Reborn: Apocalypse (Volume 3): (A LitRPG/Wuxia Story)

by L. M. Kerr

  And now, he found himself rushing to exit the forest, leaving in a hurry before it could fully transform into a Magic Forest. He didn’t want to have to deal with the issue of evolving Magic Beasts or plant-life evolving into actual monsters, even with his strengthened body.

  Yvvtal had yet to make any requests of Micheal. In fact, the Fallen Deity had turned to a state of mostly silence as it observed Micheal, going almost dormant. Micheal could still sense the Toren’s Spirit Body within him.

  For the Toren, simply having his Spirit Body housed within a living, growing host was a huge positive. It would nourish his Soul, allowing him to build up his own strength by drawing on energy from the air. He didn’t operate like a leech, but rather symbiotically in Micheal’s case.

  Anyone using Magic or some other means to search for Micheal would find that even his Soul gave off a different feeling now, Yvvtal’s Spirit Body making everything a bit messy. If worse came to worst, Micheal was even confident he could draw on Yvvtal’s Aura and pretend to be someone as strong as Yvvtal had been, though he wasn't sure how well such a plan would work.

  Time flew by.

  Micheal made steady progress as he flew through the forest. All around him, he could sense the air growing more and more rich and energetic. The Rury Group had set off a while ago, but if they weren’t fast enough, they might run into several Magic Beasts before they made it out.

  ‘Still, they should be fine.’ Micheal had given them a few Artifacts from the Treasure Hall that they could use for self-defense, and the Group itself was decently strong.

  Finally, after soaring for around 2 hours, Micheal reached the edge of the forest without issue.

  When he arrived, as he passed through one final grove of tall trees, he was greeted with a sight that gave him pause.

  A huge wall of mountains that jutted upwards towards the sky, ethereal fog covering the tops of most of them. This line of mountains went off to Micheal’s left and right, covering the horizon in their fearsome glory.

  Micheal sighed in appreciation when he saw this. This mountain range had a number of names, but he knew it best by what humanity called it.

  The Dragon Mountains.

  Within the territory of this huge set of mountains, legend had it that an undead Dragon existed, ruling over or destroying any that came in its way.

  Micheal was well aware that there was some truth to this story. There was indeed a Draconic Lich in this mountain range, a rather irritable one at that. It was very strong but also a cursed creature that was unable to leave the mountain range.

  Despite the fact that it was extremely rare to see it, the entire range had been named after it due to the fact that one of the Barons would, in the future, fight with the Draconic Lich. The battle ended in a draw, which was an incredible achievement. Anything with a ‘Draconic’ name was bound to be an insanely powerful being.

  “Sansa was as strong as the rumors said.” He smiled slightly at the thought.

  Of the Four Barons, Baron Sansa, one of the extremely rare full-blooded Vampires that had evolved past being a Lesser Vampire, was renowned for her power and skill. She was also the one Micheal was most sure would not be one of Constantine’s Seeds.

  Micheal scanned the range for a few moments before he hopped off his Life Orbs. He then began to sprint forward, his body carrying him forth at an extremely fast pace.

  He had a pretty solid idea where he was located, using his perfect memory to plot his rough path thus far. He then based his estimates on his sense of location, something he’d built up over the years.

  Between him and the mountain range was a large grassy plain. He was at least 10 miles from the mountains, but that didn’t diminish how imposing a sight the Dragon Mountains were.

  For the next hour, Micheal sprinted through the large, open plains, heading West. He avoided getting too near the mountains, knowing stray Magic Beasts might wander down from it. He could definitely use the Points from farming said beasts, but he didn’t want anything to bog him down right now.

  His pace was fast and he made quick progress. As he ran, he passed by large herds of normal animals and spotted a few Magic Beasts, but didn’t actually encounter any humanoids. This particular stretch of land was pretty desolate.

  As he reached the end of his run, however, he began to see people moving about in groups. Armored warriors moving parallel down the mountain range before moving into it, leather-clad fighters waiting outside the mountain range armed with magic-looking bows, sword-wielding experts readying themselves to charge down stray Magic Beasts.

