Murai had small doubts he was giving himself too many flattering thoughts. He was nobody before this little person, but if this exchange validated something for his life, he wasn't in a position to deny his chances.
Manager Kil gave him plenty of interesting information, providing some context about Anatidaes that Lisa couldn't provide. It shed some doubts. She never had a chance to discover them, since her time around the Battleworld wasn't as widespread, and she wasn't ready to take them to her head or Path. She had other worries because she didn't end up as an Extreme, albeit she was as strong as one in almost all regards.
There was something deeply impressive about Anatidae species that Murai wasn't all that aware of. Manager Kil and this whole situation about that golem proved it more than his own body or findings. The ridiculous nature of his species had many aspects, so slowly, interesting ideas and desires crept into his Will.
Alas, Manager Kill thought this was the end of his research and talking to him, as he couldn't work around his Will to give it some of his direct touches. Not only was he in a sensitive and neat position, but many figures were watching this show.
Thus, he snapped his small fingers, letting out a crisp sound that echoed far and loud. His aura dispersed, yet nothing about his demeanor and pressuring look changed. Murai still felt as if he was overlooked by an Overlord.
Then, the voice echoed, speaking over the crisp sounds of his snap.
[End of the Last Island has been issued.] Mindarch spoke like a good soul construct he was.
[Initiating returning points of interest. Beginning teleportation.]
[3 fights have been warranted and done under the Last Island and excellent work of Manager Kill and Mindarch. Course and cases of each round have been recorded, sent, and calculated into a series of points that shall be retrieved and fully provided before entering Gate 3. Not before Island of Rewards.]
[Good work Citizen M. Many thanks to Manager Kil for your masterful work that left us all in awe.] He sounded sincere until he shut up like the crisp sound of the lighting without any light.
Manager Kil didn't care much for his shenanigans or voice anyway. His gaze was serious after issuing his authority over Mindarch, who ended up sending all of the onlooking figures around this street away. He figured they would give Murai at least some challenge, but after that round against Uqari, things changed.
There were usually more than 3 fights. All of Mindarch's choices were above Level 40, while Murai was still below Level 20. That was an insane difference that spoke of talent and an undeniable blunder of miscalculation, or lack of Will of the Battleworld's touches.
And Mindarch's inability to take it all that well, but that was something Manager Kil knew. At least it wasn't that ridiculous to truly shake this place. Spending some tools even with Bloodline of Divine Beast wasn't that terrible if it meant taking more out of Murai's potential, his calculations, and potential additional Anatidae research. All of those readings were worth a lot.
Either way, those comparable to Murai weren't rare as far as Manager Kil knew. It was about talent and quality around their potential, while Grades of their abilities became another thing because that depended on the Will of the Battleworld, their readings, or their willingness to Breach or rip through limiters.
Calculating overall power into the proper state was sometimes difficult when the top of the food chain crashed the rules. That was what Levels were generally for, as it meant prowess that one possessed after Battleworld's calculations.
Across the board, it was the simple road of 100 Levels, but there existed figures that were either unique in their powers, speeds of acquiring it, or their cases were problematic in unknown levels of Breaches or unfamiliar powers.
The fact that Murai was able to finish this Gate so quickly while learning and growing as an Anatidae was a testament to his status. This achievement shocked not only Hell Haven and Mindarch but also Manager Kil.
Well, perhaps Manager Kil was much more impressed, rather than shocked, as he was feeling something that none of Murai's opponents did: his Will and soul.
He wished to research it directly, unleash his Presence or other tools at his disposal, and dig out everything about this insane duck. Understanding the concept that allowed the creation of this ridiculous Blessed—or an Anatidae of all species—was brewing in his head.
But that was a wish that he could only offer to his Lady for the time being. Or it could be a request? Kidnapping Murai and working with him regardless of his Will seemed like a possibility that Levandis could do. Either way, it was up to her to decide that. Not him.
He can't touch anything right now. Levandis was silent, or unwilling to deal with it because of the ongoing Encounter that Murai was doomed with. Mindarch would know more details, or Levandis would research it by her Authority. Or he could try it himself after this arrangement and summon was over.
Slowly, all demons, beasts, statues, and a few young devils disappeared into the ground, shrouded in a spatial aura that caused the ground to change into a teleportation array. Even the golems weren't spared, excluding Anatidea Golem, Goliath Golem, and Uqari in the pool of her blood. They were all part of Murai's loot.
Well, the motionless Anatidae Golem wasn't part of it, Murai knew.
