Departure

[Quest: Roxy Harden I]

[Roxy Harden was a legendary figure who originated from a figure of unknown background, alien to the Earth. However, she contributed to the security of the Blue Earth, and was hailed as the Monarch, second only to the Sovereign.]

[A woman whose talent cannot be identified by the means of earthlings, and was considered as an Awakener with talent exceeding the EX-rank. It was a secret that was tightly enclosed by the Sovereign himself. Only Roxy, the Sovereign, and his trusted aides know of this.]

[To search for her origin, she needs power beyond measure. However, the outside world is cold and merciless, incomparable to the environment of Blue Earth. The chance of her surviving in such a cruel place is slim.]

[Objective: Ensure her safety and accompany her in her journey of self-discovery.]

[Requirement: Guide Roxy Harden to reach the realm beyond the Mortal Realm.]

[Reward: 1,000,000 HP, Roxy's adoration, Roxy's talent awakening.]

"Beyond the Earth?"

Urapus fell into deep thought. What lies beyond the earth is something he always wanted to discover. But he can't hope for such a privilege as long as the Outer Forces still exist.

Even in his previous life, it was a place he longed for. He wished to break out of the confinement of the Outer Forces. To see just how many things he missed out in this life.

It also limits the progress of mankind. Urapus is confident that out there, exists a place where technology and human anatomy have been thoroughly researched, and perhaps could be modified at will.

A place that does not limit itself to a mere Mortal Realm!

Urapus could infinitely improve himself in the future, but what about his parents? Roxanna? What about the rest of the people here?

Earth is a place that he belongs to, and that will never change. Its development is something he naturally pays attention to.

[Urapus...]

"Don't be too sentimental. Receiving that kind of look from a billion-year-old planet is very weird, you know?"

The avatar gives him a dirty look.

[I just called you by name for the first time, and you didn't even care.]

Urapus ignored the pouting avatar. Instead, he was pondering about Roxy.

The talent above EX-rank could be considered a perk, so her lineage has the DNA to awaken a perk.

It was still unclear what sort of perk it was, but Roxy is capable of telekinesis.

The one that's capable of moving the literal asteroids, and maybe even tilting the moon slightly within the Mortal Realm. Just how powerful her lineage is? And where it could possibly reside?

How did she end up here?

So many questions, yet so few answers.

He also wonders. Why do Roxanna and Roxy look so familiar?

Maybe her father was so fixated on Roxy that he married someone who looked exactly like her?

That's quite a possibility.

"Young Master, we have arrived."

Urapus looked below as the pilot pulled the trigger, stopping the helicopter from moving forward.

It's his beloved home, the Ashford Household.

At the front, two figures gazed at him, their eyes contained their realization.

"They know."

No. They always know. Yet they did not have the slightest intention to denounce his objective. Urapus's ebonic eyes were filled with warmth.

Such wise and understanding parents are one of the biggest blessings he received in this life. Their existence itself is a blessing.

Urapus looked back. Roxy and Roxanna weren't bickering anymore, and instead, they glanced at him softly.

"Take your time. I'll pick you up in two weeks from now. Enjoy your free time, because the camp will be your hell for 5 years."

Roxy jokingly jabbed him, while Roxanna bobbed her head.

"Thank you."

With his physique, Urapus could easily land despite the height at which the helicopter was flying.

As he prepared himself to jump, Roxy suddenly halted his step and pecked him on the cheek, receiving a confused look from him.

The angelic woman winked,

"Remember. Grow splendidly!"

"Mother!!!"

The Mistress pushed him, and he fell. The wind blew through his hair, and the shining dawn glazed the land with its warm light.

Even as he falls, the bickering between mother and daughter is still ongoing. Regarding this, Urapus has turned helpless long ago.

Urapus positioned himself to increase the resistance, effectively reducing his falling speed. The boy landed before his parents and greeted them with a smile.

"Well? Don't you have something to tell?" Ren curtly said with a hint of amusement, signaling him to take note of his mother's crankiness.

"Mother, Father, the Mistress of Harden Family has invited me to attend the Verest Training Camp in the capital. To bring honor to this household, I wish to be present when the program starts, ensuring that I can contribute to defending our beautiful Blue Earth."

"Haah..." Natashya sadly sighed to herself. When her son is so convincing, how could she refute him? Wouldn't that make her an unreasonable, despicable Mother?

"Alright, fine. But you can't go anywhere before the program starts. We wouldn't be seeing you for 5 years, after all."

With a bit of tears, Natashya relented. She hugged her beloved son, knowing that her innocent child would be grinded to death by the camp for 5 years.

He will also fight against their mortal enemies, flailing between the line of life and death.

For a mother, it makes her anxious and worried.

Yet, when she saw his eyes, everything seemed to disappear.

Is her trust in him so enormous that even she wouldn't feel worried at all despite a cruel fate awaiting ahead of him?

It's only now that she understands. How special her son truly was. She looked at Ren, who saw her gaze and nodded.

