Soul Flames blazing, Lorry flew while giggling and knowing what awaited him, leaving his purpose as a Guide behind. It wasn't the time for his Guide's life to shine. He knew that Murai and Lisa would do just fine in this strange mission set up by a vastly different thing. A summon from Lady Levandis never felt better in his book, because he could not even imagine what Murai was about to do to this Gate.
Good or bad, it wasn't as if he cared. It wasn't up to him what transpired or how this Gate would change. In this open world, filled with problems that the Guide shouldn't help to solve, Challengers were left alone.
He can't wait to leave the current mess for Lisa, who will gladly take his mantle. She wanted it anyway. She said it. Begged, almost. So he had no regrets whatsoever, even though his curiosity over Murai was deep and unsurprising. But Manager Kil's message was stable like Laws. Summon was due, or he could spend his time in this Gate alone or not, before being summoned anyway.
Last Gate had been quite an ordeal for Mindarch, while not knowing his fight was his honesty, even if it was dishonest. Lint watched all he wanted, while Lorry had Lisa accompany him. In a sense, all of them got what they wanted.
Murai stood on top of a small wall, glancing at Helltrim City below, or the stretching cave ahead. Beside him, Lisa calmed her tensed-up physicality—which she involuntarily kept going longer than she anticipated and wanted— before thinking twice over what this deal about Ip'ur Mountain. With Lorry's confirmation, this was... still confusing. Why and what she should take it for?
Knowledge and memories rose in her soul and she wasn't seeing any answer. Was it something hidden or something that Mindarch or Levandis wanted? If so, what was hiding over there, or was it even real?
Her control over her current life form wasn't all that great. Her current form of a Soul Render was far from reaching her desirable lengths in power and her stability was far from anything. Like most Blessed Life Companion, she had her stakes, evolutions to think about, and abilities to use. Her race awaited in the veils of the unknown future, right behind her stops because she didn't think of herself as physically important. For now anyway.
The power of her Path was there in her mind, silently locked like many of her acts. Her growth should be in her hands, albeit it was deeply connected to Murai. Far too much to her liking, however.
For now, her head mattered more, because Murai was enough mess on his own, and she had enough ideas to covet both of their problems. Mainly his, unfortunately.
It was time to change herself a little bit. Not for her own good, but for...well, she had plans for pretty much anything, yet unexpected things always happened with Murai. She didn't like it, but expecting something else wasn't fine either. He was the problem number one.
“That pile of bones bailed us the quickest I've seen,” Murai said to her, still watching the Hellscape.“This leaves us in a rare silent loneliness. Two, alone, taking the brunt force of this temple. Sounds nice.”
“Wish I had your outlook,” Lisa reckoned. “I don't know where to start with you or us. I wish there would be something more stable than something unknown.”
“Not sure how sure you are in your tactics, but isn't this how this Gate should be like? My beak is ready; so is my head. By this chance of rare skull-less silence, care to tell me about your previous times in this Gate? Not my purpose. That will wait.”
Lisa made an unnatural pause, stretched her hands, and watched the view to calm herself. “Sure. I planned for that anyway. I had Sector 60 for the first time. That was terrible luck. Usually, the higher the Sector, the more hard they are, but not always. Most Sectors have various Level disparities, places of interest, homes of demons, caverns of dangers, or nests of beasts. Thus, even low ones can be dangerous. Then, the issue of this Hunt is pending, but let's not get there yet.”
“Sounds like a realm to me.”
“Because it is. Anyway, my task was a bit away from the mountain range and that damned desert, lurking behind the middle portion of the Hellscape. It was a bit problematic location in the middle of the swarming and dangerous places. The second time was Sector 23. That went much easier and well. It barely took me a day, but let's not talk about it. As you can tell, numbers could mean a lot because each portal is in some location. And the location matters more than some Sector or Hunt. They depict part of the land this cave adheres to. Policies and lives matter second to the Overlords, Gods, or owners of them, with bigger portions designated as Provinces. You probably got that idea already, right? Watching the Helltrim City and this sight, it is impressive and large.”
Murai nodded. “Yes. Districts, parts, streets, shits, cities, and so on. It all makes better ideas across the scale of Chaos or Order. For minds, this serves as little knock or reminder that reputation comes with responsibilities and wealth. Where live clusters, this is the outcome.”
