Though the memory contained more than a day in that World, it only took moments for it to merge with my memory.
In the end, her Transcendence also only showed me the first part but with Yuko's retelling of her experience, I now got the gist of what to expect once I stepped inside the Door.
Also, my Incarnation somehow progressed my relationship with Zerina.
Ah. That's still me even if that was my Incarnation.
I'm sure I will do the same actions. Kissing her, prioritizing her over others. There's also the realization that I became too focused on my Companions which led me to neglect our surroundings. I should start changing that. If they could help us then I will help them. Only when there's no choice will I abandon our allies
After that Fortress Battle, the Corrupted and Dark Soldiers were slaughtered by the new troops from the Allied Forces that were empowered by Yuko's Awakening. Though that only lasted for a few minutes it became enough to overwhelm them and bring victory to the denizens of the World of System.
Like the first time she used that, her stats were halved after the duration of Awakening ended.
Err… Yuko confessed by using Awakening, she would have an excuse to fall back. That way we could spend the remaining time together.
Haa... That girl also has to make her priorities straight so I told her my realization during the battle.
Those with us in the fortress were also told to stand down and rest after the Fortress was cleaned up of the enemies. That's why Zerina and the other three also came with us.
Though a lot of defenders died, for the people in that world, it's already a normal occurrence due to how harsh and how aggressive the Dark Soldiers and Corrupted have become.
While we spent the remaining hours together, the Allied Forces continued their march to liberate the Corrupted Kingdom.
Before the duration of my Incarnation ended, Yuko also told me her plans for that world. To annihilate them and find the Portals that were being used by the Dark World. If she could close it before the widening of their Portals then her job there will be over and she can finally be relieved of her duty to save that world. Even if they wage war amongst themselves, it doesn't matter anymore.
After becoming a Transcendent, she could now undoubtedly sweep across the whole world and no one would be able to cross her.
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16 hours later, the Purple Haze has finally arrived at the vicinity of the Scorched Forest indicated by Nysia.
Before entering I made sure that I was not monitored by anyone or someone tailing me.
I experienced Yuko's Transcendence and the way those guys wanted to stop her. I don't know what will happen if they manage to reach the Door but I'm sure I don't want to try and see what will happen.
The Scorched Forest was true to its name, For as long as my eye could see, everything was black. The trees, the ground, the creatures lurking in it. Until now there's even heat that was being exuded by it and some spots where it was still burning.
Even inside the Purple Haze, I could see how it was creating a mirage due to extreme heat.
"Where are those ethnic tribes? They wouldn't happen to be inside this forest, right?"
I took out the phone everyone was using here and saw that like always, it didn't have a signal at this desolate place. I already used the Interdimensional Communication earlier when the cooldown ended to check upon Yumiko's state after she Transcended. Like Yuko, she was too happy to tell me how she succeeded and what she experienced inside the door, or what she could remember. It was really a bit different than what Yuko experienced.
Due to that, I already expected that I would also experience different things on the 2nd and 3rd part.
There's still more than a day before the Door appears, should I still look for those tribes or postpone it for after I was done with Transcendence?
Haa... Alright, I'll explore this land first. Just looking at it now, it's completely different from the ruins or Nysia's City. I haven't been to any of the three factions yet but I guess they're more prosperous than the Free City.
However, here… you're already lucky enough to find one of those Mutant Beasts.
"It should be fine here."
I eyed an empty spot and landed the Purple Haze there.
After putting on the vagrant cloak I disembarked from the Metagen and put it back to the compressed state.
The heat from the Scorched Forest was probably enough to scald a normal human but yeah, I'm not normal anymore, all it was doing now was to give me a slight discomfort.
After deliberating for a minute, I stepped inside the forest to look for a place where I could wait for the appearance of the Door.
Now that I think of it, this is the first time that I've been really alone ever since I was exposed to these Otherworlds and saving them from the Dark World.
In the first world, I was always with the Party. That one time where I scouted and looked for the others, I met Zerina.
In the 2nd world, it's either Erin or Avelin who was with me. I had a little scouting again and was forced to retreat by those three Dark Beastmasters.
In the 3rd world, it's either with Yumiko and Jayna. In fact, I've never been alone there except when disguised as Ember for a day.
And now here, I was always with Nysia. I did go out for a Patrol Mission and there were still others with me.
Only when I decided to leave for my Transcendence did I really become alone.
Did I get too used to having someone with me? Maybe…
After two hours of walking further inside the forest, my Adaptability finally got triggered for the first time in a while.
I looked around me and found nothing but my senses were still being alerted about something. Something dreadful. With the addition of Enhanced Intuition from Yuko's Transcendence, my ability to sense something was heightened and this kind of feeling was something I shouldn't ignore.
I already had my hand on the compressed sphere of Metagen to fly off from the place if something out of my expectation happened.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
Before I could even react to the sudden question, a gun was already pointed at my face. The muzzle was large enough that it could cover my head. Also, it's not just any gun. My Adaptability was telling me that if the trigger was pulled, it could really blast my head off.
It's weird. I'm already about to become a Transcendent and my Power Level was even above 110, however, the gun pointing at my head was clearly something that could kill me.
Was there a hermit living out here? Nysia never told me about this or she also had no idea that someone could be here.
Even then, I'm still calm. The danger was coming off from the gun, not the person holding it. With the gun blocking my view, I could only guess that the person in front of me was someone dressed in all black. The voice couldn't indicate whether the speaker was a man or a woman due to how muffled it was.
"If I said I am lost, will you believe me?"
"No one's stupid enough to lost their way on somewhere devoid of people."
"True. Alright, let me think of another excuse."
"Don't ever think of pressing whatever that is or using any of your ability. I may be trying to ask your purpose here but if you do something out of the ordinary, I won't hesitate to pull this trigger."
The voice sounds like it already sees through everything I could do. There's the Metagen alright but there's also the Orb which I could activate instantly. Not even a Dark World denizen knew about the orbs.
Should I play along and see?
"I am looking for the ethnic tribes that should be living around here, do you know where they are located?"
"Ethnic tribes? There's nothing like that here."
"How could there be nothing? I was told they were living here."
"Do you think I have something to gain if I lie?"
Was there really nothing? Nysia wouldn't make up a story like that when it concerned her Transcendence. Did something happen here that even Nysia failed to detect?
Alright, let's call whoever this is as 'Hermit' for now. During the time we were talking, I've already analyzed the gun that was giving me the threatening feeling. It was filled with Meta Energy like it was being enhanced or amplified by it.
Which means, it wouldn't be that threatening in the first place but because of this hermit's ability or method, it became something that could blow my head off. As for its limitations, that's unknown unless I got to touch it with my hand.
"You're right. But, can you put that down first? Here, I won't do anything. I get it, I'm the trespasser here but can we talk normally?"
I let go of the orb and sphere from my hand before raising my arms to show that I was not holding anything.
"No. You'll be like everyone who took back their words upon seeing me."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't need to explain it to you. Now turn around and leave this place. Keep your hands up like that."
"How can I have you trust me?"
"You can't."
"You don't happen to have a dark green skin, do you?"
Seeing that I have no choice but to leave, I made a wild guess.
However, the response I got was something unexpected.
For the first time, the Hermit's voice sounds agitated.
"What's wrong with having a skin like that?!"
"You. Did I guess right?"
An Anzean? In this place?
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