"So this is what you meant..."

"Alright, let's stop with the heavy topic. How about we go on vacation to the Jewel Coast? We could use it as an opportunity to relax our minds."

Jewel Coast is a beach famous for its aurora. The sea will reflect the harmonious, colorful phenomenon, creating a very beautiful scenery.

It was also one of the places that was affected by the inner energy the most. Over hundreds of years, it has turned drastically. From a normal beach contaminated by men to a beautiful place akin to a paradise.

Experts often came to this place to stabilize their minds from the war. With its abundant inner energy, it was also used by them to improve their cultivation.

"What?! Jewel Coast?! Dear, where did you get such an amazing opportunity?"

"The elder from the Raven Family intends to celebrate my breakthrough. Urapus will also meet the Fourth Young Master of the Raven Family. Don't embarrass me, alright?"

Ren jokingly said. Natashya glanced at him as if he was joking, making Urapus rub his head in embarrassment.

"Do Father and Mother trust me so much?"

"We do."

There's no hesitation, only a tone of confidence as if it were a matter of fact.

Urapus knew his feeling was repetitive, but he couldn't help it.

He truly loves his parents to death. If the Goddess said that half of his humongous, golden karma was exchanged to have them as his parents, he wouldn't believe it.

He would straight up doubt the Goddess herself. Such an obvious thing, do you even have to mention it?

3rd June, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.

"You've come. Well, what are you waiting for? Come in!"

Contrary to his strict demeanor, the elder of the Raven Family is quite easygoing. The man has no airs, as if he was nothing but a middle-aged man enjoying his life.

"Hoh, then don't mind me."

His Father and the elder are actually friends. They are of similar age and were group mates when they were still actively serving as soldiers.

Now that they have become generals, as long as the front of defense mankind established around the earth hasn't been breached, they could focus on improving themselves or their descendants.

Urapus looked up to the sky, seeing the vague line covering the sky. That is the front line, where millions of Awakeners are fighting to preserve the Blue Earth.

"And who's this? The so-called 'brother' of the most treasured Heiress, Roxanna Harden? It is quite an honor."

Urapus smiled awkwardly, while his parents laughed.

"Well, I guess that's the identity of our son now."

"I'm curious. How did he remain unnoticed? To the point where the citizens actually considered him as her brother and did not suspect the child Urapus himself?

The elder didn't believe that Urapus had some sort of mechanism that allowed him to veil himself under the radar. And even if he did, he couldn't practice it. He's still 6, remember?

Urapus recalled that issue. When he met Roxanna's Mother, it was this problem that almost got his freedom forfeited.

However, Roxanna's shaky voice allowed him to equip the title of being her 'brother'.

"Urapus... Y-You've become more handsome!"

Yes. It's his perfected, improvised physical features that got him off the hook. Afterward, Roxy lets him go while looking at him weirdly.

Of course, before announcing himself as her brother to hide his relationship with Roxanna as Urapus Ashford, he had a backup plan.

Simply, he would wait until he turned 7 to practice an ability, 'Facemask'. With his proficiency, only the Sovereign himself could see through it.

Urapus felt fortunate that he could use his improvised face as an excuse. If his former plan was used, he couldn't find himself a practical place to train, and the new feature would go to waste.

Now, to be safe as Urapus Ashford in the camp, Roxy told him to use the grey-colored lens to change his eyes.

He could do so with the Advanced Physique. But controlling every part of his body to achieve a certain result is not an easy feat at all.

He also has to study the anatomies related to eye color first, and then he must theorize how can he change the color of his eyes without mistakes.

It's too hard. He could only give up. 'Without mistakes' is the keyword. If he messed up just once, he'll be crippled.

And that's the best scenario.

"Well, would you believe me if he became handsome overnight?" Natashya chuckled. No one would've believed it. Not even herself.

Urapus was an attractive child. But since then, Natashya has become more amazed by her own child. She couldn't imagine how many girls would be entrapped by his charm.

Thinking of this, she unknowingly giggled to herself.

"Bern, it sounds quite... Uh, silly. I know. But it's the truth. Believe me."

Looking at the couple before him, Bern, the Raven's elder, sighed. Ren may be joking at times, but he's serious when he needs to.

He looked at Urapus. The firm eyes along with his symmetrical, handsome face. As a middle-aged man, he must admit it. The kid is one hell of an heir.

"Alright. I'll believe you."

As the senior generation continued to bicker amongst themselves, Urapus began to wander around the coast. Even without the aurora, the beach itself is a beauty.

The aurora happened because of the surging inner energy. On Earth, there are several places with dense inner energy.

It was said that the places with dense inner energy were affected by the changing habits of the environment, for inner energy is the purest form of energy that could potentially be converted to anything, and most of the time, if gathered in a place of nature, it would follow the flow of the environment itself.

If a volcano happened to be surging with inner energy, the lava would be more potent several times, and even the air may imitate the temperature of the volcano's core.

