of Dominion (Warrior Eye):
Description: Allows the eye to interact with the physical and spiritual world. The user can direct energy waves to influence their surroundings.
Abilities:
Emit energy waves to disorient or harm enemies.
Disrupt or weaken enemies' magical powers.
Manipulate the environment (e.g., move rocks, stir winds).
Limitations:
Significant energy drain.
Demands extensive training for control.
Grade 4: All-Seeing Eye (Sage Eye):
Description: Enables limited vision into the past, present, and near future.
Abilities:
Retrieve images or events from the past using residual energies.
Glimpse potential near-future events.
Summon energy entities or spirits for assistance.
Limitations:
Future visions are vague or imprecise as the future is not fixed.
Grade 5: Immortal Eye (Eye of Horus):
Description: Said to grant the user power akin to Horus himself.
Abilities: Unknown.
Limitations: None have reached this level except Horus himself.
"Don't think that training alone will raise your Eye of Horus level. It depends on your willpower, deep understanding of the world, and persistence. But there's another undeniable factor: luck. Even some warriors who've spent their lives training have remained at the first level."
She looked at Zoser seriously and said, "The path ahead is long and challenging, but I believe you'll succeed in uncovering your true potential. Now, are you ready to take your first step in understanding your Eye?"