“Indeed. Apart from numerous flat lands and unhabitable land that demon legions have for large-scale training regiments, most of the things here are easier to frame as livable. Overlords under Levandis also have their partial or full-fledged homes here, but not all of them care for this cave too much. In a land full of limited potential that is this world, there are priorities for us and them. Hopefully, Mindarch will keep his rules safe, while what will happen in later parts won't shackle us too much. I think he will be reasonable. Not sure how trustworthy that is though.”
“Reasonable? Parts? Dangers... What kind of dangers we are talking about? Balance and freedom that Midnarch mentioned sounded good, but it was as if he spoke to a buffoon”
“No ideas there,” Lisa said firmly. “Mindarch is weirdo when he can be, but that... mountain.”
“Too worried about it?” Murai turned his beak to her, looking at her worried expression that held various ideas for sure.
“Sure. I am the only one out of us that knows this place. I have my guesses and clarity ahead. I will guide you onwards and figure what that shit means. Do you dare to take my hand?” She stretched her hand toward his head, glaring at his eyes with focus and unlike dazzle. Murai had never seen her like this. She almost looked impressive and reliable. Maybe it was a front?
“If it will be worth it, trust between us is like a rough gem. Maybe it is worth polishing it when it is worth it. Traversing and finding Ip'ur Mountain looks to be my priority. Where, or how to get there is what this is about, right? Nothing else matters? What about that Hunt and traveling?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Hell, no. There are different things for different fools. Dangers are there in many colors. Getting somewhere is another thing and... that is precisely what goes out of my head. There could be numerous problems because of this Ip'ur location that I will give us troubles later. For now, outside problems could range from independent gangs wanting to hunt us down, individuals to hunt you, or other things. Armies can shift, but nothing is set in stone apart from a single rule: Balance. There shouldn't be hunts for your life by enemies way out of your level, unless.... Well, so far, what Gate 2 provided should be there for you, which means..... hilarious problems. Do you know which kind? Razmund is breathing behind your back, while this place is bound to do the same thing.”
Murai thought of an answer first, but he had only poor guesses. He shrugged his wings. She confirmed that this place was about to hunt him down around his level, but for some reason, Murai wasn't finding that problematic or weird. He looked forward to crashing every asshole until they will drop Mana Essences.
But her mention of Razmund was problematic. He was way outside of Murai's norm, so his arrival could break the balance.
And some details were yet to hit Murai's ideas. Without Lorry, how would his essence gathering work?
“You are still a low-level fool, that much is right in my head,” Lisa said next. “The kind that cracked some rules apart, like that room described. You aren't some enigma. You are old and foolish. You fought way out of your proportions and flesh, but so what? You have what it takes to give this world some spanking, but I am not sure if Gods wants that. Now, what was it about the last Gate that changed it?”
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“What do you mean? I fought like a maniac and you watched it.”
“Yes. It is once more about your power and soul. You got what you deserved or not. Not sure what that last golem was about, but if Manager Kil made his appearance, and even bought out your silence, it is a big deal.”
“It wasn't much.” Murai downplayed his role in touching the untouchable. At least Levandis didn't appear herself. Another God to consider didn't sound like a fun experience. He had Vermillion to consider already, or Pakutan, or... Lordis?
“A fact too, huh? Anyway, balance and fools around this cave are an inevitable variable. There are limitations to what Midnarch allows you to meet, so in a sense, freedom is a limiting factor to a thing called Hunt. For now, it shouldn't matter if we are clever about it. We need to steady our footing here, see this place. Got it?” She still kept her hands stretched.
Murai squinted his eyes, thinking about whether he should accept her hand or how. “Yet another hunt, huh? Got that.” Then he glanced at Hellscape. He would loved to set his foot down and see this place like a tourist. In fact, he suddenly got some interesting ideas. This place looked juicy.
“Nothing should be too close or that far. There are only so many ceilings you could touch, while you haven't... moved far either?” Lisa said hesitantly, thinking over Murai's new readings. “Got new worries to train instead, so that might be a hindrance or gem in disguise against this Gate. I almost bet you would get at least to Level 28 because of your achievement and fighting spirit. It didn't happen. Weird. Anyhow, you've evolved five whole abilities out of this temple so far, so there should be a change in what you could do regardless of levels or not. Feel stronger? Confident?”
