16 Entering the city

The next day

Two individuals made their way to the periphery of Jade Wood City, but instead of entering, they stayed at the boundary and waited.

Soon after, four people made their way out of the city gates, which didn't escape the two people's attention.

Seeing them enter the forest, Xue Mo and Lu Yao reluctantly followed them. "It won't be for too long. Let's do as we planned and leave."

Although he lived for thousands of years, the amount of time he talked with other beings might not amount to a year. Living with Xue Mo for more than a year, Lu Yao had gotten a good grasp of his moods and habits.

He would gladly seclude himself for years, then talk to someone else. And because Lu Yao was also like this, she didn't mind that much.

However, they agreed to go low key and try to train the other abilities and skills that they have, especially Xue Mo, who had a limited amount of skills.

"I know it's not like it's my first time talking to someone." Although Xue Mo told the truth, he neglected to mention, 'though I haven't talked to someone for thousands of years.'

'If I didn't talk to people who would, I have polished my acting skills and survived all those years ago.' Xue Mo's mind drifted only to get back to reality by Lu Yao's whisper, "They are far away enough. Let's go to the second phase."

Shaking his head, Xue Mo reconcentrated on the plan that they made the day before.

***********

FlashBack the day before

On their way back to the cave, Lu Yao suddenly remembered that she doesn't know Xue Mo's attunements, so she asked.

"My attributes... Hmm, that's a good question I should check if they changed or not." Xue Mo replied and suddenly changed direction.

"How would they change, and why are attributes not the same as the elements you possess or use?"

"Attributes and attunements aren't the same as the element that you could utilize. There are seven different attunements. The reason for that is that these attunements are Primary, while elements are just derivation from these attunements." Xue Mo's explanation was simple to understand, but when he got to the point where he should answer her question, he stopped and looked intently before continuing,

"The reason my attunements may have changed because my soul changed." Hearing what Xue Mo said, Lu Yao was about to continue asking when she remembered something he said a year ago, 'I used to be human, now I am not.' She was ignorant at the time and didn't know what he meant, but when she heard what he said now, her mind started thinking, and many dots connected.

'I see.' Recognizing that Lu Yao may have an idea on the subject, he thought, 'And you say that being with me made you feel dumb.' Xue Mo didn't elaborate more on the subject and instead continued on his way.

After killing another magical beast, Xue Mo took the beast core just like last time and broke it. Letting the Arch energy surge into his body made five unique lights rise into the sky.

When Xue Mo tested his affinity the first time, he emitted three lights crowning him as an extraordinary genius, but this time, it was five lights. This is something unprecedented before. Three of these lights were green, brown, and red, while the last two were a blaring Black and White.

Xue Mo before applauded Lu Yao for having four rays of light while he had five. The difference between his and Lu Yao's lights was that she had White (Light), Black (Dark), Blue (Water), Green (Air). With her Light and Dark affinities, being more dominant and even have a grey in them.

While Xue Mo instead had White (Light), Green (Air), Red (Red), Brown (Earth), and lastly, his Black (Dark) affinity other than being darker than usual, it had a menacing and evil aura surrounding it.

"Actually, we are both weird. Not only did we get the rarest attunements Light and Dark, but they are also different from usual. I think the reason for that is our unique energies." Xue Mo added lastly.

"Now, about the plan for tomorrow. How about we wait for someone to leave the city before we make some magical beast jump them? After saving them, we could ask for information that we might need and maybe even get something to identify this world's currency." Lu Yao nodded her head to herself, applauding herself for such a foolproof plan.

"But then who will do the talking...." After Xue Mo said that silence ensued between them. As two introvertive people, both Xue Mo and Lu Yao, hate talking to anyone, so when they went into a situation where they had to speak, they had thoughts about making the other do the talking.

***

Present time

"Well, it's not my fault that I am stuck in this form, is it? Unlike you, I can't shape-shift." Although Lu Yao sounded blaming and appeared to be helpless, the small laugh that she was holding with her mouth curved, making a happy smile, showed how she truly felt.

For the first time since he created the Shadow Light Parasite race, he regretted doing so, but it was too late for regret.

"Kyle hit them already. Aghh," The sound of the fight happening near them brought the two back from the conversation.

Hearing the voice and the name that was uttered, both Xue Mo and Lu Yao looked at each other. They seemed to be thinking the same thought, 'It's them.'

The ones they heard and followed here were none other than the same group talking about the Battle Mage Academy the day before.