  The grounds began to become more and more popular, with none of these men and women sparing Micheal a glance. They were all focused on their own missions, readying themselves to hunt.

  If Micheal had to observe one thing that set these groups apart, it would probably be the fact that none of them were human.

  They were all Byrens.

  Micheal skipped past them all till, eventually, a large stone wall came into view. This wall ran all the way up to just a couple of miles away from the Dragon Mountains before stopping, encircling a large, well-protected city.

  He began to slow his pace as the town came into view. It had taken him roughly 20 minutes longer to reach here than he had thought it would, but it had been a close enough estimate to leave him pleased.

  Tansol Town, one of the very few Border Towns that guarded over the Tansol Pass, a rare path that one could follow to move between the Dragon Mountains. This town was controlled by a powerful First Rate Warrior named Gaben Tansol. His ancestors had been the ones to first discover this pass and create the town long ago.

  Micheal headed over to one of the large metal gates that allowed entry to the town, catching his breath from his extended sprint. He moved in behind a large, bustling crowd that was waiting to enter the town, taking his place at the end of it, keeping the hood to his green robes low, covering his face. Ahead of him, dozens of male and female Byrens were talking eagerly as they waited.

  Tansol Town was a very popular city. The Dragon Mountains were a very lucrative hunting grounds, filled with many powerful Magic Beasts, rare Magic Herbs, and even rarer Helion Treasures.

  It had a population of around 500,000, but that number varied enormously depending on the number of travelers seeking entry through the Tansol Pass, or warriors hunting to make their fortune.

  Very few Border Towns existed, largely because a First Rate Warrior was needed if they wanted to exist in such a dangerous location, and First Rate Warriors were not at all a common sight. Most of them were busy, operating as Sect Elders in the 6 Great Sects or as Sect Masters in smaller Sects.

  Indeed, Gaben Tansol was affiliated with the Divine Might Sect. He was considered a ‘Visiting Elder’ who wasn’t technically a part of the Sect hierarchy, but had enough authority that he could do what he wanted here.

  “Name and purpose.” Micheal was met with a rather uniform greeting as he reached the front of the line after about 10 minutes.

  The gate was guarded by a dozen Byren warriors decked out in a mixture of metal and leather armor. Full metal armor was typically eschewed by Byren society, a group that vastly valued ‘honor’ as well as a warrior’s martial prowess. A full suit of metal could weigh down one’s movements or make them more difficult to perform, weakening the power of a strong warrior.

  Of course, such beliefs were nonsensical in Micheal’s eyes. A carefully crafted suit of armor, using light metals that were enchanted through various means, could perform perfectly well and greatly bolster anyone’s defense. But, applying logic to the strange rituals and rules of Byren society was never something that ended well.

  “Disciple Manson and I’m here to search for Magic Herbs in the Obiah Mountain Range.” The Byrens called the Dragon Mountains the Obiah Mountain Range.

  The Byren looked at Micheal with a slightly bored glance. The guard’s eyes lit up a little after a moment, the green gem set on his forehead glowing ever so faintly.

 
Micheal’s current strength was still within the bounds of a Third Rate Warrior. That said, he was now within the highest upper bounds of a Third Rate Warrior thanks to his increase in power, just a few steps from a Second Rate Warrior.

  When his Magic Gem finished absorbing and he gained a 2 Star Physique, he would become a Peak Third Rate Warrior, just half a step from a Second Rate Warrior.

  Strength was everything in Byren society.

  “Of course. Please, enter freely, Disciple Manson.” The guard gave him a friendly nod and waved him forward, letting him enter without having to pay any fee or asking him to show his face.

  That type of favoritism to the strong was part of why Tansol Town was able to flourish. The powerful could enter the town free of charge and without being forced to answer inquisitive questions, meaning those with strength would be able to congregate and have an easier time living here, raising the overall strength of the city.

