Unrest

***

In the north of the Brupaes continent. In the heart of Masval, the capital of the Masvalter Empire, a grand castle held a tense meeting. Four winged and horned humanoid figures were gathered around a table. At the head of the table was Emperor Alto Lomidze, his face marked by a grave expression. Across from him sat his wife, Empress Tamara Lomidze. Beside her were their children: Crown Prince Boris Lomidze and his sister, Valeri Lomidze.

The discussion grew intense as they focused on the disturbing news about the resurgence of the Abyssal Cult. Despite not fully understanding why the cult adopted such a name, it was clear they were a formidable and dangerous force.

"The reports I've received indicate that the Abyssal Cult is becoming increasingly active again," Alto said, his voice heavy with concern.

With a worried expression, Boris asked, "Are we certain it's the Abyssal Cult and not just a smaller organization or an organization imitating them?"

"Yes," Alto replied firmly. "The reports indicate that their activity is not confined to our region but is spreading across the planet. And no one dares to imitate them; the last time an organization did, they got wiped off the map in a single night."

After saying that Alto addressed Boris and Valeri, his voice was grave: "This means you all, including the other children, must be accompanied by guards whenever you go out. We don't yet know the full extent of the threat or why they became active again, but the Abyssal Cult is incredibly dangerous. They could easily wipe out any country if they chose to."

Turning to Valeri, he continued with a troubled expression, "I understand this is difficult, but there's little I can do right now. Your fiancé is on his way, and your engagement must proceed as planned. I've heard reports that he has awakened with seven affinities, which is remarkable. It will give the people of this country some peace of mind."

Alto is looking at his daughter with a mixture of love and sadness. He deeply wished he could provide a normal life for her, but the realities of their situation made that impossible.

Tamara, witnessing the conversation, felt a deep sense of helplessness. She longed for Valeri to live a normal life within their means, but the situation seemed increasingly out of reach.

Just as Valeri was on the verge of meeting her fiancé and perhaps traveling the world to expand her horizons, news arrived that the Abyssal Cult was stirring once more after millennia of silence.

***

In a desolate, lifeless expanse devoid of greenery, deep underground within an ancient ruin, two women engaged in conversation.

Seated behind a dark wooden desk, Saya Pilipe exuded an aura of authority. She wore a long black dress that complemented her black horns and wings. Her flowing purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her striking black eyes and well-defined features added to her formidable presence.

Standing nervously in front of her was Ashley Hualla. She had elfin ears and dark brown skin, with black eyes and shoulder-length black hair, and was wearing a long red dress. Her anxious demeanor contrasted sharply with the imposing figure of the woman seated at the desk.

Saya's voice cut through the silence with a commanding edge. "Ashley, have you found the one we're searching for?"

Ashley's face was etched with worry, reflecting the gravity of the task at hand. She knew how crucial it was for the cult to locate the abyssal soul that had entered this world. With visible distress and a hint of hesitation, she responded, "I'm sorry, Saya. We still haven't been able to locate the abyssal soul."

Saya spat out the words, "Do you not know how important this is? The only reason we came to this backwater planet was because headquarters predicted there would be an abyssal soul coming here."

Ashley shivered and almost cried, but she knew Saya was right; this mission was of utmost importance in for their organization; they were planning something big involving the whole cosmos. But they couldn't start without a soul that has lived in the abyss.

"Gather all the elders and ensure you locate what we're searching for within the next six months," Saya instructed, her irritation evident. "It's crucial that we avoid attracting the attention of Judgment. Even though I am the strongest person on this planet, the organization that the ten master clans established can still ostruct our goals."

"Understood, Saya," Ashley replied, quickly exiting the room with determination.

***

Shin had finally calmed down after being unable to ask the questions he had. Returning to the carriage, they rode on toward the capital.

"Young master, why were you only in the ruins for a couple minutes?" inquired Laura.

Shin, taken aback by this revelation, realized that these so-called ruins were something extraordinary, as they halted time outside whenever someone entered, or so he thought.

"I was in there for more than a year and a half, not a few minutes," he calmly stated to Laura, "therefore I assume the time within the ruin was accelerated. Or perhaps the time spent outside has slowed, if not halted entirely. Quickly inform the person who is informing my father."

"Acknowledged." She said while bowing and proceeded to carry out the assignment.

Now alone in the carriage, Shin decided to evaluate his recent acquisitions. He began by apprasing the potion he had received from the gatekeeper.

Brew of a hundred exotic flowers: This potion, crafted by a highly skilled alchemist, is designed specifically to enhance one's cultivation. It is completely free of side effects. Consuming this potion induces a unique state of enlightenment, which may offer unforeseen benefits.

Next, he appraised the Illusion Affinity Stone.

Illusion affinity stone: This exceptionally rare stone contains the essence of the Illusion affinity. When broken, it transfers the stored affinity to the person who shattered it. These stones are only found on Ethereon's, a small star known for producing various rare materials created by Orin.

"Who is Orin?" Shin asked, his curiosity evident.

[Host, to access this information, you need to upgrade the system to Level 5.]

"Upgrade the system?" Shin questioned, bewildered. "I never knew that was an option during my time in the Abyss. Why wasn't I informed about this before?"

[Host, the Abyss is a unique plane, and you will discover more about these features as you advance and grow stronger.]

Shin had no choice but to resign himself to the situation, hoping he could figure out how to upgrade the system quickly. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to proceed, as the system had not provided any information or requirements for the upgrade.