Soon, the whole street was empty, leaving Manager Kil and Murai alone. That was perfect timing for Murai to speak his Will since Manager Kil was yet to leave.
“Can you tell me anything about Anatideas? Anything? I may overlook that pouch... that Uqari dropped. How about that?” He tried his best to sound sincere; he wasn't sure if it worked.
Which put a smile on Manger Kil's face. “Good enough try. It provides context that you don't even know much about yourself. It isn't that obvious by the way, considering how you fight and how you handle yourself while being this young.”
“I learned this the hard way. Aren't all Blessed like this? This world takes that kind of idea to another level, but not the concept of unfamiliarity. This duck is ridiculous by the way! Could you imagine waking up limbless and without the ability to even touch things? I don't like it....This Gate helped, true, but it was thanks to Mindarch who didn't let me reach these Ending Isles sooner. Is that right?”
“Hm? Didn't think of that like that. Seems validating enough for you, but no. I won't speak of them. Spent your Question Mark and Mindarch shall gift your answers under its somewhat passable Codex that does possess a variety of Anatidae knowledge. Special portrayers, moves, abilities, or straight-up projections are all there, though it depends on how well you spend your Mark or voice your wonders. Consider this the end for me.”
Murai couldn't help but be slightly disappointed, but he let this go if Mindarch was much better at this than him. Constructs that held this sort of authority and vividness were great and not simple.
Soon enough, the Space Cage obscuring the edges of this Island disappeared, letting Lorry and Lisa in. They were at the entrance, observing the disappearing waves of space so they could enter the street.
In a flash, Lisa and Lorry looked in, appearing shocked, surprised, and kind of confused in different ways. Lorry noticed Manager Kil right away, while Lisa saw the butcherings of Goliath Golem, a dead succubus with 4 arms and quite a nasty wound, and... small golem that she took for something interesting.
It was Murai's work, she knew and cursed she couldn't watch this show. It would be wonderful to seek what he did to this battle-focused succubus or the rest.
But then, she noticed an Overlord, looming over Murai's collapsed body and didn't know what to think. It put her mind aflame, and her face calmed down because this was way out of her touch. She did know him by his mere appearance, but even if she wouldn't, she immediately recognized an Overlord from the sight of his aura alone.
There was much more vividity to them, while the Presence felt like an imminent shadow that was impossible to get rid of. Caused by pressure and a powerful soul, it was a concept of power that many Gods also possessed. The weaker ones, of course, until the true power of the Path bent the reality itself.
Murai hadn't gotten this idea... but perhaps he should possess Presence as well if his soul was so strong already. Lisa knew why he didn't get that yet. Aspects like these depended on this world and individuals, or things that hadn't warped the rules, or crashed the reasons completely. The most important aspect of that sort of power was the Will attribute. After getting enough points, it could change to Presence in most cases.
In rarer cases, it was soul-based, which was why Lisa had various ideas in her head the moment she saw this street.
Murai was still far from that, albeit his soul had all the proper traits to allow the existence of Presence. He just had no time to grow up properly, or there were some other layers and limits that she didn't know, obstructing its creation. But again, he had something called Robust Spirit, so she wasn't sure what to trust.
Upon noticing the small figure of a man wearing a suit, Lisa and Lorry each had their thoughts and acts in mind. While only one of them truly knew him, both felt reverence at low heights, but their carefulness in their acts was the same. The first to move was ashen looking skull, whose Soul Flame flickered and dimmed.
“M-Manager Kil!?” Lorry hurried forward, smacking his skull in front of this tiny figure, who wasn't even taller than the height of his skull.
Lorry sounded sorry and afraid at the same time.
Which Manager Kil saw and felt with a sneer on his face. He turned to Lorry, glaring at his flames almost face to face.
Letting his hands behind his back to come forth, he pointed at him with his Overlord aura again. It was no skill or special move. It was a simple manifestation of the power he carried.
Regardless of Path, it was a power that a lot of figures, even non-Extremes had. For example, Razmund had his own aura, albeit it wasn't this strong. Murai had something himself, but perhaps that was part of his species, soul, or it all added together?
Roughly, it was all about feelings that got stronger, the more powerful a being became.
“Guide...” Manager Kil addressed him like a superior. “Your tasks are going well within the expectations, which means that a lot of things could be done better. So keep your flames alive and mind aflame. Gate 3 won't have some deep repercussions, nor some ploys, so you will do the usual things. Got it?”
Voiceless, Lorry smacked his forehead to the ground in affirmation. Then Manager Kil turned to Murai, half noticing Lisa who came at his side like a shadow. She was interested in his current status, but she had yet to address this Overlord, whom she was careful of.
