A few of the sailors had left on the rowboats in order to protect their families.

As the ship was part of the Floatingtown trade company, most of its sailor came from Subardos, where Floatingtown was located.

Gary disembarked to a few strange looks from the sailors, but otherwise unscathed. Gary needed to find a guide quickly. He had around a month left. It was hard to track time in the midnight forest without a clock, but the rune ticking down on his heart made it easy to guess.

It was winter soon, but Subardos likely wouldn't feel the effect due to it being a more tropical region. It was a leading producer of many of the Immortal Sunset Empire's exotic fruits, and spices. A valuable resource to hold indeed. Unfortunately for the empire, the entire island was approaching full scale revolt. Things were all fine and dandy now with only a few protests. However, these protests were accompanied with weapon stockpiles, and class solidarity, a dangerous combination. The protestors were demanding an independence referendum, citing that, within the Immortal Sunset Empire, all other regions had been allowed to proper and grow on the backs of the people of Subardos. They were absolutely correct in this assessment, but the Immortal Sunset Empire was not about to give up its precious colonial possessions. The truly alluring thing about Subardos was the untapped Magicite within its soil. Magicite is a liquid used to make mana potions, and the vast majority of other potions. It was immensely valuable to any country's economy, and military industrial complex. Magicite is the fuel that powers the warmachine that is the Immortal Sunset Empire.

Floatingtown was the epicenter of the loyalist faction of Subardos. The folk around here were diehard fans of the Immortal Sunset Empire. The vast majority of them being landowners, and anyone they could bribe of course. Gary was not likely to find a guide to take him deep into the jungle to find a cave within the inhospitable environment of the volcano. Especially considering the fact that the violent rebel groups have been rumored to be seen gathering deep in the jungle.

Gary realised that he would have to find his own way. It couldn't be that hard Gary could already see the massive volcano from here. He just had to walk towards it.

Gary decided to reach the Ideal Face realm first.

He paid for a room in a hotel, had a nice bath, and sat down to cultivate.

From his technique he got that he was meant to feel the mana in the air, gather it to is head, and face, and sort of will his face to conform to his expectations.

Gary's expectations were low, very low.

As Gary gathered the mana a strange reaction occurred. Reality seemed to shift, and Gary now existed in the world where Gary had an Ideal Face.

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Gary got up, went to a mirror and looked at his face.

In the reflection he saw Gary. Just Gary.

Oh Gary, look on the bright side. At least now you're an Ideal Face stage cultivator.

You can now use magical skills for longer, and horrible little creatures may not harass you at night. Gary has gained 25% more mana. If Gary's mana was 100 before. It's now 125. Unfortunately your mana is relatively useless to you as none of your skills actually use mana. They mostly seem to warp the fabric of reality, which seems to be working out well for you.

How very lucky of you, Gary.

Gary made his way out of Floatingtown and into the jungle. Walls weren't necessary as the runic defensive array killed any vicious beasts that wandered too close. The city was too rich to spare any expense protecting themselves, and their assets. The vicious beasts eventually learned to keep away from population centers as the prey was not worth the risk of death.

Gary was jumping through the trees like fucking Tarzan. He had been wandering along the ground when a shadow panther nearly scalped him.

Gary had parkoured his way up the trees, and decided to return to his ancestral treetop ape roots. How wonderful.

Gary's Flight of the Chicken skill was proving far more useful than can be imagined for such a situational skill.

Gary's prowess cannot be understated.

Gary made his way closer to the volcano.

He eventually decided to stop being king of the jungle and climbed back down. Gary was now close enough to the volcano to climb up.

Gary climbed up the mountain.

It was long, and boring, and there were no threats to Gary's life whatsoever.

Gary reached the top of the volcano. The air was hot, and sulfury.

Gary did not like being up here.

Gary looked around the walls of the volcano and saw the cave he was looking for. There was a massive neon sign above it that said Scorched Heart Cave. There were two bouncers merrily standing within the scorching heat of the volcano Guarding the door.

"What the fuck" exclaimed Gary.

Gary was appalled at the thematically inappropriate entertainment venue.

Gary made his way to a set of translucent stairs that led to the entrance.

Gary made his way down and greeted the bouncers.

"How the hell did a hobo get down here?" Said the human bouncer.

"Do you think maybe the array is acting up?" Said the lizardman bouncer.

"Maybe, we best tell the boss just in case." Said the human bouncer.

He pressed a button on a rectangle he had on his belt.

Gary looked on in disgust.

"Hey pal, I don't know how you got down here, but you better be heading back up. This club is only for bluer-blooded people than you. I don't wanna have to hurt ya." said the lizardman bouncer.

"I have a delivery." Gary said.

"Why didn't you just say that." said a massive Skyquid that had picked Gary up off the ground by the waist.

"Hand it over." said the Skyquid.

Gary complied.

The Skysquid quickly looked the letter over, glowed red for a moment, and returned to the gentle white glow Skyquid have come to be associated with. The Skyquid gently placed Gary on top of the volcano, shrunk, and started to float back to the nightclub.

"Wait! What about the death timer in my heart!" Yelled Gary.

"I don't know anything about that sorry!" replied the Skyquid.

Gary stood there dazedly staring into the lava for a long while. The nightclub, and staircase had vanished. Gary was now left alone to deal with his coming demise. I weep for you Gary.