Thorwald and his group, who had managed to reach the fifth stage, were enduring a grueling ordeal. The situation was challenging but arguably better than Steven’s, as it seed so vampires around him had been teleported away at the very mont the chaos erupted.
Thankfully, the vampires hadn’t realized Thorwald's group had abandoned the battlefield early. Their departure had been calculated, a precaution taken to avoid unnecessary risks. Now, after days of trekking through the dense jungle, they had stumbled upon an unexpected sight—a saltwater lake, shimring in the sunlight and stretching for miles, despite no nearby ocean to account for its presence.
Joe, their scout, soared high above the treetops to survey the surroundings, only to confirm their suspicions: no oceans, no rivers leading into the lake. It was baffling, its vastness defying logic—over twenty kiloters wide, and its depths dropping steeply re ters from the shore.
The group decided to make camp near the lake, hoping to spot beasts coming to drink, but the area seed eerily lifeless. Days passed, yet not a single creature approached the water. Perhaps it was the saltwater, or perhaps the beasts instinctively knew sothing the group didn’t. Fish darted beneath the surface but vanished the mont anyone tried to get close.
Frustrated and restless, they ventured further, skirmishing with groups of hostile monkeys that lurked in the jungle canopy. But compared to the chaos of earlier stages, the challenges here were sparse, almost unnerving.
The true surprise ca when they stumbled upon a hidden city nestled deep within the forest’s shadows. Before they could investigate further, disaster struck—over twenty towering figures materialized around them, trapping them within a runic cage that humd with power.
The attackers were humanoid but undeniably alien—standing a head taller than any man, their muscular builds supported four arms, and their skin bore an unsettling mix of olive green and brown. Runic tattoos snaked across their foreheads and necks, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Thorwald stepped forward, his voice laced with anger as he addressed their captors.
“Who are you people? The system didn’t ntion a race like yours among the four integrated planets,” he demanded, his frustration mounting. Thorwald hated losing control, and the situation was slipping from his grasp.
One of the creatures, clearly the leader, stepped closer. Its two pupils within each eye glead with intelligence and otherworldly cunning. It smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in its expression—only calculation.
“You are blessed by a god, are you not? Tell , which god favors you?”
Thorwald puffed out his chest, his tone defiant.
“It is the great Solarion, the Blazing Emperor,” he declared, his voice booming with pride.
The leader’s expression didn’t change, but a few of the other creatures exchanged amused glances. A low chuckle rippled through the group, setting Thorwald’s teeth on edge.
“Solarion, the Blazing Emperor, blessed you?” the creature repeated, skepticism dripping from every word.
Thorwald’s fury ignited.
“Of course he did! Why wouldn’t he bless soone with my potential?” He roared, his aura flaring in an attempt to assert dominance.
The leader tilted its head, unimpressed.
“Then tell us,” it said, its tone almost mocking, “what mighty blessing did the Blazing Emperor bestow upon you?”
Thorwald glared at the creature, his frustration boiling over.
“I was granted a legendary blessing! You should bow before !” he bellowed, his energy surging outward.
The creatures burst into laughter, the sound grating against Thorwald’s pride. His aura flared again, but it did little to shake their confidence. The leader’s voice turned cold, all amusent gone.
“Enough. If you are truly blessed by Solarion, prove it. Remove your armor and weapons, place them in your spatial ring, and hand it to us.”
Thorwald froze, disbelief washing over him. Yet the creatures' power was undeniable—they were all over level 90, and resistance was futile. Slowly, reluctantly, he complied, feeling his pride crumble as he stood in simple robes, his prized armor and axe now in the leader’s possession.
The leader studied the armor closely.
“This is indeed the craftsmanship of the Solar Empire,” it muttered, its tone sharp and analytical. “So you truly are blessed by one of the many gods. Now, tell —who is it?”
Thorwald hesitated, his fury battling his fear. Before he could respond, Joe stepped forward, his voice steady despite the tension.
“Thorwald is a strong leader, blessed by Solarion himself with a legendary blessing. You shouldn’t underestimate him.”
The leader’s piercing gaze shifted between Thorwald and Joe. Slowly, the oppressive killing intent in the air grew heavier. With a curt motion, it signaled to another creature, who stepped forward, holding a spear.
“Prove it,” the leader commanded. “Baptize this warrior with the power of Solarion.”
Thorwald’s heart sank, but he had no choice. Channeling his energy, his hand glowed with brilliant white light, illuminating the space as he invoked the path of the Blazing Empire. The spear-wielding creature gasped, dropping its weapon in shock.
“He speaks the truth,” the warrior stamred, awe evident in its voice. “He is blessed by Solarion.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the group, their earlier arrogance replaced by disbelief. The leader’s expression shifted, finally showing respect.
“We apologize for our rude welco,” it said, bowing slightly. “We are the Raha, and we are at your service.” It extended Thorwald’s spatial ring back to him.
Thorwald smirked, retrieving his belongings. This was more to his liking. With his confidence restored, he stood tall, the Raha now his subordinates.
Thorwald savored the shift in dynamics. The Raha now stood deferentially before him, their earlier bravado extinguished. He slipped the spatial ring back onto his finger with deliberate ease, allowing himself a faint, victorious smile.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Good,” he said, his voice firm but laced with satisfaction. “You’ve proven yourselves to be reasonable. Tell , what is a race like yours doing in this stage?”
The leader straightened, his imposing fra seeming less threatening now that submission had replaced hostility.
“We are here to prepare,” he replied cryptically, his tone asured.
“Prepare for what?” Thorwald pressed, his patience wearing thin.
The Raha leader hesitated, his dual-pupil eyes flickering with sothing akin to caution.
“The trials ahead,” he said finally. “This world is but a proving ground, as you must know. But not all beings who walk these lands were sent here under the sa... circumstances.”
Thorwald narrowed his eyes, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his axe. He could sense there was more to this story, sothing layered beneath the leader’s words.
“Speak plainly,” he demanded.
The leader sighed, glancing at his companions. A few nodded subtly, their expressions unreadable.
“We are remnants of a shattered world, cast into this one when our ho was consud by the tides of chaos. The system gave us a second chance. A special quest that allowed the winner to grow in the tutorial and be integrated in the new universe."
The revelation hit Thorwald like a hamr blow. He took a step closer, his voice lowering.
“And why attack , knowing what I represent?”
The leader t Thorwald’s gaze, unflinching.
“We are here to hopefully find soone with a high blessing. Joining a god's faction is one of the most important things in the multiverse."
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