Murai looked like shit if she would be honest with the reality, but she felt his Will was pushing to somewhere else. She arrived at the conclusion that his connection to this little man was pending, but Manager Kil wasn't interested in further talk. She knew it by now.
“Now, you and your Life Companion may be at ease. Take your future hopes to the next Gate.”
“Ease?” Lisa asked while squinting her eyes and looming over Murai. “What is going on? Are you an Overlord that this little duck pissed or Mindarch was no longer needed, or... is this because of... something else? What that troublemaker caused!?” Lisa asked, faking being unafraid when she pointed down, figuring that Murai's art of messing things up was as good as his Shaping.
“Finally someone who can speak with his mouth, huh?” Manager Kil smirked and ceased Murai's Will away from his soul space. It was like a flash of lighting, and without any pain whatsoever, Murai shook as their connection warped away.
He couldn't go against this act even if he tried again.
Managed Kil refused him, turning to Lisa instead. “You may say that my position is enormous, while you... Um. 3rd-timer you may be, but in a way that makes it weird. I suppose there is no need to include you, but... You could... be.” He wished to say something, but Lisa interrupted him very quickly.
“No need to mention that. He is his own little boss, alright?”
There was something Manager Kil understood quite well from her posture, a forceful wave of her hands, and words that didn't want to linger any longer. All in all, she had more to tell but wished to not speak of it.
“Well, not like this matters much since you've died anyway and this little duck is an interesting subject.” He sneered, letting out an entertained smirk that seemed unnatural on his head.
By this point, Murai was having none of his shit after he ejected his Will, so he smacked the ground with his beak, causing dizziness and pain to almost crack his mind apart. He grunted like a beast, coughed blood, and quacked.
“Screw this shit... How about to move on and let this damned Island be? There is so little to be done here. And you, Manager Kil or whatever... You understand me anyway, so I don't need my Will to give you any reminders. Fuck you, in fact. Screw all of your little people. I don't know why you think this is a big deal. It's not like I would do much to this toy of your Lady, so let me get what I deserve and move on. Agreed?”
His rant was quick, forceful, and slightly startling for Lisa, who gave him a complicated look. She wouldn't expect anything else from him, but she wouldn't speak to an Overlord like this if she were in his position.
Murai talked without any shame and bother, taking this figure for something less than important, so he snapped his mind. It was no longer that important to him if Manager Kil refused to collaborate any longer.
In his mind, so what if Manager Kil was someone important? It shouldn't matter to him when his head went over this situation entirely. It wasn't as if he had done something terrible intentionally. Others decided he did that for him, which was something he hated to his bone. So if there were benefits behind this, he wasn't minding that as much as he wanted.
Perhaps he was overthinking this because Lisa came here, or Manager Kil turned his attention and will to speak to somebody else. Or was it the added collection of his refusal, these Islands, his fight against Anatidea Golem, and his journey through these islands in general?
His mind was tired for sure. Too tired. His body was never this broken and his desires ended as Mindarch declared the end of this Gate. Lisa hadn't changed this scene much. Murai was no longer handling this situation as important, so his rant was more than unnecessary.
Murai's choice of words did provide her with some answers that something was wrong with this whole situation. She considered Overlord here to be enough insanity already, but some golden-looking and small golem aside from her changed her mind.
Lisa noticed it, standing like a statue. Golem stayed on the ground, unmoving as if it was out of order. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't figure out its inner workings, even though her sona was special like her eyes. The golem was turned off without any mana undulations or something to prove its strength.
Well, apart from its appearance. She was able to note much more from it since she was very familiar with materials and worthy treasures across the Somalis continent or a few other continents, and things from the Skies Beyond were also up to her knowledge.
She didn't underestimate this duck-looking golem even a little bit, since the premise of a golem of this size was ridiculous, considering its special layered appearance. She would think of this differently, if she knew there was a Prime Everflower inside of it, hiding under a powerful formation that didn't originate from this world.
One way or another, Lisa got the gist of this situation even without knowing what Murai went through. There was succubus not far away as well, followed by a big clutter of metallic rocks. Only 3 enemies went against him on this Island, which was a much smaller number than she expected, yet Murai was in terrible shape.
Cracked plates of Anatidae Golem's armor and first layer were around the ground, and its golden layer was all over it, glinting with some slow tides of runes that she couldn't discern. There was some thin mana around them, but so little, that she barely noticed it. It looked tough and shiny, even though some parts were tiny touch cracked. Especially one side, where Murai went against it with his lunacy and unhinged Peaks.
