Chapter 15: Return

Rio held the transparent cube tightly as he observed it intently. He had finally gotten what he came here for. The Formless Cube, he knew little about it's origins but he knew about it's potential. As far as he knew, this little cube was a priceless artifact.

But how exactly does he use it?

The novel only showed the vague description of it's location and it's possible uses. There were no concrete instructions, it was only briefly mentioned that it was used to make another «Miracle Core».

"…Should I try eating it?" Rio joked as he thought of ways on how to use the Formless Seed.

Maybe eating it will work, Rio thought before he shook his head. He shouldn't take any chances, it might have some toxic traits and dangerous elements that could kill him.

"…This is a dilemma," Rio muttered pensively, he had no clue on how to use it. He had finally gotten what he came here for, but he didnt even know what to do with it.

Rio sighed as he shook his head. He should just go rest today for the moment, he would figure it out in the future. He stood up as he looked at the bright shining moon. He needed to figure it out, if he wanted to survive that is.

The first major plot point is nearing afterall. At the eerie forest of death, they call upon for the being who brings nothing but maniacal madness. It was something he wouldn't be able to survive with his current strength.

—

"This is nice, a refreshing evening bath." Rio said as he nodded to himself. He had just gotten out of the Valley of Encantia some time ago. When he came back to the City, he decided to stay at the City on some affordable hotel for the night and just return tomorrow.

Now he was here at a bathub, comfortably relaxing as he bathed. This was something he really wanted and needed. The journey took a toll on him, it was his first encounter to danger and to add the fact he wasn't so fond of long walks.

'Well, atleast everything is over now.'

Rio thought before he shook his head. Who was he fooling? The future was just going to be rougher and rougher as time passes, his earlier trip was just a childrens playground compared to what will happen in the future.

At the topic of the future, the first major plot point was coming. Thinking about it, he had the sudden urge to impatiently become more stronger. However, right now he had only few options to quickly become stronger and those options will harm his future potential in effect. The only thing he could do for now is to quickly adapt or, he will die.

Rio felt his eyes go drowsy, it seems he was getting sleepy. He should wrap his bath up and sleep, he thought as he stood up and grab his bath towel.

He covered his well defined body with the towel as he approached the door. Before he got outside the bathroom, he glanced at the mirror. His appearance was reflected at the clean glass. No matter how much he looked at it, he still couldn't believe he was this handsome.

His brown short hair, and beautiful purplish colored eyes, along with a perfectly crooked nose and chiseled jaw. This would easily qualify as an celebrity level beauty, or even higher. Rio shook his head as he looked at the mirror, even if he couldnt believe it he had no choice but to accept it.

He grabbed the doorknob as he opened the door. The room he rented for the night was small, he had no money afterall. However, he lived at harsher conditions during his life in modern society, the simple difference of a small and huge house didn't bother him.

In fact, he found the people that minded too much about the size of a home quite privileged and stupid. A home is fine if it had a place to sleep and shit. Though that was just his opinion, a mindset that was crafted in his life drowned by poverty.

He glanced at the small transparent cube on top of the drawer beside his bed. It was the Formless Seed, and until now Rio was still troubled on how to use it.

He decided he should just put it aside for the moment and find a way to use it when he returned to the academy. With a library of innumerable amount of books, hopefully there should be a method on how to use such an artifact.

As he dropped towards the bed, he fell to the comfy cushion of the matress. This was heaven, he thought as he lay comfortably and his eyes closed asleep.

—

Rio turned his back before he continued walking. The walls of the City of Encantia was reflected at his eyes. He had finished everything he needed from here, it was time to leave.

Rio continued walking over the path as he looked at the portal further, he noticed that the bald man with a beard was still stationed beside it. While he was walking, the man also noticed him likewise.

"Hey!" The bald man waved his hands in greetings as Rio arrived before the portal.

"Hello." Rio greeted in response, it seemed the bald man remembered him. With the amount of people continously going back and forth at this place, it was suprising that the man still remember him

"Aye lad! How was your profits?" The bald man asked with a smile.

"Just a single Rank D Magical Beasts, my luck is quite bad." Rio said with a hint of resignment. His feelings were genuine, his luck was truly bad. He didnt even encounter a single Rank E Magical Beasts as he walked in the Valley.

"Quite unfortunate," The bald commented as he nodded to himself, a single beast in a day of hunting was truly a bad result. He continued, "So ya' going back now, lad?"

"Indeed." Rio answered in response, he planned to enjoy some time in the capital a little after exchanging the Magical Stone he got.

"I won't obstruct you then," The bald man said as he took a step beside.

Rio walked over the portal as he prepared himself for the intense dizziness and sickness that came after. Suprisingly, he didnt feel anything.

