A human zoomed past a pack of wolfs, sword hand blurring as he passed a wolf, red numbers in four digits appearing above the wolves before yelps echoed the forest.

After gaining a Rare elemental skill book from the Thunder Ape, Han Ling used it immediately, gaining a new and powerful skill.

[Clockwork Eyes (Rare)]

* When activated, user is able to see reality at half speed. Costs 20 mana to activate, once activated takes 1 mana per second to keep the skill up.

With glowing purple eyes, Han Ling swerved left and right, the wolves slowed to a crawl in front of him.

As Han Ling battled, the other four of his party members only looked in awe at that graceful footwork and dangerous swordplay. Gentle Sun mumbled softly, but just loud enough for the others to hear, “Its as if he had practiced the sword for dozens of years…”

Iron Heart could feel his common sense disappear in front of this man, sighing helplessly before turning to Gentle Sun. “That darkness from before… do you think that was a domain skill?”

The four gulped unconsciously, Breeze shook her head, refusing to believe that. “No! No! he can’t have a domain skill; you all know how powerful a domain skill is!” The only person to have gotten a Domain skill is probably the Lighting Emperor, and that man got his skill at level 60! Which could only mean two things, the swordsman is actually level 60, but it wouldn’t make sense as a person that powerful will be extremely well known in Itone.

“But if he really had a domain skill… didn’t his domain cancel out the Thunder Ape’s? I’ve never heard of a domain that can cancel other domains, normally they would cancel each other out, but this…”

Crimson Spear unconsciously gulped, “What if he really is level 46… what would happen if he became level 60?” All four of them paled at the thought.

Then silence dropped in the forest, and it didn’t take a genius to know that all the wolves were dead. Han Ling stabbed the head of the last wolf and glanced at the group before continuing on his path.

The four adventurers sighed helplessly, quickly catching up to the swordsman.

“Can you tell me about Jiron? I came here on pure instinct, but I know nothing about this country.”

The group glanced at one another before shrugging their shoulders and answered every question Han Ling had about Jiron.

Truthfully, Han Ling only wanted to blend in with the group, asking questions which the answers he already knew was just a way to quench the curiosities of the group.

But there were of course things he learned, for one, all four adventurers were the heirs of powerful nobles of Jiron. Gentle Sun herself was a good friend of the Lighting Empress, the wife of Lighting Emperor Narukami. Jiron had a total of twelve noble families, each one represented an element of a weapon of the family.

For example, Crimson Spear is the first son of the Blaze Family, a family that consists of dozens of powerful flame experts. Breeze’s family consists of wind mages and healers, Iron Heart’s family is the Quake family, full of earth element tanks and berserkers.

But Gentle Sun was the third daughter of the Maiden’s of Light, not necessarily a noble family, but it’s a sub family of the Holy Church, consists of only women, but are powerful in their own right.

Gentle Sun gained the blessing of Amaterasu at a young age, gaining the powers of the sun.

All four of them met in on their adventures and formed a team known as Dragon’s Fall. Iron Heart even prepared an entire speech on the meaning of the name, without even knowing he was embarrassing his teammates.

Of course, Han Ling wasn’t the only one asking questions, when Iron Heart asked Han Ling where he was from he explained Japan and gave a feasible excuse on how he stumbled into Jiron.

The group believed him but found the swordsman in front of them suspicious, people don’t naturally stumble into a country. But they didn’t ask, Blood Mask must have reasons to lie.

After a couple of hours of travelling, the group finally reached Stormval. In the future, Han Ling had been here more than a hundred times, yet every single time, he couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of the magnificent city.

Narukami built a city from scratch, spending sleepless nights protecting his people from the wilderness until a shelter could be built. Then with time, a city was built, rivalling some of the great dynasties of Itone, some even say its better than the Holy Capital Xerin.

Han Ling respected Narukami from the bottom of his heart, a young man seeking a better world, protecting his people better than any shield.

The Dragon’s Fall had to submit their quest to the adventurers guild and Han Ling had to sign up as one so the 5 of them entered the Adventurer Guild. But the moment Dragon’s Fall entered, the guild was silent, then a thunderous roar of welcome nearly burst Han Ling’s eardrums.

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Groups of people, rookies, veterans or friends all crowded the group, flattering the group like a group of fangirls.

Han Ling immediately stepped away from the crowd, heading straight for the woman at the counter. He gave the woman a couple of silvers, “I wish to sign up as an adventurer.”

The woman looked up at the masked man, with a raised eyebrow. Most guilds would have pretty woman working at the counters, but obviously the woman in front of him didn’t care. She’s probably the daughter of the Adventurer’s guild master. “Please sign here.”

The woman pulled out a sheet of paper with only a couple of lines of writing. Han Ling couldn’t help but sigh softly, the adventurer’s guild is still the same.

The sheet of paper in front of him was actually useless, it was a fake, to trick rookies who the woman does not like. Han Ling stared at the paper before glancing at the woman, who was polishing her nails like nothing happened.

As Han Ling pondered on a solution, Iron Heart suddenly called out to the woman at the counter through the horde of admirers. “Hey! That guy is a friend of mine! Help him get an adventurer’s seal!” The woman by the counter immediately froze up, face paling as she met the eyes behind the demon mask. She tried her best to give an alluring smile, emphasis on ‘tried’.