Although it was a coincidence, it was a good one. With this team of four as a test subject, they could analyze the power that the youngsters of this world have.

Like this, Xue Mo and Lu Yao observed the group of 4 from afar. They were able to gauge the power of this world through them, but to their disappointment and relief, these people, or maybe even the entire Ash Expanse was weak.

It took the team of four half an hour to finish their opponent off. Xue Mo and Lu Yao could have had the same result that the group had and finish the creature in 5 minutes. Just the time difference alone would show the disparity between Xue Mo, Lu Yao, and them.

'It seems this is a low-grade world.' Lu Yao assumed after seeing the 'boring' battle in front of her.

The two spectators soon gathered themselves and stood up to realize the second phase of their plan. Releasing the magical beast that they had been holding onto, Xue Mo and Lu Yao stood back and watched it sprint towards the group.

"Watch out, guys." The bulky muscular man named Kyle said to the resting group. Before they could react, though, a massive figure of a spider appeared in front of them. Its chelicerae were already opened, and with eight creepy eyes that sent a shiver down the group's spines, it attacked the closest one to it.

A black-robed man resting on a rock was near the spider, so when it attacked the nearest closest person in its path, it was none other than him.

Quickly dodging to the side had helped him escape imminent death. Seeing that it bit down on nothing, the spider released a big screech before directing its attention to another person.

This time it was a pink-haired girl whose face immediately paled from fright. "Kyle, Deckim, quickly help!!" The girl's voice was more of a command than a request, but the two being called didn't mind and jumped in to help.

Kyle, the bulky man, was holding a hammer. When the pink-haired girl asked for help, he immediately jumped in front of her, and with the hammer in hand, he slammed down.

Boom*

Debris flew around, making the group think that they won. Yet when they were about to relax, they found that the spider was completely fine. It didn't look like a giant hammer just landed on its head.

A clack was heard from the center of the debris. Kyle and the spider both flew away after getting hit by each other. While the spider repositioned itself without much damage, Kyle got a large gash across his chest.

"Kyle, are you okay?" Deckim and the robed man seemed worried while the woman looked on with frightened eyes.

"You should leave now, Lara!" Hearing Kyle's order, Lara knew that the situation was too dangerous. She looked conflicted as she said. "I-I can't!" It was more to her than to the others.

Having a determined expression on her face, Lara looked at the black-robed man and said: "Combination three."

Nodding his head in understanding, the clothed black man ran toward the spider with a dagger. While the knife holding man was running, a light started shining with him in the center. When it dimmed, the speed he was running at suddenly picked up.

The spider was already busy with the hammer holding man when a dagger appeared out of nowhere, stabbing it in one of its eyes.

Screeeeeee*

It screamed in pain and started flailing around, trying to hit anything. But to its dismay, the enemy had already retreated by then. Seeing no path forward, the spider stopped in its place before quickly shooting several yellow slimy things at the group.

"Dodge!!! That's acid rain." Kyle exclaimed before taking Deckim by his hand and running to the back.

Quickly heeding his order, the other two ran away from the spider. The spider wasn't just some dumb monster; it was a magical beast starting to develop its intelligence. But even though the spider was smart, its instincts were still the dominant aspect of it.

Getting frustrated by the second, the spider's last bit of sanity was let go, and its instincts took over. It started attacking anywhere and everywhere, hitting trees, rocks, while making fissures in the land.

"It has gone berserk. Retreat!" Kyle's order wasn't because he was afraid, but because the damage a berserk magical beast can induce wasn't small.

As expected, the berserk spider set its focus on the target of its frustration, the group of four. In a life and death situation, any small decision you make might win you the battle or get you killed. In this one, Kyle's choice was able to extend their lives.

Deckim was battling the spider with his ax in hand, trying to slice its back but to no avail. He suddenly saw a dirty, white-robed man coming their way. Seeing hope in the white-robed man's arrival, Deckim shouted: "Help is here!"

Hearing what Deckim said, the other three looked to the side to see a white-robed man. They finally knew what Deckim meant, but they weren't sure that the man would help.

Kyle screamed towards the white-robed man, seeing the reactions of his teammates and afraid to lose the one chance of help they might get. "Friend, could you please help us?"

The white-robed man didn't answer and immediately attacked the spider. With his hand making a swipe, his fingers that now seemed like claws hit the spider.

Staggering, the spider looked at the source of the hit and saw the white-robed man. Instead of attacking, it turned the other way, preparing to run away.