“Perhaps. Training is set in stone. I will do it regardless of your ideas. However, nothing much is clearest when my core is chained to my tries. That is my idea of why things are the way they are, and the reason for my relative... stability, or speed. Both power and growth have their problems, I reckon. I bet it slows down those readings, but my body goes out of that vision, acting like a Breach factor, or something like that. Or my Soul does?” Murai said his guesses.
Lisa got most of those ideas herself, so she wasn't surprised to hear his assessment. He had plenty of time to talk about this to her, and he understood the expertise and importance of evolved abilities and a bunch of other things. Some were brief in her speech; others long because Murai demanded it.
For now, that Peak Layering sounded juicy in Lisa's mind, or could that Heavenly Shaping shake this duck more? She wasn't sure where his priorities were, but she had a full head of memories of this world.
Murai was still a Child who wasn't set on any Path. At usual timings and growth, being an adolescent should get some Paths going. Before that, children weren't as firm. No matter the race or species. Most Beasts were the same, although some had clear distinct lines of potential and ceilings, acting as ridiculous talents that were hard to fathom. In those cases, Paths didn't matter. Bodies and evolutions did.
“Fine ideas come slowly,” Lisa said as she retracted her hand, slightly awkward that he didn't accept it. Though, she wasn't surprised or petty to care for such gestures. “Your power is your tool. Use it well and we are safer. Use your head and we will be even better. It is all about what will happen, which will deepen or change our strategies. My strategies. Got that?”
“You want to be my help, huh?” Murai sighed. “So be it. What else is there?”
“Fools and demons are making this place dangerous in the flow of armies. Hooligans, devils, beasts, and demons of all kinds are insane in their homes. They all might make their move against us if you let them. This place is chaotic. It could be possible some would go against Mindarch too.”
“Let them! I will eat them.” Murai cheered; his tail wriggled uncontrollably.
“Stormed like a boat in the middle of the Storming Seas isn't that good. Mind you, you are insane, there are stops where they matter. Some devils or demons are good at numbers or alone. We are the invaders. Don't forget it” Lisa scolded him as if he was a child.
“Pipe your breath. Can't think of losing control all the time, and my stage has anything to do with me. Imagine a duck thinking like that on top of your head. This is crazy!”
“Careful of not being too arrogant is probably another advice I should give you. This place is arrogant. Don't anger and smack some faces just because they want to pat your head or look at you weirdly. Got that? We are about to go into Helltrim City.”
“Just that? Pat? Who do you think I am?” He turned his beak to her again, surprised she mentioned some pats.
“Can you manage it though?” Lisa gave him a long meaningful look, not believing that Murai would do much good even with her advice.
He didn't trust it either, so he didn't agree or made questionable promises.
“Perhaps there are doubts and hopes, but... as far as I can see, going as fast to Sector 45 should be more than fine for me. The secondary is figuring out that portal, right? One thing to note is that fighting isn't mandatory, if what you said is right, yet working around that issue is a possibility. Then, this place will set its sights on me and stop me. How? In what capacity?”
“Physical is enough. Killing or ensuring our weakness belongs here as well. Giving up is also something they could force. They can force us through miseries and inevitable choices where we can no longer proceed. In this sense, rewards are... unimportant. Reaching the portal in any way is the important part. For us, it might be different, but I shall see that myself. One might even do some record if one is lucky and strong at the same time.” Lisa explained, picking up on things that she had to tell without resorting to the depressing reality that was the Ip'ur Mountain.
“Humorous,” Murai said. “But I like it. Prefer it too, almost. Luck and power, while undergoing a two-way hunt? Triple hunt? Quad.. Wait.”
“Don't bite more than you can chew, Murai Hisagi. Literary speaking, that is. The premise of what Challengers do in this place is always somewhat public, but I don't have much light on that matter besides...well, I know that Mindarch deals with information gathering and sending details to all sorts of structures around the Gates where there is some civilization. Here, this Hellscape is the biggest except the Hell itself. Most of the Hellscape should know of every present Surface Challenger or juicy topics. You and Razmund are that. How well this flow goes depends on what one wants to seek. I will look into it down there as we will have time to traverse this cave, let alone this town.” Lisa pointed to the city below.
“Nice!” Murai cheered, looking forward to this change of pace.
