30. Strange Statues

Orion then quickly absorbed all the cores he had acquired just now and felt rejuvenated all of a sudden.

'The feeling of absorbing core is so refreshing.'

After that, he proceeded to check his status.

[Name - Orion Darkwood

Rank - Bronze

Talent - Copy Curse - 5%

Curse - Null Body, Electrostatic Disruption, Dimensional Dissonance, Velocity Burst, Sacrificial Renewal

Strength - 12

Stamina - 11

Agility - 13

Perception - 11

Constitution - 11

Mana - Nil (Due to the host's curse—Null Body, host isn't able to feel any form of mana. Please check your curse for more information.)

Skills - Nil (Due to the host's curse —Null Body, host isn't able to feel any form of mana. Therefore, the host is unable to use any skills. Please check your curse for more information.)]

'My strength increased by 2 and all other attributes by 1 stat point. That means one of the cores gave me two stat points.'

He speculated that maybe some of the big bees that died just now must have been stronger than the usual big bees.

'My mastery over my talent also increased.'

Looking at his mastery, Orion rubbed his chin as he pondered.

'It seems I can increase my mastery of my talent as long as I can copy more curses.'

Orion could only think of this reason as to why his mastery over his talent seemed to be increasing without him doing anything.

As Orion was busy increasing his stats, the group continued to move forward.

Before long, they heard the sounds of a river flowing, and only a while later, they reached the banks of a river.

At that moment, Runo, who seemed to be looking at the map, smiled as he turned his attention to the river, particularly to the two statues on either side of the river.

"We are on the right track. Our destination is at the source of this river. So, continue to head in the direction where the river is coming from."

Giving the commands, he took the lead, and everyone followed him from behind.

Orion didn't follow them, as his attention appeared to be more on the two statues than on Runo's order because the two statues to him looked like the exact opposite of each other.

One appeared to be that of a man with the brightest smile and shoulder-length golden hair, his hands spreading to the front as if welcoming them, while the other was that of a woman with blue hair like a sea, but her hands seemed to be in a cross position, and along with the distressed look on her face, it appeared as if she was telling them not to come here.

'These statues are rather strange.'

Orion couldn't help but think as he looked at the two statues.

At that moment, a rush of wind washed over his body before he saw Liira appear in front of him.

She seemed rather annoyed as she looked at Orion with a furrowed brow.

"Are you coming, or what?"

Orion sighed as he looked at her.

"Coming."

After looking at the two strange statues that conveyed opposite meanings, he had a bad feeling and didn't want to go with them, but recalling Runo's strength, he felt powerless and could only do what he was told.

'The life of a transmigrator is so difficult.'

He sighed as he followed behind Liira.

***

As the group followed along the river bank, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks filled the air. At that moment, the sun seemed to have reached the exact opposite position from where it had been in the morning.

"Grrrr!"

Orion's stomach growled as he walked a little slower than everyone else in the group.

'I need food. I haven't eaten anything since I came to this world.'

Depressed, he continued to walk, not wanting to be left behind, lest some monsters come from the water and eat him up, filling their stomachs instead.

So, he walked slowly and slowly for a time until he felt that he couldn't walk anymore.

His legs felt like they had their weight increased, as he couldn't take a single step, no matter how hard he tried. He felt his body spinning as if all the energy in him had been sucked dry by something, leaving him nothing but a body without fuel.

'Damn, I should have added all those stats to stamina if I had known this would happen.'

Feeling all weakened, he slumped to the ground tiredly as his eyes gazed at the setting sun in the distance.

However, at that moment, something strange seemed to have happened. Orion saw that, from the setting sun in the red sky, a shadow seemed to be zooming in towards him.

'What's that?'

He felt sacred for a moment, wondering if it was a monster or something, but upon closer observation, he realized that it appeared to be a guy walking towards him.

Sighing in relief, he calmed down. A moment later, the person closed in, and he saw that it was none other than the one who healed him last time—Jarth.

Orion saw that Jarth had arrived in front of him with a very kind smile. Seeing this, he wondered if it was some kind of fairy who came to help him in his time of need.

Jarth then handed him some bread and other consumables.

"H-Here, take this and eat up. Others are waiting for you at a little distance from here, so hurry and eat up."

As always, he stuttered as he spoke, but Orion didn't care about those things as he took the bread and other foods and started gulfing them down like a hungry wolf.

For a while, Jarth heard sounds of munching coming as he waited at the side.

"Burrrrp!"

It didn't take long for Orion to finish his food as he released a loud burp.

After eating and feeling his strength return to his body, he stood up and turned to look at Jarth at the side. He really appreciated the food he got now.

"Thanks, man, you are a lifesaver."

He gave him a thumbs up.

Jarth's face became red upon receiving Orion's appreciation.

"You don't need to thank me. I did what I thought was right to do."

Orion felt surprised by his attitude and couldn't help but ask something as he saw that.

"You are a very good guy. What are you doing with these villains?'

Jarth's face became somewhat odd at Orion's words as he pointed in the distance.

"What? They?…. It's not what you think. Let's go while I tell you the whole story."