Heading Back Into The Wild

Atrixus stood at the edge of the green zone, the bustling hub of System Bearers. The settlement, alive with the energy of those who had ventured into Shunri Paradise for glory, knowledge, or necessity, felt both like a sanctuary and a cage to him.

He had fought hard to earn the 1000 runis required to enter this untamed world. Now, as he contemplated leaving, a sense of unfulfillment gnawed at him, whispering that his journey here was far from over.

The thought of his hard work, the grueling hours spent laboring for a chance to enter Shunri Paradise, sparked a defiance within him.

Atrixus knew he had ventured into the heart of this world for reasons beyond mere survival or the fleeting thrill of battle. He sought something more— a means to better his and his mother's lives, and perhaps, a deeper understanding of the mysterious forces that governed this place as pertaining to his father's disappearance.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Atrixus turned his gaze back towards the wilderness, the vast expanses of Shunri Paradise that stretched beyond the safety of the green zone.

He thought of the bag storage Jeremy had given him, a remarkable item capable of holding a seemingly infinite amount of contents was a lifeline that would allow him to venture further and accomplish more than he had dared hope.

"I can't leave. Not yet. Not when there's still so much to be done," Atrixus muttered to himself, his voice barely audible above the din of the settlement.

His decision was not borne out of recklessness but from a recognition of the opportunity that lay before him—an opportunity to do more.

'...With the preservatives, I should still have a couple more days.'

With his mind made up, Atrixus prepared to re-enter the wilderness. He checked the bag storage, ensuring it was ready to carry whatever spoils he might claim from the Evos he encountered.

The thought of collecting more Evo corpses, or facing the unknown creatures that roamed the lands beyond, filled him with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

■■

In the heart of Pariscus City's most affluent neighborhoods, floating thousands of feet above the surface, stood the Hastings estate.

It was a depiction of luxury and the power wielded by one of its most notable residents, Leonard Hastings. The sprawling mansion, with its manicured gardens and opulent interiors, was the center of a family scene that unfolded with tension and unresolved ambitions.

The Hastings family gathered around a grand dining table, an array of exquisite dishes laid out before them.

Leonard, the patriarch, exuded an aura of authority and control, traits that had propelled him to the zenith of success. Opposite him sat his wife, Elara Hastings, a woman of grace and poise, who watched the unfolding drama with a mixture of concern and resignation.

Their children, two sons younger than Liora, twins Alexander and Benjamin, were the picture of youthful curiosity, their eyes darting between their sister and their father as the argument escalated.

Liora, the eldest child and the focus of the evening's contention, was adamant in her plea.

"Dad, you don't understand! I can't just sit back after what happened in Shunri Paradise. It was humiliating. I need to go back, I need to become stronger," Liora implored, her frustration mounting with each word.

Leonard Hastings, unfazed by his daughter's determination, maintained his stance. "Liora, you will not return until you've completed your training. It's too dangerous, and you're not ready. Besides, you must align with a faction first, and I have yet to decide which would be best."

The air crackled with tension as Liora's anger boiled over, her sense of injustice palpable.

Without another word, she stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor in her haste. "I don't need your permission to grow stronger!" she declared, storming out of the dining room, leaving a trail of silence in her wake.

Alexander and Benjamin, seizing the moment, exchanged mischievous glances before one of them quipped, "Looks like the ice queen is melting down." Their jest was cut short by a stern look from their father, a silent warning that now was not the time for humor.

Undeterred by her family's lack of support, Liora made her way to the mansion's massive training room, a space equipped with the latest technology to aid in the development of System Bearers.

As she activated her Assimilated Transformation and her form shimmered with newfound energy, a single thought fueled her resolve.

"I will show you... Atrixus Timothy!" she muttered under her breath, her determination unwavering.

The training room, with its holographic targets and advanced simulation programs, became her sanctuary, a place where she could channel her frustration and ambition into strength.

Liora's resolve was clear. She would not allow her recent experiences in Shunri Paradise to define her.

Instead, she would use them as a catalyst for growth, pushing herself beyond her limits to emerge stronger and more capable.

■■

At the bustling construction site, under the gleam of the afternoon sun, Elara Rujin, the daughter of the site's wealthy owner, navigated through the maze of scaffolding and machinery in search of one person: Atrixus.

It had been several days since Atrixus saved her from the incident that nearly sent her to the afterlife.

Today, she returned, not just to oversee the progress of the construction but with a purpose fueled by gratitude and her father's blessing to adequately reward her savior.

As Elara approached a group of workers, her presence commanded attention, a mixture of respect and curiosity coloring their faces. "Has anyone seen Atrixus lately? I need to speak with him," she inquired, her voice clear and expectant.

The workers exchanged glances, their expressions turning apologetic. "Miss, Atrixus hasn't been around for days now," one of them finally responded, his tone respectful yet firm.

Elara felt a stir of concern at the news. She had assumed finding Atrixus would be a straightforward task, yet his absence painted a different picture.

Determined, she pressed on, hoping someone among the crew might have a clue about his whereabouts. "Does anyone know where he might be? It's important," she inquired.

The construction workers, respectful of Elara's intent, shook their heads in unison. Atrixus was known among them for his quiet demeanor and tireless work ethic, but beyond the confines of the construction site, his life remained a mystery.

The silence that followed her question was proof of that.

However, just as Elara was about to retreat, a voice piped up from the back, hesitant yet eager to help. "Well, there were times he'd mention the slums in passing. Never said much, but it always sounded like that's where he headed after work," the worker confessed, scratching his head as he tried to recall any additional details.

The mention of the slums struck a chord with Elara. The vast, sprawling network of the city's most impoverished area was notorious for its tough living conditions and the resilience of its inhabitants. Not to mention that crime rates were the highest within the slums.

That Atrixus came from there, and possibly returned to it after saving her life, filled Elara with a complex mixture of respect and a renewed sense of urgency to find him.

"Thank you," she said, offering a small but sincere smile to the worker.

The slums were not a place Elara was familiar with. Her life of privilege was far removed from the hardships faced by its residents.

Yet, the thought of Atrixus battling those hardships daily only deepened her resolve to find him.

Armed with this new information, Elara Rujin set out towards the slums, her determination unwavering.

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