If he had continued his last exchange, he would reveal the third layer which wasn't supposed to work. It would literary put the golem's worth into question or straight up turn it to scraps, or worse.
Bringing destruction and who knew what else if the Everflower destabilized was something no one wanted. Well, with the Devil Cube Formation, it wouldn't do much. Such formation accounted for its protection, but not for its secrecy.
Lisa recognized its runesmithing and material worth, so she was no longer surprised by Murai's mind. Someone played with him by using a toy as an experiment. Wasn't this all about it anyway? Murai complained to her how he felt like a testing rat quite a few times.
Manager Kil turned his gaze back to Murai after hearing his rant. “I see... I see. You are pissed off for no reason, but it doesn't seem to me that I am overestimating my importance as an Overlord. Though, it seems my kind will not take you lightly at all, so you better care of your neck. Considering your trouble-making status, talks may sooner or later disappear and the consequences of what comes next won't be pretty. Take that warning or give up.”
He spoke calmly without any aura or threat besides the words.
Murai wasn't losing if words and talking were all to this discussion. “If you think what you mean, then some assholes already spoke to me after Gate 1. They talked through my Soul Space as if they were some big deal, huh? Screw them! I turned them down like they deserved.”
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“Oh, that?” Manager Kil raised his right brow. “That was a bit unnecessary, but what had happened wasn't within my reasons. Apologies for that. There were some neat places of orders and acts that went behind the scenes. Hell Haven is vast; your case is unique. It ends up as not that important if you are here, alive, rejecting the reality, and quacking like a fool. SO!” Manager Kil clasped his palms together, letting out a thunderous noise.
“There are doubtful words and acts, so don't be an idiot.” He reminded Murai who sneered and felt his body heat up in tense pain. He felt he could no longer walk, but his mind was flaring with power and unkept emotions.
It was a wonder how it all worked, considering his condition and what he went through.
When Manager Kil opened his palms, there was a small gem around a metallic circle. It was a spatial ring of unknown grade that held nothing in particular. It was just a token of letting some problems slide.
Spatial equipment was an important aspect for anyone in this place, let alone the Surface. He didn't find it problematic to sponsor Murai's journey through this temple or somewhere else. This shut Murai off, but not because of that ring.
He was over this Gate, or this Overlord who was no longer willing to take his mind onto his ears.
Tossing that ring to Lisa, Manager Kil said to her what he wanted Murai to know. “You are clever, unlike your Anatidea who sometimes doesn't know what is good for him. My condolences. Take that ring as a token of this... resolved situation. It's outside of any merits of this Gate. Think of it like a gift.”
Lisa caught it with a flick of her hand, curious what this Overlord thought.
Then Manager Kil turned to Murai, who flickered his head away like a stubborn fool. He stopped any groan coming from his beak because this action hurt his neck in places he never felt before.
“Next destination will be your proper reward, alongside some bonuses that will be more than satisfying. You got lucky in Variant Islands, so good luck with the Gate down below. Oh, and don't cause trouble over there. We are watching... Don't let me force something you don't want to see. Trust me.” He remained to him again with a glare that hid his Pressence.
Manager Kil was over this entire situation as well, no longer waiting for anyone to speak. Lisa accepted that ring with a slight bow, wishing to slap Murai with clear motivation to apologize to this Overlord for any trouble.
Out of respect for him and this Gate, she didn't do it.
Manager Kil snapped his fingers again, and in a mere moment, his body twisted apart, disappearing into a speck of dark vortex. It was as if his body disappeared into a black hole. Coincidently, Anatidea Golem disappeared alongside him, including detached wings and plates of armor or its destroyed layers.
This action left Murai, Lorry, and Lisa alone.
Lisa was the first to ease the silence and Murai's flaring and painful mind. He was still somewhat angry about something completely unnecessary.
“What was that about? Are you an idiot? How come an Overlord pushed his ass here just for your troubles? Do you want to die that much?” Lisa went down, grabbed his beak, and glared at his eyes. She glanced left and right if they were alone, and gestured around with her other hand to add some drama to her acts. Her ring was still in that hand.
She knew Overlords very well from rumors and few direct... Well, too direct circumstances, which left many stories left behind in her heart and past. As a former Morgoth Sucubus of Queen Bloodline, she held no small authority and talent in the past.
But it was in the past. Her time was different right now, as she didn't know what even remained of her friends, tools, and who knew who else. 50 years passed, which must left many alive and many dead.