  Micheal walked past the entrance and got his first real look at a Byren town.

  The setup was very similar to a medieval human town. The streets were made of paved stone and somewhat narrow, with stone or wooden buildings lining them. Byrens walked everywhere, though Micheal could spot a few carriages drawn by horse-like animals transporting goods or people off to his right.

  The stores he could spot were all rather drab, with brown wooden roofs and small, faded glass windows. Despite that, the city had a rather lively atmosphere as Micheal began to walk through it.

  “Get your Tamish kabobs! Only 4 Meric each!”

  “Have a refreshing stay at the Beast Sword Inn, 36 Meric a night!”

  “The finest blades you’ll ever wield at the Boldon Smithery! Come check them out!”

  Various criers advertised a plethora of goods and services, a mire of discussion that Micheal listened to briefly before ignoring.

  Meric was a type of currency used and regulated by the Divine Might Sect. It could be traded for Spirit Crystals in a limited ratio and thus had its value confirmed, usable by the common people to exchange for things.

  Yvvtal hadn’t possessed any Spirit Crystals in his Treasure Hall, and even if he had, they would’ve long since withered away over the passage of time. The energy in them was what made them useful, but they wouldn’t last forever.

  Thus, Micheal was technically penniless at the moment. After a few seconds of consideration, he made his way to one particular shop he spotted as he walked through the city.

  A few minutes later, Micheal left the shop with a decent 338 Meric in his pocket.

  He had sold the remains of the Black Needle Dog that he had killed after he first arrived in the Second Layer, pocketing a nice chunk of change. The Magic Beast had only been a Low-Tier one and Micheal hadn’t had its Spirit Crystal, but he still earned himself enough to get by for now.

  With that money in tow, Micheal smiled as he made his way to one particular location in town, ready to spring his plans into action.

  After he crossed the Tansol Pass, he would be in the territory of the Silent Sword Sect. He would finally be able to find the Farians and save the Wise Lady Myla Hannis, using her to obtain the method to track down the Vile King's Seeds.

  The first thing he needed to do now, to set that plan into motion, was rather simple.

  He needed to get roaringly drunk.

  .

  Chapter 25

  “Barkeep! Another round for the lads!” A slurred, but cheerful voice echoed in the crowded air of a large, well-decorated bar.

  The speaker was a brute of a Byren, standing 2.5 meters tall and covered in stained furs. He had two enormous sabers on his back and gave off a feeling of strength. He was currently sitting at a large, engraved stone table with 8 other warriors, all of them nursing drinks and talking excitedly.

  All of these Byrens were wearing worn, leather garments with a purple triangle sewn in, the official symbol of the Lord of Tansol City, marking them as guards of the city. Given that they were drinking here, and their rather grizzled appearances, they were likely experienced and powerful guards.

  Micheal studied this group of warriors for a few seconds before turning away. He was currently sitting at a table near the back of this bar, right next to a large gambling area.

  “4’s and 5’s… come on now, 4’s and 5’s!”

  “Oooh! Dragons and Imps tops Queens! This pot is mine!”

  “Damn it!”

  A series of groans, cheers, and eager yells sounded out as Micheal glanced off to his right.

  A dozen gambling tables were set up in a circular pattern, each one surrounded by seven or eight Byrens talking loudly. A majority of the gambling Byrens were male, but there were several rather attractive female Byrens talking merrily with the men.

  A series of dice and card games were set up on these tables, dotted with blue and yellow chips that were used to represent different denominations of Spirit Crystals. The area was lit by a series of fancy stained-glass windows installed into the roof, giving it a rather mystical appearance.

  This was none other than the esteemed High Dragon House Establishment, a mix of a gambling hall, a bar, and an inn wrapped all in one.

  Despite the din, this was a fairly expensive hall, one of the more renowned ones in the city. Micheal had only bought three drinks and had already spent more than it would cost to stay the night in a nice Inn.

  Micheal looked back down at his drink as he continued to sip from it, raising his right hand to adjust the bandage he had wrapped around his forehead.