Those deadly places are beneficial for Awakeners above General expert.

The most severe case of this phenomenon is the ocean. One of the reasons many died in the Mutation Era is the explosive growth of the water of the ocean, and after hundreds of years, 90% of the land has been drowned, leaving 10% for mankind to live.

That's why Earth was considered as Blue Earth by the future generations. Most of the land has been submerged.

97% of the earth is filled with ocean!

Fortunately, technology prospered, and with the usage of inner energy, they could create civilization above the ocean.

Urapus sat on the sand, observing the shore of the sea.

He lets go of everything. His concerns, his goals, his training. Urapus acknowledged the benefits of what a calm mind could do. Although he has the Unbreakable Will, human is the definition of imperfection.

"Let's revert to meditation here."

4th June, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.

"You're Urapus Ashford?"

As he went to the cafeteria for breakfast, a black-haired kid with a mean face intercepted him in his way. Urapus recognized him.

It's the Fourth Young Master of the Raven Family.

"Are you the Fourth Young Master?"

"My name is Vex Raven. Nice to meet you."

Contrary to his mean face, the kid is polite. Vex invited him to have breakfast together, and with nothing to do, he agreed.

They choose a seat near the view of the coast.

"I'm curious. You looked really similar to Rex Harden."

Vex Raven is straightforward. He's not the type to beat around the bush, and would instead charge right into the bush.

Urapus was amused as Vex brought out his phone and showed him a picture of a handsome boy hugging a cute girl.

"It's just a coincidence. I'm just an heir of a declining family. How could I be the brother of such a famous person?"

"Really? But you looked very familiar. Perhaps he's your long-lost twin brother?"

"Nah. Just a coincidence."

But seriously, did those people have to upload the picture of him hugging Roxanna close to his chest?

Urapus's mouth twitched. Those opportunists bastards.

It could easily cause a misunderstanding—

"But I don't believe it. What brother? They looked more like a couple of lovers."

—Just like now.

Vex did not hesitate to express his opinion. He creased his eyebrows, looking skeptical.

Urapus was speechless. Yes, it's exactly looked like what you just described.

But what you don't is, you're talking about me?

Even I started to feel awkward now.

"Look at this. Roxanna Harden was blushing. How could this be an interaction between siblings?"

Thus, for the rest of the morning, Urapus spent it with Vex who kept grumbling about the meaning of the picture. Vex also keeps giving him a suspicious look, occasionally raising his eyebrow.

Urapus just replied with a strained smile. Behind his mean look and stout build, the kid is quite a gossiper.

15th June, Year 309 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar.

"You ready?"

The vacation was supposed to be long, but with his Father's cheekiness, Mother's cunningness, along with Elder Bern's occasional blurt of Father's embarrassing past, and Vex's amusing gossip tendency, the two weeks seemed to be short. Too short.

Especially when he saw the aurora borealis along with the reflection on the sea.

With the inner energy drastically affecting the phenomenon, the aurora was enlarged, covering the whole sky with its beautiful colors.

It felt like he was in a different world. Akin to a place befitting the description of Heaven.

The helicopter slowly descended from the sky, and Urapus was greeted by Roxy in her iconic white suit.

Besides her, a resolute Roxanna was sporting a pair of black leggings overlapped by a white skirt, along with a red suit.

"The vacation was too short," Urapus meaninglessly complained. Behind him, his parents also looked reluctant.

"Mistress, please take care of Urapus well. The kid tends to overexert himself. Make sure to strictly control him should he overstep his boundaries!"

With a loving tone, Mother pleaded with Roxy with her ruthless words. Urapus shivered. I'm not that bad...

"At ease, Lady Ashford. I'll grind him like a pig if he dares to do something stupid."

Urapus gave up. It's meaningless to plead for mercy.

After a hug from his parents, he stepped into the helicopter. Roxanna actively ran to his side, grasping his hand slightly.

With a signal from Roxy, the pilot nodded and the helicopter ascended to the sky. It's gonna be the last time he sees his home in the next 5 years.

It'll be the last time he saw his parents in this month. The same goes for the next month. And this year.

Same for the next 5 years...

"Don't be naughty, Urapus!"

"Eat well!"

"And behave!"

"No matter what happens! This! Place! Is! Your! Home!"

Urapus tried to control himself, but he couldn't help it. These tears are ruthless, subjecting him to a sense of sadness and embarrassment.

Still, he prided himself on having the trust of his parents, for it was the best gift a parent could give to their child.

Roxy appeared behind him, messing up his neat hair. She showed a sad smile, "Cherish them, kid. And make them proud!"

"Yes!"

The sky is blue, clear from the clouds. The sun is merciful, granting the mortal its warm sunlight.

Urapus looked ahead, the direction where the capital of Blue Earth, the Verest Capital, resides.

Roxanna's crimson eyes followed the same direction, with a hint of desolation and reminiscence not fitting the eyes of a little girl.