She left many relationships and grudges behind. That was for sure, which might come back to bite her if she wasn't careful. She knew a lot of things about a lot of things, but she didn't talk about them as much as she should. Murai knew it too, so he made her talk more throughout the last days by questioning her worth and ideas.
She took that chance to get to know him too. This temple, information about the Hell Havens, and their political aspects must've remained with fewer chances. It was her area of expertise, but that was still 50 years of difference. The world may haven't changed much, but its people did.
Levandis Temple was the same as she remembered, similar to the Centralis Kingdom. That... was all. She hadn't gotten a chance to uncover much from anyone else. She needed a proper source of information. Which was here, hiding and closing to her head.
Hell Havens could hardly change as pivotal locations that were engraved into this world, unlike Divine Kingdoms. 50 years should've allowed many Extremes to rise and fall, powers to change owners, and Gods to rise as well. She was curious about them, though she changed herself. Whether it was for the better or worse, she didn't dare to think about it too much.
Right now, she discovered and knew of far too many pressing issues that were pending like a storm over the Stormy Seas. It was all about Murai, whose little head seemed to interest some interesting folks for sure.
He was her prime worry since her Fate depended on him far too much without him knowing it.
Murai wasn't following her desires all that much. He hardly thought of her point of view.
He didn't speak to her out loud. Their minds will do. “Just some tiny force was questioning and forcing things against me. Hmph! Bunch of fools! They thought I would take their ideas for a joke? That I would fear some toy? Nonsense. Their problems aren't my problem, but when those problems become aching, I will squish it like a fly.” Murai dismissed her worry, wishing to leave this Island and get some rest.
Rather than asking or thinking of this further, Lisa still grasped his beak but not for long. She let go of it, sighed, and figured his fighting must've nourished him a lot more than she thought. She had no idea how long that Overlord talked to him, but she had all the means to discover it.
“What was he about?”
“There was an Everflower in that golem,” Murai revealed this to her without any remorse. “They thought of it as a secret; a bunch of lunatics. Wanted to shush me too. Lunatics!”
“Clever ones,” Lisa said out loud, frowning and thinking that this piece of news was slightly surprising and utterly shocking in some weird context. She took it surprisingly well outside, but who knew what she thought about it in her head?
Murai didn't care for this topic anymore and rather asked about the content of that ring that Lisa held. It was a human-sized one, meaning it was large for Kil, him, or Lisa, but such rings were easier to carry than a handful pouch she tossed to the ground when she arrived here.
Lisa took it for granted, however, and without any issues. This ring will be helpful, but she would rather handle Pachi's Gift that Murai lost. That one was much better than this ring that held dozens of cubic meters worth of space.
It wasn't more volume than their current pouches, but its worth was higher than all of them combined, all because of its size. Lisa glanced at it, curious about what happened with his deal and Overlord. This was clear blackmail or a deal that Murai solved with the pressure of an Overlord looming over his head.
Dealing with Hell Havens and Overlord so directly in this regard was dangerous. Especially when something like Everflower Golem was at stake.
Shaking her head, she let some mana activate the ring. She wasn't that surprised to see its content. There was nothing. It was just a token that Manager Kil thought of because of the next Gate.
Which left the pouch beside her in a new light. Murai dismissed that ring as he couldn't carry it either. He had no fingers in place to care for it, nor the pouch, so Lisa took care of it.
Until Murai pointed at the pouch that Manager Kil left behind. That one wasn't supposed to be empty.
And since it was coming from Overlord's goodwill and no force, it was a form of bribery that Murai accepted. That, in itself, wasn't that clear to her. Lisa can't wait to hear their entire conversation. How? She can try to seek his memory fragments, which was one of the reasons she opted to not travel with him to the Islands and rather remained with Lorry.
She opened the pouch as well. It had plenty of essences for his Level and even more mana-related materials that were worth half of the essences. She considered their worthy gift from the Surface's perspective, rather than the current place. There were even many Grade 6 in there, but none above Grade 5
Essences were worth less in a place that held more of them. As far as she knew, essences were roughly half or a quarter more expensive outside than here.
And considering the means to get them thanks to the essence gathering through living beings, the cost and quantity that one can find here were stupendously ridiculous. Killing an Extreme in this temple under this construct yielded incredible essence.
Manager Kil wasn't stingy. This pouch alone held half of Murai's achievement in this Gate itself, which was a questionable bribe, considering the context of the Everflower.
Perhaps Manager Kil didn't doubt that Murai wouldn't talk about it, because if he did, they would hunt him without mercy.
After all, they could shut him up by force, which Murai should know, or... Lisa wasn't sure of it right now.