  He couldn’t wear a hood everywhere, and for the moment, it was more convenient to pretend to be a Byren than a human. However, considering that he wasn’t actually a Byren, he didn’t have their customary gem inset in his forehead. As a result, he opted to instead wrap his forehead and pretend to be injured.

  A Byren without his Spiritual Gem, as humanity called the green gems Byrens were born with, was a Byren that was crippled, a Gemless. Not only would their ability to sense concepts like Sword Mastery be greatly weakened, even their ability to manipulate Ki would suffer.

  In a society where power and potential meant everything, those without a Spiritual Gem would be scorned or ignored at best.

  As for going about as a human: it would draw far too much attention. Humanity was actually a pretty popular race down here thanks to the Shop. The farther away he got from the territory of the Divine Might Sect, the more and more attention he would draw as people tried to make use of one of the foreign, magical humans.

  A hint of impatience entered Micheal’s heart as he scanned the bar once more, something he quashed after a few seconds, reminding himself that patience was a virtue.

  It had taken Micheal more than an hour to find this establishment, not because he didn’t know where it was, but because he didn’t know where to go at first.

  Tansol City saw a huge amount of traffic, partly due to its unique features, built next to the Dragon Mountains and the Tansol Pass, and because it stood on the border between two Great Sects. There was no shortage of traveling warriors that came here on the daily.

  And with that traffic came many eager Byrens that were willing to roll the dice of lady luck in the hopes of winning it big.

  After he arrived and took the time to disguise himself, Micheal had begun to travel from gambling hall to gambling hall. Every time he arrived, he would order a drink and ask a few casual questions from any Byrens that weren’t opposed to talking.

  Nothing came free in this world, but the questions Micheal asked weren’t exactly ones anyone would charge him for.

  He simply asked if each establishment he was in was known for its peace and quiet.

  An odd question, to be sure. Most of the time, places like gambling halls would have strict security on the Second Layer. After all, any place where wealth commonly exchanged hands would need a heavy guard to prevent anything untoward from taking place.

  And, unsurprisingly, almost every time he asked, he was told what one might expect:

&n
bsp; “Yes, the Masor Hall has always been a rather quiet hall! The Divine Might Sect personally runs it!!”

  “Yawp, nothing dangerous ever really happens here. The Warrior’s Council wouldn’t stand for that.”

  “Tis been a dozen years since anything more than a scuffle broke out here at Ole’s Tavern!”

  Each place Micheal had visited was known to be safe and sound. No one would make any noise in a place run by the Divine Might Sect within their own territory, even on the border. The Warrior’s Council was a group of elite Second Rate Warriors that served the Tansol City Lord and had exceptional authority to rule on any troublemakers.

  He wasn’t sure about the last place, but figured they also had to have some type of unknown backing.

  It was only here, at the High Dragon House Establishment, that he had finally found the answer he had been looking for.

  “Well… things can get pretty rowdy here some nights, with the… you know…” Micheal had directed the question at an aged Byren that was covered in scars, sitting upon a plush stool next to a long wooden bar. The weathered expert was missing his right arm, but gave off the air of someone that wasn’t to be messed with as he waved his sole remaining hand and continued,

  “But as long as ye focus on yer own business, ye’ll be fine.” The elderly Byren gave Micheal a sympathetic look as he glanced up at the bandages wrapped around Micheal’s head.

  Micheal couldn’t help but hide a smile as he saw the Byren showing him pity. Empathy like that was a rare sight indeed in this day and age. He made a mental note to avoid letting this Byren get caught up in his business here.

  Once Micheal heard the man’s words, he finally knew he had found the right place.

  And thus, here he was now, several hours later, forcing down his irritation as he spilled enough alcohol on himself to smell drunk, while sipping on enough of it to make him look the part. The drinks here on the Second Layer were far stronger than Earth’s drinks, designed to help super-strong warriors relax and get buzzed, so he had to be extra careful in that regard.