He opened his eyes, as he observed the surroundings. There were many portals in the surroundings, people were chattering back and forth. He was back at the Portal Hub.

The Portal Hub had no market over exchanging things, mostly because another place already holds the market over that. He was going there right now.

Rio continued to walk place by place in the Miracle Plaza until he finally arrived at the place he was finding. The place was full of trades and exchanges of different types of things, ranging from weapons, potions and to pills.

He was here to exchange the Magical Stone he got. He walked over the place and searched for a place to exchange. He didn't really have a specific shop to exchange into, the prices weren't really that different anyway. He just walked over to the place with most costumers in it.

International Miracle Items Trade Asscociation.

A long name, Rio thought as he looked at the brand of shop he was standing at. The brand name was familiar, he swore he heard of it's name before. He just couldn't put his finger on where.

'Let's exchange for the Magic Stone first.'

Rio thought as he walked over to the counter with few costumers. It didn't take long before it was his turn. He looked at the person behind the counter, it was a man.

"Hello? What can I do for you?" The man said, as his sharp eyes scrutinized Rio.

"Magic Stone exchange." Rio said as he looked directly in the eyes of the man. The man had shoulder length black hair, sharp eyes and a dangerous aura. He knew who this person is.

The man was most likely on an undercover mission right now, so he needed to show he didnt know the man. The most sensible thing he could think of was to look at the man directly. If he averted his eyes, it showed he was suspicious. The man's name was, Ciel.

"No problem." Ciel smiled as Rio gave the Rank D Magical Stone.

"What's your ID?" Ciel asked as he held the Magic Stone. He noticed the costumer infront of him seemed to have disguised his power.

"I'l put it in." Rio said as he looked directly at the man straight on.

"Alright." Ciel answered with a smile as he handed over a device to Rio. Ciel tapped his fingers in the counter as he asked, "By the way, do you know anything about the massacre rumor?"

"Massacre rumor?" Rio asked as he finished putting in his ID in the device and handed it over to Ciel.

"Indeed," Ciel answered as he took the device and glanced at the ID as he memorized it, just in case. He continued, "At the daemon dimension a twenty sized party were found dead, want to know the suprising thing?"

"Go on." Rio nodded as he looked at Ciel. The man seemed to be getting information out of him, too bad he didn't even know about this rumor in the first place.

"They were killed by fellow humans." Ciel said, as he sent the credits to Rio's bank account. His eyes stared intently into Rio, alerting for any suspicious movements.

"Is that so?" Rio said with a hint of suprise, but deep inside he was truly in shock. Murders weren't really rare in this world, in fact he would go as far to say it was far more prominent. What was suprising was the fact that a large size party, a twenty sized one, was annihilated at a dimension.

By humans, no less. That meant the murderer severely overpowered the victim party, or outnumbered them.

"You need to know your news, dear sire." Ciel said as he nodded to himself. It seems the man was truly in shock, he was still suspicious but it also meant that the costumer in front of him doesn't have any connection towards the crime.

"Thank you then," Rio thanked Ciel in response.

After that little conversation, he left and gone outside to the capital. He wanted to have some little entertainment in the capital for a little while.

—

At an eerie harrowing room, a man with long red hair sat at matress with sweat pouring over his head. He was currently communicating with his God.

After a while later, he opened his eyes. His eyes had a hint of shock and interest, with his handsome face it looked charming.

"…I will die by a man, as same as me?" The man with long red hair said as he chuckled. He was an occultist, a Miracle Invoker that practiced in mysticm. What he used just now was a skill called Divination. It was a rudimentary skill among all Occultist.

Unlike, a Sorcerer or Martial Artists, the Occultist profession did not use skills that were made of man, their skills and powers came from the God they serve. The stronger their connection to their God, the higher level and wider array skills they have access.

Knock! Knock!

The knocking sounds of the door snapped the man out of his daze. He gazed at the large statue at his back that was covered by darkness.

"State your purpose." The man with long red hair asked as he stared directly at the door.

"The man you hired has returned, Lord Aza." A voice responded at the opposite side of the door.

"Did they successfully fulfill their missions?" Aza asked coldly.

"They did." The voice responded.

"Good. Dismiss yourself, I will come after a show of faith." Aza ordered as looked at the statue of his God once more. As he looked at the statue, he remembered the divination he was brought. He chuckled.

Aza, for the first time in a while, laughed in amusement. A man similar to him, in his visions, the man had brought several teenagers with him. The only memorable thing he noticed was those eyes that were colored purple.

"I will wait for you. If God says our destiny will collide, It will without question." Aza muttered with fascination before kneeling to the statue at the dark. The eerie torches at the corner of the room produce embers that fell. The harrowing air breezed through the ragged cloaks of Aza.