Murai cheered to hear more Grade 6 essences were there for him to consume. Their worth was incredible, so if his points and reward in this Gate were great, improving his Artificial Core wasn't a pipedream.
That, or its ceiling will get higher, depressing him instead.
Getting to the High Grade 6 Essence should no longer be an issue. Grade 5 essences was a topic he wasn't ready to touch. He bet he will need dozens of times more High-Grade 6 essences to brick the difference and higher ceiling for his Core Defying Fusion Technique.
Perhaps exchanging his essences for Low-Grade 5 essence would be the best. It could be a small shortcut, or his Artificial Core wouldn't change either. That was a possibility.
He was yet to be sure about his luck in the next Gate, or if his dependency on his Core Defying Fusion Technique was overly aggressive.
Though, he had no regrets. The materials contained in that pouch were quite a large sum of treasures, that—combined with what he had—put his anger out of his soul.
It was as if he pretended to be a foolish duck with anger issues, even if Lisa doubted that on all fronts.
Seeing his expressions and Will, the added pouch's content added yet another layer to this situation. Lisa wondered how this bribe came with such ease, or whether that Overlord pressured or demanded something else than not speaking of that Everflower.
Murai mentioned few things and he was known to downplay the situation a lot.
“A loot? Usually, the pouches weren't full of this, so if it is this sort of stuff... What happened here? I am all ears.” Lisa asked, even if her ears weren't all that visible thanks to the layers of sona that flowed down her head, creating hair that seemed watery.
Murai sneered, ignoring her question. He rather forced from her one of the few remaining potions from the last Vault. Mana Potion had a variety of purposes ranging from quick replenishment of mana, or, in his case, it was a great way to calm the raging currents in his chest. Even a little bit of Mana Potion's poor quality helped.
He uncovered some workarounds about his habits and body. Solving wounds was part of his days-long research, or to be precise, day-old research. The first day in this Gate went by with barely any wounds that required much attention.
But when he bled and felt the pain, something in him moved. His natural recovery was quite good, forgetting the fact that he still shouldn't take tough beatings. He wouldn't allow them anyway, so by adding the potions into his equation, he discovered a few things.
Mana Potion affected the stability of his mana space, which in turn acted in a domino effect, turning his head and blood flow better. That was the usual effect of Rejuvenation Potion, thanks for their input of Vitality that Mana Potion didn't have.
Gulping the azure liquid, Murai felt better after some quick cycling and breathing that calmed his mind and eased his core.
Lisa took his silence as a temporary issue. She had no doubts she would make him talk in Gate 3. That place was where her time to shine would arrive. Without her, she had no doubts he would had major issues.
Murai was blissful in his ignorance, so he felt his core turn better and his body followed suit in the upcoming hour of his rest. He remained in the same position and close to the cracked wall. He was still feeling like shit, but walking shouldn't be that problematic. What stressed him was his neck and torso. Not his legs for some reason. His chest felt as if was punched there numerous times, while his neck and beak felt numb.
Speaking or quacking was also hurt when he got over the adrenalin, so he rather turned his attention to Lorry, who remained on the ground, thinking of Manager Kil while glancing at the pair of troublemakers with unknown thoughts.
“Guide... It seems your superiors got involved, huh?” Murai whimpered some quacks that sounded weak.
“Seems to Lorry that's right.” The Guide still heard him though, or the meanings behind those quacks. Murai bet he was also knowing Anatidae tongue, but he had no desire to ask him about it right now.
“This Island is the last one, and I could have avoided a lot of issues if I could've moved further into them, by having Guide's approval?” Murai asked, deadly staring at Lorry's face while faking his anger. He had no issue with this journey or his time. He had learned far too well to think of skipping ahead.
Though, the first half of the Islands didn't possess that much of a challenge, even though it provided him the core learning start that allowed his latter success.
Lorry suffered some storm in his Soul Flames. Backing away for a bit before flying up, he wasn't aware of this situation like Lisa did. What was going on with that bribery wasn't in his head, but something else was.
He knew of Anatidae Golem's existence, which made him realize that Levandis was watching or was curiously interested in the recent events.
And she wanted him back.
“Well, what Lorry can say? What Manager Kil said isn't wrong, I suppose. As Lorry's boss, you see. Lorry holds some responsibility, hoping that Murai isn't as angry, since Mindarch deemed it important to let Murai go with the flow. This Gate, Lorry felt it would be much better to move one by one, and...” Lorry suddenly hesitated, not knowing that Murai was joking.
He was testing him, while his current face was a nice repercussion from that 93rd Island.
“And?” Murai growled.
