[You left the Dark World]
[World Bonus has been removed]
[You entered a Dimensional Passageway]
[Destination: World of Barbarian(Mortal World)]
As soon as Alwyn judged it enough for us to enter the Portal, she pushed us into it using the leftover Dark Energy from the piles of stones she used.
Although I tried to look back at her, once passed through that glaring hole in space, the scenery that could be seen from it was already frozen. Alwyn was still in that pose where her arm was in front of her.
She said she will handle the clean-up… I guess I can only trust her on that and hope that nothing goes amiss. When I have the time later, I'll check up on her.
For now, I have to focus on this.
Looking at the hand I'm grasping and the girl next to me, I pulled her closer to me and put her in my embrace. Although holding hands is already enough for us to not lose each other in this seemingly stable yet unstable Dimensional Passageway, I'll be more at ease if I do this.
"You're becoming too touchy since I became your Companion," Irja remarked despite snuggling closer to me herself when she felt my arm closing on her.
"Well, that's the difference. I will still think of a lot of things if you're not my Companion but now that you are, doing this is just my show of how I don't want to lose you."
That's the truth. Now that she's one of them, she's now one of the most important to me. Like with the other girls, she'll be with them on top of my priority list.
"So did you think it through when you kissed me twice back there?"
"Technically, that's not a kiss but me administering medicine to you."
With a resigned expression, Irja sighed. "Don't you have any shame?"
"I do, of course. But hearing you mention that again, I thought of teasing you."
"… Somehow, I think I like Ember who's shrouded in mystery better than the shameless guy holding me right now."
"Well, isn't that your fault for being too curious? Ember is just me trying to be low-key. Don't tell me you don't like this."
"This and that are different!" Irja raised her voice as a hint of red shades her face.
Seeing that she'll probably be truly angry if I continued, I stopped at this point where I managed to see her involuntarily blushing once more and just smiled at her in response.
Upon seeing me shutting my mouth, Irja pouted and let out a disgruntled hum. Nonetheless, she stayed close and seemingly enjoyed every moment we're sharing here.
With her here with me, I guess this seemingly long but short trip to the World of Barbarian will be more worthwhile.
-
-
After an indeterminable time inside the Dimensional Passageway, the light of the exit Portal finally came into our view. Nudging the napping Irja in my arms, her eyelashes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. Greeting me with a smile on her lips as my face was the first thing she saw, I dropped my lips on hers before pointing at the front.
"… You know you should've told me about that first."
"Who doesn't want a good morning kiss?"
"As if there's that concept here! And not everyone likes that!"
"But you do. Well, don't mind the small details. Let's prepare." Kissing her once more, I supported her up and put her pointed hat back on her head.
"I swear. You've been taking advantage of me ever since that time…"
"Not really, I'm just showing my undisguised affection to you and you're being honest by accepting all of it without any rejection on your part. If you have the slightest sign of rejection, I will not do it, you know?"
Mulling over my words for a while, Irja then let out another sigh. Well, although her words sounded like I wronged her, her actions say otherwise. This girl just couldn't be vocally honest about what she's really feeling.
"I will not win against you, will I?"
"Not really, you already won a lot of times, you were just unaware or you didn't take that as a win. Anyway... I'll take the front."
Unsheathing the Willful Sword, I stepped forward and held it in my right hand while my left kept its hold on one of her hands.
Even though we're close, who knows what will happen if I let go of her? It's better to be sure than be sorry later.
Irja hummed her agreement as her hand clasped tightly on mine.
We're going to attack those unaware or perhaps they're aware that someone's going to descend due to the surge of Energy that was probably already dispersing from the other end of the Portal.
Just like what we felt whenever someone descends, the stronger surge of Energy which indicated the descent of Rank 2 was probably the leftover force of the Monarch's Energy.
And likewise, they will also feel it with our descent this time
As the Portal drew closer, I already activated every buff on the two of us.
When the frozen scene at the other end grew closer, I observed the place where we will appear.
It appears to be a cavern or a cave of some kind. As to where it was located, it was marked on that map I saw. It's at the boundary between Desolate Plains and Frozen Wilderness.
There's a wide space filled with beasts of different kinds and a bunch of Mortal Ranks based on how their poses seemed to be of someone busily running around to work.
Those few who appeared to be Transcendents were staring at the Portal. Also, there are no particular things in sight to worry about.
Regardless of that, there's no point underestimating anyone. They will surely see us as reinforcements but much to their dismay, we're there to kill them all and rid that world of Dark World invasion.
I already talked to Irja about what she will think about killing those from the same world as her. Her answer was simple. She already had a fair share of other Dark World denizens' blood in her hand.
Competitions, small-scale internal strife, war against a neighboring tribe, et cetera.
The Dark World might seem decent if seen from a Prime Tribe's perspective, however, according to Irja, it's even more barbaric there when it comes to disagreements especially if it involves the small tribes of assimilated denizens and one of the main tribes. It can even lead to the annihilation of those small tribes if they offend those high and mighty main tribes.
[Ding! You entered the World of Barbarian]
[Received +2 Strength, +1 Endurance as World Bonus]
[Will expire upon leaving the world]
[Automatic Accumulation Started]
Along with the strong surge of Energy, my foot landed on the ground with every breathing entity in this wide cavern putting all their attention to us.
And from behind me, Irja soon followed with our hands still connected.
Due to the two surges of energy, the whole place feels like it got blown away by something as the Mortal Ranks either crouched down or put themselves on the ground.
Those who failed to do either of the two were blown away and hit the walls of this cavern.
My eyes instantly observed the place and saw the light source from above. There's no roof but a huge hole where a number of ladders were installed.
Ah. This cave is originally a natural one from the peak of a barren hill. They expanded it to be this huge.
If it's at this elevated location then… they probably put up a Concealment Formation to hide it from the enemies' eyes. That's why Yuko and the others couldn't find it.
"I thought they still needed time to gather a new group of Transcendents?" One of the Transcendents standing from afar and staring at the Portal murmured.
With all their attention on us, they really thought we're reinforcements to subjugate and conquer this world.
"This surge of Energy… They're Rank 2!" Another one who noticed that detail shouted.
"His Excellency didn't know about this. Should we inform him?"
"Idiot. Welcome them first."
"Hey wait… Look at their clothes."
"Crimson…"
While they were busy dealing with whatever's going on in their mind. I judged that there's no point in me trying to converse with them.
They're going to be dead anyway.
I pressed on Irja's hand first before letting it go.
Afterward, I expanded my Transcendent Aura and subjected all of them to it.
While they're still surprised at what I did, the four towering Pillars conjured at my side.
"Pillars?!" Someone from the Mortal Ranks recognized the unique Pathway of this world. Surely, they already thoroughly studied and even fought with some King Realms.
Ignoring that exclamation, I poured the necessary Energy into the four Pillars and transformed them to their Guardian Form.
Lith immediately dashed out, fire kindled beneath her feet boosting her speed further. In a blink of an eye, she appeared at one of the frozen Transcendents still taking in the sudden turn of events. The two fiery daggers in her hands burst with flames as she aimed to stab the Transcendent with it.
Following her, Kael and Lan also moved out, each one marking a Transcendent of their choice.
And lastly, Delian lifted his golden bow and shot above. As the Energy Arrow reached a certain height, it exploded into tiny arrows which rained down from above, indiscriminately hitting anyone.
"What's happening?! Why are they attacking us?!"
Although only one of them shouted like that, everyone was surely thinking the same.
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