Seeing the spider heading towards Lara again, Kyle yelled, "Deckim, Axel protect Lara." Before Kyle's words finished, both Axel and Deckim were standing in front of Lara, seemingly trying to act as shields so she could escape.

Before the spider reached the trio, the white-robed man was in front of them. With another swipe of his hand, the spider fell on the ground.

Heavily panting due to them almost dying, they looked at the ordinary-looking white-robed man with a grateful expression. And with Kyle taking the lead, said: "Thank you for saving us!"

"We are alive, thanks to you, please accept my gratitude."

"Ah, man, what great timing. Thanks, I owe you my life."

"I-I... Thank you."

With each of them giving the white-robed man their gratitude, the only thing that they received was silence.

The atmosphere became awkward and stifling with silence, so Kyle, as the leader, took the initiative, "Sir, can you tell us your name?"

"Xue Mo." the white-robed man said.

Seeing the man answer with a cold and emotionless voice made the four shiver, but they didn't show it.

Still getting no reaction, Kyle started sweating at how uncomfortable they felt. But the one in front of them was their savior. They couldn't just disregard him.

"Take me to the nearest city." The dirty white-robed man stated his request.

"Of course, of course, sir!" Deckim said before starting to walk back the way to Jade Wood city.

"Sir Mo, what brings you to the city?" Looking at Xue Mo's clothes and his earlier request made it evident that he wasn't from here.

"Competition." Seeing the man answering, although with small words, didn't bother them.

"Competition? Oh, you mean the one the Battle Mage Academy is making in a week?" When he mentioned that, Deckim's eyes started shining, showing how excited he is.

"Yes."

'Ah, do I have to do this? At least they aren't humans. If they were, I wouldn't even bother talking to them.' While complaining inwardly, Xue Mo's expression on the outside was still rigid and expressionless while the aura coming from him was menacing, which made the group distance themselves from him.

On the way back, Deckim and Kyle tried making conversation with the white-robed man, sometimes being successful and sometimes not. After a while, they gave up and conversed with each other to pass the time.

"Sir Mo, why didn't you take the beast core back then?" Deckim cautiously asked, trying to make small talk again. However, this time, he was surprised by the answer he got. "Why would I?"

The same cold voice that was heard before made Deckim shiver. Quickly composing himself, he explained: "Everyone would always need more money, no?"

"I see." After giving the reply, the white-robed man seemed lost in thought as he went silent again.

Deckim tried to talk to him several times, but after his last answer, there was no reaction from the white-robed man.

Continuing the journey in silence, the group of five had reached the city in no time.

At the city gates, the guards bowed towards the group and welcomed. "Miss Lara, you are early today!" Getting no reply didn't bother the guard. After welcoming the only female in the group, he gave the group way and let them in.

Entering through the gates with a sign hanging above it, stating 'Welcome to Jade Wood City.' The group stopped seeing their savior stop.

Understanding that this is goodbye, Kyle bowed his head in thanks again and asked, "Sir Mo, could you wait here for a minute?"

Kyle didn't mind that he got no response and left after saying that. The atmosphere became awkward again, but after a while of walking, they didn't mind it anymore.

As promised, after a minute, Kyle came running back, but this time he had a bag with him.

Extending his hand, Kyle gave the bag to the white-robed man and said: "Thank you for everything. Although this won't compensate for our gratitude, please accept it."

As expressionless as ever, the ordinary-looking man just took the bag silently.

Kyle heaved a sigh of relief, thinking the man won't accept it. After finishing their business, the group of five became four again.

"Kyle, what did you give him?" Deckim whispered after seeing that they were alone. "I gave him some Beast Cores."

****

"Hey, Mo, that was some smooth acting back there, wasn't it?" A white fox came out from the ordinary-looking man's robe and joked.

Ignoring the fox, the man continued to walk silently. He looked for an inn, and after five minutes of walking, he found a sign that reads. 'Jade Inn'

With a chilly expression, the man entered the inn.

"Welcome to the Jade Inn. How can I serve you?" The Innkeeper said in a practiced manner. Seeing no response, he thought, 'The silent type, eh?'

Having dealt with customers like this before, he kept a smile on his face.

"One week."

"Oh, that would be two beast cores, and if you want food too, it will be 3." The Innkeeper finally knew why the man was here and replied.

Taking out two beast cores from the bag that Kyle gave him, Xue Mo put it on the table before taking the already prepared key.

Going to the second floor, the man entered his room and sat down on the body.

'That was exhausting.' This was the last thing Xue Mo thought before closing his eyes.