“It... It wasn't an issue to spend some fodder to see Murai keep going. Mindach... He! Mindarch and higher-ups all wanted it like this. Guides are just tools. Not worth mentioning. My Lady! Right... Lady especially wanted to see Murai on the Last Island.” Lorry quickly put forth his excuses, sounding sincere and almost in a hurry.
His brazen, yet honest and truthful manner did ease the tension between him and Murai. He found his answers not that terrible since Manager Kil did reveal to him the truth. As best as he could, he eased Murai's anger.
Now, Murai had no intention to let his anger crack his head apart. There were no benefits in that, but when did it have any benefits? He had few reasons to be like that.
Lorry was just a tool, like many things under the supervision of devils and demons alike. Gods! It was all about their will to rule over the weaklings, treasures, and benefits that mortals couldn't ignore. Hell Havens were just places that cherished those ideas, similar to the accumulation of Divine Kingdoms up in the Sky.
Murai had yet to realize the might of what Hell Havens possessed, or what kind of problem he downplayed and pretended to not care about. It wasn't that surprising for him to be like that, considering he knew the dangers involved in terms of Gods or those above.
He wasn't aware of Levandis, while Manager Kil's reminders hardly changed his outlook.
“Fine. You provide your worth, Lorry. Not much here, in this Gate, since YOU! Mindarch... provides more touches, right?” Murai spoke to the ceiling, calming down and noticing utmost silence.
“Seems he is busy with the aftermath,” Lisa added.
“Aren't Spirit Constructs able to split their attention?” Murai asked, knowing the answers already.
Lisa shrugged her arms, storing everything in the ring that she could carry like a belt, ring, bracelet, or crown depending on how she Shaped her body. For now, she was holding it like a bag.
Lorry didn't make any comment, figuring that the end of this Gate was here, while the reprisal and comments from Manager Kil gave him a new purpose.
Glancing towards the large portal, Murai knew what to do. “Then let's leave. Spending my Question Mark will happen, however... Right?”
“Should be correct. Mindarch will ensure its validity, but doesn't Murai want the essences from these?” Lorry asked, glancing aside him to the last foes that were lying lifeless on the street.
Be it a golem or a demon of any kind, everything had its essence under the mysterious rules and essence-gathering construction under this temple. That was an unchanging rule that was prevailing under any Gate regardless of anything.
It was how Levandis' Hell Havens had its fair share of wealth and very quick rise to power. This place had many times more Challengers from Hell Havens than from the Surface anyway, which ensured Chaos and an endless flow of beings into this place, even if it was just part of the whole picture. It was more of her den anyway.
Essences were rather important aspects of the rewards for any Challenger. They will always appear unless the bodies aren't turned to dust by Lorry or eaten. Someone can take the bodies for a reward, which was exactly what Murai did with the Crowhell Bat at the end of the last Gate. He could also eat the bodies, breaking the essence construction apart. This act usually nourished his body somewhat better than usual, but Murai hadn't noticed many changes.
Bat's body was in one of the pouches Lisa kept for herself.
At the moment, she had 7 spatial tools in total, including a pair of new additions that Manager Kil gave away. Added together, they reached quite a few cubic meters, although their number was a problem.
Having too many spatial pieces of equipment proved to be a headache in terms of management. One can store other pouches in others, so that made them even worse in terms of taking out materials or treasures in a hurry.
Murai had no problems with that. He pushed that issue to Lisa, whose storage management title was still persistent.
He wasn't even sure of everything that these 7 treasures hold. The last 2 days provided a lot of loot, but hardly anything meant something special for him besides the essences. For a duck, there were few treasures of some worth, so he viewed them as commodities that would be either sold away or kept for a questionable future.
He would've no trouble taking any loot, but outside of his idea, Lisa already worked through them long ago. She insisted on taking them for their wealth, and thanks to her time when he fought alone, she managed them. Lorry helped with that a little bit too.
She stored worthy loot from worthless objects worth less than Grade 8 Essence to individual pouches. Grade 9 essences were basically useless apart from starting alchemy recipes and mana potions.
Mana-based treasures outside of essences held various values that depended on their uses and rarity. Grade 9 essences weren't that good as a source of mana to put into formations.
One would have to have thousands of them to make up for their shortcomings. That fact made Grade 8s and 7s much more valuable, while Grade 6 and above essence was something that intermediate mages worked with care and wisdom.
The fusion of essences became important at any of their ranks, but efficiency or success was often flawed. Having thousands of Grade 9 Essences and fusing them would yield hundreds of Grae 8s. In this way, worth and value changed with time.