“D-D-Dear sir, I would need to change your sheet, as a friend of the Quake family, you would of course need a VIP seal.” The woman frantically took the paper on the desk and replaced it with a gold paper with a wing symbol at the top, and she crumpled to fake slip before tossing behind her back, right into the bin. The woman smiled like nothing happened.

Han Ling sighed inwardly, signing on the paper. A familiar blue glow bathed the swordsman as a seal of outstretched blue wings seared itself onto Han Ling’s hand. Normally it would be a painful process, but Han Ling had already felt pain much worse than this, only raising an eyebrow at the scorching pain.

He raised his hand to check the seal and a blue interface popped up in front of him.

[Congratulations on becoming an Adventurer!]

[Your current rank is D. You are in the group of top adventurers of Itone.]

Han Ling nodded inwardly at his rank, thinking it only makes sense as he was level 46. There were three reasons for coming the Jiron, first was to become an adventurer, then he would need to farm till level 60, but he had only a weeks time to farm, so that goal was a stretch. The third would be to meet Narukami and warn him of the Goblin invasion that’s coming a month from now.

Out of the seven kingdoms and 3 dynasties and one Empire, it would be best to warn Narukami of the invasion. Narukami was one of the most powerful people in the world, not to even mention influential, he could even ask assistance from the Holy Empire, whereas the other countries couldn’t even meet the pope if they wanted to.

Han Ling sighed at the list in his mind. There was still a lot to do…

“Powerful energy?” Han Ling tried to sense the mana in the air, finding the air vibrating slightly. Immediately, a grin formed under the mask. Looks like my third goal would be easy… A little boy burst into the guild hall, “The king is back! The king is back!”

Every single person in the guild hall dashed out to the streets. Han Ling stepped out the guild hall and saw the Lighting Emperor.

A young man with long black hair tied into a ponytail, a kind caring smile, mischievous eyes and dressed in a simple robe.

People all around the street was ecstatic at the arrival of their king. To outsiders it might seem strange that the people love a king this much, in other kingdoms only the king’s supporters would welcome their king. But Stormval was different, it was created by Narukami’s sweat and tears, every person saw the growth of a young man into a king.

There was a saying in Jiron, “Its easy to hate, but difficult to respect.” Their king was someone everyone respected, it doesn’t matter if they’re from other worlds or other species, he was a wise young man that does not discriminate, does not look down on others.

Narukami waved from left to right, sometimes even calling out to the citizens, like they were old friends. “Mr Bakuto! How is your wife? Good? Tell her I said happy birthday.” “Howling Star! It’s been a while since we chatted, come up to the palace when you have time.” “Ah Sun! How have you been?” Narukami stopped in front of the sun maiden, beaming at the crowd with perfect white teeth.

Gentle Sun couldn’t help but smile, bowing down respectfully, “I’ve been well my king.” Iron Heart himself even clapped Narukami’s back, a wide smile on his face, Narukami himself didn’t mind the slap, slapping Iron Heart back on the back.

“Ah! Before I forget, I would like to introduce to someone who saved Dragon’s Fall.” Narukami frowned, “Why would you need to be saved?” Iron Heart scratched his head as he looked away from the Lighting Emperor, “We may have attacked a level 63 Thunder Ape…”

Narukami’s expression soured, “You fought the ape that I told you not to fight?” Iron Heart paled and started wriggling his hands as he explained his excuses. Narukami sighed and raised a hand, Iron Heart shut up immediately, “How did you get away from it, its paralysing domain is impossible to break out of.”

Iron Heart pointed behind him, “We didn’t run away from it, Brother Blood Mask killed it.” Narukami’s eyes widened, “Blood Mask? He’s here?” Iron Heart furrowed his brows, “You know Blood Mask?”

Han Ling then felt a pair of eyes fall upon him, Narukami’s blue eyes fell on the black red mask. Narukami came up to the man, eliciting whispers among the crowd, trying to guess the man’s identity. Narukami raised a hand, “My name is Narukami, the lighting emperor of Jiron. I’ve heard some things about you from Mr Kazuto.”

Han Ling’s expression didn’t change, since Narukami went to the Meeting of Worlds, it was only natural he would have talked to a couple representatives. Narukami is a man who seeks the strong, he would always ask to fight a nation’s strongest player, its how he gained a peerless reputation.

“Blood Mask.”

“Could you spar with me?” Narukami gave his friendliest smile.

“If I agree can I ask for something?” The Lighting Emperor raised an eyebrow before grinning, “Of course!” “Please give me the highest-level experience bottle you have.”

Narukami frowned slightly, “An advanced experience bottle is rare, and I only have 4 bottles. Can you pick anything else?” But hearing that response, Han Ling immediately bowed and turned to leave, making everyone in the square speechless.

Despite being a carefree man, Narukami was one of the strongest people in the world, it was understandable if you decline a spar, but turning your back on a powerful person is as good as slapping them in the face.

But Han Ling knew the Lighting Emperor better than most, a battle addict like him would do anything to fight someone promising. “Ah! I misspoke friend! I’ll give you the bottle! I’ll give it!”

Han Ling turned back but a wide smile was under his mask. “Alright.”