As twilight descended, a soft sea breeze stirred the air.

"Miss Violetta, please let go of my arm."

"No way!"

Only through loss can one truly learn to appreciate what they had. Violanda was now feeling this lesson more sharply than ever.

Before, she hadn’t realized just how convenient it was to wield magical power. Now, going from a grand Savant-level mage to an ordinary mortal felt like plummeting from the heavens to the depths of the earth—like transforming from an elemental giant into a helpless insect.

Elvynna was handling it better. After all, she had once lived as a normal person when she was younger. But Violanda had been a Practitioner-level mage from birth—she had no idea how ordinary folk managed their lives.

And Eirik?

He stood there, radiating elemental energy, like a shining beacon in this dark abyss.

Ha! How could I let go? I need that elemental power—my strength, my magic!

Hunger? Hah, it’s nothing. The bishop could meditate for years without food—it never bothered her.

Eirik, glancing at Violanda’s determined eyes, sighed in exasperation.

Violanda, you’re a master alchemist and the high bishop of the Holy Light Church. How did you end up acting like this now that you’re... well, just ordinary?

"Not letting go?"

Eirik sighed again and, with his left hand, gently pried her fingers loose—slowly, but firmly.

Violanda's eyes widened in shock. She tried to pull away, but it was useless.

"How could this happen? How am I so weak?"

Stunned, she gazed at her hands, muttering under her breath.

It was almost comical to watch.

Without Violetta’s interference, Eirik gathered metal scraps from what seemed like the wreckage of a plane, along with a branch, and fashioned a makeshift harpoon. He approached the shoreline and quickly speared several large, succulent fish.

From the still-smoking wreckage, he managed to spark a fire, and soon the delicious scent of grilled fish filled the air.

The sight of the fish crackling over the flames made everyone’s mouths water—especially Violanda, who quietly swallowed several times.

Though she claimed she wasn’t afraid of hunger and insisted she didn’t want any, her body wasn’t lying!

"Do you two know each other?" Eirik asked nonchalantly, biting into a piece of fish.

"Um, yes…" Violanda and Elvynna exchanged looks and nodded in unison.

"Elvie, is there something... off about your friend?" Eirik pointed at his head.

"Kukuku!"

Elvynna paused before bursting into laughter, almost spitting out her fish.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"You…" Violanda’s beautiful eyes flashed with indignation. She didn’t know how to respond. According to her system’s data, people from this world didn’t know about elemental energy or magic.

To them, her words probably sounded insane—she must seem like a madwoman.

"Hmph! Young man, this bishop is not mad; I am a legendary Savant-level mage!"

After a moment’s silence, Violanda wiped the grease from her lips and decided to come clean.

"Just now... when we were on the plane... you saw it, right? That vine creature wasn’t just any beast—my true self is far more powerful!"

"Oh? Then why are you clinging to me so tightly, great mage?" Eirik raised an eyebrow, his tone deliberately condescending, like he was speaking to a child.

Even he had to admire his acting skills.

"Isn’t it obvious? You have legendary elemental energy that can help me regain my power! Or did you think it was because you’re handsome?"

Violanda's expression remained serious, her lovely face unyielding.

"And you, Elvie, why are you clinging to me too?"

Eirik turned his gaze toward Elvynna.

"Me?"

Elvynna paused, realizing Violanda had just been labeled a lunatic. Should she play along or change her approach?

It was clear that Eirik didn’t believe Violanda’s words!

After a brief moment, Elvynna smiled and replied, "I’m holding on to you because you're handsome."

Hahaha! Elvynna knows how to appreciate a fine specimen!

The response was playful and lighthearted, and it made everyone laugh.

???

Violanda turned, her eyes wide with shock, glaring at Elvynna. She felt utterly betrayed.

Oh, Elvynna, you’ve always been so tactful. Who knew you could pull something like this at such a crucial moment?

As the banter lightened the mood, the group set up a makeshift camp beneath a large rock. The two girls flanked Eirik, quietly absorbing the elemental energy that pulsed through the air.

"Despite being in a lifeless void with no elemental power, the energy radiating from my husband is far more abundant than I ever expected. Why is that?"

While restoring her strength, Elvynna pondered this question. But clearly, now was not the time for deep contemplation.

With the elemental energy, she felt her body strengthening at a rapid pace. The wheezing that had plagued her faded, her frail body filling with vitality and vigor.

Not only that, her level rose steadily—swiftly progressing from an ordinary person to Stalwart Lv1, then to Lv2.

Violanda was advancing even faster. In a single night, she had reached Stalwart Lv3!

Meanwhile, outside their little camp, the world channel buzzed with activity.

In the span of just a few moments, many players had encountered danger and were eliminated.

The task required survival for an entire month, but many couldn’t even last a single day!

"Wahhh, being an ordinary person is so hard! If elemental energy doesn’t come soon, I’m going to die!"

"I’m being targeted by that vine creature!"

"This survey team is full of idiots! They saw the vines moving and still rushed toward them! It’s driving me crazy!"

This was Pixie’s commentary.

In her survey team, someone had spotted the vine creature in the forest through binoculars. Instead of being cautious, the biologists had excitedly rushed toward it, eager to meet their doom.

"Has anyone found any elemental energy or magic stones yet…?"

Both Violanda and Elvynna fell silent, concealing their power while clinging to Eirik’s arm.

But then, an anonymous message on the world channel made them both shiver, their minds racing.

"This world channel? Heh, interesting. Are you all lost magic scholars? Still searching for elemental springs? Come to me—I’ve already found one! If you’re a cultivator from Lumiria, join my team without the exam!"

The message was signed: Aurora Fennec.

Aurora Fennec?

I don’t recognize her. From her tone, she sounds like a new player?!

Wasn’t it supposed to be impossible for new players to use the world channel so soon? How could she…

But the real kicker was that she claimed to have found an elemental spring!

"This woman is something else…" Violanda narrowed her eyes.

"Aurora Fennec…" Elvynna furrowed her brow. She vaguely recognized the name. She was… one of the prodigies from the Central Land!

The Lumiria she mentioned was also a powerful city-state in the Central Land.

"I remember now! She’s the brilliant fox clan prodigy, known for her exceptional intellect, once hailed as the most likely to ascend to Mythic Being in the Central Land…"

This woman is impressive! While most of the female players from the Dawnstar Dynasty are panicking and floundering, she’s already ahead of the game, having located the elemental spring!

As Elvynna thought this, Fennec’s next message appeared, "I noticed this chat is buzzing with mentions of ‘Eirik.’ Who is this guy?"

The appearance of the fox girl from the Central Land had silenced the chat.

But the moment Eirik’s name was mentioned, everyone seemed to snap to attention.