"I’m a bit lost here. What’s the deal with this ‘Herald’ thing?" I asked, sounding unsure about the term.

"Wait, seriously? You haven’t heard of us?" Baek, the man who introduced himself as Herald, responded, his tone carrying a sense of playful disbelief. After a brief pause, he continued.

"Alright, let me break it down for you. So, there are these nine compounds spread across the Earth, which means there are also nine ‘Limbos, as you guys like to call them. Right? Now, you’re familiar with paladins—those folks who reach the deepest parts of this labyrinth. Got that so far?" Baek explained, his words carrying a laid-back vibe.

"Yeah, keep going," I encouraged him, eager to hear more.

"Alright, here’s the scoop. The title of Herald gets handed out by the Limbo itself to the baddest, strongest paladin in each Limbo. That’s where I come in—I’m the lucky number 9, the Ninth Herald," he concluded with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"So, all you need is to be strong, and boom, you’re a Herald?" I asked, seeking clarification.

"Nah, it’s not that simple, my friend. The Limbo judges these paladins based on a bunch of criteria, and raw power is just one of the big factors. If a paladin checks all the right boxes, the Limbo pops the question, ‘Hey, wanna be a Herald?’ If they say yes, they get the title ‘Herald’ and a bunch of nifty mystical powers. But hold up, there’s a catch," Baek explained, adopting a teacher-like tone with a touch of nonchalance.

"Oh, what’s the catch?" Kei chimed in, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, here’s the deal. Heralds have a gig—a duty to protect the Limbo from all those external threats, like the void order. And guess what? Once you’re a hero, you’re locked into it. No turning back to good ol’ Earth That’s the price you pay for all that power and glory," he finished, his tone carrying a carefree air.

"So, I’ve been rocking this gig for a solid 200 years now," Baek revealed, his wide grin fueling the air of mystery around him. Laughter seemed to follow him wherever he went, adding to his laid-back persona.

"Hold up, 200 years? Seriously?" I blurted it out, completely taken aback by his seemingly endless lifespan.

"Yep, my boy. Thanks to sol," Baek replied, casually referring to his mastery over the energy known as sol, which granted him this extraordinary longevity.

"Meeting a Herald isn’t your everyday occurrence, my friends. Any burning questions for this chill teacher of mine?" Celina, who stood behind us, joined the conversation.

"Easy there, Celina. Don’t make me out to be some kind of king. I’m just a servant doing my Limbo duties with a carefree spirit," Baek replied, his carefree nature shining through.

"Now, about those questions, kiddos. Keep ‘em short and sweet, ‘cause I’ve got some other stuff to handle," he concluded, laughter lingering in his voice.

Celina was spot-on. This was a golden opportunity for us. We were unlikely to come across someone of such stature again. The man standing before us was the epitome of strength in this realm. It seemed he had mastered every aspect of life, pushing the boundaries of human achievement.

"Sir, there’s something that has been nagging at me. As the most experienced Venturer here, you must have heard of, or even possess, some ‘blessings’," I inquired, addressing Baek.

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"It’s been a while since I’ve heard that term. Not many folks seem to be familiar with these boons. By any chance, do you possess one?" Baek replied, his tone carrying a nonchalant air.

Before I could respond, Baek was already making his way towards me, carefully examining my physique as if taking measurements. Once he was finished, his eyes widened, displaying a sense of astonishment.

"This is incredibly rare. You might just be the first venturer to possess a blessing at such an early stage, and on top of that, a space weaver. If you ever manage to reach the bottom, you could become one of the strongest paladins," he exclaimed.

"How did you know about my blessing and my nexus?" I asked, utterly astonished.

"As for the blessing, I can sense it dormant within you. I can also feel the air around you behaving in a peculiar manner, flowing in all directions simultaneously. The only plausible explanation is spatial distortion. However, there’s a twist—your inner power doesn’t seem to stem from your own volition like others. It appears to be the result of someone’s tampering," he revealed.

"And as for your question, your blessing needs to be awakened first, which will happen automatically in dire times. After that, you can learn to harness it as you please," he explained.

"I appreciate your insights. Thank you for your time," I said, expressing my gratitude.

"Bahaha! No worries! If you have any more questions, Baek abruptly halted, his laughter cut off in mid-sentence.

The previously carefree and nonchalant aura surrounding Baek abruptly shifted, replaced by an air of seriousness that permeated the atmosphere. Even Celina, who usually exudes confidence, appeared tense and alert. However, Kei, Elsie, and I remained oblivious to any impending danger.

Suddenly, Celina’s voice broke the silence; her tone was hushed and filled with gravity. "Something is approaching. Something of immense power."

The weight of her words hung in the air, causing a sense of unease to settle within us. We scanned our surroundings, attempting to discern any signs or indications of the imminent threat Celina had sensed. Yet the landscape remained seemingly unchanged, devoid of any visible disturbances.

Baek, who had transitioned from his jovial demeanour to a more serious state, stood motionless, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the vicinity with a penetrating gaze. His typically carefree expression had given way to one of alertness, confirming the severity of the situation.

As minutes ticked by, a palpable tension grew, amplifying the anticipation of an impending encounter. Each passing second seemed to stretch into an eternity, intensifying the anticipation and heightening our senses.

Before much time had passed, the presence we had sensed materialised into a figure.

It was a slender man with an unusual skin tone, devoid of the typical hues of white and black. Instead, his skin bore a pale shade of indigo, and his white eyelids blazed like fiery orbs. Clad in lighter black armour, his lean frame was crowned with flowing snow-white hair that cascaded to his chin on both sides.

Though his face remained impassive, an unwavering confidence emanated from him, palpable even from a distance.

At last, the man spoke when he approached us, standing approximately fifty metres away. His voice carried across the space, reaching our ears with clarity. I finally found you, Herald."

Recognising the newcomer, Baek responded with familiarity, confirming his identity. "Indikar, my friend, it has been a long time. How are your companions, the other Voidshades, faring?"

Baek’s response shattered any illusions of camaraderie. Indikar was a Voidshade. Fear surged over me as I remembered that this one could easily overpower the paladins, who were the strongest among ventures.

"They are not my friends. We all operate independently. Ah, Wallace, it seems I have stumbled upon you as well," Indikar calmly uttered, his words hanging in the air.

Astonishment washed over me as Indikar addressed me by name. "How do you know my name?" I exclaimed, unable to conceal my surprise.

"I know everything about you, Wallace Garret. Now, Herald, surrender what I have come for, and perhaps you will have a few moments more to live," Indikar continued, his aura brimming with malevolence.

Baek swiftly took charge, issuing a command that cut through the tension. "Step back. I will handle him. If the situation takes a turn for the worse, make your escape."

As Baek prepared himself for the impending confrontation with Indikar, his authoritative tone left no room for doubt. We braced ourselves, aware that the outcome of this encounter could shape our fates and the course of our journey.