Beyond Low-Grade 5, mana was quantified and dense, making them key ingredients to pretty much any mana-based equipment, wild and precious formations, or their value as a mana source worked as well.
Most mages still viewed essences as a way to improve and work with their breathing techniques and mantras, making their cycling better and cores stronger. Thus, the volume and quality of mana were of great value and objectification.
With the cubic meters he currently had, Murai shouldn't be too worried about not having enough space. He had other issues.
“Mindarch didn't introduce this ring to me like the last few... Is he that busy? I am curious what this ring is about in numbers.” Murai asked Lorry.
“As I've said. Busy spirit.” Lisa added again, also eyeing the portal and thinking of leaving. “And I can calculate and feel their volumes. You could do it too with this ring, unlike with pouches that had to be physically opened before use. At least for this kind, but you should think of that ring. It is good, you see.”
“No.” he refused. “How's loot in terms of space? 6 pouches and 1 ring sounds like a lot, but that isn't much, right?” Murai asked. Whatever Lisa wanted to see, the worth of this ring wasn't breathtaking. It just made her job easier, and loot management better. Rings worked with mind and Shaping, allowing a mage to simply put mana into it and open the passage into its internal storage space.
And with the end of another Gate and her plan... Well, calling it a plan was far from being accurate. Her ideas were simple to create the best outcome possible for Murai's survival and power. Unexpectedly, it turned escaping the Centralis Kingdom into a game, but it wasn't terrible. She had yet to feel the tension that most Encounters provided.
How, or why not?
This was just the 1st Part of it, with most tension and changes coming in the latter Parts. And she hated the idea of being in godly clutches of such ideas since all of this was to punish or hunt Murai down.
She had no idea why it was all happening, but it was happening, which was the reality that both of them had to accept.
Tossing the ring up and down her arm, she was satisfied. “All 7 added together, they are about half filled. The ring has been empty so I put 6 pouches inside with their worth and loot distributed accordingly. The ring should be about 70 to 90 cubic meters. It is a quite generous gift, considering it came from an Overlord, who is known as...”
“Unimportant stuff.” Murai finished her sentence. “We... or I, in particular, doesn't care much about some measly statuses of ploys that hide behind the scenes. True. Someone pushed me around like a toy, but tell me something new? This... This whole thing just makes me so damned uncomfortable, yet I am biting my head to not curse them to the seventh hell.” Murai said coldly and out loud this time, letting out his murderous attitude that hadn't made an appearance against Manager Kil.
Lisa understood his anger and where he was coming from, even if she wouldn't feel his connection. Murai wasn't that happy since the Encounter started. That was a fact, despite all the situations and his trying to focus. Foregting or downplaying it was just a front.
Situations that seemed like he was having fun weren't fitting for her, but he wasn't looking at the world from her perspective, while she didn't see his.
Though, she was trying to get the gist of his beliefs. It was happening slowly.
It was like a jump from a shit to a swamp. This situation in this street seemed like someone forced Murai to turn into entertainment or experiment for the sake of nothing but some interest. The rules of this temple did make it unnoticeable and more of a joke.
Not much of a joke for Murai, however. Adding the factor of unknown godly desires that were interesting, Lisa was questioning whether something hideous was turning upside down behind the scenes. She feared Hell quite a bit, so she hoped her idea of forcing Murai into this place wouldn't turn this journey into a true hellish escape.
“Then, let's get this over with,” Lisa said, catching the ring and pointing at the portal. “Way out of this is clear. Good work through this Gate. Can you walk? Wanna me to hug you? Not sure you would like it.” She chuckled as if she told a joke, but an hour ago, Murai wouldn't refuse her.
“You don't have to tell me that twice. Know what will be in Gate 3?”
“Yes.” She had yet to mention what was pending, and Murai was also not interested in it until it mattered. Now, it did.
“I will butcher that Gate the same way as these Islands and cursed stairs! Wait... will there be stairs? Walking?” Murai shouted the latter parts, unhappily glancing at Lorry who appeared as innocent as possible.
As far as Murai knew, each Gate did possess a variety of wasteful stretch of times. And... this one was worse than the last, making the next one possibly worse.
Lisa didn't answer that for the betterment of their current tension. Lorry was an itch away from talking some sense, but he stopped himself as he saw Lisa's fist. He knew some reasons and facts for a lot of things, but so far, he always worked and did what he was told to.
After all, his whole body was just a tool, slave, and guiding factor to remain in the land of the living. Challenger were up to his interest, as it was the price he was supposed to care for.
All for the Levandis' sake.