“How bad or good it will depends from person to beast, to... things, or other things. What we can meet are beings that aren't ready to take some guidance, or they want it too badly. Punishing or killing them is fine, as long as some rules or acceptance go. Out of this city especially.” She swung her arm around for a dramatic effect. “We can be unhinged too, frankly speaking. This place is like that to almost everyone, even natives, or its denizens. Power and Chaos go in that direction, even if this is like an independent realm. It has its rules I will shove into your head if you won't follow them. And because your Limiters should still be in Level 40s, fodder is still up to you to meet. Or someone will send some insanities at you like the Ending Isles. That is also possible.”
Lisa spoke half depressed and half unsure about what would happen. She mostly spoke with predetermined knowledge, and she had no idea that things drastically changed since Murai took his last Boosts. For Murai, half of her ideas were usually wrong.
“Overall, this Gate is individualistic and could prove to be a massive headache or blessing depending on what you meet, what location you see, and what this place will affect you with. Luck can be also a big factor in the journey, but you picked a short stick. No doubt.”
“I am fine with short things.” Murai settled as she talked and observed the world below with nervous impatience. Lisa noticed it too, but she was yet to be over with her words. The moment they went down the stairs, their time was about to change.
Helltrim City resembled a lot of things Murai had seen before. Shopping streets with trades, pubs, and various shops held their value. Then some regular living quarters ranging from single-floor buildings to a dozen meters tall pagodas or towers looked nice.
Everything was surprisingly clean too. At least from his perspective, but that could change up close. He doubted demonic factions were the epitome of cleanness or Order.
Lisa wasn't looking at it from his perspective. All her attention was on him. “Meeting some soldiers is granted, gangs will stir troubles, or squads of nasty demons around your Limiter could be worse. Why? As long as they could come at you, there could be dozens of them and storm you like a fool. It isn't against the rules. Like with the Ending Isles, something could crack your head.”
“I am fine with either of them. We can flee too, but why should we? I want their essences! Wait... How do I get them when Lorry is gone?” Murai finally remembered a significant issue.
“You will see.”
“Uh... Alright.” For now, he decided to trust her. Perhaps Lorry will return sooner rather than later. “What about armies, though? You mentioned them as being quite important and speak far too much to me about some of them.”
“Think about your situation first. Dealing with gangs is one thing. Another is armies that are usually much quicker to discern, see, and figure out the policies. Their position is more stable than independent gangs. They are like big bosses in this place. They are mostly... polite, clear, and bearing uniform or armor, so they are easy to notice. Unless there is some incentive for them to act against us, they won't take you head on. Then, what Challenger does and doesn't do is the rest. We can be ignored too, thanks to reputation or whatnot, but for that, we should go down and reach the street level to see what they think of us. Anatidaes should be...complicated. Perhaps Lorry would have more to say about it but that damned skull is gone. So, it's whatever.”
“Nice! Agreed. Then this motherly rise of guidance out of you, what does it mean? You are far too worried for my taste.” Murai cheered again and stopped her talking.
“A grudge, or the fact that some demons in the armies want to challenge or hunt you. Many should be horny for your skin.”
Murai sighed at that image, then at this Gate and her hefty explanation that was one warning after the other. Lisa wasn't polite in her voice. She told the gist of the whole picture while leaving many other things behind. They will come later.
For example, what about the politics of this space, how Sectors are divided, which rank of armies were here and there, what this castle was, and other things?
She knew about the godly parts of this gate, let alone some secrets, but how some things changed, she wasn't sure. This place should've remained the same from the highest ceiling, but many little details should've changed in fifty years.
And it shouldn't be easy. After all, Murai was yet another Anatidae going through this place, so he should be met with scrutiny and problems. Hells never took revenge that lightly. They thought of it as some rule that went from the past back to the present, and this place had a history with them. Lorry said so. Grudges held a lot of power over the minds and souls of those closer to Chaos. Murai was the same, and Lisa seemed to hold similar ideas.
Those who suffered the past Anatidae will undoubtedly want their revenge. Expecting even those above Murai's Level wouldn't be surprising. In that sense, Lisa had to plan ahead for that and touch some possibility that was no longer possible. It was about Helpers.
That was why Lisa contemplated everything that Murai went through numerous times in the last few days. Especially the pair of Boosts changed more things than once. Gate 2 was the richest in terms of giving her some hope that Murai would change significantly. He did until the voice locked something behind and Mindarch argued about it. It was a good reminder from that cheeky spirit that something nasty was going on.
Lisa was right to feel positive because Murai—even though he was kind of a prick—hardly ever failed her expectations.