Sneaky

Siona detested running away from a challenge, especially ones as straightforward as fighting off an oppressive wild beast. The Peak Iron-ranked Giant Serpent would have been a thorough challenge for her current capability—she could probably even advance a step by triumphing over the adversary.

Unfortunately, not tonight.

She ran through the biting darkness with the human unconscious on her shoulder, while Emir kept the beast at bay. She didn't know the human, but that didn't stop her from saving him. Even if she didn't have a need for the fellow, she would have helped him keep his sorry life, but she wouldn't go so far as to carry him to safety.

She would likely draw the serpent somewhere else and finish it off, if the fellow didn't impair her capability for the time being.

To his credit, the human was still in his epiphany. She thought it would be quick, that he would finish within an hour or two, but more than six hours had passed, and he was still at it. If not for the touch of laws lingering on his aura, she would have believed he was faking it.

Maybe it was taking so long because he was at such a low rank, she thought. She believed the Dao fruit would be detrimental to his growth, even with Emir's adamant words trying to convince her that he would be fine. Either way, she wouldn't know until he woke up.

"So long as the guy is alive," Siona thought aloud, "it is fine with me."

With that, she hurried away in the darkness. 

****

The bright sun was glaring in the sky when Klein opened his eyes. He looked up blearily to find the silver-haired elf maiden not far from him, staring at him suspiciously.

He shot her an easing smile, sitting upright, which only earned him a curt glare before she looked away. Klein shook his head and looked around for the man he could communicate with.

Unable to find any sign of him, he decided to check his notifications.

[Seed of Space (Early): You have touched the dimension law at an Initiate and lived to tell the tale.

+10% Efficiency to Strength.

+5% Efficiency to Mind.]

[Skill: Spatial Sight

Mastery: F

Empowered by the law of space, you can have a meta-view of your surroundings in your mind's eye at will.

[Essence Assimilated.] 

[Initiate - Level 4 --> Level 5]

+5 to all attributes, +5 Unused points.

Status Window

Klein Frost

Human - [Initiate - Level 5]

Physique: Integrating (49%)

Law: Seed of Force (Middle) | Seed of Space (Early)

Attributes:

[Strength: 34 +15%]

[Speed: 34 +5%]

[Mind: 34 +10%]

[Spirit: 34 +20%]

[Will: 34 + 30%]

[Recovery: 34 + 5%]

Unused Points: 14

Skills:

Essence Manipulation (E-)

Empower (F)

Spatial Sight (F)

Title: Child of Law, Overachiever

Satisfied with the improvement, Klein quickly focused on his new skill. Although he hadn't received anything related to teleportation yet, Spatial Sight was a useful skill.

Immediately, Klein was aware of everything around him. All appeared in his mind's eye in a real-time 3D model, far superior to anything Xin had been capable of, even with his most powerful scrying spell.

He couldn't help but imagine how useful the skill would have been in the oppressive darkness of the Tenebrous realm.

Of course, he would need to figure out the limitations to know how far he could push the skill. However, before he could begin experimenting, the elf woman stood up and turned towards him, gesturing for him to stand as well.

She uttered some quick words, knowing he couldn't understand them completely. He guessed he had rested long enough; it was time to move on.

"What about Emir?" he asked. At least the name should prod her to understand his question. "Is he on the lookout or scouting ahead?"

Siona's expression turned ugly. Well, as ugly as that gorgeous high elven appearance could get. If that was ugly, Klein was downright hideous.

She didn't answer the question, even if she understood it, and led the way silently.

It took a little time for Klein to realise Emir wasn't on the lookout, and then a bit more to understand that he wasn't scouting for them either. If he wasn't wrong, the quarter-elf had likely fled during the attack last night.

Klein sighed. Honestly, if he were to believe anyone from the group would desert them first, he thought it would be himself—but that sneaky bastard had beaten him to it.

Maybe I should follow in his footsteps soon, he thought, watching the slender figure of the elf ahead of him.

After a few minutes, Siona decided he should take the lead, while she directed their path with an arrow.

"I promise I wasn't leering, if that's what you're worried about," he muttered, but his words only met deaf ears.

Siona only returned to leading from the front after a couple of hours, when the sun hovered overhead in its scorching heat. The elf didn't sweat even a drop, unlike Klein, who was drenched in sweat. There were plenty of wild beasts along the way. Unlike yesterday, she killed them all viciously, going as far as hunting down packs of them on her own.

Her change in approach had something to do with Emir's disappearance—he was sure of it. She was simply venting her anger on the poor beasts.

Klein would never have called those savage beasts "poor," but against her, they were nothing but.

He had killed a fair share of the stragglers that missed her arrows, but levelling up still seemed far off.

Siona didn't seem to be in the mood to stop, moving relentlessly, though she changed to a more cautious approach, slowing their pace.

It seems we're nearing our destination, he thought.

Soon, the path gave way to a dry valley of ragged stones and wild scrub scattered around. The desolate valley stretched long, with no sign of wild beasts in the surroundings.

But of course, they weren't alone. Another group, the one Elowen now belonged to, stood down in the valley, on the snaking path leading into the catacombs.